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What is the USA’s take on the American ski bum?
Do they respect the ski bum? Do they envy the ski bum? Do they appreciate our presence, or do they want us gone? Are they intimidated by us on the hill? Or do they enjoy our vibe, dedication, and local knowledge?
This is an innately interesting topic. Ski bums create and establish the local vibe, real world working people come up on weekends and holidays and fund our addictions.
Without one, the other cannot exist? This may not be obvious, but I think it’s true. What is obvious, is that there would be no ski resorts nor ski towns without the weekend/holiday warriors. They have the money, buy the day tickets, stay in the hotels, buy food at the restaurants, purchase the gasoline, and put the money in our tip jars.
What isn’t as obvious is whether or not we need ski bums. This is where I’d really love to open the discussion. I’m very curious what the USA thinks about the ski bum and our level of usefulness. This is something that, contrary to Ayn Rand’s beliefs, has to be decided by committee.
Typical ski bum behavior.
In some places being a ski bum is respected. For example: in European countries, being a skiing professional such as a ski patrol or ski instructor is a respectable occupation. These ski bums are paid well, appreciated, and even celebrated. I don’t think that opinion is shared here in the good ole US of A. When I personally opted out of grad school for ski bumming my family was much less than ecstatic about my decision. Ski bums in America seem to often be revered as exactly that…bums.
What defines the American ski bum?
There are so many types of ski bums that I shouldn’t even try to categorize them…but I will anyway.
The straight from high school ski bum who moves out to a ski town directly from high school.
The overeducated ski bum who moves to a ski town immediately after college or grad school (Hell, Squaw Valley Pro Ski Patrol currently has employees with BAs and graduate degrees from MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, and even lowly Stanfurd. One is literally a rocket scientist, no bs.)
The burnt-out ski bum who moves to a ski town after working in a cubicle for X amount of years and realizes it’s not for them.
The temporary ski bum who moves to a ski town between schools, jobs, girl/boyfriends.
The one season ski bum who knows they are going back to the real world but doesn’t wanna miss out on the experience.
The local ski bum who actually grew up in the ski town that they are bumming in and has never been able to get out.
The lifer ski bum who came up a long time ago and will ski bum until his knees and hips give out (and once they do, he will still stay in the ski town and talk about how rad they were back in the day).
Ski bumming has been going on for a long time. Jean Claude Killy mastering the art of spring skiing.
What truly defines the ski bum is the willingness to give up money, glory, girls (if you’re a guy), night life, societal acceptance, and almost all forms of security for the opportunity to never miss a powder day.
But, of course, there are even exceptions to these decisive conditions above. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, it’s arguably the coolest thing that can happen to any skier…it’s called: The Big Pro Skier.
The Big Pro Skier does have money, glory, girls, night life, societal acceptance, and security. The Big Pro Skier even gives back to society by being in movies and performing stunts that entertain and awe the real world skiers. The real world skiers grow to love and admire these Big Pro Skiers and even invite them to their Christmas and Brit Milah parties.
Big Pro Skier Shane McConkey warranting his existence.
What is it about the ski bum that captures our interest so severely? I think it’s a question that simply leads to more questions like the ones asked in the opening paragraph. I’d love to hear your answers on these question as I’m truly not brave enough to assume how the USA would answer them all.
As a ex-temporary bum (as determined by your definitions above), yeah, I’d say that they are an essential part of mountain life… they add to the vibe, the knowledge, etc. But just like we don’t need completely self-righteous elitist assholes in the real world, mountain towns could do without them as well. Not saying that all ski bums are; the truth is far from it… but it’s the few out there (and everyone knows at least one) that fuck it up. Anyone who has spent a fair amount of time in Tahoe has seen the surly dicks with the “KEEP TAHOE LOCAL” stickers on their trucks… really, asshole? Who the fuck do you think is keeping Tahoe going?
Gary,
I like where your heads at. To answer your question it is in fact the Tahoe “Locals” who keep it going. I mean, without the influx of kids from Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York who are “locals,” our local economy would collapse. Just ask any one of them?
Gary hit it on the head. Miles if all “Bums” were like you(Thoughtful and Humorous) they would be revered. Keep up the good work. As a general rule unless you are a ripper shut up. In all facets of life we respect talent. Just because you live un Tahoe means nothing. If you throw inverts off the Fingers go on with your bad self. Also if you are over the age of 30 stickers are not cool. Let it go fellas.
