After Skiing Ends: What is life like after a professional career?

I'm guessing that you're referring to freeskiing exclusively here, because guys like Ted Ligity and Bode Miller are probably making enough dough to sustain for a while after they stop.

If so, we don't really know yet for sure. If you think about it, skiers only started skiing park 20 years ago max., and the guys who started shredding there when they were 15 are only 35 now, maybe 40, which is probably getting around the end of their professional career. I'm sure we'll start to see more skiers who were in their prime 10 years ago retire soon.

It's a huge generalization to say that most guys don't have college educations, but even if some don't, their experience and reputation will be enough to get them various jobs should they choose to stay in the ski industry (which most will if they've already been skiing professionally >10 years).

Also, a lot of guys who used to only ski park/urban are moving to the big mountain scene whether it be skiing, shooting, even starting their own heli businesses or cat tours. Any backcountry stuff is generally an older skier activity for the simple reason that it takes a shitton of gear most guys under 25 aren't willing to buy. Expect to see an even bigger growth in that area than we've already seen in the last couple years.

Life after skiing is brutal, I suggest being a pro golfer, companies don't turf you out at 25 haha

Marry gus

Scratches head and wonders what olenick is doing!?

ex pro's get a lot of cats when they lose their skill

Shannon Schad owns his own design/construction company in Rapid City, SD now. Married a competition mogul skier as well. He teaches the race team at my local hill and is trying to start a frestyle team as well...I've skied with him a few times and he still shreds hard.

Still gets skis from Salomon as well.

Profahoben_212Shannon Schad owns his own design/construction company in Rapid City, SD now. Married a competition mogul skier as well. He teaches the race team at my local hill and is trying to start a frestyle team as well...I've skied with him a few times and he still shreds hard.

Still gets skis from Salomon as well.

Shannon Schad taught me how to hit rails at High North ski camp summer 2000. Claim.....haha. He was cool AF.

The vast majority of big mountain/park pros don't make enough money to be able to do what they want after skiing. Even the ones that do are in a precarious position, as starting clothing brands and things like that are extremely dangerous and can easily wipe out a small fortune. The safest thing to do for guys who made a ton of money is to invest it with a good financial planner, then find a different path, hopefully one still in the ski world.

I remember back when I lived in Tahoe seeing Aaron McGovern, who at that time was still skiing in MSP films. As I recall, he was back from AK, this was late April, and was going to start work as a carpenter, or something like that, in May. He was not making enough from sponsors to avoid working in the summer. In a way, this was a good thing, as it forced him to get a trade. Lots of guys in Tahoe work their asses off all summer, fall and late spring building homes and doing similar stuff and those guys are able to support their lifestyle and have a good life in the mountains. In a way, he was already prepared for a life after pro skiing. I had friends who knew CR, Tanner and Evan Raps, so I saw those guys as well. I remember thinking that if they didn't make a ton of money, I mean really a ton, they would have difficulty, because they would be starting out at age 35 with no skills other than skiing. For those guys I guess the hope is to get a job with one of the companies that sponsored them, but those jobs are not easy to come by. CR obviously passed away, and I don't know what Evan Raps is doing, but Tanner seems to be doing ok, still skiing and starting business ventures. I hope he is smart with his branching out, because it is really easy to squander money doing stuff like that. I know Tanner has made some good money but he is not Kelly Slater, so investing in his businesses will likely leave him pretty exposed if they don't work out. I wish him luck, he has definitely done a lot for skiing.

Some of the ex-big mountain guys become heli-guides. That seems like a good life, enough money to be fine and a great lifestyle.

teamdummyShannon Schad taught me how to hit rails at High North ski camp summer 2000. Claim.....haha. He was cool AF.

That's sick! He has 2 little shredders that are almost old enough for park. They are really damn good already. I imagine they will follow in their daddies footsteps.

The smart ones get other careers, I remember being surprised at first when I heard Wallisch was going to college around competing, but it's a smart move.

I might be paraphrasing a bit here, but there's a quote from JF Cusson (I think from the old NS Radio days) saying "if you ask a pro skier what they would be doing if they weren't pro and their answer isn't 'ski bum', they're not in it for the right reasons."

Bringing this up because skiing (pro or not) is about skiing and doing anything you can to ski as much as possible. I'd say the huge majority of pro skiers need to work in the summer to support their careers. Combine that with knowing that such a career can't last for very long, and any pro that ends up with nothing to fall back on when it's all said and done did it to themselves. No one gets into skiing for the money, and as much as we all love it (ok - are addicted to it), we all have to come to the realization that skiing isn't the only thing that matters in the world. I'd say that a big step in the right direction actually comes from the outside just as much from within. By that I am referring to finding love in a significant other. There's no better way in life to learn that what you thought was the be all end all is infact, just an option than taking into account the thoughts and well being of someone you care about.

The single, not giving a fuck skier with blinders on are the ones I worry about most. By the time they realize there is more to life than just skiing it might be too late. No one wants to be that 40+ year old with a teenage boss, working minimum wage and can only talk about the 'good old days'. Pro or not, skiing - like all habit forming addictions can destroy you if not checked.

