A Trip Down Memory Lane (or Slopes)

We asked our followers, “Where was the first place you ever went skiing?” The flood of responses (483 as of September 1, 2025) spanned from backyard hills to iconic resorts, and even a landfill or two. From the 1950s to the 2020s, these stories reveal how skiing and snowboarding spark lifelong passions, no matter where you started. Below, we dive into the highlights and share standout quotes.

Key Observations and Interesting Facts

Geographical Diversity: Most responses came from the U.S., with California (Badger Pass, Mammoth) and Colorado (Winter Park, Steamboat) leading the pack. Midwestern and Eastern hills, often with rope tows, were also popular. Globally, we saw firsts from New Zealand’s active volcano, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Argentina, Chile, and even Greenland.
DIY Beginnings: Over 15 people started on makeshift slopes—backyards, golf courses, or a “pile of old cars covered in dirt” in Saskatchewan. Improvised gear, like dog collars for bindings or pool cues for poles.
Time Travel: Memories stretched back to 1953, with many from the 1960s-70s. Rope tows were a nostalgic staple, and some spots, like Hidden Valley (CO) or Iron Mountain (CA), are now gone.
Unique Venues: Standouts included Mt. Trashmore (a Michigan landfill), an Alaskan pasture, and a New Zealand volcano. One person mixed up skiing with water skiing at a lake—classic!
Young Starters: Some were toddlers who “couldn’t walk yet,” while others, like a 2022 transplant from the Philippines, picked it up later and stuck with it despite sore butts.

These responses show that whether you started on a world-class slope or a trash heap, the thrill of that first run sticks forever.

Standout Quotes

Here’s a taste of the stories that caught our eye:

Jim Teo: “Badger Pass in Yosemite! And after a year, when we were 7-8 years old, our parents simply told us to meet at lunch.” (Kid freedom at its finest.)
Michael Snr Van Staveren: “In 1953 I skied at Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand.” (Talk about an epic first.)
Bïll Cōnrad: “Bolton Valley in Vt. I moved to the US from Philippines in 2022 and my wife brought me for snowboarding that winter for the first time. My butt got hurt a lot after that day and my wife thought I would quit but I never did.” (Proof that falling doesn’t mean failing.)
Hi Brooks: “Black Strap “Mountain, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Literally a pile of old cars covered in dirt.” (Skiing ingenuity at its best.)
Shannon Larson: “The neighbor’s hillside pasture, on hand-carved wood skis my Great Grandfather brought with him from Norway, leather dog collars to replace the rotten leather straps, over Sorel winter boots and a couple of old pool cues for poles,…..it didn’t take long for it to not go well,…….” (A recipe for chaos and charm.)
Clinton Westerberg: “Badger Pass. California oldest resort. First run straight up the whole hill. To crash at the bottom and knock wind out of me.” (We’ve all been there.)
Tom Bakos: “Mount Trashmore AKA The Riverview Highlands. Trash Dump landfill with 2 lifts SE Michigan. I learned there in 92 on my Hooger Booger 165.” (Skiing a landfill? Legendary.)

Data Breakdown: Top First Ski Locations

To make the trends pop, we counted the most frequently mentioned resorts (excluding vague “backyard” entries). Below is a bar chart of the top five locations, based on response counts, representing about 30% of specific resort mentions. California and Colorado dominated, but the variety was wild.

Chart Insights

Badger Pass (Yosemite, CA) led with 10+ mentions, often tied to childhood memories and its status as California’s oldest resort. Crashes, like Clinton’s wind-knocking wipeout, were common.
Mammoth Mountain (CA) followed closely with 9 mentions, popular for both skiing (1960s-70s) and early snowboarding.
Winter Park (CO) had 8 mentions, a family-friendly starter spot, with some recalling pre-Eisenhower Tunnel days.
Steamboat Springs (CO) and Bridger Bowl (MT) rounded out the top five, with Steamboat evoking 1970s nostalgia and Bridger drawing Montana pride.

The remaining responses were a mix of unique resorts and quirky spots, from defunct hills to international gems.

Wrapping It Up

From a New Zealand volcano to a Michigan landfill, these first-ski stories prove that the magic of skiing or snowboarding isn’t about the place—it’s about the feeling. Whether you crashed, laughed, or got hooked for life, those initial runs shape us. Got a story? Share it in the comments! Thanks to our followers for the memories—here’s to more powder days. 🏂⛷️