Is it too late to be a ski bum

[witch hobble]

what number qualifies someone for skibumdom?

If you work a greater # of hours than you ski, over the course of a winter, you are not a ski bum (by my definition). You are working hard to maintain a lifestyle and certainly could be considered passionate, maybe even obsessive, about skiing. But not a ski bum. There are very few real ski bums kicking around, and I don't think there ever were all that many to begin with. I think it is a worthy archetype that many people respect and have a suppressed desire to emulate. It is the bum part that bums most people out.

Don't get me wrong, I have a ton of respect for the classic "He has a Phd in Physics and he is washing dishes in Fernie" person out there. Maybe the economy will bring out more people willing to live close to the bone.

 

[Geoff]

Don't get me wrong, I have a ton of respect for the classic "He has a Phd in Physics and he is washing dishes in Fernie" person out there. Maybe the economy will bring out more people willing to live close to the bone.

I disagree. I have a good friend who was a Physics prof. He tossed in the towel one day, sold his city house, and moved to Whistler. He bought a 75 foot yacht and earned his living doing yacht charters to the Queen Charlotte Islands in the summer. You obviously can't do that in the winter so he skied every day. I knew his daughters when they were little moppets with pink helmets. The younger one made the Canadian ski team.

I think it would have been a total waste of his life if he'd ended up washing dishes at Fernie. Instead, he found a way to live slopeside at Blackcomb, raise a family, and ski every day.

 

[witch hobble]

But does he consider himself a "ski bum"? Do you? Sounds like he certainly gets the days in to qualify, by my own metric. But I guess I always considered ski bumming to be slumming, for lack of a better word. It would be hard for me to consider someone who both lives slopeside at Blackcomb and owns a yacht to be a bum.

 

[Hawkshot99]

But does he consider himself a "ski bum"? Do you? Sounds like he certainly gets the days in to qualify, by my own metric. But I guess I always considered ski bumming to be slumming, for lack of a better word. It would be hard for me to consider someone who both lives slopeside at Blackcomb and owns a yacht to be a bum.

You dont have to slumm it in life. Some people are able to find a gig that allows them to live a very nice lifestyle, while still taking full advantage of the resort lifestyle.

I was able to get the job of manager at a resort ski shop. Yes I do work more hours than I ski. Between 50-100+ depending on the week. But I do get to ski alot, and enjoy my life. Both financially and enjoyment wise.

 

[Stache]

Been there done that

At age 29 I quit the computer industry (Field Circus Clown, er uh, I mean Field Service Engineer for DEC, Company Car, expense account White Collar, Wing Tips and stock options) and made my two hobbies, gardening and skiing my businesses. Winter 1986-'87 I earned my PSIA certification teaching full time at Jay Peak. Lived off what I made, $180/wk plus tips. Summers were very good operating a landscaping and tree service. Did that for four seasons until I got married.

I define a "ski bum" as someone who skiis everyday and somehow makes just enough to survive. Whether that is waiting tables or bartending nights so you can ski days, or teaching skiing so you get your free runs in between lessons, or doing patrol so you get first tracks "testing", whatever.

In the words of that bald headed film maker, "If you don't do it this year, you will be at least one year older when you do."

 

[AdironRider]

what number qualifies someone for skibumdom?

100+ minimum. That might get you in consideration.

 

[gmcunni]

my brother was what most people would define as a ski bum. At age 20 he moved from CT to UT and for a few years he lived in the mid-station on Alta. He worked there as a bus boy. His pay was room, board, season pass and couple hundred bucks a month (i think). He skied 100 or 120 days a season (i can't remember it was so long ago), basically every day. Their work shifts were staggered - never working a full day, alternating afternoons and morning. He'd get fresh tracks every other day.

After that he moved down the hill and got a job working @ Alta Lodge in the kitchen. Again compensated with room,board, pass and some $$.. i think that job was a bit more demanding but also paid better. He stayed on in offseason doing handyman work at the lodge. He did that for several years and eventually started his own business as a carpenter/handyman. even flipped a house or 2.

He met his wife @ Alta lodge, she worked there too.

