My brothers and I joke that our dad ruined our lives. It’s because he introduced us to skiing as soon as we could walk that we’ve grown into adults who prioritize this sport above all else in our lives. As a result, we spend all our disposable income (and then some) on gear and season passes; we live in unaffordable mountain town communities just to be closer to the slopes; and compared to our “responsible” adult friends, we’re seriously lagging behind on our 401k contributions.

If only our dad had never introduced us to this addicting sport…

Related: Why dads the world over hate Warren Miller 

Then we all crack up because the idea is ludicrous. We wouldn’t trade our lives of skiing and adventuring in the mountains for anything—not for better career opportunities, not for an extra zero on our salary checks, and definitely not for a more “balanced” life (whatever the hell that is).

Because, at the end of the day, skiing is not just a sport or pastime for my family. It’s our way of life.

Read More