Why People Don't Ski?

[marcski]

Tele.

I'm so addicted...completely converted. Can't wait to get back out on the freeheel setup.

 

[dlague]

I'm so addicted...completely converted. Can't wait to get back out on the freeheel setup.

A friend of mine was moving south and gave me his setup and i have yet to try. Need to commit this year.

 

[marcski]

A friend of mine was moving south and gave me his setup and i have yet to try. Need to commit this year.

I'm converted....as is my 9 yo daughter, except when she is racing.

 

[ironhippy]

I want to pick up tele skiing for the early season before the snow fills in the woods. Skiing groomers gets boring and learning how to telemark would really liven things up I imagine.

 

[marcski]

I want to pick up tele skiing for the early season before the snow fills in the woods. Skiing groomers gets boring and learning how to telemark would really liven things up I imagine.

That's how I started. Wasn't long before I was venturing in the woods and all over the mountain on them. Now, I'm invested in a sweet setup. When is the snow going to fall????

 

[darent]

people have different taste, golfing is expensive but is done in warm weather, motorcycle owning is expensive, those Harley leather vest aren't cheap, tennis isn't cheap unless you have access to public courts. health club memberships cost. I think people do what they are comfortable with and cost is one factor, but I think weather is the biggest one I hear from people that don't ski.

 

[Not Sure]

That's how I started. Wasn't long before I was venturing in the woods and all over the mountain on them. Now, I'm invested in a sweet setup. When is the snow going to fall????

I've seen some very impressive tele skiers at Elk , There's just something about driving me knee tword the ground that seems counter intuitive. Also a concern of eating my tips .
Can't say I've seen any tele skiers being sleded down the mountain but I think I'll watch from afar .

 

[Quietman]

Location is another big variable. For people living in Florida full time, I'm pretty sure that most have zero interest in skiing, in Vermont you'd probably get different results. Cost is also fairly dependant upon location. If for whatever reason, I had to live in FL, going skiing is going to be a hell of a lot more $ than my current 15 mile drive to my local hill were I have skied for free(part time employee) for the last 4 years.

 

[bigbog]

Beats me...sorry I don't have Vimeo's PRO version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHejQlbAL78

Thought anyone could use some of that page of early stuff to help light the fire, or bring a smile...(just ordered my snows yesterday).
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Ditto Quietman's......sadly, work doesn't always work out with skiing.

 

[ScottySkis]

I always hear it to cold I started telling nthem it warmer then normal work solitudes in winter @0% 10 I would say listen and use smart judgement and borrow winter ski clothes from me so they stay warm then $ is issue for sure to all they see is what website resort show s lift tickets selling for that they know about deals I think lot if this is not helping the cause.

 

[gostan]

Most folks that I know who do not ski always respond that it is too cold& that they would rather fly to warmer environs in the winter. And that was even more prevalent last winter. Like Scottyskis, I always offer that I will loan them clothing that will keep them warm, and reinforce that almost all ski mountains have deals for first time skiers. I have yet to have anybody take me up on this.

 

[dlague]

Beats me...sorry I don't have Vimeo's PRO version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHejQlbAL78

Thought anyone could use some of that page of early stuff to help light the fire, or bring a smile...(just ordered my snows yesterday).
_____________________
Ditto Quietman's......sadly, work doesn't always work out with skiing.

I was just watching that last night! Was watching Warren Miller movie "Ride". Too funny!

 

[Abubob]

I always hear it to cold I started telling nthem it warmer then normal work solitudes in winter @0% 10 I would say listen and use smart judgement and borrow winter ski clothes from me so they stay warm then $ is issue for sure to all they see is what website resort show s lift tickets selling for that they know about deals I think lot if this is not helping the cause.

Scotty, are you Russian by chance? Cause if I read this with a Russian accent it almost makes sense.

 

[dlague]

Scotty, are you Russian by chance? Cause if I read this with a Russian accent it almost makes sense.

you're right!