“Also if you are over the age of 30 stickers are not cool.”
amen.
ahh 2 more years of stickers…. thank god
I’m keeping the Venture Snowboards sticker on my jeep… and no one can stop me.
oh no i just turned 30 and i still have the same helmet from 5 years ago, stickers galore!
I think that the ski bum is someone many weekend skiers aspire to be, but for one reason or another can’t be. I myself would love to come to Tahoe and live out the rest of my existence on the slopes in the winter and bike trails in the summer. However, due to an increasing amount of grad school debt and other obligations I am unable to do so. I am, however, looking for a decent paying job in the Tahoe Area that would allow me to pay my bills (including this eductional debt) and ski as often as possible (so maybe there is hope for me). The interesting thing though about all of this is that I come from a family of skiers, yet if I wanted to buck a “normal” life and become a ski bum, my family would most certainly look down on me. It’s unfortunate, but I guess that’s life. Anyways, to answer the actual question posed by this article, I think that the ski bum leads the perfect lifestyle, someone who is happy with what they have and truly enjoys every day to the fullest doing something they love, if you ask me, the world would be a better place if everyone could follow those same guidelines.
Don’t be so openly hateful millimeters clark. I was an over educated temp ski bum, probably the most loathsome of all types. But to call your own hunting grounds “lowly”? For shame!!!!
Tycoon, you got me laughing. Admittedly, I had to look at the “hunting grounds” comments twice before getting it. touche, my friend, touche.
Rail,
Key word in your response being “temp.” Fail on your part. That sounds like an Ivy League effort.
fail is a bit strong. moving to greener pastures (aka wasatch) and oh yeah a more productive life (eg do something more for society than telling them how rad they are not). it is not without a heavy heart that I leave
Oh and the ivy league can suck balls, they probably do actually as long as they are covered in coke or sweat. PAC 12 FOR LIFE BITCHES!!!!!! Do some reading quackenbush
As someone who has been pretty much ALL of the above….I moved to Tahoe right out of high school, stayed for 10 years, got hurt, then moved back to the Bay Area, got a real job, made lots of money and got stuck in the material world. The vibe of Tahoe always stuck with me and took me 15 years to figure out that money means nothing.I moved back 5 years ago and will never leave. This place rocks! So to answer the question I would a say that we need the weekend warriors to support our community, no doubt about that. As far as whether or not they need us? Who really cares? The smart ones will get out of the trap they live in. From my experience, its overrated to be accepted in todays society. I say live your life to the fullest and fuck what everybody else thinks…
Well Said. Do as you wish.
My life long dream was to be a skier. The LAW OF ATTRACTION manifested my dream at SNOWBIRD, UTAH. Though for some years I was poor and could be construed as a BUM, I was able to move beyond the BUM moniker and just be a skier. I have been blessed by being able to live the dream, and I try to radiate the blessing to all I encounter.
Both Warrior and Local are important for Tahoe. Both bring value, but as Gary stated, a douche is a douche whether Warrior or Local and can really bring each other down. We don’t need to hug and sing together, but a little mutual respect should be extended, especially since we have all found the greatest sport on earth and one of the best places to test ourselves.
Miles – you clearly have been in Tahoe toooo long if those are really your “hunting grounds”.
As becoming a burnt-out bum this past winter and still riding the pass, I can honestly say that I love my life as a bum. Being a bartender in one of the local hotels, I have pictures up of my friends hucking areas like lobotomizer, Gaffney’s playground, rush and nitro rocks. When the weekend warriors ask me who took those photos?, or Who is that? (and I point to my waiter), I have found that the warrior’s begin to build a respect and admiration as they look upon these feats which they can only imagine. The warrior’s love the local as we give them goals and dreams while they cruise down their blue groomers as we bounce through the trees. It is not a necessity to have the bum, however, it makes the experience that much more enjoyable for all.
I’ve skied with weekend warriors who are just as good or better than locals. Why do we assume they cruise down blue groomers?
waht about the “I now have a job in the industry” forever ski bum??? lot’s of us out there!
I have a Ski Industry Job and I will forever be a ski bum. Three full time seasons as an instructor lead to a job with a local ski tool manufacturer / Race shop. I’m set for life man.
No we don’t need ski bums BUT society has a lot of things that we don’t NEED. Like, I don’t know, VACATION HOMES! There are also a lot of occupations out there that would fall under the “real job” category that really are not needed but are there because society creates a market for them. Essentially we should all be able to choose the life we want to live. Being a ski bum doesn’t have a negative affect on world, I can think of numerous “real world” jobs out there that have awful effects on society, as well as our health, and the environment. Americans need to start living within their means and I think a lot of ski bum embody that mantra.
you sir are dumb
Please give us an example of real jobs that “really are not needed but are there because society creates a market for them”. Ski bumming will have a negative affect on your child’s life, if you choose to reproduce.
