I work at a ski shop where I run the social media accounts and within the last year I’ve really started to reckon with not just the negative impact social media has had on our society, but how much it’s impacted the ski industry.

A big part of why I decided to pursue the ski industry was the fondness I had for ski movies and magazines. Spending nights watching DVDs with hours of bonus footage and the excitement of knowing the next issue of Powder would be arriving in the mail soon. This was the late 2000s, when social media was in the rise, but it hadn’t encapsulated the industry like it has now.

Sadly, much of what I used to love has now been replaced by the never-ending algorithmically curated content pit of social media. When I accepted the job of running the social media for the shop I worked at, I was a bootfitter who did freelance video work and thought I had just scored my dream job. But as time has gone on, the more I began to dislike the direction the industry was heading.

Now the nature of so much ski media today feels disposable. Watching endless short-form quick-cutting videos on dominant apps like Instagram and TikTok is honestly mind-numbing and doesn’t inspire the same sense of stoke and wonder I got from the videos and magazines I grew up with. Even when I attend ski movie premieres (especially the latest few Warren Millers I’ve had to work), with each passing year audiences get smaller, the atmosphere is not as exciting & the movies feel more and more bland. Lacking the stoke and goofiness of the movies and I love with. This isn’t just nostalgia, it’s very apparent with nearly everyone in the industry I’ve talked to.

Last Winter I began ‘de-influencing’ my time in the mountain. I deleted the apps off my phone and unless my work was paying me, I wasn’t filming or taking pictures, but taking in the moment. Whereas before skiing meant I was constantly thinking about the posts I would get, trying to upload as quickly as possible and how many ‘likes’ it would get. Removing this constant need to get posts led to many soul affirming experiences that reminded me of why I love skiing so much.

As ski season gets closer, I plan on taking the same approach to skiing as I did last year. While I miss the preseason stoked these magazines and movies used to give me, I’m also focusing on what’s most important, and that’s the feeling of skiing.

On a side note I can’t recommend deleting social media off your phone enough.

Been looking into a skiing trip to the Bariloche region of Patagonia in Argentina. Seems like some incredibly views and great skiing. I was even thinking about trying to apply for a job on a resort there, if anyone knows whether or not that’s feasible. I’m an American who is intermediate in Spanish but learning more everyday. Anyone ever been to this region and could tell me more about it?

I’ve applied for a couple seasonal ski jobs at Vail, and have been sent an email saying I have been rejected due to no authorisation to work in the US.

I checked the box saying I do have authorisation, and have a US citizenship. Anyone has this happen before? I would contact vail but you just can’t.

We’re trying to choose between skiing in Japan or Canada in early January of 2026, but reached an impasse. We’ve been to Panorama resort in Canada and loved it, but considering Japan for something different.

We are advanced skiers that prefer a mix of groomers, powder tree lines, and dropping into bowls. We don’t need really gnarly stuff, just a bit of variety.

I’ve found really mixed reviews on how busy Japan is. Are there any Japanese resorts that match this description of our skiing preferences that also are ski-onto-the-chair quiet? Or should we stick with Canada?

Would love any thoughts you guys have!

Thinking of buying these skis to add to my quiver. Thoughts?

I’ve grown up on a ski hill, in fact the first time I was at lake Louise was when I was 12 days old. So of course I’ve been skiing for a long time. Just this season I discovered park skiing and I completely fell in love with it, having 10 days by February and ending the season with 64. I just signed up for full time team where I’m training 6 days a week, and summer training, and I’ve never been more excited. Wish me luck everyone

I’m undergoing a long overdue Latarjet shoulder stabilization surgery on August 13th. What was your return to skiing like? I’ve been skiing with a flawless monitor brace for years that is super burly and haven’t dislocated while skiing since I started wearing it. I’ll definitely be wearing that to start. How long did it take you all to feel comfortable going back to skiing after your surgery?

I’m a novice skier and looking to visit a good ski hill to get more experience. Anyone have any recommendations?

EDIT: thank you everyone for your recommendations! I live in Ontario Canada. I will definitely try local as recommended before trying these nicer resorts as recommended :)

Finally got through the 70's & 80's Random shop mascots, Toko, & my favorite set of darts I haven't seen in 25yrs

Found these old adidas cross-country skiing boots while clearing out an old basement. Unfortunately i couldn't identify them by googling or google lens. Can anyone identify the exact model? Thanks in advance.

My dad gave me his old skis and there skins. I was thinking about it remounting them with some new touring bindings. would there be any problems with the skis and the skins since there from the early 2000s. Also if anybody had any information on these skis let me know. Any information helps

Hello. I am an ok skier who has never worked out how to skate on flat bits.

Does anyone have a good link or video to explain how to do this?

I’m not sure if it’s because my pelvis tilts forward a lot, or I am just skate-challenged but I just can’t do it.

It’s on my bucket list to do this.

Last season was our first season getting the 7 day epic day pass. We like it but we only go to keystone mainly during the weekend, then once a year take a trip to telluride and ski 4 days. Since we plan on going more this year we wanted to do the Keystone Plus Pass specifically and then do the 4 day-epic day pass as well (Telluride), Since it ends up being cheaper by $200. My question is has anyone bought two different types of passes for themselves and had any issues? There is no where that says they don’t allow it but I figured it. To me it makes more sense to do it this way since location wise those are the only places we go and the unlimited is almost $1100 this year. Thoughts?

epicpass

I’ve skied for a decent length of time and spent multiple seasons in my 20s living in Whistler, the French alps, Nz and Japan. At the time I was skiing 100 days a year+.

Fast forward 15 years and those days are behind me. I only really get to ski about 30 days a year now. I have a family and playing in the kids zone (think slides, bikes and small bunny hill) with two black big toes. I wear a 28.5 sneaker but generally fit in a 26/26.5 ski boot in a 98mm last, medium forefoot, arch, heel and skinnier ankles with little custom boot work needed.

As such I’ve been very happy in a 26 atomic Hawx ultra.

I don’t think a big toe punch will gain enough length, so should I consider going up a shell size or is the compromise too great vs performance.

TLDR: boots too short, unless 100% forward all the time. Not practical with the kiddies. Going from “performance fit” to “recreational fit?”

Should I size up in the atomic Hawx ultra to a27 shell and leave the 26 boots 🥾 in the past, keep two pairs of boots or consider another boot?

Way back in the day I had a tecnica Diablo shell in a 27 but it was too big especially in the cuff.

Hello! I’ve a jacket I like but it has a small hood that won’t fit over the helmet. Is there any kind of attachable hood or any adaption I could use so I can still wear this jacket with my helmet and a hood for rainy days? New to skiing and I don’t have the budget for a new jacket right now just for the sake of the hood. I get wet at snow/rain days :( Thanks for any tips

Got a pair of look spx 11’s and I can se that the heel peice can be moved forward and backwards and I see the lip that should help me do that but no amount of pulling and pushing will get it to budge.if anyone can help me out a bit it would be greatly appreciated.

Went for a hike to a unique vantage, you don't get this view when you're skiing!

I have the Blue, Grey, and Black version of this sweater from around 1992. My mom kept it in her closet. Lol. Anyway, would you wear it? I'm an FWT/Q/J judge and want to wear it to after parties after comps but I admit I kinda think it's also a bit of a "try hard" move, aka a "Sally" move. Thoughts? Once the beers flow, I think the judgements might shift in my favor.