freeskiing/ski bum life is by definition in every way counterculture.
It is not a movement which generally seems to be associated with counterculture, but it is counterculture.
Many of us have adapted a lifestyle that involves filling houses with 15 people, drinking excessively, and throwing ourselves off jumps that any normal person would think is insane. I live a life entirely different than most of my friends. My interests are influenced entirely by it, my music tastes are influenced by it. I hear a song and think, oh that needs to go on the powder day playlist. My fashion tastes are influenced by it and I now feel it ok to wear snowpants in the grocery store or show up to school in snowpants so that it takes less time to get ready at the mountain.
Those of us who have made skiing our lives live far differently than those that do it as a hobby. Yes, usually it is thought of as a privileged thing, but most of my friends eat ramen and pasta every night and drink pbr and coors. They pay $350 a month sharing a loft with 1 or 2 other people. Drive cars that shouldn't exist. Sleep on couches that are older than they are. And most importantly search for the best job that will score them a free pass. I pay nearly nothing to ski as much as I do, but I have made my life accommodate it.
I wrote a paper on the same thing about 3 years ago for my anthropology class.
