To not understand the snobbery around skiing?

[Cappuccinowithonesugarplease]

An actual conversation I overheard:

"Virtually anyone can afford to go skiing these days"

Do people really still think like this in 2024? It just seems so classist....

Yes, Snowheads bashes very reasonable prices. It’s cheap and cheerful, but all about the snow and the company rather than the hotel and resort.

No. But it's not the same is it. It's very dependent on weather on the day. No one is going to book next year's ski HOLIDAY in the hope the snowfall will be good in Scotland.

You didn’t specify you lived ‘in Europe’ in your OP. The U.K., which is where Mumsnet originated (and is predominantly posted from) is coincidentally in Europe also. Its a fair assumption if the poster doesn’t specify they are outside the UK that they aren’t, therefore to wonder why it’s a class/money issue is a bit silly as there isn’t an awful lot of skiing here, and ppl don’t tend to go on holiday within the UK to ski.

I only started skiing at 39, dh was 45. Was never an option when I was growing up (one of 5 kids). We've been 3 times now with dd14. It is an expensive holiday. Our last trip we paid 4.5k (feb half term) for the 3 of us, flights, transfers, 4* hotel, half board, ski lessons, passes and equipment. Aside from buying lunch on the slopes (and a few beers) we don't spend much other money as we're too tired to do anything else. I wouldn't swap a ski holiday for a summer one though.

Of course it is. And that's just 1 child.
I am in a comfortable financial position. £1,500 is a large chunk of our FAMILY holiday budget. And then they need all the kits and extras.

I tried skiing once at our local dry ski slope...it was painful and difficult. Not what i'd call a holiday...really fancy the apres ski though.

Yeah people have said to me that they tried skiing because people said it was a fun past time.

They hated it.

The cost of petrol? (Haha)

I live in Europe, most people of all backgrounds here go skiing so I wasn't sure why it's considered upper class in the uk.

The UK is in Europe. Do you mean you live on mainland/continental Europe?
If so, then access to skiing is wildly different - what with the whole crossing the sea thing.

I lived in Germany for 2 years in my early 20s. I'd never skied before, yet we'd pack up a car and go off for the w/e. Split the petrol. Ski and boot hire from where I lived was cheaper than from the resort.

Editing to add that I know we can ski in Scotland, but for people in the south of the UK you can't really do that for a w/e, unless you fly and then you're back to the cost issue.

@HollyKnight

Yet we have every year for a decade now. I went every year for a decade with my parents.

Yeah, we went to Lapland (Ylläs) last Feb half term. 2 adults and 2 teens. Through Crystal and it was £3300 including flights, transfers and half board. I thought that was excellent value (if you love skiing that is).

I love skiing, I also like beach holidays. But I still would prefer skiing. My ski suit is from Aldi, it was £74.99 and it has all the gubbins & bells and whistles that the more expensive brands have.

That is good value for skiing, especially at half term. Add on lift passes and ski lessons though, and you’d be looking at at least another grand, I’d assume?

Still good value for half term though, I’ll definitely be looking outside the alps for next holiday!

Did you book it a year in advance? You live a lot closer to it so if it's going to be a bad day it's not going to have as big an impact on you as it would for people travelling from the south of England, Europe etc. In fact, you're doing exactly what the OP is doing by thinking that just because there are ski slopes close to you it must mean it's as accessible to everyone else. Again, people are not going to book next year's ski holiday in the hope that the snow will be good in Scotland. They want the almost-guaranteed good snow that Europe offers.

thats not a bad price 😻

I think it totalled just under 5k all in all. DC and I had one 2hr ski lesson only, on the first day, mainly to familiarise ourselves with the resort. DC are now pretty proficient skiiers so didn’t book more than that.

Lunches were mainly at the local burger joint which was fairly cheap. Comparable to McDonalds really. Or hurters and chips at the ski cafe. Again, fairly cheap. Most expensive expenditure was hot chocolate with (alcoholic) mint liqueur. Sooo delicious!

We usually DIY our trips to Lapland but last year the flights alone were so expensive so the first time ever we booked a package deal instead.

It’s a university ski club trip and that price includes accommodation and a lift pass only. Doesn’t include getting there. Nor food, ski hire, lessons, etc. I just looked at their webpage to see what the accommodation is like and can’t see any details but i suspect it’s going to be exceedingly basic.

