Falling out of love with it

A snowHead

Hi all.

So: maybe a depressing post but would need interested to hear if other people have experienced the same thing.

I was good skier. Steeps, powder, trees, loved of piste. Could ski most mogul fields (maybe not with style, but would not have to walk). Used to go 2x a year (Alps from UK).

2018 i fell on a blue run and broke my tib and fib and was in an Ilizarov frame for 6 months (if you know, you know!). Didn’t ski for 2y after that.

Been back a few times since but I’m just not feeling it. The expense is significant now for me. I don’t know enough about the mountains to go off piste without a guide … and so that adds a lot.

Can’t guarantee the snow or the weather like before. Of the last week I went, 2 days really poor visibility, 2 days packed ice, two lovely days but one of them (weekend) rammed with other punters enjoying the mountain. So return on investment not great! I don’t like the artificial snow. It feels weird.

To top it off I fell 8 weeks ago, randomly, again on a blue. Broke my scaphoid (wrist bone) and hit my head. Helmet came off. My head is ok but this has scared me - it want as if a was going that fast or doing anything gnarly. I just made a random mistake, missed a turn and wham!

I’m thinking it’s time to pack it all in. I’m 54. I’ve been skiing for 30 years. I used to love it but I’m kind of feeling I’ve reached my best.

Anyone been here. I realise it’s a skewed audience: if you’ve packed skiing in too you’re not likely to be lurking on snowheads… but interested to hear others thoughts. Sad

Cheers.

Chris

A snowHead

@doctorhammond, I recall downloading after popping my ACL and thinking that's skiing done. In the end the desire to get back just gave a focus for the rehab.

You say: "The expense is significant now for me. I don’t know enough about the mountains to go off piste without a guide … and so that adds a lot."

Perhaps that's the answer, embrace ski touring, learn about the mountains and avalanche safety. Not having to buy a lift pass offers a considerable saving.

However it's not a solo activity (ideally) so finding a small cohort of like minded others is probably the key.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@doctorhammond,
Sorry to hear that. Regardless of the skiing, just being in the mountains and admiring the breathtaking scdnery is a big plus point for me.
You could build in more coffee breaks, take long lunches, take it more slowly on the pistes, try snowshoeing for a change and just enjoy being there.

Or, as others have said, try ski touring. It's a whole new world and we love it. Very Happy

I really hope it's not the end for you.

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If you don't enjoy something don't do it. There's no need to overthink it any more than that. It's perfectly normal that things you enjoy change over 20 years.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Sorry to hear that. On occasion I've wondered if I actually enjoy skiing as much as I thought I did, but its usually after a long tiring day with an instructor or poor conditions. Then I'll have a great day and be just as in love with it as ever.

Helmet coming off simply indicates that it either didn't fit correctly, wasn't done up correctly or both.
Bad luck on the scaphoid - hand and wrist injuries are commonplace with poles unfortunately.

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@doctorhammond, I have friends who run a Chalet near BSM. They too fell out of love with skiing during/post COVID. They made the decision to go somewhere completely different (here!), try different winter activities and relax more. Loved it and now back in the saddle so to speak. Another tip might be to find a group of similar aged folks and plan a shorter trip, say Mon-Fri to save on flight costs, and factor in a non-ski day. Salzburg is ideal. Very Happy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I used to be mad about motorcycles, had them since 16, did hundreds of day trips, touring and trackdays. 61 now, a couple of years ago I was getting less enthusiastic about going out on it, no particular reason. Whenever the weather was OK, I was more enthusiastic to go out on the mountain bike. Anyhow, I sold my last motorcycle a year ago and haven't missed it at all. Sometimes you just grow out of things. Doesn't have to be a reason.

After all it is free

Can I suggest try a snowhead trip. Might just do the trick....

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Get a snowboard

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@doctorhammond, ski touring has been mentioned here, and perhaps going on a holiday that includes everything including guiding in a group would work?

https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/activities/snow-sports/skiing/ski-touring/

Something like this?

Ultimately though, if you're not enjoying it, just don't do it.

snow reports

@doctorhammond, so the fact that you have posted here must mean you have not given up all hope.

Let's face it skiing and boarding are: expensive, self-indulgent, risky and environmentally illiterate. Yet here we all are.

I used to work with a medical professor who specialised in getting older people to do more. He used to say it is a lucky person who gets to 50 without having anything wrong with them. I was about to challenge him, when I counted up the 11 things I had wrong (I've added a few more since then). Yes you are going to fall and maybe hurt or injure yourself. But, sitting on your couch will give you a coronary.

The first rule of skiing is that the weather always gets worse - too much snow is just as bad as too little.

You cannot totally avoid the expenses of continental skiing, but you can reduce them: don't eat out, pic-nic, smaller resorts, second hand kit.

You don't have to have a guide to ski off-piste, but it makes an awful lot of sense to ski with someone who really knows what they are doing and understands you. Social media (or in my case a dating app) are your friends. Skiing the same resort will also allow you to build your knowledge and meet similar folk if you are gregarious enough.

