Skiing - most expensive sport?

[qtlaw]

I've been a lifelong skier but was remiss about getting my boys into the sport because (1) wife doesn't ski; (2) could golf in Dec. in CA and (3) there were youth sports (hoops) and most importantly (4) didn't like thought of hauling everything up to the mountain in the car/minivan.

Well finally going this week after Christmas with my two boys and damn after outfitting both of them and myself, getting hotel, then lift tickets, rentals and lessons, could have taken the four of us to Hawaii or Mexico.

Luckily, there will be fresh snow on the ground and hopefully a memorable experience for them that will ignite a love of schussing down the mountain.

 

[Batman]

Luckily, there will be fresh snow on the ground and hopefully a memorable experience for them that will ignite a love of schussing down the mountain.

From the sound of it, if you're lucky there will be fresh snow, a memorable experience, and no desire to return, thus allowing you to preserve your retirement fund.

 

[typefitter]

We have friends who are very good skiers, with two daughters, 12 and 10, who are in the Olympic track and race every winter weekend. They ended up buying a chalet at their home resort because they calculated that it would be cheaper than staying in hotels. Hockey is crazy expensive up here, but they might spend six figures on skiing each year. It wouldn't shock me. Either way, I'm glad footy is the family sport.

 

[Vombatus]

Lacrosse is a very expensive sport, especially if you include camps, private schooling, travel teams, etc. I imagine hockey is similar. Both aren’t exactly family sports, but if you can get the wife involved in a pick up game, you can beat up on the family without being sent to prison.

Bobsledding looks outrageous.

I only rent and take advantage of learn-to-ski packages that include lessons and rentals.

**** owning any equipment, unless you are white and live in Canada.

 

[RickStain]

Between gear, league fees, and extra ice time for practice or pickup, I pay about $100/week to play rec ice hockey, year-round

 

[expendable]

I graduated from Appalachian State on the five-year plan, but never skied. I used to tell folks that I had no desire to, but truth be told, the expense is why I never went.

 

[heyabbott]

Golf is expensive. Good clubs, upgrading clubs, country clubs. Even public courses can be pricey or hard to get on.

 

[Batman]

One of the funny things about living in the South, when you're not from here, is when people talk about going "skiing" in July.
Always takes me a minute to realize they're talking about water skiing.

 

[Vombatus]

One of the funny things about living in the South, when you're not from here, is when people talk about going "skiing" in July.
Always takes me a minute to realize they're talking about water skiing.

You can go motorboating year round too.

 

[Amy]

If you want to be competitive, equestrian sports, especially dressage and A circuit hunter/jumpers.

Teenage Snowbirds? Just Part of Being a Young Equestrian

 

[BTExpress]

Can of tennis balls: $1.98
Good racket on eBay: $40

 

[Jake_Taylor]

Well, yeah. Hockey pucks, lacrosse sticks and baseball gloves don't have to cost too much either. But it never stops there.

 

[Slacker]

 

[Wenders]

Golf is expensive. Good clubs, upgrading clubs, country clubs. Even public courses can be pricey or hard to get on.

My parents do golf. They spent quite the pretty penny on clubs (which dad, being a golf course general manager, gets at a discount). They don't have to pay to play at his course, but they take vacations and go play nice courses. They told me what they paid for greens fees at Torrey Pines on our trip to San Diego (I stayed at the hotel by the pool) and I nearly had a cow.

 

[Scout]

This thread has me thinking about a quote from the great Ken Burns, and yes, he is great. He said he refuses to watch sports that minories cannot excel or compete in against wealthier people.

Skiing without a doubt is a sport of privilege.

You can be great at hockey in Canada much easier because of frozen ponds than you can in America where you have to pay for ice time.

 

[cjericho]

Yachting is a little more expensive than skiing. Skiing is expensive, but several places in the northeast
give good deals on season lift tickets. Never been to Col or Utah so not sure of the prices. For kids in school,
it's about $300 for a season lift ticket. Renting decent skis or snowboard is about the same. Most winters you
can get out at least 25-30 times, so considering the single day lift ticket is about $70-80 the season ticket is a
pretty good deal.

 

[User 149557]

There's also the "how much of a douchebag will this sport make my child by being around douchebags?" factor to consider.

Because you really bring up the odds a lot when you start talking skiing, golf and yachting. I started playing golf at four and I'm pretty sure most of the douchebagginess I had to beat out of myself in early adulthood came from the golf course.

 

[Iron_chet]

This thread has me thinking about a quote from the great Ken Burns, and yes, he is great. He said he refuses to watch sports that minories cannot excel or compete in against wealthier people.

Skiing without a doubt is a sport of privilege.

You can be great at hockey in Canada much easier because of frozen ponds than you can in America where you have to pay for ice time.

At one time you had kids who made it just from playing pond hockey and on outdoor rinks. Now unless you are an absolute genetic freak in terms of skill set you are not making the NHL without a whopper of an investment in time and money from your parents (or some other benefactor.)

Hockey is every bit the country club sport that baseball in the states is with trainers, costly ice time, specialized coaches, travel teams, etc.

 

[Huggy]

At one time you had kids who made it just from playing pond hockey and on outdoor rinks. Now unless you are an absolute genetic freak in terms of skill set you are not making the NHL without a whopper of an investment in time and money from your parents (or some other benefactor.)

Hockey is every bit the country club sport that baseball in the states is with trainers, costly ice time, specialized coaches, travel teams, etc.

Spot on, this. Few kids grow up skating on ponds etc. here now and ice time is insanely expensive in areas like Toronto, where they have built very few new rinks in what seems like decades, too. There is no cheap way to play minor midget AAA in the Toronto area and that doesn't take into account off-season training and private lessons, custom skates and sticks etc.

 

[Madhavok]

Skiing/snowboard is ridiculous to get into. But once you have the gear it gets easier. Most ski areas are marketing towards the 250k+$ demo for destination guests. At least, that was what it was when I worked in marketing at the most most popular/busiest ski area in North America. I still work there, but in a different department.
The average family probably spends 5-10K on a ski trip if you're a destination guest. Flight, lift tickets, ski rentals, housing, and then lessons if you need them. These folks are going once a year, maybe ski one or two days on the trip and just enjoying being in the mountains.

However, if you know how to ski/snowboard, own your own equipment, and live reasonably close to a resort then it's not bad. You can buy the Epic or Ikon pass for 500-800$ and that's usually good at 10+ resorts. Most major metros have ride shares going to the mountains.