A new evil

There is a new evil lurking at my ski area that threatens my powder skiing. Years ago it was people on short skis. Then, the snowboarder. Frickn kids could ride anything after three days on their tray. Then the telemarker. Frickn hippies can climb just about anywhere with light weight equipment. But I've adjusted to all this evil and I can deal with it.
But now.... I have to deal with something really sinister. The 50 something year old ski bum. Our mountain is seemingly covered in these guys. These aren't your ordinary ski bum types like me. These guys worked at real jobs for most of their lives making money. Lots of it. They didn't beat the piss out of their bodies. They worked out. They didn't treat themselves like a bong. They ate good food. Now they are in better shape than me with better equipment. They don't have to work another job to get by in ski season. They are almost always sober so they have no problem being at the hill for first tracks. I sold my knees to the Devil in exchange for skiing moguls on Vermont ice. They took lessons at Alta.
What has happened to the dirtbag with a cigarette hanging from his face, a PBR in his hand wearing Army surplus wool pants working a ticket checker half his age?

Jealousy is pretty evil, isn't it?

Awesome. Just awesome. You forgot to include mono-boards and snow-blades. Though they are rarely seen, they make up for it in annoying proselytizing when they do appear.

Best post of the year.  I hope to be that guy some day (either one of them :) )

Claude

lolkl wrote

These guys worked at real jobs for most of their lives making money. Lots of it. They didn't beat the piss out of their bodies. They worked out. They didn't treat themselves like a bong. They ate good food. Now they are in better shape than me with better equipment. They don't have to work another job to get by in ski season. They are almost always sober so they have no problem being at the hill for first tracks.

This is the story of my post-corporate life... except the part about treating myself like a bong.... The bong will always be a fixture for me.

As long as they aren't snobs or the really uptight far right ski bum hating types I really admire these people.

Every now and then I meet that super angry conservative and I know it right away once they find out I have lived a life with no concern of things they find most concern worthy just by the look in their eyes. That's usually the point where I do every thing I can to grind their gears, man that is fun. They are the ones that are at the age where they realize they don't have that much longer and are questioning their life's choices and life long held values but won't admit it, instead they just hate.  

raisingarizona wrote

They are the ones that are at the age where they realize they don't have that much longer and are questioning their life's choices and life long held values but won't admit it, instead they just hate.

This is kind of like me, but I'm past the denial stage, and freely admit that I made lots of bad choices.  

good one!  

nepa wrote

 The bong will always be a fixture for me.

Pack it with snow for a cool refreshing.....

That was me until I banged the crap out of my body post 50, Never broke a bone prior, now I have broken 4 and tore up a knee biking & skiing. I think it may be time to slow down a little.

sweet

lolkl wrote

I have to deal with something really sinister. The 50 something year old ski bum. Our mountain is seemingly covered in these guys. These aren't your ordinary ski bum types like me. These guys worked at real jobs for most of their lives making money. Lots of it. They didn't beat the piss out of their bodies. They worked out. They didn't treat themselves like a bong. They ate good food. Now they are in better shape than me with better equipment. They don't have to work another job to get by in ski season. They are almost always sober so they have no problem being at the hill for first tracks...

I'm hoping to be that guy. Not that I make lots of money, but with MMM philosophy and low expenses, I can save enough to at least relax during the winters.

I'm also not going to do the Sober thing. And I don't eat the best food. And my equipment is always beat to shit. Okay, maybe I won't be EXACTLY like those guys, but it's a good plan.

Note to self:

Buy cigarettes, PBRs, and Army surplus wool pants, lmao!

Don't forget the bong.

This is actually my retirement plan.  Minus the sober and add the ski-house.
Hopefully I'll see you every Wednesday morning for first tracks up at Gore.  With a raging hangover of course.
I mean in nine years time.

that's me   .. well almost... 2 bottom vertebrae that are stacked on top of each other ,also from rock hard mogul's.

nepa wrote

This is the story of my post-corporate life... except the part about treating myself like a bong.... The bong will always be a fixture for me.

Move to Colorado, where Bongs are so, uh, 1995. It's all baked and vaped these days.



Post 50, I wish. Post 60, it's all fighting decline, so, I guess there's some justice there.

"They didn't beat the piss out of their bodies. They worked out."

Hard to not have a high mileage body in your 50s if you're serious.

Battling back every day in gym defeating late 50's body. Feel like I've been hit by a dump truck at times, but no sense caving and becoming a dysfunctional blob. Bong will be purchased when NJ legalizes the stuff. Yes bong..I'm old school. Still have dumbphone.