 

[jack97]

my brother was what most people would define as a ski bum. At age 20 he moved from CT to UT and for a few years he lived in the mid-station on Alta. He worked there as a bus boy. His pay was room, board, season pass and couple hundred bucks a month (i think). He skied 100 or 120 days a season (i can't remember it was so long ago), basically every day. Their work shifts were staggered - never working a full day, alternating afternoons and morning. He'd get fresh tracks every other day.

After that he moved down the hill and got a job working @ Alta Lodge in the kitchen. Again compensated with room,board, pass and some $$.. i think that job was a bit more demanding but also paid better. He stayed on in offseason doing handyman work at the lodge. He did that for several years and eventually started his own business as a carpenter/handyman. even flipped a house or 2.

He met his wife @ Alta lodge, she worked there too.

this post is really making me sad.

Meaning I have a job with financial commitments up the wazoo. I usually tell people I'm a failed skibum.

 

[Geoff]

But does he consider himself a "ski bum"? Do you? Sounds like he certainly gets the days in to qualify, by my own metric. But I guess I always considered ski bumming to be slumming, for lack of a better word. It would be hard for me to consider someone who both lives slopeside at Blackcomb and owns a yacht to be a bum.

Sure. He's finagled his life so he could ski all winter. With someone with that much talent and training, washing dishes would have been a total waste. He could have made 10x the money back in Vancouver but he opted for a lifestyle where he lived at a world class ski resort all winter and ran a yacht all summer as his business. It's not like he was rolling in money when he did it. He flipped his city house into a slopeside Blackcomb house at the right time so he didn't have a monster mortgage. The yacht had a substantial mortgage but earned more than enough over the summer to fund everything.

Along the way, he built up enough of a customer base that he sailed that yacht around the world with paying passengers the whole way. He rented the Blackcomb place for a few years and they home schooled their kids aboard the yacht.

 

[Anklebiter]

this post is really making me sad.

Meaning I have a job with financial commitments up the wazoo. I usually tell people I'm a failed skibum.

+1

 

[SkiDork]

At age 29 I quit the computer industry (Field Circus Clown, er uh, I mean Field Service Engineer for DEC, Company Car, expense account White Collar, Wing Tips and stock options) and made my two hobbies, gardening and skiing my businesses. Winter 1986-'87 I earned my PSIA certification teaching full time at Jay Peak. Lived off what I made, $180/wk plus tips. Summers were very good operating a landscaping and tree service. Did that for four seasons until I got married.

I define a "ski bum" as someone who skiis everyday and somehow makes just enough to survive. Whether that is waiting tables or bartending nights so you can ski days, or teaching skiing so you get your free runs in between lessons, or doing patrol so you get first tracks "testing", whatever.

In the words of that bald headed film maker, "If you don't do it this year, you will be at least one year older when you do."

Hey Stache - both Tyrolean and myself are ex-DEC. In fact thats where we met. Small world, and yes we also used to call it "Field Circus". We were both in Professional Services - software consulting out of 2 Penn Plaza NYC

 

[riverc0il]

Hi! I'm from NH and I just turned 44 last month and I was wandering if you guys thot it was to late to be a ski bum. Lemme no what you think. thanks

A trolling impersonator..funny thing is I would never be a ski bum.. Ive got A house in the Lakes region and a condo in Tahoe..Thanks for tryin though.

Whoa. Maybe I have had too much to drink tonight already, but this is weird!!!

 

[snoseek]

my brother was what most people would define as a ski bum. At age 20 he moved from CT to UT and for a few years he lived in the mid-station on Alta. He worked there as a bus boy. His pay was room, board, season pass and couple hundred bucks a month (i think). He skied 100 or 120 days a season (i can't remember it was so long ago), basically every day. Their work shifts were staggered - never working a full day, alternating afternoons and morning. He'd get fresh tracks every other day.

After that he moved down the hill and got a job working @ Alta Lodge in the kitchen. Again compensated with room,board, pass and some $$.. i think that job was a bit more demanding but also paid better. He stayed on in offseason doing handyman work at the lodge. He did that for several years and eventually started his own business as a carpenter/handyman. even flipped a house or 2.

