To Ski, or Not to Ski?
February 16, 2015
Zara Khan
With President’s Day coming to a close, many Latin families are coming home after a vacation of skiing. Skiing requires skill, clothing, equipments, and most importantly—hundreds of dollars in order to hit the slopes this year. That raises the question—is skiing only for the privileged?
The high price of skiing comes from the necessities which are needed to get on the mountain. First, let’s start with Lift Tickets. These passes are what get’s you up the mountain in order for you to be able to ski down. Most resorts price their single day lift tickets in excess of $100. So for a family of five, it costs $500 a day, just to get on the mountain.
Next, in order to ski, you must have the proper equipment: warm baseline layers, snow pants, fleece jacket, outer waterproof parka, gloves, hat, helmet, goggles, socks, ski boots, poles, and skis. Most of us, Chicagoans, have the majority of this gear—hats, coats and gloves—but the others—skis, helmets, boots— which are specific to skiing are very expensive. Many ski stores rent this equipment for a set price for a number of days, but some choose to purchase these items so they do not have to deal with previously used rental gear. Ski boots typically range from $700, while skis range from $300-$600. This is an extensive amount of money to spend on things that will probably be used for 3 months out of the year.
Then there’s the hotel and travel. Most ski resorts have small airports which are accessible through connecting flights from Denver, which means that Chicago families will have to take two flights to get to their ski village. As for hotels, most families, if they are going on vacation want it to be nice, and after a long day of skiing they want to stay close to the mountain, a ski in and ski out. With a family of five, one hotel room is not going to cut it. Rooms that are ski in and ski out with two or three bedrooms typically cost, give or take, $1,000 for one night.
As for food and other miscellaneous things we spend money on, they usually cost more in the village and on the mountain. Lunch, for example, costs three times as much at restaurants on the slopes, because, where else would people get food?
With such high costs, why do so many people chose to hit the slopes every year?
Skiing makes the short list of sports that allow a whole family to participate as a group. Many families can spend an afternoon at a park, but they probably wouldn’t plan a week’s vacation around it. Looking down from a chairlift on different ski runs, you can spot young kids ripping down the mountain, followed by their parents making slow turns behind them. Its a sport that all ages can enjoy.
The other beauty of skiing is that it is a non-competitive sport (unless you race). There are no winners, no losers. You make it from the top to the bottom in one piece, whether with athleticism or a pizza wedge, you’ve succeeded.
With the rushes of adrenaline through ripping down a mountain, the breathtaking scenery, the joys of finally mastering parallel turns, and coming together with your family, skiing feels as though it can be worth the hefty price.
We at Latin often take for granted the privileges we have, and skiing trips can be a big one. Let’s remember that a number of Latin experiences aren’t universally shared, and not take for granted what we’re given access to.]]>
jreiner • Feb 17, 2015 at 3:53 pm
To Max, thanks for the input on the prices. I trust your figures. I have a pretty limited sample size.
To MJ, I think being “touristy” means different things to different people. Touristy in the sense of taking photos and the like can potentially be classist, I agree. However, I think often when people say “touristy” with regards to a destination, it actually has to do with people getting second homes. In my mind, touristy isn’t the right word for that. I’d typically use and see used a term like over-developed. Many Rockies resorts have so many tourists coming in that the feel for the place is ruined or at least changes due to high prices (pricing out locals and tourists alike) on retail, food, real estate, etc. Basically places lose their vibe and essence. But that sense is completely different from what you were talking about.
mporzenh • Feb 17, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Regardless of the specific prices of boots and skis, skiing is still a very expensive proposition.
Not totally related, but one thing I notice when people talk about traveling is the idea of not being a ‘tourist’ or looking like a ‘tourist.’ I think a lot of the behaviors that we associate with being ‘tourist-y’ are effectively cost cutting measures, or just signs of a person not having the opportunity to travel much. For example, I’ve heard people with second homes commenting that resorts in the area were ‘tourist-y’… but not everyone can afford a second home! In fact, most people are even lucky to be able to afford to go to a resort! Anyway, another thing to reflect on when traveling… realize that not everyone can afford to not look ‘tourist-y’… and that people who are perhaps even leaving their home state for the first time in their lives have every right to be excited and take a lot of photos (another ‘tourist’ behavior). The whole stigma is pretty classist.
mbucksba • Feb 17, 2015 at 12:08 am
Julius, It’s hard to find a pair of skis over 1k, that price range is usually reserved for very high end skis, and race skis. Most skis can be bought between $400-$800 and a solid pair can be rented for around $40 dollars a day. Boots are also generally $200-$300 dollars, not $700. No doubt still expensive, but not quite the figures that were stated
jreiner • Feb 16, 2015 at 10:43 pm
I think it is important for Latin students (and all people who take luxury vacations, whether it’s skiing, Tahiti, the Galapagos, the Himalayas, etc.) to recognize that not all people and even not all Latin students can afford that vacation. People should be sure when they’re talking about, discussing, or bragging about their vacations that there may be people around them who weren’t able to go on a luxury vacation or even any vacation at all.
Similarly, there is often at Latin a stigma against people who say they had a “staycation.” People either intentionally or subconsciously make a face or get silent when someone says they didn’t go out of town and then the other person feels really embarrassed too, even though they really have no reason to be.
Also just a few notes on some of the price figures in your article, many if not most people rent ski equipment, so it’s not quite the big numbers you list, although rentals can still be very expensive (also new skis typically are upwards of $1k+ if they’re new; it’d be hard to find even a used pair for $300-600). Also, there are a lot more nonstop flights out of O’Hare during ski season, so connecting is less required. Cheaper airfares can also be procured direct to Denver, and then you can drive down the I-70 corridor to places like Vail and Aspen.
With regards to hotels, there are certainly many options in a variety of price ranges, from $150/night to multiple thousands of nights, but remember that it’s not necessary to stay in a luxury ski-in/ski-out to have a good time. My family is typically able to get a good deal renting a condo off-mountain. And definitely though restaurants and incidentals drive the price way up. Often resort towns have a luxury tax on all goods purchased in the town, not to mention high prices due to the remote location and the fact that it’s a travel destination in the first place.
I definitely agree wholeheartedly with your last three paragraphs. Skiing is a great outdoor activity regardless of your level (and I’ll even admit snowboarding is too). There’s something in it for everyone. Competition for some. Scenery for others. Self-accomplishment for some like myself. There was no better feeling that I had this past December when I successfully navigated a chute for the first (and to date only) time.
One last note that I thought of when you mentioned the winter clothes necessary for skiing: something interesting I noticed when on vacation this winter while on a public transit bus in a ski town was that all the skiers/snowboarders were wearing multiple layers of jackets and parkas with heavy duty gloves and mittens and warm hats while other people who appeared to be resort workers (like maids and maintenance) were only wearing light coats often without hats or handwear. And this was while the outside air temperature was -18F (not counting windchill).
So with all that said, generally good article, skiing is definitely a great sport/activity, and to everyone including and especially those at Latin, remember how lucky you are if you do get the opportunity to ski.