PachankzScratches head and wonders what olenick is doing!?

He is now coaching the Korean Freeski team. There's loads of the older guys who are coaches now. When you stand in the gate at a contest, Cusson, Sprang, Andy Woods, and a ton of others are there.

teamdummyShannon Schad taught me how to hit rails at High North ski camp summer 2000. Claim.....haha. He was cool AF.

Yo we likely were campers together that year. PM me your name.

People go all kinds of directions. Dave Chrichton works in Construction, as far as I understand it Evan Raps works some kind of a finance gig and Philou Porierer runs the park in Tremblant.

You absolutely do not make enough money to last off of, and loads of people aren't college educated. However - it's a myth that life is over if you don't have a degree. Good old fashioned hard work and all the connections you made in a pro career can land you totally decent jobs in the industry. You might not drive a Benz, but you can have a fantastically fulfilling career.

I mean I was never a pro, but I dropped out of college to try and be one. When I ended up starting to realize I wasn't making it, I got a job at this tiny little website called Newschoolers selling advertising. The connections I'd made and the skills I learned trying to get sponsors translated surprisingly well.

My direct boss at the parent company of Newschoolers for the last two years was Chris Engelsman, who was a badass top 10 pro snowboarder in the earlier days. He started working at snowboard mags and rose up to be the action/outdoor sales director at The Enthusiast Network.

There is actually a lot of old pros from various industries working in our media company. I know I always have my eyes on the current crop for those who have a head on their shoulders and will be looking at careers soon.

You absolutely do not need a college education to get jobs. You can bypass that with 5-10 years of experience easily, and being a pro gives a lot of experience for a couple of fields. Definitely enough to get a foot in the door and then you're a bit behind others but you can get in there and start building experience.

Plus the bonus is you get to live life after knowing you were a fucking Badass pro and lived the good life for a period of your life.

Isn't chug a pilot now? That's cool olenick is a coach, in Korea , interesting.

PachankzScratches head and wonders what olenick is doing!?

His segment in Mind the gap was ill. I think I saw him on fb a few years back.

baitHis segment in Mind the gap was ill. I think I saw him on fb a few years back.

I hung out with him at dew tour killington one year. Was the weekend Sarah Burke passed so he was down but a nice guy regardless.

Mr.BishopI mean I was never a pro, but I dropped out of college to try and be one. When I ended up starting to realize I wasn't making it, I got a job at this tiny little website called Newschoolers selling advertising. The connections I'd made and the skills I learned trying to get sponsors translated surprisingly well.

Doug bishop is my role model

PachankzIsn't chug a pilot now? That's cool olenick is a coach, in Korea , interesting.

yup chug is a pilot, check out his instagram he has some groovy pilot pics on there

skiguy04ex pro's get a lot of cats when they lose their skill

Why cats? too scared to go outside? A dog is a much better option XD

ramoose_jcWhy cats? too scared to go outside? A dog is a much better option XD

yeah they should get dogs instead, dogs are the best!!

JD Zigat (sp?) got a coaching job as well as Phil Belanger for high school in Quebec City. Charismatic skier tend to make it as models, journalists, reps or TV spokesperson. Less charismatic either find work elsewhere or they fade into poverty.
It reminds me the tragic story of Christian Marcoux. In the 90's he was a skiing superstar, but after blowing both knees, he coached the national team, then ended up as an assistant coach for a small team. He lost his wife, kids, home, BMW and gradually his skis fell apart. He was working under the table at 30 just to make rent. Then the booze and drugs locked him out of work for a few years. He turned around last I heard, but I realized you are only a name in a sport...nothing else.

PachankzIsn't chug a pilot now? That's cool olenick is a coach, in Korea , interesting.

Might be a little rough having this guy as your boss, but whatever you gotta pay the bills somehow.

A question at if3 6 or 7 years ago for a pair of skis was what Vinny Dorion was doing and the answer was bobcat driver I think.

VANULARLife after skiing is brutal, I suggest being a pro golfer, companies don't turf you out at 25 haha

Its very true. And our biggest problem is all the old pro skiers took the easy route and became coaches (completely against their initial roots in creating the sport) instead of creating companies. If they would've created companies as ex pro skaters have done then we would have a lot more control over our sport and be putting money where it belongs instead of taking it out of the sport and into corporate pockets..

These brands that come into our sport trying to make money don't give a fuck about the pros they sponsor, If they get hurt, if they get older, if they don't come up on top for 1 year all of a sudden they are left at the sidelines not getting shit. I myself have been working on creating La Fa, and I'll tell you theres a lot less support into this than I ever imagined. We need to support companies that are made by Skiers because these are going to be the ones that care and will keep caring about Freeskiing no matter what.

