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Skiing: A lonely experience

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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
So, I'm an 18 year old from Maine, and picked up park a few years ago, and it's been my passion ever since. In the beginning we had a solid crew of my friends going up every weekend, pushing each other, congratulating one another when we landed tricks, just an all around better time. Now that I'm in college, it seems all of them either turned into a "casual" skier, or doesn't even ski anymore. I find myself with that same passion I did, but no one to ski with. often driving two hours to ski alone, and two hours back. The worst part is landing new tricks, and only being able to celebrate it internally, which really take away from the feeling. I try to connect with other park kids, but never seems to work. I'm just wondering if there are others who have the passion to ski, but no one to enjoy it with. I ski sugarloaf so any fool skis there hit me up if you want to ski
Feb 24 2014 3:55PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Ski and snowboard club at your school? Did you make any new friends at college with similar interests? Meeting people at the hill? I'm sure sugarloaf has a pretty happenin' park scene
Feb 24 2014 3:57PM
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t.dough
Posts: 413 - Karma: 1,090
I go to college in VT but live in Maine, I'll be in the same boat next week (I have an earlier spring break than my friends). I suck at park but would definitely be down to try and progress a little bit. If you want to ski PM me.
Feb 24 2014 4:05PM
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yangumane
Posts: 1816 - Karma: 3,347
make sure to make a thread in the regional forum
Feb 24 2014 4:10PM
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Dirty.Harry.
Posts: 1779 - Karma: 351
You should invent a Tinder for finding ski buddies.
Feb 24 2014 4:10PM
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Petey.
Posts: 5736 - Karma: 4,885
Jamie skis Sugarloaf I think.

aka 1337
Feb 24 2014 4:12PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,814
I agree dude, skiing park alone sucks. Some people enjoy it, but I've always found it too lonely. Shredding lines, on the other hand, is great by yourself.
Feb 24 2014 4:16PM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
There's a ski club but I went to some of the meetings and no one who skies park was a member. As far as school goes I've only spoken to one other kid that slays, so that's actually a good avenue. But sugarloaf for sure has a good scene, just weird approaching kids like let's be friends and ski together now, aha. But thank you for ideas though
Feb 24 2014 4:17PM
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Substitute
Posts: 1376 - Karma: 2,275
I hate skiing by myself. Too weird. Also it doesn't help that 96% of the timeI am the only one in the park who isn't a gaper.
Feb 24 2014 4:20PM
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op14
Posts: 1769 - Karma: 4,586
I'm actually terrified of this coming next year. I'm a senior now and going to URI next year and don't really know a lot of people going. The upside is that I can have a fresh start and meet new people. The down side is that I will have no one to ski park with. I have a rather small group of friends (4 of us where we hung out every weekend). Me and my friend Joe got sick of the other two. They turned into two of the most boring and bland people I have ever met. I say this meaning they refuse to drive anywhere because they "don't want to get their car dirty" and constantly crack the same fucking jokes over and over again, so me and joe branched out and started chilling with other people. Only me joe and one other kid we chill with ski park. Joe is probably going out to California for college so that eliminates him for a ski buddy during the school year and my other fried Dan is a sophomore in High School so he'll be around during break but he has his own friends in his grade. Anyways, I truly don't know what I'm gonna do next year. I highly doubt a majority of the kids at URI are gonna ski park. Man I really hope all this shit works out because I love skiing way too much.
Feb 24 2014 4:28PM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
I feel you man, it's tough. But just make sure you stick with it, because even skiing like I do is better than dropping it, obviously. I know some kids that go to RISD that shred, so there's that ( I'm assuming URI is university Rhode Island)
Feb 24 2014 4:37PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,175
And CUMMINGS
Feb 24 2014 4:37PM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
I DONT KNOW THESE FOOLS
Feb 24 2014 4:46PM
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APunx176
Posts: 1189 - Karma: 2,628
I always break away from my friends for usually about 2-3 hours to do some more park skiing. They do a lot of just regular runs and I'd rather be in the park. It gets lonely, but sometimes you can go with some other park-skiers/snowboarders for a while.
Feb 24 2014 5:21PM
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slaagmaster
Posts: 129 - Karma: 63
not much beats a great posse!!!! as you go through life this issue will occur several/many times!! make friends at the hill you ski!!! locals are tops and may save you that 4 hour drive!!!
Feb 24 2014 5:26PM
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elinde
Posts: 1466 - Karma: 3,048
Skiing alone can be great. Sure, it's always better to share the experience, but I find myself alone about half the time and find that even without friends, skiing is still there and is no less fun.
Feb 24 2014 5:27PM
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Zimmy
Posts: 1258 - Karma: -1,327
I love skiing alone. In fact I wouldn't have it any other way unless there were a bunch of other heatslayers around. When you're skiing terminal velocity all day, haven't fallen once, and high off endorphins (as opposed to adrenaline) the vibes I'm giving off mean I meet a ton of people on chairs and T-bars. Stoke on the way up, stoke on the way down. High stoke + no poles + heat on the feat + alone = quality human contact all day with some pimpin' opportunities as well too.

