![]() ![]() Publications have profiled 2 generations of owners and the tone is consistent: they want slow growth and to keep skiing affordable to local families. Skiing is a family business that spans 3 generations. So I’m starting with Discovery Ski Area in Phillipsburg, Montana. But there’s a je nais se quois that can’t get captured in the typical mountain stats that keeps these hidden gems in business. At the resorts I love, the cell phone service is touchy. I want to experience a new and different side to skiing. Our sport is far too White to call it cultural immersion, but I want to visit a place with a unique culture and a strong sense of community. You won’t find the local community easily (if there is one at all, as resorts turn to J-1 visas and a constant cycle of new college grads looking to ski bum for a season or two and price out anyone looking for more than a dorm room for lodging). If you spend enough money, big ski conglomerates will make your enjoyment their number one priority. A memorable ski vacation needs to be a pageantry of wealth. A resort can’t be great without an extensive list of add-on services. Ski tourism increasingly mimics the former. Then there’s the culturally immersive approach, off the beaten path of mass tourism, where you fall in line with the community’s everyday activities and seek to learn about their way of life. It’s convenient, feels safer, less stressful, and honestly nice to feel doted on, even if you paid a premium for it. They’ll even sedate some tigers so you can snap a selfie. It’s a little more expensive, but locals are trained to prioritize Westerner’s comfort and enjoyment. Some people visit a foreign country and want the resort experience. My favorites rarely get top reviews – if they’re included at all. But for me, those pieces rarely inspire great trips. The “best resorts” roundup is an annual staple for every ski publication. It’s been done before – by at least a dozen different sites. I decided to start writing resort reviews.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |