Latest posts for the topic "Why do you love to ski?"

Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:29:58 GMT

Whilst getting the train in to central London this morning it was really foggy, so much so that as I walked over tower bridge I could not see the south bank from the north. Reminded me of those moments as you rise up the chair lift in heavy snowfall, it's all foggy and silent apart from the noise of the chair passing the support columns. I love that feeling of isolation and silence. It makes for a welcome change of lifestyle from the normal hustle and bustle of a city centre, in fact its one of the main reasons I love snowboarding so much.

So my question to you is, apart from our love for the sport why else do you love to ski/snowboard?

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:31:06 GMT

I'm lucky 'cause I live in the Peak District and my commute to work is 10 minutes through the Derbyshire countryside! However, the hills, and the views still don't come close to the spectacular scenery in the Dolomites (my favourite ski area)it's hard to beat! I would take a ski holiday over a beach one any day.

Booked with TC for Feb so fingers crossed.

PS so are the toes for the snow! :thumbup:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:06:19 GMT

I think this is a wonderful question Andy,
I love reading other peoples responses as well as thinking of my own reasons.
My sister started skiing a few years before meand loved it.
I first went when I was let down by a girlfriend over a planned holiday and just wanted to get away.
Loved it! Went again, loved it, again etc.
Realised at Easter one year that I had skied for 5 weeks and had no more holiday available until the following year ....
Gave up!
Went to France :mrgreen:
And then totally fell in love with the mountains summer and winter.
Skiing nowadays for a week or two a season has a big part of recapturing this "history" for me, nostalgia and memories - which is why I keep going back again and again to the Tarentaise (3V, Paradiski, Espace Killy) where I lived and worked - there is a big bit of coming home.
Why I fell in love with skiing and maintained that passion for some many years is harder to answer.
Mountains - yes. Something about the space, views, far horizons. This is similar to what I get in Africa (my other passion is wildlife).
Movement has to be right up there on the reasons list.
This is similar to the freedom I got on a windsurfer years ago and small boat sailing. It is physical sensations that absorb and enthrall me. I find skiing mentally absorbing.
Freedom is linked to both the above for me. This is about doing what I want, under my control, and enjoying it. Fast, slow, steep, tranquil,long and tiring, short and sweet, sitting in the sun, braving the weather ......
Whatever I feel like .....
I reckon this prety much sums up my enduring passion for skiing.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:09:49 GMT

Its the whole package for me there is nothing better in winter sitting at the top of the mountain admiring the breathtaking scenery then clipping on the planks and gliding down the mountain side,
shouting at the snowboarders to get out of the way as they seem to spend most of their time on their backsides in the middle of piste hidden in hollows :D

Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:42:18 GMT

TowerBridge Andy wrote: Reminded me of those moments as you rise up the chair lift in heavy snowfall, it's all foggy and silent apart from the noise of the chair passing the support columns. I love that feeling of isolation and silence. .

The views and the freedom. :) :thumbup:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:22:17 GMT

I agree that there is nothing that really compares to how you feel when your flying down the mountain side, just thinking about it brings a huge grin across my face. When I talk to friends about skiing/snowboarding to try and get them interested it's really hard to give an explanation that will do it justice.

I have always been more of a winter fan for as far back as I can remember. Don't get me wrong I like a nice relaxing summer holiday but given the choice of the two it would be snow all the way.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:43:01 GMT

TowerBridge Andy wrote:When I talk to friends about skiing/snowboarding to try and get them interested it's really hard to give an explanation that will do it justice.

Don't you just love the blank look that you get back that shows that they really just don't understand?

I think OldAndy hit the nail on the head, something about the combination of the space, movement and freedom that snowboarding brings, it is a truly amazing experience.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:36:25 GMT

Ooo great question!

I have a million reasons, but some of my favourite include:

Skiing in really cold snowy weather and finding a great little hut with a roaring fire for a warm and a nice hot drink.

When there's been a big storm and the sun comes out and everything twinkles.

At the end of the day when it gets REALLY cold and the mountains go red.

Being so tired from a great day and looking forward to some great food.

Sitting on a chair lift in silence and admiring the view.

Being with like minded people for a whole week so people don't look at you like you're mad when you harp on about how great skiing is.

Even before the holiday when I get so excited a bit of wee comes out.

I just LOVE everthing about ski holidays :D

More will follow I'm sure.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:50:12 GMT

I'd imagine its pretty much the same for us all, with a few slight bespoke differences.

Its the scenery, the fresh air, the stillness, the brightness of the snow, just the fact that its real and proper snow unlike the rubbish we get here, its the steeps, its the buzz of the lifts as you ride up, the smiling operators and bar tenders, apple strudel and custard, sitting outside in a deckchair with the warm sun on your face whilst its still well below freezing, having a beer looking down on the world, rising through the misery and the mist down below, leaving home and work behind, being somewhere really special, feeling priveleged just to be there, having the ability to ski about up there, the feeling in your stomach when you fly down a piste and hit a compression, speed, wind chill, rich hot chocolate, the chatter in the gondola........and knowing you're going back up the very next day to do it all again.

I can't really describe it other than that.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:11:00 GMT

This is great, makes a welcome change from the no snow Doom & Gloom!

For me: Work bl**dy hard all year and holidays are hard to come by. Going skiing with that great crispy snow, fresh air and the sheer joy of it all is great. Also, the fear of doing something, pushing myself and getting to the bottom and thinking, that is great - lets do it again!!