If you haven't realized this yet, Freeskiing is being ran by grey haired rich people who take advantage of kids Dreaming of being pro skiers. Lets change this! Just think about it

Girays_BrotherIts very true. And our biggest problem is all the old pro skiers took the easy route and became coaches (completely against their initial roots in creating the sport) instead of creating companies. If they would've created companies as ex pro skaters have done then we would have a lot more control over our sport and be putting money where it belongs instead of taking it out of the sport and into corporate pockets..

These brands that come into our sport trying to make money don't give a fuck about the pros they sponsor, If they get hurt, if they get older, if they don't come up on top for 1 year all of a sudden they are left at the sidelines not getting shit. I myself have been working on creating La Fa, and I'll tell you theres a lot less support into this than I ever imagined. We need to support companies that are made by Skiers because these are going to be the ones that care and will keep caring about Freeskiing no matter what.

If you haven't realized this yet, Freeskiing is being ran by grey haired rich people who take advantage of kids Dreaming of being pro skiers. Lets change this! Just think about it

This couldn't be more accurate, the more brands that are run by and for the skiers in this industry, the more money will circulate back to the skiers who support the brands and those who run them. But as Ahmet was just saying with LaFa, it takes a whole lot of effort from the community to continue to support brands that are in it for the same reasons we are.

Girays_BrotherIts very true. And our biggest problem is all the old pro skiers took the easy route and became coaches (completely against their initial roots in creating the sport) instead of creating companies. If they would've created companies as ex pro skaters have done then we would have a lot more control over our sport and be putting money where it belongs instead of taking it out of the sport and into corporate pockets..

These brands that come into our sport trying to make money don't give a fuck about the pros they sponsor, If they get hurt, if they get older, if they don't come up on top for 1 year all of a sudden they are left at the sidelines not getting shit. I myself have been working on creating La Fa, and I'll tell you theres a lot less support into this than I ever imagined. We need to support companies that are made by Skiers because these are going to be the ones that care and will keep caring about Freeskiing no matter what.

If you haven't realized this yet, Freeskiing is being ran by grey haired rich people who take advantage of kids Dreaming of being pro skiers. Lets change this! Just think about it

While I agree with most of this, people have to realize that starting a company is very difficult. The chances are very good it won't work out and you will end up broke and starting from square one. I respect people who go that rout, and I would like to see more of the industry run by skiers, but going the coach route is much safer so I would not blame anyone for doing that.

dan4060While I agree with most of this, people have to realize that starting a company is very difficult. The chances are very good it won't work out and you will end up broke and starting from square one. I respect people who go that rout, and I would like to see more of the industry run by skiers, but going the coach route is much safer so I would not blame anyone for doing that.

thats true, thats why I said they took the easy route. Starting a company is very difficult however in a niche like we have it shouldn't be so bad if people realize the difference between the companies started by skiers and the ones coming in to score money. If everyone from newschoolers talked about and showed love to companies started by Freeskiers it wouldn't have to be so difficult

Girays_BrotherIts very true. And our biggest problem is all the old pro skiers took the easy route and became coaches (completely against their initial roots in creating the sport) instead of creating companies. If they would've created companies as ex pro skaters have done then we would have a lot more control over our sport and be putting money where it belongs instead of taking it out of the sport and into corporate pockets..

These brands that come into our sport trying to make money don't give a fuck about the pros they sponsor, If they get hurt, if they get older, if they don't come up on top for 1 year all of a sudden they are left at the sidelines not getting shit. I myself have been working on creating La Fa, and I'll tell you theres a lot less support into this than I ever imagined. We need to support companies that are made by Skiers because these are going to be the ones that care and will keep caring about Freeskiing no matter what.

If you haven't realized this yet, Freeskiing is being ran by grey haired rich people who take advantage of kids Dreaming of being pro skiers. Lets change this! Just think about it

Girays_Brotherthats true, thats why I said they took the easy route. Starting a company is very difficult however in a niche like we have it shouldn't be so bad if people realize the difference between the companies started by skiers and the ones coming in to score money. If everyone from newschoolers talked about and showed love to companies started by Freeskiers it wouldn't have to be so difficult

Preeeeeeach!

Girays_BrotherIts very true. And our biggest problem is all the old pro skiers took the easy route and became coaches (completely against their initial roots in creating the sport) instead of creating companies. If they would've created companies as ex pro skaters have done then we would have a lot more control over our sport and be putting money where it belongs instead of taking it out of the sport and into corporate pockets..

These brands that come into our sport trying to make money don't give a fuck about the pros they sponsor, If they get hurt, if they get older, if they don't come up on top for 1 year all of a sudden they are left at the sidelines not getting shit. I myself have been working on creating La Fa, and I'll tell you theres a lot less support into this than I ever imagined. We need to support companies that are made by Skiers because these are going to be the ones that care and will keep caring about Freeskiing no matter what.

If you haven't realized this yet, Freeskiing is being ran by grey haired rich people who take advantage of kids Dreaming of being pro skiers. Lets change this! Just think about it

what are some examples of who not to buy from besides the big ones like Line, K2, Rossignol, Salomon, Full Tilt (and now Dalbello), Oakley, North Face, etc.