What skiing means to me / mental health

Skiblade420

Active member
As I sit here, shredded from going out tonight. I’ve decided to let my guard down and throw my personal life out onto newschoolers.

I found skiing out of shear boredom during the pandemic, and thank goodness I did. The amount of depression and anxiety that I’ve experienced over the past few years is too much to put to words, and It’s sad how much people are experiencing the same exact feelings these days.

I’ve lived a good life and had great opportunities / privileges, which creates such a strong feeling of guilt whenever I vocalize my mental health issues.

Long story short the combination of intense feelings of heartbreak, loneliness and lack of self worth I’ve experienced / still struggle with was essentially cut in half by this amazing sport we all share.

The shine the snow has on a blue bird day, the rhythm of linking turn to turn, the weightlessness of a big jump line, drinking beer on the lift/pissing on trees with my friends, they were all things that helped me do one big thing…. It helped me to stop thinking.

It helped me to enjoy the moment.

It helped me to forget.

It helped me to be outside.

It helped me to reach out to my friends.

It helped me to regain my confidence.

And most importantly it helped me to have hope, to have things to look forward to…. , because in my messed up mind, I was holding onto threads until I saw the x games ski knuckle huck and decided I wanted to try this out.

I want to say that I appreciate all of you, and I appreciate this forum. I’m new here, and I always read things like, “newchoolers is more toxic than ever”, yet I’ve had countless good interactions on here.

I laugh when I read dolans posts, when woflowz talks about his marksmans, when vibecheck puts his ?. When someone is encountering skierman for the first time in their threads, when trap angel replies, when milfhunter appears out of nowhere, when someone makes a bighorn joke, when weastcoast says some stupid shit that makes sense somehow… and there’s countless more people that have entertained me on my lunchbreaks / before bed.

You can literally ask any gear related question on this site and a handful of people will try to help you… even though they get nothing back from it.

Do you realizing how special that is?

I feel that there’s some sort of disconnect going on, that people remember newschoolers in its hayday, without realizing how much it still has to offer.

I apologize to any of you who I’ve been an ass to. Let’s try to keep more of the uplifting/funny/helpful/hype at the core of all the stuff we throw up on here, because that’s what’s lightened my sad days, and I’m sure it’s lightened a lot of yours too.

Thanks for contributing to this place, it’s helped me a lot.
 
That was a wall of text.

More shoutouts to bigpurp, maxbro, keagan, Sullivan, Eric Forman, biff Barf, gorbdawggy, skierman jack, young patty, pink camo, all the dog farts and much more.
 
14313683:Skiblade420 said:
That was a wall of text.

More shoutouts to bigpurp, maxbro, keagan, Sullivan, Eric Forman, biff Barf, gorbdawggy, skierman jack, young patty, pink camo, all the dog farts and much more.

aye
 
That's pretty ill.

It's easy to become jaded and take skiing for granted. Until the pandemic I had forgotten what a mental boost I got from the whole process of going skiing, stopped appreciating the gorgeous drive. I'm reset now. I made it a point to curb back the pow mania I had, and concentrate on making the whole mountain my playground regardless of the conditions. Enjoy the crowds, and feed off of their stoke, etc.
 
I’ve been skiing for a while but this was my first season really trying to ski park in a dedicated fashion. Hit my first legit rails and had the time of my life sliding tubes. That clip you posted looked better than me on any rail this season for sure. Ended up feeling more comfortable and dialed with spins and then I tore my MCL trying to air over a fence lol

Big ups to you for seeing something on TV and being like “imma do that”

14313709:Skiblade420 said:
Yeah it was, thanks man!
 
It’s one big family, a lot of that hit home hard when I read it. Skiing and it’s community always lifts ya from any evils, it’s really magical. Respect sir ??❤️
 
14313710:DesertStix said:
I’ve been skiing for a while but this was my first season really trying to ski park in a dedicated fashion. Hit my first legit rails and had the time of my life sliding tubes. That clip you posted looked better than me on any rail this season for sure. Ended up feeling more comfortable and dialed with spins and then I tore my MCL trying to air over a fence lol

Big ups to you for seeing something on TV and being like “imma do that”

Thanks! Park skiing is so fun ain’t it? I also got injured and separated my ac joint in my shoulder beefing it on a knuckle trick, but luckily it was endish of season and it’s fine now. Best of luck with your recovery fence hopper!
 
14313713:weastcoast said:
It’s one big family, a lot of that hit home hard when I read it. Skiing and it’s community always lifts ya from any evils, it’s really magical. Respect sir ??❤️

Word ❤️‍?
 
Takes some courage to talk about stuff like that OP even if it’s liquid courage sometimes, props! Also I’ll tell you all about my marksman any day. Or the Sego Big horns… much love to you and all of NS this community is mostly dope ❤️
 
Absolutely killer read brotha! I agree so much with that. This site has helped me through so much and given me the uplift I never knew I needed! As much as we wanna talk shit about how things used to be or that skiing has changed. This site at the end of the day is truly what skiing is all about. I’ve gotten to meet some of the raddest people and experience skiing in its purest form! Big ups to everyone on here! Much Love to y’all!
 
Shit dude it's your first season skiing? I just checked your vids and you fucking rip bro. Also props for this thread. Here's to everything that fills your cup, and when it runs over may you share your passion with others.
 
First season and you’re already 10x the park skier I’ll ever be and I’ve been skiing my whole life ?? for real tho dude it’s all love, NS is such a cool community that I consider myself super fortunate to have found!
 
Had a similar experience myself this past winter. After skiing only one day the year before, I rediscovered how much I absolutely love skiing and ended up skiing 33 days.