The fuck are you talking about? All my ski bum raised friends have wordly views and aspirations, and connections to industry. Most weekend warrior race kids end up living in the Material trap wishing they could live like us.
Oh and.. Interior decorator. Completely useless job.
If Society creates a market for them, please explain how we dont need them.
Also If there were no bums, who the hell would serve all the rich folks dinner?
People who ski and appreciate skiing, envy the ski bum. People who don’t ski just don’t understand. Also what classifies a ski bum? I live in Squaw, and work in Squaw. I can pay my bills, ski everyday, and still have some change left to go to have fun. I don’t consider myself a bum. I’m just lucky enough to live the dream. It’s true that resort towns need outside mOney to survive. On the flip side however, resort towns also need young people willing to work for little pay. It’s a symbiotic relationship. If being a ski bum is your niche in life, who cares how other people see you.
you need just own it, you’re a bum! wear it with pride!
I just farted:)
awesome
There is a book that was published last year, “In search of powder: A story of America’s disappearing ski bum”. It’s author Jeremy Evans chronicles several ski towns, it’s a great read and very relevant to this post.
if ski resorts would pay decent wages, there would be no ski bums, but resorts here cater to a much smaller market as a % of overall population, hence they cut costs in places that european ski resorts do not. and in the instance of jobs like ski instructors, they should be making much more money, but they don’t have unions like the french and the swiss that give ski instructors more than a BUMS wage.
Don’t forget the snowboard bum…truley a bottom feeder. He will take ANYTHING on a bad day, corn, mush, bomb holes, boiler plate, crust, blow in, hiking for 2 turns….a tortured soul !
^^ warrior
Boilerplate, on a snowboard? No thanks.
Don’t be a pussy. Sharpen those edges, crack a beer and light that joint in the gondola. Riding is riding and I live every bit of it.
I was a temporary/over-educated ski bum. I went up with a few units left, did my first season, then finished college. I intended to do two more years, but ended up doing 5. The fun just conscripted me to keep going. I always said I was going to leave after the winter was over, but always needed one more season.
My last season, I blew my knee out on January 3. Interestingly enough, I was following Miles off a Squaw cliff called Smooth Air. I crashed, and blew my ACL. I got a brace made, and tried to ski, but I just was not pushing it the way I wanted to. I got surgery, and left that spring, bound for grad school.
Am I happy I left? Yes. I am a weekend warrior now, skiing about 40 days a year. I still love it, but I have a more complete life. I do spend my days in a cube, which might drive some folks crazy, but I find life fun and fulfilling. I have a girlfriend who is willing to drive to Mammoth with me 3 weekends a month, and brave the Mt. Baldy rocks when we don’t go up, so that makes life much better. I am really lucky to have found that. My first few years out of the mountains I had a hard time during the winter. Most girls won’t stick around when the find out you are going to the mountains 3 weekends a month. I get to surf every weekend in the summer, and maybe one night a week, which is cool. Orange County gets good summer surf, which is really a plus. I’m lucky to have a complete, and fulfilling life.
Part of what caused me to leave was indeed the guilt. The ‘you should be doing something else with your life’ voice. In general, I am not a fan of making decisions based on ‘voices’ like that. Despite that, I am glad I left. I also don’t regret my time up in Tahoe a bit. I loved every minute of it. I’m glad things worked out this way for me. It turned out that blowing my knee out just gave me a push in a different life direction.
If you think Orange County is better than Tahoe in any way, then we have drastically differing opinions on what makes a “complete, and fulfilling life” (which is fine I suppose. to each his own)
I’m an old ex overeducated ski bum who stayed in the East 3 years after college before b-school because my ski patrol connections were in NH and VT. Winter was what we all lived for, but summer paid the bills, bought the Jeeps; springtime just after the mountains closed was pretty scratchy, all we could aford was to hike up Tucks with a couple six packs and baggies full of weed, and party…
Learned a lot in those few years, a lot about skiing, people both good and bad, and life itself. I’m down to about 30 days a year; haven’t been to Utah since I took my kids in Middle school (they were on the HS ski team, so go figure…)
The mountains are still there, I most of the time I am not. But I have a deeper understanding of the mountains and the people who are there when I get back on the slopes. There are very few people my age or twenty years younger who can ski where I ski on these slopes we have in the east, and every morning evening I spend in our rugged little mountains I thank the big G for making me a skier…
lol ur funny
I moved to tahoe in 1997 on the verge/brink of the transformation of skiing. Having soent my early ski career out east, skiing and then snowboarding the ice slopes as a ski/board instructor/bum/local.
