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June, 2025

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Skiing and the real world

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Ski.o.die
Posts: 28 - Karma: 454
I am about to bust out a deep thread here for everyone on NS. I love skiing, I think about it all the time and it is truly the one thing that I could do the rest of my life with no regrets, but also at the same time it is so hard to make a honest living of the sport in other ways than just the sport. So here is my question.. would you guys give up a steady job with material values for a skiing?
12 years ago
149 24
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ermz
Posts: 79 - Karma: 294
Nope. There are only a bunch of pro skiers. If you honestly think you are good enough to become pro then go for it. I love skiing too, but really, it is a hobby. Don't get me wrong though, Skiing is something that I can see myself doing until i'm too old to do it
12 years ago
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a_burger
Posts: 5257 - Karma: 21,143
depends on the material job. As long as I'm working outside I really don't care how much time it takes away from skiing.
12 years ago
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
You don't have to go pro to enjoy a life of skiing... I would def turn down a job with too many hours or one that left me no time to hike or ski. All that taking the job because it has good benefits doesnt matter to me if it leaves me no time to enjoy life.
12 years ago
21 1
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GeneralGinger
Posts: 37 - Karma: 67
If you can do it the rest of your life with no regrets that why not do it. You don't need to be rich in life just happy. And if skiing makes you happy than why wouldn't you choose skiing

This kid says it pretty well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY
12 years ago
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ermz
Posts: 79 - Karma: 294
Nah man not saying that. I agree with you. But I wouldn't turn down a job to pursue a skiing career. Well not at the skill level I'm at anyways
12 years ago
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ABalls
Posts: 2091 - Karma: 3,754
I would really love a job in the industry
12 years ago
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GrahamGould
Posts: 713 - Karma: 2,439
Yeah, i would for sure. It might not be seen as the most responsible thing to do, but someday when you look back on your life, you would be a lot more stoked about the time you spent doing what you love than the money you made working hard everyday.
12 years ago
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Catbug
Posts: 463 - Karma: 1,027
This is a really confusing statement. So you're saying that if someone came up to you and said "Hey, Ive got two options for you. You could be a professional athlete or work at dairy queen, Your choice." You would accept the shitty job and bail on the pursuing a skiing career? okay. Even if you suck dick at skiing why not try for the dream. I fucking guarantee that it would be significantly better than your shitty life at DQ.

Also. There are many skiing related jobs. Why do you use the rarest one as your example. How about a graphic designer for Armada, K2, or LINE? All skiing related. Soooo fuck you op
12 years ago
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outdoortech
Posts: 313 - Karma: 2,198
you can have a reasonable job and ski all the time,
most "pros" hold down full or part time jobs all summer and some in the winter too.
knowing the right people and getting to that position is the tough part and you might have to bust your a$$ to make it work but it's worth it I promise.
12 years ago
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ermz
Posts: 79 - Karma: 294
Are you a moron?

"Also. There are many skiing related jobs. Why do you use the rarest one as your example. How about a graphic designer for Armada, K2, or LINE?" I agree with and didn't think about that. that would be ok.

Dairy Queen is not a steady job...maybe to you it might be.

I'm an engineer and I wouldn't give up my career for skiing.


But if DQ is classified as a steady job, then yes, I would pursue skiing


12 years ago
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Catbug
Posts: 463 - Karma: 1,027
Your right. The occupation for my example completely destroyed my point. Well done
12 years ago
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Joshua.
Posts: 2957 - Karma: 6,233
An engineer of what? Being a huge pussy? Grow some balls and take risks.


Have fun being an engineer at Dairy Queen, OP.



