What does skiing mean to you?

skierman_jack

skierman_jack

Active member
To me, free skiing is an escape. Its a place where my only confinement is how far I am willing to go. Its freedom. Its a place where I can funnel all of my attention into each and every precious moment. And as each moment slips away, I know that I was there. I was present in that moment. I was living in that moment. And we share these moments with those around us. We approach strangers to tell them nice run, ask for a tip or two, etc. These experiences create tightly knit communities, such as the one I am writing to, of individuals who seek these moments together. These are moments I wouldn't trade for anything. Then the day ends and this coveted feeling slips away. I must reenter this so called real world of responsibility, stress, and anxiety.

This weekend I entered into a USASA comp just to get some experience and see what its all about. What I quickly realized was the die hard competitors aren't the same as me. During the rail jam, the sun was out, is was warm and slushy, there was music playing; it was an awesome place to be. Yet everyone kept to themselves. Obviously it was a competition and there were a lot of out of towners, but there was no fun, no vibe, no "nice run man!". I always believed that free skiing was a group sport. We are all there for each other. We support each other, we help each other, and we congratulate each other. Yet I felt alienated among these "elite" skiers. This made me wonder; does this sport mean the same to these people as it does to me? Is it something they love or something their parents pay for?

So what does skiing mean to you?
 
Skiing is hurling down a mountain on two pieces of wood strapped to your feet... in other words, the only thing that matters!
 
having a good time with the boys. feel the progress. shred some shit feel gnarly and bark at skier chicks.

skiing have really meant a lot to me and will always be one of my favorite activities.
 
The skiing community really can be awesome. Nothing beats getting hooted at from the lift mid-line and doing some laps with another skier on the lift you just met.
 
As I sit here in my 830am lecture, all I'm thinking about is how I should be on a mountain somewhere. It is the sport that connects me to nature and the art that overloads my senses. It has beat me down, broken pieces of me physically (and sometimes emotionally or mentally), but I always get back up and get back out there. It has connected me to other beautiful, like-minded people and I cannot express enough gratitude for what it has taught me; skiing is my one tru love.
 
14113685:Phetboii said:
As I sit here in my 830am lecture, all I'm thinking about is how I should be on a mountain somewhere. It is the sport that connects me to nature and the art that overloads my senses. It has beat me down, broken pieces of me physically (and sometimes emotionally or mentally), but I always get back up and get back out there. It has connected me to other beautiful, like-minded people and I cannot express enough gratitude for what it has taught me; skiing is my one tru love.
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Beautiful words
 
14113688:SkylineGTR_R32 said:
Beautiful words
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yeah for real, I'm not trying to sound sappy here but when I think back to the time before I started skiing I wonder what did I do. I had no passion or motivation. Weekends were just a time to do nothing and not be in school. Everyone needs a passion in life and I'm super grateful that skiing is mine
 
I’ve had a long relationship with skiing. Skiing is quite literally the reason I’m alive (parents met working in a ski shop). It’s in my blood. I vividly remember skiing with my dad for the first time. It’s one of my earliest memories.

I’ve had so many intimate memories with skiing. The peacefulness of standing at the top of a mountain in the bitter cold, the exhilaration of racing down icy faces with friends, the joy of landing rail slides and 360s and flips for the first time, the thrill of landing a trick that terrifies you, the shock of eating absolute shit.

I’ve had plenty of both good and bad times attributed to the sport and the people that I’ve met through it, but I owe skiing a lot.
 
14113700:DIRTYBUBBLE said:
I’ve had a long relationship with skiing. Skiing is quite literally the reason I’m alive (parents met working in a ski shop). It’s in my blood. I vividly remember skiing with my dad for the first time. It’s one of my earliest memories.

I’ve had so many intimate memories with skiing. The peacefulness of standing at the top of a mountain in the bitter cold, the exhilaration of racing down icy faces with friends, the joy of landing rail slides and 360s and flips for the first time, the thrill of landing a trick that terrifies you, the shock of eating absolute shit.

I’ve had plenty of both good and bad times attributed to the sport and the people that I’ve met through it, but I owe skiing a lot.
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Why am I getting goosebumps reading this
 
Some of the closest you can get to flying. I also really enjoy how in the moment it forces you to be. You need to focus on small adjustments constantly to be able to do it well
 
Deep familial ties and a lifestyle thats brought on incredible friends, moments, memories, and opportunities. A snow-covered slope has always found a way into my life somehow from early on so I wouldnt change that for anything and work damn-hard to make sure that continues.
 
For me, the joy of skiing is the freedom to be as creative as I want, and be free. In school I have a lot of expectations weighing me down and when I get out on the mountain, I can forget about all that shit. Then there’s the satisfaction of landing a new trick, that rush of endorphins is one of the greatest feelings a person anyone can feel. The last thing is the magic of skiing the backcountry of in the deep woods, where if you stop it can be completely quiet. In my life at least, there isn’t ever a moment of silence except for when I’m in the mountains.
 
"skiing is what makes me feel whole".

I heard that from a PSIA clinicaian. It stuck with me.

Skiing is what gives my life meaning. The mountain is one of the few places where everyone can agree on something. It's me being a kid and having my parents drive me up and then in turn riding up with my friends. It's wet Saturdays. Cold icy night skiing. Becoming a park rat and having a crü. Quitting wrestling to become a racer so I could go up to hood on Thursday nights! It's taking a year off before college and living in GVCP. Having your crü disband. Doing the Colorado thing ( every one should do the Colorado thing).

Finding new ski buddies. Mobbing with a party. Solo days by yourself.

Getting older having a bad crash that makes you reconsider the park. Moving to a new town and. New mountain. Start teaching skiing and find that xhilaration when you see a person discover the love of skiing. Being sad that your dad has quit skiing. Coming to the fact that one does not bounce back @34 as you did at 16.

But will I quit .. never. As long as I'm alive I will ski. That's what it is to me
 
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