Page 1 of 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 301
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    6

    Can anyone really be a ski bum anymore?

    I'm feeling old and salty and worried about the future of skids. Like, where can anyone actually afford to live in the mountains anymore? And are the mega resort conglomorates gonna kill skiing? Someone give me hope! Who is still doing it for real?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    base of the Bush
    Posts
    14,871
    Looks like the skids are keeping busy.


    www.apriliaforum.com

    "If the road You followed brought you to this,of what use was the road"?

    "I have no idea what I am talking about but would be happy to share my biased opinions as fact on the matter. "
    Ottime

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Eagle River Alaska
    Posts
    10,964
    With the advent of light touring gear... yes
    Its not that I suck at spelling, its that I just don't care

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    PNWET
    Posts
    4,747
    Work 40 yrs. Retire in a ski town. Works for me.
    https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=3982&dateline=1279375  363

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Posts
    15,780
    Non-“ski towns” like Grand Junction, Reno, Wenatchee, Sisters, etc. Look in places like that - they’re there.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Eburg
    Posts
    13,243
    Or get a hippie van and rubber tramp it

    full hippie = rubber tramp and fishscale skis on forest service roads

    ETA: rubber tramping inspiration

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Planning an exit
    Posts
    5,930
    RIP Tone.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    7,449
    or don't be a bum. be a pro.

    get up, ski, go to work. excel at both.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Wasatch Back: 7000'
    Posts
    12,966
    My daughter just graduated from The University of Miami. She turned down a good job in Manhattan to ski bum in the Wasatch. I think that the longer you wait, the less likely it will happen
    “How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist in the world? I don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher”. — Jimi Hendrix

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Splat's Garage
    Posts
    4,185
    Two words:

    OGDEN, UTAH

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Eburg
    Posts
    13,243
    Quote Originally Posted by schindlerpiste View Post
    I think that the longer you wait, the less likely it will happen
    If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do.

    Seriously, tramping after college is a good thing -- and so is pausing a career and tramping from time to time. I've been through the cycle three times so far. I tramped after college, then worked a career for awhile, then dropped out for a couple years, followed by more education for a second career. After 8 years of the second career, I dropped out again and went flat broke. Then I realized I needed to get retirement money together and restarted my second career, worked it hard, banked some bread and tapered to part time (where I am now). We're on target to start tramping again in a few years, this time for good. Life is too short sit your ass in one place.

    The above doesn't work so well if you have kids.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Wasatch
    Posts
    6,256
    I was basically ski bummin' it from 2004-2009. Back East to kick start my career 2009-2013. I own my house with a reasonable mortgage in a ski town now, and I work from home at my career-type job. I can ratchet back my work schedule to work for the resort in my former ski bum capacity at any time and keep the bills paid because the mortgage isn't bad. It's nice to have the desk job income for now, though. Kids in daycare are more than my mortgage.

    I'm not sure that my career path is quite as easy to follow now because of the state of the local real estate market, but it could still be done.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    In the swamp
    Posts
    11,124
    Yeah, just make sure you have a trust fund back East.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Paradise
    Posts
    5,197
    Juneau, AK?

    Terrace, BC?
    dirtbag, not a dentist

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    关你屁事
    Posts
    9,531
    how much hustling can you do and still qualify as a "ski bum"?

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Paradise
    Posts
    5,197
    Those talking about 15-20 years ago in a mountain town and getting property after saving or working for 40 years and then retiring or whatever ain't ski bumming, or at least not like I think the op is talking about.

    Sure, you guys are killing it but I'm 99% sure the op means "ski bum" as in having nothing except for everything........ careless youth and complete freedom from any of life's regular responsibilities. Having nothing to do or worry about other than how to get after today's powder day and finding a cheap good buzz at the end of the day has been, in my experience the best days of my life.
    dirtbag, not a dentist

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Paradise
    Posts
    5,197
    Quote Originally Posted by dunfree View Post
    how much hustling can you do and still qualify as a "ski bum"?
    Totally. Try to create a life as in home ownership, some savings, a family etc. in a town like Jackson without any form of family support and see how much time you'll get skiing! Ha!
    dirtbag, not a dentist

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    In a parallel universe
    Posts
    4,755

    Can anyone really be a ski bum anymore?

    OP... We're all dentists here, if you are looking for someone with real time beta, you may have to broaden your search.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    In a parallel universe
    Posts
    4,755
    Quote Originally Posted by flowing alpy View Post
    maybe try and get in touch with hugh.
    Or pm rontele

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    the LCC
    Posts
    1,170
    Oh yeah, it can certainly be done if you work in the industry. Even with kids.
    Race coached 3 years, been patrolling for 38.
    Wife home schooled ours and 4 others in the LCC, winters only, for no money really. Public school downtown fall and spring. Priceless experience.
    Lived in employee housing, used cloth diapers, bought clothes at the thrift store, never went out to eat, the bar, movies, concerts, etc.
    Bought a rental property early.
    Only worked for someone else 12 off seasons.
    Traveled and played most others, 12 of them when the kids were 4-16. Best years of my life. No regrets.
    So, yeah, it can be done by being frugal (not cheap), and with obvious sacrifice!
    Highly recommend this lifestyle for folks that want to raise their own kids in an incredible environment.
    Really psyched at the results of our "experiment".
    Time spent skiing cannot be deducted from one's life.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Montrose, CO
    Posts
    4,618
    I have plenty of friends that do it. Best way IMO if you're single is do fire all summer and ski all winter.

    I'm married and have a desk job but I've still skied 60+ days a year every season since high school.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
    Posts
    30,881
    The L man said to me on ski day " we live too well to be ski bums ... we are skiing Gentlemen "
    Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Paradise
    Posts
    5,197
    Quote Originally Posted by flowing alpy View Post
    sounds cold and dirty surrounded by other stinky dudes doesn’t sound like my idea of the best days of my life but ymwv.
    Well.....there was that part I guess
    dirtbag, not a dentist

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    3,301
    Quote Originally Posted by raisingarizona13 View Post
    Those talking about 15-20 years ago in a mountain town and getting property after saving or working for 40 years and then retiring or whatever ain't ski bumming, or at least not like I think the op is talking about.

    Sure, you guys are killing it but I'm 99% sure the op means "ski bum" as in having nothing except for everything........ careless youth and complete freedom from any of life's regular responsibilities. Having nothing to do or worry about other than how to get after today's powder day and finding a cheap good buzz at the end of the day has been, in my experience the best days of my life.
    Well said.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Where the sheets have no stains
    Posts
    22,066
    ^^^ x2,

    To a youth well spent and a lifestyle that is highly endangered if not totally extinct. By comparison the era of the Cowboy was only about 15 years.

    The golden age was from maybe 1950 to about 2000. I had a Aunt (RIP) that moved to Sun Valley in the late 50s for 2 seasons. I began my career in 1983 and lasted until about 2000 when I sold out to become management.

    Still practiced in small pockets but not nearly as widespread an infection as it once was. Killed by Real Estate development, gentrification and corporatism. (RIPx2)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •