Completely agree with this. I'm in the thick of it now with two kids aged 10 and 12. Every year it gets harder to keep skiing a part of the family fabric.
Soccer is already year round but my son is still young enough that he can miss a practice here or there. Daughter in volleyball and softball.
Kids like but don't love to ski. They are both really, really good. Have skied a good amount both in the East and the West.
I played baseball and hockey (we didn't ski) and I had the chance to play in college (Div 3, nothing too special) and I certainly don't remember it being all encompassing the way it is now.
My wife is obsessed with the kids' sports. Ironically, she loves to ski and is very good at it but everything takes a back seat to team sports. If we have a few days off, they will be in a camp for their sports. If some other team needs a fill-in, you better believe she volunteered our kids, etc. If we have a day off, you better bet the coach will find another team to scrimmage on our "day off." It just never stops. Just when I think I have a few hours to get something accomplished, there is another game or practice that comes up. She wants to analyze our kids' development from game to game in excrutiating detail.
She played basketball growing up and is trying hard to get our son involved. He played this season but wants to take a season off. This is one of the few times she couldn't convince him to just play. Basketball interferes with skiing so it freaks me out (plus I've never been a fan) but I have to support giving him the opportunity if he wants it.
I say all this but my wife is great in so many ways that make it work for us and in fairness, both of our kids are pretty open to being involved in so many activities and I don't want to deter that mindset. I also really enjoy watching them play but there does come a point where people should have lives outside of youth sports.
Through all of this mayhem, my wife does work with me in the winter and we somehow get up skiing a few times a year. Kids usually get 7 days or so and I usually get around 15. We get them seasonal rentals, we've taken a trip out West for the past three seasons and she bought herself new boots so she is definitely into it. I just see it becoming less and less of a priority year after year, especially when practices become mandatory.
For those asking about dropping the kids off at practice or camp and then going skiing. Well maybe if you're a local but if you have to drive a few hours to get to the mountain all of the stars have to align to be able to take that trip.
For a family living in the flatlands, you pretty much have to arrange your life around skiing in the winter if you want to do it consistently.
I'm happy with the balance for now as I know as long as I can stay healthy I'll be able to ski more later in life but I'm very passionate about skiing. I couldn't see a casual skier in my same situation moving heaven and earth just to go slide on snow.
Last edited:
the routine is exhausting for me too - I tend to "apres nap" instead of socializing lol. 
