Here's the thing. I'm not a skiier even though I grew up 30 minutes away from the mountains. There are 2 reasons I can't ski.
1. Culturally, it isn't something my family and I would do together
We moved to Canada when I was very young and my family didn't have time for outdoor hobbies beyond hiking (which my dad loves and does more often than me). Having leisure time, energy and health to spend on a physically exhausting hobby are luxuries that not all first-generation immigrant families can afford. And trust, skiing and snowboarding are tough skills to learn as an adult. I learned to skate in my late 20s and it is humbling to be terrible at something that children do with ease. No one my family can ski, skate or swim as well as I can. This is a shocking statement because I am very, very beginner at all of those.
The only reason I can ski at all is because of the one week of ski lessons my parents wisely put me in when I was 7 years old. That week meant I can enjoy and be comfortable in snow for a lifetime. It meant I'd be invited on ski trips with friends and follow conversations about this beloved Canadian hobby. I'm endlessly grateful for that, even if I can't afford the hobby in my own adult life. Which brings me to the next point...
2. It's a price-prohibitive hobby
Can we talk about money? Gear rentals will put you back ~$50+ for the day, or buying and bringing your own gear is quite the investment of money upfront and labour every time you hit the slopes. Gas money or car rentals to get to the mountains, since they aren't typically public transit accessible.
Day passes for access are ~$100+ for the mountains. A seasons' pass, or family pass, are hundreds of dollars. Of course it's some of the best skiing in the world. But for a beginner like me, these costs are massive to start up a hobby. The few times I ski, I stick to the easy paths and the bunny hill for kids. I enjoy it, but not enough to justify the costs. Plus I can throw on my $10 second-hand ice skates and hit a free outdoor rink 10 minutes from home.
Everyone deserves to enjoy nature. And there are so, so many ways to enjoy the mountains beyond skiing. For instance....
You can find me hiking, skating, snowshoeing, camping, paddleboarding, hanging out lakeside, visiting hot springs, grabbing a bite with a view and enjoying the scenic drives.
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