Latest posts for the topic "Why do you ski/board"

Why do you ski/board

Sat, 3 Oct 2009 23:16:18 GMT

Why do you ski/board?
No matter what the subject, J2skiers offer a diverse range of ski/board views.

I just got to wondering , that while I am sure there is a lot of common ground on skiing/boarding, there are also many diverse reasons that people do what they do.

My thoughts are that the reasons why you want to ski/board will influence so many things, for instance the type of place that you want to ski in, the kind of runs you do, the kind of places that you choose to stay in.

Please note, this is not a question of why you started to ski. We have done that. It is about, now that you are where you are, what are the reasons that you ski/board, what do you want to get out of it?

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 00:08:23 GMT

i just want somewhere soft to put my head down and somewhere warm to eat my food and snow to have fun on ,,the rest is an added bonus that im not that bothered about ...2500m's up in the fresh air and one of the first to come down on the new snow just seems to be the best feeling ever .

Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 05:07:26 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:Why do you ski/board?
No matter what the subject, J2skiers offer a diverse range of ski/board views.

I just got to wondering , that while I am sure there is a lot of common ground on skiing/boarding, there are also many diverse reasons that people do what they do.

My thoughts are that the reasons why you want to ski/board will influence so many things, for instance the type of place that you want to ski in, the kind of runs you do, the kind of places that you choose to stay in.

Please note, this is not a question of why you started to ski. We have done that. It is about, now that you are where you are, what are the reasons that you ski/board, what do you want to get out of it?

Dave, for me it has always been the environment of the mountains, the culture, the wonderful crisp morning air, if I was not able to ski through wear and tear I'd put on a pair of snow shoes and wonder about to my hearts content, hopefully that will not be for a lot of years yet. 8)

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:02:26 GMT

Free myself

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 10:10:01 GMT

Just love the mountains winter or summer,when we 1st started on package holidays all those years ago,would be 1st on the lift last off, and party all night.Just as happy now to stick on some skinnys or snow shoes and go wandering,even like shoveling snow :lol: By the way last year on this day awoke to -1 20cm of snow,looked at todays forecast 20c and sunny hope this is not an omen
for the year, read somewhere its a el nino year.
Goff

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 12:25:24 GMT

Dave, your question could be answered 2 ways and I'm not sure which way you want??

If the question is why I chose to engage in skiing or snowboarding regardless of which one of those I do, the I would say it's the freedom it affords. Whilst sliding down a chalenging bit of mountain at a healthy speed, one can simply tune everything out and and engage in something totally and purely for the sake of itself.

If the question is why I settled on snowboarding, then I would have to say it is the minimalist nature of it which attracts me. I tend to snowboard "light", and if I cant get it in my pockets I dont need it, so its just me and the board which also helps with the explanation above.

Either way I wish it would start snowing!! Similar to Goff, this weekend last year I woke up to 80cm of new snow at resort level @ Hintertux and had a fabulous 3 days riding (despite forgetting my insurance)

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 13:58:28 GMT

I share many of the elements.

Being in the mountains.
The rush you get with the speed.
The rhythm 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 at it in my 41st year of skiing.
The different culture, food, lifestyle and language.
The opportunity to paint wonderful views, and old Tirol buildings.
The utter joy of skiing through deep snow.

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

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:06:11 GMT

It was never our intention to ski/board it came about by accident. We both love the snow and mountains and scenery. So when we booked our first 'snow holiday', we found that by doing so we could have a free learn to ski/board package. We did this and learnt to board, although abandoned the lessons and did it on our own. Ater that we were hooked on winter hols, and the next one did a ski and x country taster session. We then found it difficult as to which one we prefer so we do all three. I actually think this year will be our last year boarding, we will more concentrate on xcountry and ski.
I actually really enjoy x country, its more strenuous on the legs, its not at altitude, but the scenery, going through woods, across frozen lakes and sometimes around villages is what really attracts me. Plus x country in Finland we get to see so much wildlife its lovely.
When I choose a resort it wont be a big, busy resort. I dont care about the mileage, the height, the amount of slopes. My holiday will consist of good accomodation, preferably a log cabin on our own. I want to be able to do other activities as well, snowmobiling,sledging,husky riding,reindeer sleighing, snow shoe walking, bob sleigh and what ever else is on offer. We spend all day outside doing whatever and all I ask is a good resteraunt and good food and a couple of drinks and my holiday is complete.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 15:54:26 GMT

It is quite simply the most satisfying and exhilerating thing I can do.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:17:49 GMT

:DMmmm

Regardless of where I am,at a certain time of the year from late summer onwards if I close my eyes on a crisp evening if someone has a fire at home and take a deep breathe,the smell transports me to the mountains and all seems well in the world :D :D

The feeling I get with skiing is one of pure freedom, I am not dictated to by having to be at work for a certain time, or meeting someone for whichever reason usually takes my day up, I am in the mountains where the only beat my day marches to is the beat of my heart.....