Looks like you're in SoCal skiing at Bear? I'm usually at Summit, but would come over to Bear to meet up with NS'ers. I'm relatively new to the area... grew up skiing NY/VT.
 
14313683:Skiblade420 said:
That was a wall of text.

More shoutouts to bigpurp, maxbro, keagan, Sullivan, Eric Forman, biff Barf, gorbdawggy, skierman jack, young patty, pink camo, all the dog farts and much more.

I might be in mammoth sometime this season wanna grab a beer? Or probably a coffee because I’m 18
 
14313743:steve0 said:
Had a similar experience myself this past winter. After skiing only one day the year before, I rediscovered how much I absolutely love skiing and ended up skiing 33 days.

Looks like you're in SoCal skiing at Bear? I'm usually at Summit, but would come over to Bear to meet up with NS'ers. I'm relatively new to the area... grew up skiing NY/VT.

I’m down in SD… Always looking for NS’ers in so cal to ski with. Can relate, except with mountain biking. Went years without doing it and now I think it’s what’s pulled me out of my down years. I feel a sense of purpose again and an excitement everyday.

OP, great post. I spent countless hours on this site when I was younger. It has a huge impact on me and helped strengthen my love for the sport and gave me a sense of community. I didn’t exactly grow up in a skiing hot spot so NS was my community.
 
14313743:steve0 said:
Had a similar experience myself this past winter. After skiing only one day the year before, I rediscovered how much I absolutely love skiing and ended up skiing 33 days.

Looks like you're in SoCal skiing at Bear? I'm usually at Summit, but would come over to Bear to meet up with NS'ers. I'm relatively new to the area... grew up skiing NY/VT.

Yeah let’s hit up bear sometime this season! Or summit, can use any kind of season pass or day pass you buy for there at either since it’s the same company.
 
14313770:Funnel said:
I’m down in SD… Always looking for NS’ers in so cal to ski with. Can relate, except with mountain biking. Went years without doing it and now I think it’s what’s pulled me out of my down years. I feel a sense of purpose again and an excitement everyday.

OP, great post. I spent countless hours on this site when I was younger. It has a huge impact on me and helped strengthen my love for the sport and gave me a sense of community. I didn’t exactly grow up in a skiing hot spot so NS was my community.

Dope I’m in SD too, would be fun to link this coming season!
 
14313769:Max.bro said:
I might be in mammoth sometime this season wanna grab a beer? Or probably a coffee because I’m 18

Mammoth is 7hrs from me but I’m hoping to go a few times again this season. If our trips link up by some chance then that’d be sick! Lmk when u go
 
14313773:Skiblade420 said:
Mammoth is 7hrs from me but I’m hoping to go a few times again this season. If our trips link up by some chance then that’d be sick! Lmk when u go

Oh shid if you’re in the Diego area I’m down there kinda often too, my cousins live in Temecula
 
14313776:Max.bro said:
Oh shid if you’re in the Diego area I’m down there kinda often too, my cousins live in Temecula

Ah damn yeah that’s closeish, big bear is pretty close. If you use ikon for your season pass both bear and mammoth are on it unlimited
 
14313778:Skiblade420 said:
Ah damn yeah that’s closeish, big bear is pretty close. If you use ikon for your season pass both bear and mammoth are on it unlimited

Yuh I think I might make it down to bear too, I’m still planning out a big ski trip for this season
 
Great read. Completely agree. It’s super important to have something you are always working towards improving at. Wild it’s your first year skiing, already got mad style.
 
Don’t think he’s chimed in but [tag=264089]@ASAPCarter[/tag] is a SoCal/big bear homie I’m sure he’s done to hit the park with you if y’all are out there together. I’m just a state over but my best friend out here grew up riding bear and goes multiple times a season and I always get an invite. If I end up out there this season we should get some park laps in!
 
I’m mostly back to normal now. If anything my knees are stronger. Glad to hear you’re doing better too and yeah skiing park is so much fun. Hiking a feature until you stick a trick is the ultimate feeling of satisfaction. Unfortunately my local park scene is pretty snowboarder heavy and can be exclusive so a lot of time I’m just riding solo which can be tough to progress. Maybe I’ll make it out to bear next season!

14313717:Skiblade420 said:
Thanks! Park skiing is so fun ain’t it? I also got injured and separated my ac joint in my shoulder beefing it on a knuckle trick, but luckily it was endish of season and it’s fine now. Best of luck with your recovery fence hopper!
 
Hell yeah. Skiing keeps me going. Even on the off-season, I’m constantly thinking about skiing. I feel you, OP. I had dabbled and lurked for years but finally jumped into NS and started really engaging when the pandemic first hit.

The community is awesome. Def keeps me going. It’s nice to have other people to nerd over skiing with.
 
Honestly everyone on this site is an absolute homie. Shoutout to everyone I’ve ever interacted with and I hope to meet up with y’all someday (HMU if you’re in eastern PA or western NJ)
 
14313743:steve0 said:
ended up skiing 33 days.

core [tag=147301]@ArsenicAnywhere[/tag]

Love all you guys :) It’s amazing the bond skiing allows us to share. I’m sure a lot of you can relate when I say NS helps me get through the day
 
Good read OP and glad to see you found skiing and all of us here on NS. I have met some of the greatest people on the ski hill and on this site. Keep shredding and hope to maybe make some turns with you one day!
 
Hell yea bro, needed to read this one one, kinda took skiing for granted the past season cuz I work at my local resort and ended up having a season where I wasn’t too stoked, gonna keep this in mind to be more in the moment
 
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