Admittedly there's a high barrier to entry to how I do it... currently...

(it's very weird compared to how I used to ski)

Click for larger image



Yung Simmie would understand.
Feb 24 2014 5:28PM
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mski
Posts: 4791 - Karma: 3,803
College is the time to ski, cause after that if you get an actual job you will find yourself as the casual skiier

College provides you with the most free-time you'll ever have (Obv unless your a Doctor or some shit, but then you've probably come to terms with your lack of free-time overall)
Feb 24 2014 5:30PM
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S.J.W
Posts: 7609 - Karma: 31,185
i feel ya dude, often times when i went down during my season (southern hemisphere) I would have to ski by myself, i liked it at some stages because i could do my own thing, but nothing beats the stoke you get from friends, i have also have this dilemma in terms of moving to canada this year, once i finish my hsc i'm moving to Toronto and i'm scared my general level of skiing won't be enough to connect with other skiers when i get there.
Feb 24 2014 5:48PM
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STAUSS
Posts: 8232 - Karma: 3,311
they have this its called snocru check it out.

Feb 24 2014 5:53PM
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Shifties4Dayz
Posts: 1657 - Karma: 553
Same thing happened to me. Except we are all graduated from college and doing real world stuff. I have one friend that hoes pretty often, but he just picked up skiing lady year. It's tough when there's nobody to push you. If you go often enough, talk to the employees there, it seems that a lot of them are pretty good shredders. That's what I did, even though they all board it's still great to have a small crew to chill with
Feb 24 2014 6:23PM
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mike.carrigan.94
Posts: 1 - Karma: 12
I fell you man I'm in the same boat.
Feb 24 2014 6:26PM
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SwaggyP
Posts: 79 - Karma: 151
Sunday river has a pretty good crowd. Just take a run with people and sit on the chair lift with some kids you might like. By the end of the season you'll know all the regulars.
Feb 24 2014 6:33PM
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linus_deboss
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 1,914
same here, except that I decided to take a season pass in a different ski area, way bigger than where I used to ski.
similar reasons tho, I was a lone wolf, stoked on skiing, but no homies - but for me this was because some asshole brainwashed most of my skiing buddies, making them think I was an idiot who they should hate, probably jealousy, I really don't know.

sucks so bad if you leave behind all the friends you thought you had, moving somewhere you know you're gonna be alone.

also, sticking new, hard tricks with no one cheering is one of the worst feelings ever. I know that feel bro.
Feb 24 2014 6:44PM
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mode2n
Posts: 2856 - Karma: 255
I know that feel my friend! It can definitely be a struggle to find people to ride with or hit urban with, you just have to keep getting out as much as possible, and trying to connect with new individuals. It may take some time, but believe me it'll be worth it!