But the real question is not how much it costs or how risky it is, but what else would you get for the time and money and would that be more rewarding. If the alternative is better value then you have your answer.

Good luck with your deliberations.

You know it makes sense.

We do much more in the way of walks and snow shoe excursions now we’ve hit 70. We only ski if the weather is benign and the conditions quiet, and even then, I expect that we may well give up skiing completely soon. We also walk the same mountains in the summer that we ski in the winter, and really, it is all so much easier in the summer. Given your catalogue of unfortunate injuries, it seems entirely reasonable that you should change your recreation preferences and you might have done so anyway, even without them - interests change with time.

I have acquaintances who were avid equestrians, mountain bikers or sailors, who then went ‘cold’ on their sport. One because of a series of accidents, one because of a combination of cost, time and effort and the other simply losing interest. It’s not unusual and as mentioned, while it may be a regret to disengage from an activity that once was rewarding, there’s no point in continuing if you don’t enjoy it any more.

All I’d add is that if being in the mountains is a part of the experience for you, then don’t necessarily give up on the whole thing. You can still have a winter Alpine holiday without necessarily skiing, and might consider a spring/autumn/summer mountain break, or at least give it a try to see.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

S'okay. It's fine to fall out of love with it. Though having been a skier you'll maybe get the itch again and try again after a bit of a break.

A snowHead

Just a thought : the best Thing happened to me since Start snowboarding really late, around 30 y old, was that i start doing everything possible in order to keep doing it for the rest if my Life
Quit Smoking, Fitness Studio, Yoga, Pilates this or that, quit drinking (at 95% at least), quit Junk food etc etc...
There is a win/win Situation
Trying to stay fit to keep boarding, and boarding keep the mind healthy...

A snowHead

Why is the expense now significant for you? I’m not sure skiing is so much more than it was 20 years ago. And normally your salary should have increased. Other life changes such as unemployment, divorce? (Massive cocaine habit?)

You are “already” 54; I get the impression that half of snowheads are already retired, or at least over 60…

Weather isn’t as predictable as it was at the ends of the season but head high in Feb and it’s fine, unless you want perfection, which you can’t have in mountains. You don’t mention family so perhaps you can go outside school holidays; I’m jealous!

My armchair/pub diagnosis, with no qualifications whatsoever, is PTSD from your two breaks. And looking at a picture of that frame and thinking about being in that for six months, hell I’d be the same.

I’m 56 and really lack confidence compared to 15 years ago (paradoxically after so many MANY more lessons), and the best times I’ve had in the last few years are when an instructor or my teenage children are with me and encourage me out of my comfort zone.

Good luck.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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@doctorhammond, Not going to tell you how to fix it, but simply to say 'yes'. I'd been here on and off for a while, particularly when the kids were learning and I spent whole trips acting as a sweeper making sure that the small ones were shepherded. The kids are now faster and more independant when on the mountain, but over the past couple of years, I've lost a fair stack of my fitness, and put on more Kg than is good for me. My last trip I felt old and fat and slow, and that nagging 'Why do I do this?' gloom returned.

But...

Then, I had a really good morning riding with someone in good conditions, and I got that reminder of why and a glimpse of that flow again. Maybe its nostalgia playing tricks on us that we were always better than we were and the mountains were empty and pristine, and every day was a bluebird, but that's just how memory works.

So, I won't tell you how to fix how you currently feel, but I'll just remind you not to ignore small victories.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I should mention that losing interest in a passion can be an indicator of depression (anhedonia). It seems unlikely given you have pointed out specific reasons for why you've fallen out of love with skiing, but worth asking yourself some bigger/wider questions. Hopefully that isn't the case but just throwing it out there.

Assuming that's not what it is, I think given what you have been through, it's inevitable that it's lost some appeal. Could it be that it's no longer stimulating either? I went through a similar loss of interest when I was doing my ski seasons. I realised that I didn't actually enjoy skiing, I was just using it as a vehicle to get around resort and what I actually loved was the mountain environment and culture. I then tried snowboarding and fell in love with it as an activity. I'd suggest trying it out, but you may be put off by the number of falls you WILL have when learning. If you are at all nervous about injury, particularly wrists, then this won't be very enjoyable for you.

If you enjoy the mountains but not so much the skiing aspect, may I suggest a late season trip where you do some hiking? There are some amazing trails and views to be had, meanwhile you would still be in resort and enjoying all of the ancillaries. Otherwise, a Summer season trip might scratch the mountain itch, and save you lots of sterling!

Either way, I hope you find some joy to fill the void left behind by skiing Smile

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I did seriously consider going somewhere else this Spring. Somewhere warm, sunny and lazy. Glad I didn't, but I do find we are less inclined to go out every morning now, so do other things instead of skiing. Maybe have a longer trip to somewhere with other things to do nearby? Ski costs will be around the same, but you'll get to enjoy the mountains in other ways. Skip the crowded weekends, go and do some snowshoeing, touring, or walking away from the slopes. Have a day in a local spa or visit a city nearby.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@doctorhammond, I'm 54 (but learnt as a child) and still have occasional doubts as to what on earth I'm doing up a mountain in minus temps, dehydrated, and with knackered knees all for the 'pleasure' of a slither down some white stuff . . . .