OP, what you've described is not snobbery - in fact it's close to the opposite of it (no judgment as to type of person or background, anyone can do it).

It is, however, an unrealistic assumption of the wealth of the majority of people ('virtually anybody can afford it').

Skiing is my absolute passion. When I'm dead and gone my spirit will be whooshing down the piste for all time. It makes my soul sing like nothing else.

I'm from a background of no wealth. I happened to catch lucky in my state primary school with a head teacher who loved to ski and organised a trip by coach to Bulgaria in the 1980s. It was before my dad was made redundant and my parents treated me as my Xmas present. I absolutely loved it but couldn't afford to go again until I was working, in the early 2000s and it was as good as I'd remembered. Then due to living in Europe for a period of time we could drive to the mountains easily (and cheaply) and so my kids learnt (and are now far better than me!)

It is expensive but there have been some great tips on here re: making it more affordable.

If I could only have one holiday a year (and I'm fortunate to usually have more than one) then I'd choose to ski.

Skiing is definitely a skill that people are expected to learn in childhood. But it's absolutely inherently useless compared to other childhood skills like swimming or riding a bike. It's comparable to ballroom & classical dancing which is also something upper middle class kids are expected to learn before adulthood in preparation for balls they will attend later in life. It's a leisure activity that discreetly filters people through their class, upbringing, income and ethnic background.

The only adults I know who actively took up skiing later in life were those obsessed with appearing high class or chasing the old money lifestyle.

Are you sure upper middle class kids are expected to learn ballroom and 'classical' dancing (whatever that is)? I know loads of people from old money backgrounds but don't know what you're referring to here.

The adults I know who took up skiing in later life did so to join in with friends - and stuck at it when they realised how much fun it was. (And most of the ex-pats who'd moved within range of ski resorts in Europe. Skiing in winter was just like hiking in the summer there). Anyone merely chasing the lifestyle soon drop out as it's bloody hard work learning to ski. Plenty do it once then declare they'd rather be on a beach/enjoying the sun somewhere.

Classical are dances like foxtrot, chachacha, boogie, tango and waltz, although some consider waltz a separate category. Each dance has different beats and it's a hidden skill to listen to any piece of music and identify the style of dance you have to do with it. We know tons of (upper) middle class kids who were all sent to dance school in their teens. With the popularity of shows like Strictly I'm surprised that ballroom dancing isn't more widespread. It's definitely more affordable than skiing.

We did this in 2008/2009/2010 it was about £2.5K including ski school for the DC 2 adults, 2 DCs. Sandwich on the mountain and spag bol from home in the evening. Shopped at Lidl all year so we could afford it. Camped in the summer. We live in Kent so France is a very short drive away which makes it easier.

This tells me it would be 3750 today.

I’ve booked our first ski holiday for a school holiday week next year. It is in very basic self catering accommodation but includes ski school for us all. Total cost including flights is £5.6k. As a first time skier the kit is going to cost us a fair bit x4 although we can re-use a lot of the things like gloves, ski jackets etc. As a first timer it is quite a daunting prospect so wanted a package. We will also need to factor in the cost of heading to a uk slope for some basic lessons etc.

Hopefully we like it- I wanted to try it partly because I often felt left out of work conversations, lots of my children’s friends do it and I figured the older I get the harder it will be so wanted to give it a go as think the children will like it. I am really hoping we’ve done the right thing as there is a chance everyone hates it!

The Op is kidding herself if she thinks it’s an accessible family holiday. I am under no illusion it won’t necessarily be a relaxing one and I may well be knackered on return. People generally aren't picking skiing as their only holiday which adds to the perception of cost.

Think you've nailed it

I think you do just have to accept that skiing is 'main holiday' fodder if you have a decent but far from Oligarch budget (i.e. you'd do EuroDisney, or a Club Med type thing, skiing doesn't have to be more spenny than that) and that it's not a cheap second holiday option. Personally I'd rather ski twice and not go away in summer, but sitting by a beach is my idea of hell. Different strokes for different folks! You also have to accept for it to be about the skiing if on a budget. If you want luxury catered chalets with hosts, and hot tubs and shuttles to the slopes then it's going to cost, but if you are content with somewhere to sleep, sit and read a book/play board games and cook basic meals from the supermarket then it's much more reasonable. I imagine that if you aren't into ski mileage then what you get for your money in food, accommodation and other facilities is probably not as good 'value'