2000th post too!
Feb 24 2014 6:46PM
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galardogod
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 5,209
Yeah sunday is pretty tight nit easy to meet people there
Feb 24 2014 7:28PM
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
Try living in the south man. hardly anyone to ski with (it used to be pretty bad when all of my friends went to colleges other places, and anyone I would bring up didnt ride park and werent that good). Anyways, People usually cant go when they're in school cause they are busy and shit. I prob will only ski 1 or 2 more days this year (job search/trying to graduate). it sucks.

Just go and enjoy skiing by yourself. introduce yourself in the park and meet people. make friends on the chairlift and shit. theres tons of skiers up there so it shouldnt be too hard.
Feb 24 2014 7:37PM
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werd.
Posts: 967 - Karma: 4,330
This has been my highschool expierience. I'm a junior and there's only one other skier in my school that can spin higher than a 180 and hit rails. There are some decent all around skiers and I still have fun skiing with my friends but as far as having friends to push each other in the park I'm completely alone
Feb 24 2014 7:56PM
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Spiri7o
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 1,100
Me and my group of 4 friends all ski park and will be attending URI next year!
Feb 24 2014 8:53PM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
Thanks all this is sick
Feb 24 2014 8:56PM
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JWeinstock
Posts: 3439 - Karma: 1,352
same feeling and im only a sophmore in high school. Just hoping everyone gets back into it again
Feb 24 2014 9:03PM
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CalvinStork
Posts: 163 - Karma: 2,082
just give poeple big ups when you them stomp something or be like "yo your getting pretty close" if you see them trying stuff over and over. and if there are odd numbers on the lift just hop in and start talking about like park conditions. idk tho just trying to help
Feb 24 2014 9:20PM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
where do you go to college?
Feb 24 2014 9:36PM
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averageMIskier
Posts: 600 - Karma: 1,385
I am the ONLY park skiier in my whole school. Granted I do go to Kalamazoo College, in southwest michigan and have only 1600 students. But I often end up hitting urban alone. Or just asking random people walking by to help me pull the bungee. Or offer a bong rip or two to help me pull. Sucks not having a crew of homies to consistently help you out. And driving anywhere to ski, mostly by yourself blows. But i feel like a total badass when i stomp a k-fed in front of a bunch of people who have never seen skiing before, let alone urban.
Only shitty thing was that i ended up breaking both wrists and knocking my self out on a switch blind disaster on a dfd. I was out for a minute before my friends who dont ski thought to look for me.

Keep the passion alive man and never stop skiing,
Feb 24 2014 9:40PM
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Puzzled
Posts: 4267 - Karma: 4,448
Exactly. Skiing with friends only seems to make me more cocky and obnoxious to the quiet people around me.
Now don't get me wrong, Its also fun to get a little wild with the homies but nothing wrong with skiing alone and chatting up the liftie/chairlift partner.
Feb 24 2014 9:51PM
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Parks.
Posts: 5612 - Karma: 1,093
i actually really enjoying skiing alone (at times). just putting your music on high volume and taking some hot laps is the best! skiing with freinds is really fun but i enjoy both. i go to UNR and we have the worst "ski club" (which i dont get how thats possible, we're in Tahoe?!?) so i just shread both alone and with friends. as long as im skiing mang
Feb 24 2014 10:16PM
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skiersupreme
Posts: 1549 - Karma: 4,872
ah thats a tough one man. i would maybe put some flyers up at your college or something? maybe something like "looking for a freeski bud" or something.
Feb 24 2014 10:18PM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
Umaine Orono
Feb 24 2014 10:52PM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
And I agree with those who talk about the joy of skiing alone. Like, absolutely. I'm somewhat of an introverted person as is, so it makes sense to ski alone sometimes. Just after doing it so much it gets old.
Feb 24 2014 10:55PM
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Mainah
Posts: 728 - Karma: 1,102
I can relate man I ski Sugarloaf too but I go to school in Boston. I drag my ass up 4 and a half hours one way pretty much every weekend. Not many of my buddies I grew up skiing with are going with me anymore too. Hit me up if you want to shred or need a place to crash.
Feb 25 2014 12:05AM
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freestyler540
Posts: 13082 - Karma: 18,719
Same here, everyone tells me they wanna ride with me; but they never commit. Just tell yourself "fuck it" and just ride some laps.
Feb 25 2014 12:40AM
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-WZ-
Posts: 3600 - Karma: 6,582
Just started getting into park this year, so right now im at a level where my friends that ski park are alot better than me so we lap different sections and i never really see them, and then theres my other friends who'd rather be searching for pow stashes when there hasnt been a storm for 2 weeks. it gets lonely but just set a goal and try your damn best to achieve it. put in some music you like and just vibe, really helps me and right now, and i dont even mind skiing alone anymore. just have fun with it but i hope you find guys to shred with! (:
Feb 25 2014 3:11AM
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first_rodeo
Posts: 2385 - Karma: 7,781
i go to a private college where no one actually does any skiing, they just wear saga and Neff