[IMG]http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Kelso-Says-Burn-That-70s-Show.gif[IMG]
12 years ago
12 3
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,590
i think there needs to be a balance. money doesnt buy happiness, but it is definitely important to it in today's society. if you want to be a poor ski bum for you whole life, go for it. its definitely a good thing to do for a year or so but eventually you will have to sacrifice that lifestyle so that you can hold a steady job and make ends meet as you mature. that said, dont get a job that would force you to quit skiing. its all about balancing skiing and responsibilities, and too much of each one is bad at a certain point (its fine being a ski bum in your early 20's but very few people can sustain that lifestyle for more than a few years.)
12 years ago
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Derelicte
Posts: 300 - Karma: 298
I only ski in the fake world, never the real one.
12 years ago
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Catbug
Posts: 463 - Karma: 1,027
BBBBANHAMMER
12 years ago
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
I work night shifts//Ride 7 days a week YOLO
12 years ago
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PartyHon
Posts: 2019 - Karma: 425
skiing will always be there for me. I just gotta take the time to make a sustainable living so that I can ski and not worry abut how broke I really am.
12 years ago
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
Troll.. engineers generally have enough education to control themselves from blurting out "faggots"
12 years ago
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
I would give up most to shred all year round.
12 years ago
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pastysmasher
Posts: 780 - Karma: 664
Ski bum living! The past 2 seasons, I've skied pretty much everyday and partied a few nights a week too. Last season, I lived in a cramped apartment with a group of friends and worked an Instructor job that got me by and I couldn't be happier! Probably won't wanna do the same thing when in 10 years or so when I'm 30 but for now I'm just gonna party and shred and work like a bitch in the off season. Stoked!
12 years ago
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
It's pretty sick thanks dude, I ski instruct in some of the best resorts in the world, have 4 months holiday a year and still save a decent amount of cash.




12 years ago
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pastysmasher
Posts: 780 - Karma: 664
Ha ha, thats sick, how do you holiday for 4 months a year and have cash off an Instructor job?
12 years ago
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
It's not that unusual, I know people that earn enough in the winter to not work in the summer. I do ok especially because in Chile all my food and accom is paid for, I don't even collect my wages until the end of the season.
12 years ago
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McLS
Posts: 1987 - Karma: 6,455
Wait, dont you american only get like 1 week of holiday/year ?? If so then i understand why some of you would give up a steady jobs (if its a gd job) for skiing. I can work at a steady job (nothing too big, but still have enough money to live and pay for ski pass) and still get over 2months holiday/year which i would concentrate on winter. + it really depends on the job you have, if its something you enjoy, then why give it up? Its pretty rare being able to make money while enjoying what you do and still ski a few weeks a year. I'd'still go with a job in the industry if it means i get to ski more tho (and be with people who love what u love)
12 years ago
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
There is no American standard on vacation days. It ranges from 0 days a year as a walmart employee to everyday as a unemployed person with government pay/benefits.
12 years ago
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sivercartel4ever
Posts: 66 - Karma: 56
I recently got a good internship while i finish up my schooling. I also am working as a ski instructor again this winter while being a full time engineering student and i'll still be out a skiing atleast 4 days a week. Its super doable to ski a ton with a good job. Most of the older instructors at my mountain all have good paying jobs in the valley but all manage to ski 5 days a week.
12 years ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13238 - Karma: 20,486
My life revolves around skiing.

I work all summer long, busting my ass off, just so that I can scrape enough cash for 4 months in the winter time. I work 7 days weeks for 7 months. I still pay for everything; ski pass, new gear, rent, food, gas and trips in the rockies. Since my job requires me to be uninjured, I have to hold back on the super risky stuff, but I still get enough footage to make a segment. I have been doing this for 5 years, but since I moved the the kootneys last year, I would do anything to get more time on my skis.

I dream to give up this job to ski all year long, every year until my body gives out. Even if it means to live in poverty.
12 years ago
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PM4FreeJiberish
Posts: 447 - Karma: 3,533
If that makes you happy go for it. you don't need money to be happy, but it is kind of hard to be happy if you're thinking of where your next meal is gonna come from, or thinking about not freezing to death in your van. Money makes it a little easier to be happy. Skiing=Happiness.
12 years ago
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,959
I know people that pull 60k bartending and serving in fancy restaurants and hotels in property resort areas. Jobs like that let you ski everyday!