He met his wife @ Alta lodge, she worked there too.

I did this exact same gig at the exact same ski area. I bet I would recognize them. Employment at any of the lodges at Alta is fucking money if you want to be a ski bum.

 

[snoseek]

I did this exact same gig at the exact same ski area. I bet I would recognize them. Employment at any of the lodges at Alta is fucking money if you want to be a ski bum.

Edit-it was after this whole experience that I decided to go to culinary school. I wanted to truly make a go at having a bit of a career and be passionate about the work that would provide me the whole experience.

What I'm saying is go west somewhere that blows your mind (or even stay somewhere that you love here) and find a GOOD job that pays the bills, just keep the bills at a minimum.

 

[witch hobble]

Sure. He's finagled his life so he could ski all winter. With someone with that much talent and training, washing dishes would have been a total waste. He could have made 10x the money back in Vancouver but he opted for a lifestyle where he lived at a world class ski resort all winter and ran a yacht all summer as his business. It's not like he was rolling in money when he did it. He flipped his city house into a slopeside Blackcomb house at the right time so he didn't have a monster mortgage. The yacht had a substantial mortgage but earned more than enough over the summer to fund everything.

Along the way, he built up enough of a customer base that he sailed that yacht around the world with paying passengers the whole way. He rented the Blackcomb place for a few years and they home schooled their kids aboard the yacht.

Alright. It sounds awesome. And I have a more narrow definition of ski bum than you.

Do you have to suffer for your art at all to be a ski bum?

 

[witch hobble]

Whoa. Maybe I have had too much to drink tonight already, but this is weird!!!

Yeah. That was weird. So I am steering the conversation to "What is your definition of a ski bum?"

 

[jaywbigred]

Alright. It sounds awesome. And I have a more narrow definition of ski bum than you.

Do you have to suffer for your art at all to be a ski bum?

Aren't we all ignoring the fact that the word "bum" appears in the term "ski bum"? I mean, just because your a ski nut and have structured your life to ski 100+ days a year doesn't make you a ski bum, I'd posit.

I think to be a ski bum, there has to exist aspects of your life that could draw comparisons to a real "bum." Your job would have to be either non-existent or the next closest thing. You can't be worth much money. I'd think your clothes/gear would have to be somewhat beat, too. Also, a beard and scraggily hair would help. So, for me, a ski bum is someone with the most menial of ski area jobs (bus boy, liftie, maybe a waiter etc) who is compensated poorly (perks like season pass not withstanding) who has a lot of duct tape on his (or her) gear because it is old and has been used hard.

 

[gmcunni]

Aren't we all ignoring the fact that the word "bum" appears in the term "ski bum"? I mean, just because your a ski nut and have structured your life to ski 100+ days a year doesn't make you a ski bum, I'd posit.

I think to be a ski bum, there has to exist aspects of your life that could draw comparisons to a real "bum." Your job would have to be either non-existent or the next closest thing. You can't be worth much money. I'd think your clothes/gear would have to be somewhat beat, too. Also, a beard and scraggily hair would help. So, for me, a ski bum is someone with the most menial of ski area jobs (bus boy, liftie, maybe a waiter etc) who is compensated poorly (perks like season pass not withstanding) who has a lot of duct tape on his (or her) gear because it is old and has been used hard.

agree with that expect the gear part. using my bro as an example, what money he had that wasn't spent on beer was put into equipment. Not that he paid a lot but he knew people and got good equipment at cheap prices. not brand new stuff, always used but never beat. he always had 2 or 3 pairs of "nice" skis.

 

[mister moose]

I once asked one of the best natural skiers I have ever skied with what he did during the winter for work. His answer was "Nothing, I work during the summer so I can ski all winter." His equipment was top notch. I'm pretty sure most thought of him as a ski bum. Accent on ski.

Compared to me, who worked on the mountain and then at night in a restaurant.

Every ardent skier finds his way. I guess you have to start by asking if you mean ski-hobo or ski-lifestyle-no-matter-what-it-takes.

 

[skirick]

If I didn't have a wife, two kids in college, taxes and a morgage to pay i would def be a ski bum