A major factor is the scenery ,when Im in the mountains in any weather or temperature I feel more at home than when I am sitting in my own home back in Blighty....my body may be in England ...but my soul is definately in the mountains,I think the reason I ski is to keep in touch with who I really am....

jg.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 19:32:12 GMT

I am, therefore I ski, therefore I am. All of the above.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 20:15:11 GMT

The peace and tranquility that the mountains give so generously.
That 'being on top of the world' feeling.
The shear 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!)
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 ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 20:50:09 GMT

For the rush of blood when i know Im at a challenging part of the piste. Looking back up and thinking "bloody hell" i really did it. The cold and crisp feeling the 1st thing in the morning.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:37:08 GMT

Its so far removed from our normal day to day lives too.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 00:02:47 GMT

I thought about this question and tried to imagine my first day on the top of the mountain in December and my eyes welled up :oops: The anticipation and excitement of the last few months and then you are there, looking out over a vast white, majestic landscape, breathing in crisp alpine air. You start to make your way down and the speed increases your excitement and enjoyment of your surroundings. All you can think about is getting down as fast and as safely as you can and all thoughts of work are then banished for an entire week. That is why I ski....

Re:Why do you ski/board

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 01:13:22 GMT

it's the roller coaster, you get to steer.

Trencher

Re:Why do you ski/board

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 02:02:29 GMT

The same as Tony H, plus its something we can do as a family. We all don't play golf, we all don't mountain bike, but we can ski/board together.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:13:18 GMT

It's that feeling of being truly alive and it puts into perspective any problems, either personal ones or things going on in the rest of the world.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 13:18:59 GMT

Great question.

As other people have said, I love the beauty of the mountains and the crisp fresh air, I also love the crunch of snow under your feet, going so fast that your face burns with cold at the end of a run, the sparkle in the air that is left a day after a big snowfall, blue sky days, powder, vin chaud, chatting on the chair lift, laughing at people falling over, laughing at each other falling over (as long as no-one is hurt of course), and that feeling at the end of the day when you've done more exercise on your first day than you've done all year and you can sit around chatting with people who also love what you love and drink beer and re-fuel so you can do it all again the next day.

That's just a few reasons :D

Re:Why do you ski/board

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 13:28:45 GMT

Being in the mountains is a privilege, being there with the great friends I've made over the last decade is a delight.
A lot of people have mentioned the freedom, I have to agree. Free-ride isn't just a marketing buzz word, it really means something.
It's the challenge of the steep and the deep.
Small mountain restaurants and tucked away villages.
Getting the miles under your skis.

Besides, it's the most fun you can have with all your clothes on!

Re:Why do you ski/board

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 23:59:21 GMT

There are some beautiful answers here, people have opened up their hearts.

Love of the mountains is a common theme, expressed so well by snowb4ndit's "peace and tranquility"

The feelings, JonG's "the only beat my day marches to is the beat of my heart"

The respect, Andy's "being in the mountains is a privilege". It certainly is.

The descriptive, Nelly's "the crunch of the snow under your feet", and "going so fast, your face burns with the cold"

The emotions, ParalyticSkiCrazy's "eyes welling up, when imagining the first day on top of he mountain"

Driving through our village this morning, I stopped to talk to a lady, who I know to be a skier. I mentioned the thread, and she told me that on every ski trip, she has an emotional moment of the week, usually at the top of the mountain, when she too, breaks out in tears.

So we think that skiing is love, feelings, respect, and emotion.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 09:04:59 GMT

I'm pretty much the same as everyone else.

The beauty of the mountains.
The crispnessof the air, how it feels so clean.
The silence whilst on a chairlift.
Seeing the animal tracks from a lift. Wondering what made them, even better if my instructor can tell me what made them.
The feeling I get when I improve a little, even though I'll never be a great skiier.
The cosiness of the bars/restaurants after a hard day.
The smell of woodsmoke drifting through a village.
The slight ache that means I've had a great workout. At home I'd never spend hours exercising.
The complete difference to my everyday life.
As we have always gone skiing as part of a group I enjoy the camaraderie. Mixing with people separate to my usual friends. Getting to know people over a course of a few years only seeing them for a week per year. It's strange because I'd hate to be 'stuck in a group' on a sun holiday or city break.
Oh, don't forget - Fondue and Mulled Wine!

Re:Why do you ski/board

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 10:55:12 GMT

Dave Mac wrote:

Driving through our village this morning, I stopped to talk to a lady, who I know to be a skier. I mentioned the thread, and she told me that on every ski trip, she has an emotional moment of the week, usually at the top of the mountain, when she too, breaks out in tears.

Maybe her boots are too tight?

Re:Why do you ski/board

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 11:44:58 GMT

One of my favourite parts is skiing down a fairly easyish run, and really letting the skis go, the feelings you get as the edges carve and pull round the turn is amazing! Or the silence as you ski through some trees in powder, nothing can beat that!

Re:Why do you ski/board

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 13:15:43 GMT

I have another one to add - I love it when its snowing really hard and you go into a cozy restaurant and you can warm your cockles by the fire and get warm and dry before doing it all again!

Re:Why do you ski/board

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:01:21 GMT

NellyPS wrote:I have another one to add - I love it when its snowing really hard and you go into a cozy restaurant and you can warm your cockles by the fire and get warm and dry before doing it all again!

:D :DA perfect way to spend the day :thumbup:

jon.

Re:Why do you ski/board

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 20:33:47 GMT

I loved x country skiing in Lapland, so scenic, so quiet just the sound of ski's and crisp snow. Just as you are getting cold, your eye lashes frozen you come a cross a woodland refuge. Some -one before you has already lit a roaring fire, there's a kettle not long been boiled. You have hot berry juice and the sausages and breads you put in your rucksack, toasted over the fire. Lovely feeling just the two of you having a snack and a warm up. Then you realise you are not alone, reindeers creeping up on you. The snow falling hard and us huddled around the fire. Pure magic. Thats why I am doing it all again next year.