Money doesn't buy happiness. likewise, skiing necessarily doesn't guarantee it either.
12 years ago
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Iraq_Lobster
Posts: 1866 - Karma: 4,903
i would definitely give up a job for skiing. skiing is everything. skiing is all
12 years ago
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~TSO~
Posts: 92 - Karma: 56
Ad Hominem, bordering on plain old insults. Major logical fallacy. That gif is irrelevant because you proved nothing, gave no opinion of your own save a verbal attack towards someone who is putting up their opinion and defending it. Please leave conversation to those intelligent enough to contribute to it.
12 years ago
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,137
For just one skiing? Definitely not. It'd need to be at least 6 or 6 skiings.
12 years ago
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Miomo
Posts: 4302 - Karma: 14,137
6 or 7.* Probably more like 7 skiings now that I think about it.
12 years ago
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~TSO~
Posts: 92 - Karma: 56
What if the choice was a 500k a year job at a wall street firm vs a job as a low level assistant at a small ski company? That's a fair comparison right?

I'm really not sure how some of the people on this site function in the real world, while they project this incredibly stupid presence on this forum.

Instead of cherry-picking metaphors for your arguments why don't you go look up that DQ job. Based on the way you presented your argument here, that's about as well as you're going to do in life.
12 years ago
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DBQHawks33
Posts: 10 - Karma: 16
12 years ago
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3mania
Posts: 2654 - Karma: 10,896
It's sorta like high speed switch skiing ... sure I make that shit look all easy, but that doesn't mean I recommend you try it.
12 years ago
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C-Wal
Posts: 185 - Karma: 1,370
You are not going to be offered a salary of 500k straight up at what would most likely be an entry level job, but still the salaries whilst working at a bank are lucrative. However, they don't get paid huge sums of money for nothing; the work is very stressful, hours are long and you sit in an office with probably a lot of people you dislike. Compare that now to living in mountains with no care in the world, working as an assistant so they can do the thing you love most.

I've been doing ski seasons whilst working for the last few years now and I know that it will eventually have to come to an end. You shouldn't assume that money is everything to everyone, there is so much more to life and plenty of time to earn a living. I have friends that have city-based jobs and the majority are pretty jealous of me who is "an assistant at a small ski company".
12 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,324
I'm always so amazed as to how black and white so many people are when it comes to things in life. Just because you aren't good enough to be pro doesn't mean skiing is a) any less fun and b) any less obtainable to do regularly.

Hell,I am a "ski bum" and I have a few friends in the industry that envy me for the life I live when we are essentially doing the same thing. I have friends that are geologists, engineers, and many other "career" type jobs that ski a shit ton in the winter and love it. If you want to ski, you will - don't give me any bullshit that says otherwise 'cause if you do, your full of shit

If you ask me - if you don't have the skills to "go pro" and want to actually ski as much as possible, don't get a job in the industry. You'd probably just spend all your time talking about, and watching people ski as opposed to actually be out there skiing yourself. Be creative, ask questions, make this world work in your favour to get what you want out of it - whatever that may be.
12 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,324
If making 500k a year is what to think is required to live a "successful" life, why are you even wasting your time on ns? Shouldn't you be spending every possible moment of your life working on ways to make money? No one is expecting to get rich from skiing. If you think there is any chance than you're delusional.
12 years ago
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The_RaginAsian
Posts: 688 - Karma: 3,066
ima ski till i die
12 years ago
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,027
I can't believe you have not realized that you may be debating with 15 yr olds about life decisions.
12 years ago
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~TSO~
Posts: 92 - Karma: 56
I know, it's a filthy habit. It's just so damn tempting sometimes...
12 years ago
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
I have..and would do it again.

I am in the process of leaving a balling job to get paid less and ski more. I took the Job because I thought that a career was important, for me happiness was more important. That being said, If I had not spent the previous 6 years shredding some of the sickest shit with a sick crew, I wouldn't have know what I was missing.

Dont get me wrong, its not like I am grillin' burgers..I went from a good job to a great job back to a good job, so the hardship is minimal.


12 years ago
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PositiveSpin
Posts: 113 - Karma: 690
23 year old me, fresh out of college with a degree for a career that was going to only last 10 years for me, I seriously contemplated it. Now 29 year old me with a wife, a dog, a house, good career as a therapist, great lakes state, multiple trips out west/east yearly...it's hard to say I'd trade it now.
12 years ago
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
I plan to ski all my life, I don't give a shit about money. I want to be happy
12 years ago
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joe_dirt
Posts: 372 - Karma: 2,405
Sell some meth

12 years ago
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 443
Nope! Industry jobs make getting all of my gear real easy and I'm urged to go use it!
12 years ago
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