Aibu to think skiing is not an essential skill!

But you're comparing a no frills self catering skiing holiday to a nice all inclusive sun holiday..

If you drive yourself to a self catering cabin in Europe on the beach, it's a lot less than 5k.

We usually fly and do self catering in a nice European city and even in school holidays, we don't spend 5k

If you go to a less ritzy resort and buy second hand clothes etc, you could do a family of 4 at Feb half term when it's most expensive for say £5000, less if you are all prepared to share a room. So it's comparable to a beach holiday during summer holidays.

I was going to say something similar, for us as a family of 5 it‘s about 1k/person since we self-drive, self-cater, don’t need lessons, and have a lot of our own gear. For New Year week it’s been about 5k for cozy but unfussy ski-in-ski-out accommodation and lift passes in a good resort. 1k/person seems pretty average to me for a family holiday.

Obviously if you choose glitzy ski-in-ski-out accommodation in a see-and-be-seen resort, fly to get there, rent all of your gear, put the kids in ski lessons all week, and eat every meal out on the slopes or in resort restaurants, then yeah it could easily be 5-6 times that amount.

If you go to a less ritzy resort and buy second hand clothes etc, you could do a family of 4 at Feb half term when it's most expensive for say £5000, less if you are all prepared to share a room. So it's comparable to a beach holiday during summer holidays.

However as with all things the actual skiing costs are a small part of it. One year we went on a trip to Austria with DS who was 14 at the time. Meanwhile his mates were at Courcheval sending him pictures of the 100 euro wagyu steaks they were enjoying does show that money cannot buy class . I looked at going there, but basic accommodation was at least £3k for that week.

We went because I love it as a holiday and DS enjoys skiing. Sadly DH has decided it's not for him so now DS will go on the uni ski trip and me on my Ladies one. It's not a social cachet thing for me, I am not even particularly good at skiing, I just enjoy the ambience, scenery and not being able to think about anything else when I concentrate on skiing.

I grew up skiing but only cross country having grown up in a fairly flat area. I find it funny how in the UK skiing is seen as posh but only certain forms of skiing i.e. those in the Alps. I can talk skiing with the best of them but not alpine skiing.

I would love to know how expensive is defined!

DS went to a posh school where skiing was part of the social calendar. He had a form of childhood epilepsy so skiing was not possible. He also never learned to ride a bike. He’s never been socially ostracised for not skiing. He grew out of the epilepsy so could have gone on the ski trips later on but was never interested. He tried boarding at the local snowdome but due to his extra long legs and very high centre of gravity he found it impossible to stay upright. His long legs mean that he is far more used to on a rugby pitch.
His social standing has not been affected by his lack of skiing ability.

it's not expensive

It certainly isn't cheap and I suspect it is still way out of the price range of many people.

If you've never been before it certainly adds up:

• ski clothes: even if just from somewhere like decathlon it adds up - base layers, fleece, coat, salopettes, gloves,hat, snood, googles and helmet
• ski lift pass
• ski and boot hire
• cost of lessons

And for most people:

• flights and/or transport
• accommodation
• airport transfer cost

I’ve reached the ripe old age of 59 without ever skiing and I’ve managed to live life just fine

Skiing is expensive.

Our kids are far posher than we were, so being able to ski is part of their lives. We learnt as late teens, but ours were at ski school from about 5 onwards. Our son is going off to see a friend who’s doing a season as a chalet maid in St Anton. It’s the done thing!

Downhill ski-ing is hugely bad for the environment though and it's up there with owning an SUV as an eco-sin for me

I think it varies enormously. Skiing is one of the first harbingers of a changing climate - the season is getting shorter and less reliable, especially in lower altitude resorts.

In Austria the ski tourism industry supports mainly small family run businesses and is owned collectively, they are aware of the environmental issues and mitigate them as much as possible. The ski lifts and other infrastructure are all powered with renewables, water is saved in mountain reservoirs to create artificial snow and chemicals are banned - the land is grazed or used for hay-making during the summer.

Any sport which brings people into close contact with nature - as skiing does (and the corollary, hiking and mountain climbing in summer) helps to remind people of the importance of protecting our environment.

We ski and its a great family holiday/time together. Definitely not essential though. I think if you can try it early on then do it, so much harder learning in later life.

If that's the sort of thing you enjoy, go for it.

I don't think it's essential in the same way that cycling and swimming (or better put, water safety skills) are, but it certain oils the wheels of middle class civilisation.

Same may apply for golf and tennis.

Downhill ski-ing is hugely bad for the environment though and it's up there with owning an SUV as an eco-sin for me - middle class oils notwithstanding.

Yes, this. Or go off-piste and say things like ‘Did I tell you about the time I skied down the north face of the Eiger after only a single ski lesson on a dry slope in Stoke On Trent, Jonathan?

I can ski and if I ever get stranded at the top of a large hill, or small not too steep mountain, without shelter or a pair of decent walking shoes but for some reason with a pair of skis and ski boots my size, the skiing lesson will be invaluable!

Ski bores are another level and best left to it.

It is if you are a posho.

My ex husbands family were horrified that I’d never been skiing. They made me feel like I was a freak show exhibit, “this is mysogisamassive twat - she doesn’t ski!”

You should have seen their faces when I told them I’d never even been abroad (too poor). It was like I’d just come out the workhouse.

Most people at my work ski, to the point that there’s a work ski trip. I’m one of only a few people there who hasn’t skied since childhood! Similarly, my husband’s family are all skiers and trying to learn as an adult by myself so that I’m able able to join them has been pretty miserable (as is being the only person not joining the holiday!). It’s no way an essential skill, of course, but I do think it’s one of the odd little things that is helpful to have in your arsenal and depending who your friends / family / colleagues are in your adult life, can feel a bit of a gulf between you and them.

@MatildaTheCat

"did they ever enjoy skiing? Maybe they hate it now because skiing with kids is a total ball ache. My DB and his wife are excellent skiers and took their DC from tiny. All were absolutely brilliant by the age of 9/10. The early years were not a lot of fun but now they spend weeks every year skiing together."

Totally agree about skiing with children being stressful. Last time I took my young children skiing I spent the entire time slowly skiing behind them acting as a human shield to protect them from a combination of collisions from faster adults and random changes of direction by them and sudden stops.

The children's section of Grenoble hospital at this time of year will change your mind forever on taking young children skiing. Sure the majority come home safely with nothing but good memories but a sizeable number end up with serious injuries.

Now they are older if they want to go on a school trip then fine but it's certainly not an activity I would encourage. The risk / reward is simply not there.

Out of interest, what else do your DB and SIL consider essential skills? Golf? Horse-riding? Opera? I suspect football is not on the list.