In November of 97 we launched our trusty subaru west, on the great migration route followed by many others…the infamous I80 one way street to tahoe.
I stayed in Tahoe City for 13 years…skis with the best and “brightest” …
I have probably slept with most of your girlfriends or wife’s
so that look they have while you are pounding them…they are thinking of me and that hot tub we snuck into.
ha
I would get an STD test ASAP if I was you
What does soent mean? What does it mean to have a ski career? Do you dicks really think Tahoe City has the best and brightest skiers?
Tahoe is soooo sick. It’s so sick and gnarly you have no idea. My farts are gnarly too. Where’s the pow pow?
Suck it!
The debate here has been replicated in every ski town in the world, asking the question, “who has value in our town?” I started off as an overeducated ski bum. I got on the ski patrol and lived in my parents cabin, making ends meet any way I could. Then I met and married my boss (aim high girls!). I still work on the patrol and he’s the GM, so I’ve looked at this debate from many sides. What I realize now, from my new perspective, is how much ski areas need ski bums. Of course, we need weekend warriors too, that goes without saying. But without the locals vibe–the stickers on pick-up trucks, the duct taped gear, the lines getting shredded–ski areas would feel like the city, with everyone following the same roles. But in order to have a good vibe, the ski area, and the ski patrol, needs to be friendly with the locals. That’s the key. The locals bring the stoke and the warriors pay the bills. You can’t have one without the other.
Way to make ends meet living in your parents vacation home. This should be another ski bum category; sponsored by M &D.
you guys are awesome kim, keep it up. and open up soon.
“The fact is that the average man’s love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth. He is not actually happy when free; he is uncomfortable, a bit alarmed, and intolerably lonely. Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of men. It is the exclusive possession of a small and disreputable minority, like knowledge, courage and honor. It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty — and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies. ”
-Henry Louis Mencken
Solid Repost. I likey
Up the hits without the work of a new blog entry. Geniussss
I spoke with a few people a while back about the ski bum lifestyle and how I aspire to be the “burnt out ski bum” and they completely discounted it as a lifestyle. Their argument was that they do not contribute in any sense to society, to some higher calling or human betterment. My argument was, do you contribute by sitting in your cubicle all day – how are you helping society? I would argue that skiers are definitely no less positive than a blank staring cubicle drone, but absolutely less invasive in a negative way on the environment/society (i.e. commuting 50 miles a day, etc).
i work on improving water quality for pharma and semi conductor industries in my cubicle. so i think society benefits from my work. pretty much everyone uses medicine and something that has a micro chip in it. so while i don’t exactly enjoy being a cubicle drone, i think i am helping out society a bit more than a ski bum in one sense.
That being said, I love ski bums and have no problem with them. i enjoy visiting my ski bum friends because they are pretty hilarious to hang out with and awesome to shred with, which in turn brings great happiness to me and i’m sure many other people out there. so in that sense ski bums can be useful to society.
I’ve been a ski bum almost my whole life. My trust fund keeps me knee deep in blow.
I am currently living in tahoe and somehow my education made itself useful and I got a “real” job after bumming it for awhile. We’ll see what this winter brings, but I havnt yet decided if I have the best of both worlds, or if I am doing it completely wrong by working a 9-5 in a place meant to spend my time otherwise.
it’ll be hard on the pow days but still better than working 9-5 in the city.
I would say that without ski bums ski resorts won’t run. If their aren’t any ski bums, who else will do the job?
Don’t you have have undocumented immigrant workers in Kirkwood?
Give it time, VR just took over.
Me ?? I’m a Born Again Ski Bum… didn’t start logging lots of vert and ski days until I divorced in 1994 and really didn’t “Find” my inner ski bum until a couple of years after Jerry Garcia Died…two event spushed me over the edge so to speak…1) Divorce, 2) no more Grateful Dead tour = an epiphany. I have no regrets and love damn near every day I get to make turns. Happy Trails to all. !!
I say abort all born again bullshit. You just never were a ski bum (insert whatever you like). You, farmer, were a married hippie who became a ski bum. I gain peace by keeping Jerry in a bag around my neck. Happy trail bro.