Sitting outside a restaurant in the sun at the top of a mountain with a huge bowl of french onion soup and fries with an ice cold coke.

Talking at night about how I came down that vertical black run, full of ice, on one leg, without stopping - then downing a grappa/genope and starting all over again

Then putting the chains on with frozen fingers....they always seem so easy in the warm garage!

I love it, however my wife does not. She is not interested in the stories, the "look at this picture from.....this slope was nails....."

LOVE IT!!!

Just wish I could do it and get paid for it!!! :D :D :thumbup:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:18:05 GMT

...and the sheer excitement when you decide you can go AGAIN before the end of the season :mrgreen:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:58:15 GMT

I posted a similar question 2years ago:
http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/6647.page

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:01:58 GMT

and me last year :D
But I think it's a question that can well be repeated.
:thumbup:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:33:50 GMT

All of the above, plus the people I share the experience with. I've made so many great friends over the years on our holidays.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:58:07 GMT

Agree with pretty much what everyone else has said !

But for me its the feeling of freedom, when im skiing i have no worries, my mind is clear and im in the element ! Not a better feeling !

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:26:57 GMT

I WANNA GO NOW!

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:31:55 GMT

I think everyone here will all pretty much agree on all the reasons everyone will give.

For me, the top reasons are, I love the mountains and the mountain air. I love the exhilaration of skiing a challenging run. I also love the feeling of doing something relatively simple really well (you know the feeling, when you have just torn down a casual blue run and left a perfect trail in the cord all the way back up the slope :P ). I love the atmosphere, and being surrounded by mainly like minded people. And I love the entire "holiday feeling" which seems to surround a ski trip.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:06:09 GMT

Fully agree with you all, I love the speed of it, the fact that you are flying down a steep hill with the risk of losing an edge and maybe taking a really bad fall. That risk introduces an adreanalin rush like no other. I come out of it with the biggest grin :-) :-) :-)

Love it.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:09:52 GMT

tonypants wrote: I come out of it with the biggest grin :-) :-) :-)

Love it.

and brown sallopettes!

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:10:45 GMT

I came to skiing quite late a few years ago in my early 30's and what I learnt that very first year (despite the aches and pains, a room permanently smelling of Ralgex and a week of being told by our 19 year old Austrian instructor that its all so eeeeeasy) is that I wish I had taken the plunge much earlier.

I love the stillness and unbelievable silence when on a chairlift, the fact that you can get off the same chair/gondola several times and you are still in awe of the view and beauty of it all.

The way that the snow can be so different to home that you can actually catch a single snowflake in the palm of your hand and see every perfect detail and if conditions are right the air is filled with that silver fairy dust.

Now I'm not one for journeys or epiphanies but in skiing I have found for me the single thing in life where I am truly thinking about nothing else. It has been a revelation. It helped show me that I am braver than I ever thought I was, made me discover that I have a bit of a speed freak in me and that the determination to ski better just grows and grows.

And of course there is always the gluhwein :D

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:07:39 GMT

At the risk of repeating myself :wink: ...

The peace and tranquility that the mountains give so generously.
That 'being on top of the world' feeling.
The sheer pleasure of being able to put those planks on my feet and make them do what I want.
Being surrounded by people who have the same passion...The community spirit!
Being able to forget completely about everything and anything to do with work and the city.
The pleasure of walking into a toasty warm bar to relax and refresh (and not worry about what I'm wearing or hat hair!)
That special feeling when you take your feet out of your ski boots and put them into your comfy shoes.
The alchohol in the evenings! :wink:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:33:51 GMT

I used to play ice hockey and when I packed it up I looked into taking up another fast moving extreme sport.

I also love the people that you meet along the way not to mention the apres ski sessions.

Nothing better than waking up to a snow filled mountain, skiing and then 1 or 12 beers after with other people who share the same interests.

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:43:14 GMT

snowb4ndit wrote:
The shear pleasure of being able to put those planks on my feet and make them do what I want.

Wish I could do that :shock:

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:57:21 GMT

NellyPS wrote:

snowb4ndit wrote:
The shear pleasure of being able to put those planks on my feet and make them do what I want.

Wish I could do that :shock:

...or sheer even :oops:

I'm sure you can!

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:03:33 GMT

As most have said-brilliant question and Im afraid my answers may be quite similar!
I love:
The clear cold feeling in the morning when the skies are clear
the squeak of your boots on the snow!
The cold air that makes your eyes water!
The feeling of linking a few turns in fresh powder
following a piste basher in its new pisted tracks

Sorry if these have been repeated-only just read it but great thread!

Re:Why do you love to ski?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:04:16 GMT

I share many of the elements of others.

Being in the mountains, with their power and beauty.
The rush you get with the speed.
The rhythm and poetry, of skiing, and the athletics of turning
The comradeship, and life-long friendships made.
Being helped, and then in turn, helping others.
Learning the skills, still learning in my 44th year of skiing.
The different culture, food, architecture, lifestyle and languages.
The opportunity to paint wonderful mountain views, especially when involving old Tirol buildings.
The utter joy of skiing through deep snow.
The chance to meet with great skiers & mountaineers
The wonder and joy of skiing with blind & disabled skiers

One additional reason, when I worked, it is one of the few holiday times when I was incapable of thinking about work, survival was uppermost. Most refreshing.

And you get to chat with some lovely J2ski people. (For the most part)