 

[raisingarizona]

Location is another big variable. For people living in Florida full time, I'm pretty sure that most have zero interest in skiing, in Vermont you'd probably get different results. Cost is also fairly dependant upon location. If for whatever reason, I had to live in FL, going skiing is going to be a hell of a lot more $ than my current 15 mile drive to my local hill were I have skied for free(part time employee) for the last 4 years.

When I took a ski marketing class at CMC in Steamboat our instructor told us the opposite. The most ski sales during the 90's were in Florida every year. The state with the most boat sales? Arizona! I tested this out when I worked at Pink Jeep Tours, when ever I had family's from florida I would ask them where they like to go on ski trips. 90% of the time they had an answer and admitted to going on a ski vacation every season. Breckenridge was the most popular for sure. Sure the Floridians don't day trip for skiing but they spend big $ on at least one or two trips a season. I guess we are attracted to what we don't have?

 

[Hawkshot99]

The majority of people who go skiing for the first time, will never return.
One of the problems is the equipment. Rental gear sux. The boots they are given, are never comfortable. Usually the rental person will just give them the size they claim (which is way to big....) and then the feet slide around all day for blisters or banged toes.
They can be smelly and are very hard to walk in.
Every time someone on here asks about boots, they are told to go to a boot fitter(which I agree with) but this isn't going to be done for a beginner, let alone a renter.
To increase the number of skiers, resorts need to get the people who put in the effort to try skiing, to co tinue skiing....

 

[dlague]

Funny when my wife first started we went to a ski shop and bought boots and they fit her into boots that had her toes pushed up to the front and she was uncomfortable and soft flex. She was about to throw in the towel so the following season I bought her stiffer boots a size up and then she was good. Now I can take her just about anywherè. That was 14 years ago. I was also patient with her which limited my skiing but was well worth it. A friend of hers started with her but her husband left her alone while he did his own runs and she lasted about 2 seasons. I think having someone to guide and teach over several years helps a lot.

 

[raisingarizona]

Funny when my wife first started we went to a ski shop and bought boots and they fit her into boots that had her toes pushed up to the front and she was uncomfortable and soft flex. She was about to throw in the towel so the following season I bought her stiffer boots a size up and then she was good. Now I can take her just about anywherè. That was 14 years ago. I was also patient with her which limited my skiing but was well worth it. A friend of hers started with her but her husband left her alone while he did his own runs and she lasted about 2 seasons. I think having someone to guide and teach over several years helps a lot.

If the industry is serious about getting more people into the support it would be a good idea to make sure feeder ski areas continue to exist. Community ski hills with night skiing and extremely affordable after school ski programs would be a sure way to get people hooked. That's how I started. My parents signed me up for an 8 week program with instruction every night and freeskiing afterwords. It included all of the gear too. I think the whole thing cost around 200 dollars, this was in the 80's at the local 250 vert bump.

 

[dlague]

The school distinct here has a ski program and they ski at Pats Peak kids loved it. They also learned to ski be fore then. The ski program goes from 1st grade to 8th grade. The bus leaves at 1130 they start around noon and go til 5. I think ed th eery liked it because they got to miss school.

 

[RISkier]

So, I started skiing at age 49. Just prior to my 50th birthday. I had people at work say they thought it was stupid to try to start skiing at my age. I think there are many reasons. If you don't live near skiing it's not likely you'll start. I lived in the deep south for 15 years and never even considered starting to ski. Folks don't like the winter and they don't like the cold. Skiing is perceived as cold, and certainly can be cold. We moved to NE and I just flat thought I was too old to learn to ski and that I'd break my ass. And frankly, after day 1 I would've gladly never skied again. The boots are a pain in the rear, carrying skis is a pain, everything is completely awkward... After we moved here my wife kept trying to talk me into trying skiing. Gunstock has a screaming deal on a 3-day package and I agreed I'd give it the old college effort. After day 1 I was ready to never come back, after day 2 she was ready to never come back, after day 3 we were driving to NH every weekend. If you don't grow up near skiing, and if your parents don't get you into skiing you're not likely to start. There's a heck of a lot of folks out there who would just never even consider skiing. The perception is high risk, expensive, and cold.