This is CNY so snowmobiling > skiing .......... similar to hockey in the midwest.

OP you have to make friends at the mountain.....

Feb 25 2014 8:34AM
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gnarlyscab
Posts: 53 - Karma: 557
Word
Feb 25 2014 9:10AM
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JibUrNut
Posts: 48 - Karma: 173
You will have plenty of opportunities to find people at school... at least I did.... the problem is now that I graduated from college all the people I skied with moved all over the place so I got no one to go up with now.... I have meet a few kids at the local hill but most are in high school so it just doesn't click... anyone skiing nashoba in ma hit me up
Feb 25 2014 9:30AM
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Zimmy
Posts: 1258 - Karma: -1,327
I hear you.. In Whistler for me, the default state is to reach out to whoever you're riding up with. St Anton, Austria the default state was the opposite (silence) and Switzerland was about 50/50. That's not to say people aren't open to social contact, it just comes down to protocol according to some geographic location. New Zealand was also really social.
Feb 25 2014 10:20AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51600 - Karma: 161,779
I hear you OP. Work on your social skills though. Most people are cool and if they aren't whatever. Just talk to the other people in the park/spin some laps with them. I end up in some random crew every time I go to a new mountain. It's just nice to cruise with people, especially in a new park.
Feb 25 2014 10:25AM
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*TURBONERD*
Posts: 15080 - Karma: 9,152
You called? Pm me if you want to shred.
Feb 25 2014 10:32AM
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scarsimd
Posts: 668 - Karma: 773
i often go to parks on my own around europe, the best thing to do is to try and ask another guy in the park how to do a trick and then just make friends! works most times
Feb 25 2014 10:37AM
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Vintage
Posts: 60 - Karma: 147
man i feel you, going to school in boston, takin 4 hour trips one way every weekend just to ski alone is pretty shitty- but skiing is skiing, id rather go alone than not at all and it still helps me deal with stress
Feb 25 2014 5:15PM
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Oxburger
Posts: 123 - Karma: 1,262
Its really only as lonely as you want to make it. After I graduated high school lots of my skiing friends went separate ways, and my good shredding buddy and I both got jobs in the ski industry which ironically makes it so our schedules hardly ever connect allowing us to shred like we would before. Life is life though. I decided to teach skiing and it's been sweet, although none of the other ski instructors ski park the boarders do, so i end up shredding with them quite a bit. And hell even ripping some groomers or skiing bumps with the instructors is dope too. If you regular the hill enough for people to recognize you, start talking to people. Strike up convos with the lifties or anyone. Just make connections. Even though they might not give a shit about the trick you just stomped at least your connecting and fueling the stoke of shredding in some way. I love being alone and getting to catch chair rides with complete strangers. Spreading positive vibes and getting to hear some crazy 5 minute life stories is way cool. Maybe that's just me though, I love connecting with people. I'll be that dude in the grocery store who'll strike up conversation over buying the same brand of cereal or some shit like that... haha
Feb 25 2014 6:35PM
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