It’s an awfully small aspect of the world to let it define you, isn’t it? I mean, I love skiing more than any other single thing in my life, but that doesn’t mean I let it consume who I am or let it rivet me in a single place or poverty. One of the best parts of skiing for me is traveling the world, which one can definitely not do as a “bum.” I’ve been the broke skier working at Baker, it’s not a sustainably happy way to live (for me). The becoming a pro thing is ludicrous, considering you can make a far higher wage relatively easily then ski on your own terms. Plus, you don’t get fired for blowing your ACL. It’s not that I don’t like or appreciate what is typically defined as the ski bum, it’s just that I don’t envy the one dimensional lifestyle.
Then again, I’m wasting time in front of a computer waiting for snow to fall. I guess in the end we’re all sucked into the same game.
what he said
I was blessed enough to be a true ski-bum in J-hole for a couple of winters. Hands down the best decision ever. Yes, I didn’t make any money, Yes, I ate ramen and drank PBR’s like it was going out of style, Yes, there were 10 dudes to 1 chick. But it was fucking amazing. There is something magical about ski-towns that one can’t experience via a week long vacation. That magic is provided by all the ski-bums waiting tables, bumping chairs (my winter profession), slinging drinks, working at hotels, etc. Regardless of what job you worked, you were stoked on life because life revolved around skiing, hanging out/partying with amazing people and having zero cares.
If anyone is reading this and is wavering on becoming a ski-bum this season. Pack your shit now, fuel up the tank and head out west. It will be the best move you ever made. And, not to be bias on where you go, Jackson Hole’s hiring fair is going on this weekend.
Love your life. Peace.
I do not envy you “ski bums” any more than the bum begging for change on the corner. He is “living the dream” too. As for the Big Pro Skier, They are dead, or soon will be. See photo above of guy skiing powder with sunglasses, no hat, and stainless steel skies.
For anyone contemplating turning your life into a cliche, consider these words of wisdom, life is a shit sandwich the more bread you have the less shit you taste.
you suck, do you even know who that great man is in the photo a above!!?
I lived in tahoe from washington for three years from 2004-07. 2004-05 was a banger year! Now Im married, 3 year old boy and get out at least 30 days a year in washington. At least once a day I think back at those three years of non stop riding. Good times!
JUST SKI! too much talk about this, it’s just skiing people. who really gives a shit what people think or if we are needed here. i moved to tahoe in 77 and still live here and ski 3 or 4 days a week. lots and lots of losers here, like everywhere.
The Dude abides.
Right out of high school skibum and would not trade it for the world. In 1999 thought I was out west for a year or two but dont think I will ever give this lifestyle up.
Skibumb while you’re young and without responsibility but at some point you just have to hang it up! Those old dudes that think they’re rad and tell tall tales about “how they use to go solo big back in the day” are lame!
U R LAME!
I’m the burnt-out ski bum
Miles you missed a bum type….9th grade education, skied my whole life (46 years), 10- 200+ day seasons but mostly they were 120 days a year, worked in the industry for 20 years, retired with lifetime season pass at Schweitzer, knees still work but I don’t anymore. Never really cared what anyone else thinks of my choices in life, it works for me and that is all that counts. Ski bums are essential to the industry, SOMEONE has to ski all the midweek powder and ride the empty lifts while the rest of the drones are being slaves working for more money than they really need. The formula?…super secret but it doesn’t involve trust funds.
I don’t care about any of this, but I love the photo of the 2007 Rodas apartment in LL.
people keep telling me i should get a fulfilling job. the only thing i learned in college is that skiing and sex are all that fulfill me.
Skiing is way better than Sex!
Over 30 no stickers: I have a lot of stickers and am most def over 30…not one sticker is on my car but quite a few on the rocket box…allowed or not allowed?
Forgot to mention all those skiers on the gvmt doll.
I didn’t scour all the posts, but from my quick review I didn’t see anyone one mention perhaps the most fortunate ski bum of all – the technically wired professional who works remotely from a ski town but reports to NY, DC, LA etc, essentially having the ski town as their “cubical”. The “Tech-Bum” if you will. With the advent of smart phones, reliable internet connectivity, good mail/fed ex service, these professionals can work on east coast time, make 1st tram on pow days, and touch base during the day from their iPhone, plan important calls if need be, and then catch up from the day after close of business (and more importantly, close of the lifts). I live this life, and meet more and more that are attempting the change as well and feel as long as the keep performing they can keep it. THAT may be the rub – can one keep up performance? Admittedly not “buming” in the traditional sense, but nonetheless embodies much of that life style w/out a some of the downside. LET IT SNOW!