Skiing has changed dramatically over the past few decades, with new equipment, technology, resort experiences, and social trends reshaping the sport. Not every change has been welcomed by skiers.
We recently asked Unofficial Networks readers which ski trends they would most like to see disappear. The responses covered everything from resort pricing to mountain etiquette, but several complaints came up repeatedly. Here are five of the biggest trends skiers said they are ready to leave behind.
1. Bluetooth Speakers On The Mountain
Few complaints appeared more frequently than loud music coming from Bluetooth speakers. Backpack speakers have become increasingly common in lift lines, on chairlifts, and while skiing down the mountain. While some skiers enjoy listening to music while they ride, most don’t want someone else’s playlist following them around the mountain. Stick to headphones, it’s not that hard.
2. Skyrocketing Lift Ticket Prices
The cost of skiing was unsurprisingly another dominant theme. Day tickets cost more than $100 at most resorts, with some prices reaching $150, $200, or even higher at major mountains. Plus there’s the rising season pass prices and the increasingly expensive cost of food, lodging, and parking. Many people said the biggest trend they want to disappear is simply making skiing less affordable.
3. Paid Parking And Extra Resort Fees
Paid parking also drew significant criticism. Many skiers argued that paying hundreds of dollars for a lift ticket should include basic access to the resort parking lot. Others pointed to reservations, premium parking, and additional fees as examples of how skiing has become more complicated and expensive. This is a particularly strong frustration, given that most of clearly remember when parking was simply part of the resort experience.
4. Bad Lift Line Etiquette
The behavior of other skiers and snowboarders while waiting for the chairlift was another common complaint. People saving spots with skis, refusing to fill empty spaces on chairs, waiting in the entrance to a lift maze for friends, cutting lines, and leaving equipment in line while going somewhere else were all mentioned.
With crowded resorts already producing long waits, poor lift line etiquette can make the experience that much worse.
5. Dangerous And Inconsiderate Skiing
The final major category involved behavior on the slopes. Readers repeatedly mentioned straightlining, skiing too fast for the terrain, stopping in the middle of trails, stopping below rollers where approaching skiers cannot see them, and failing to look uphill before crossing or entering a run. On the crowded slopes, poor awareness and inconsiderate skiing easily creates very dangerous situations for every around.
What Ski Trend Would You Eliminate?
Skiers and snowboarders aren’t necessarily opposed to change, they just want to see changes that make skiing more affordable, less intrusive, and safer. Bluetooth speakers, skis left in line, and reckless skiers/snowboarders are all things that the mountain can do with out.