My skiing has def changed (like yours) and I'm no longer the borderline irresponsible 20 something I once was; game for any run in any conditions just for the sheer hell of it - life changes you and responsibilities can change the way you ski and what you expect from it in return. My worst (most recent experience) was 7yrs ago when I set up my own business after redundancy - I have NEVER been so nervous in all my life (fear of accident and not being able to work), skiing defensively all week and waiting for clear sections on every run in terror of anyone that got within 5 metres of me . . it was ridiculous!

However - my new view is that every year is another year gone; and I'm not getting any younger so its key that ski trips are based on max enjoyment at all costs - irrespective of my once self appointed demi-god like abilities . . .this includes

1 - Going in off peak periods (avoiding school hols / silly busy weeks) - quieter slopes = less idiots
2 - Taking it easy - focus on technically skiing 'well' and to conditions rather than clocking miles / breaking speed records - don't be ashamed of having a rest day / half day midweek - you've probably earnt it!
3 - For at least 1 week a year I ski with a mixed ability group and get pleasure helping those less experienced / seeing them develop every year
4 - Having a decent lunch / decent evening meal / having a drink (drink more on ski hols in the evening than any other time bizarrely!) - the social aspect is absolutely key for me - not scrimping - its a holiday!
5 - Mixing it up - keep trying new resorts in different regions
6 - Gear - I'm a gear nerd and will invest in anything if I think its going to make me even 1% more efficient (kit and apparel) If you feel confident your much more likely to ski with confidence
7 - Ski Mojo . . . . OMG - this was a game changer this season; gutted I've wasted the last 5yrs 'thinking about it' rather than just biting the bullet

Good luck!

After all it is free

Depression / setting up own business; I was also wondering if there is an external factor.

@doctorhammond,
As another 54yr old, I'm sympathetic - things don't work like they used to, sometimes I find myself genuinely scared by what is going on around me, on and off-piste.

Like quite a few others here, I've started to try other things. Taking a more informed and structured approach to riding off-piste, rather than just popping off where (I thought) it looked safe; trying different times of year, different types of resort. Even having a go at learning to ski, after riding a board for 27 years.

Some initiatives have worked better than others.

Borrowing a board from @Richard_Sideways provided a whole new perspective on things, giving a brilliant morning that utterly restored my love for riding a snowboard. Going on the SOPiB reminded me of the joy of learning something new (as well as reinforcing the need to respect off-piste). It also reinforced the learning point - some days are better than others, some things work better now than when I was in my 20s, other things maybe not so well. I am not the same person that I was, I do things differently.

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Can I also add to the very useful posts above ... try heading to the Alps in the summer. The Austrian Alps, the Dolomites and most of the PdS resorts are lovely playgrounds then. Hike, swim, cycle, sit outside with a glass of rose and a plate of delicious food and admire your surroundings. Gaze at the majestic peaks (some of which may still be snow-covered) and listen to the sounds of nature. Breathe fresh air. I really hope and will keep my fingers crossed for you that slowly your passion for the mountains and skiing will return.

snow reports

You know it makes sense.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm falling out of love with it, or at the very least like it less than I think. That feeling usually kicks in around the time when I've overanalyzed the planning and I'm getting into the rigors of packing and traveling.

Then once I hit the hill for that first run, I realize I like it as much as ever... and when it's done, I get reinvigorated to start the process of planning for my next trip.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

[quote="Bergmeister"]@doctorhammond,
Sorry to hear that. Regardless of the skiing, just being in the mountains and admiring the breathtaking scdnery is a big plus point for me.
You could build in more coffee breaks, take long lunches, take it more slowly on the pistes, try snowshoeing for a change and just enjoy being there.

I dont ski much anymore and Mrs NDD has given up skiing on piste. We do however still have various winter trips to ski resorts and enjoy the host of other activities ie snow shoeing, cross country skiing and general walking on snow cleared paths. Add to this a nice hotel with pool/spa and opportunities to do other touristy things and we are both quite happy enjoying the mountains without much of the hassle that can arise from piste skiing / bad weather etc

A snowHead

Many adventures at many levels available here:

https://www.eagleskiclub.org.uk/

A snowHead

I love it but love my golf more and the last 4 out of 5 years i've taken a tumble and required physio on either one of my shoulders which is normally ok after 4-8 weeks.
This year the side i fell on has healed up the other side which was just a bit sore at the time is not improving and get worse if anything.
Ive said to my friend if i injure myself again it will be my last time .

Only issue my son is returning next after being out with a tibia plateau fracture for 2/3 years and i stupidly bought a new ski jacket on my return.

@doctorhammond hope you decided to continue , im going to give it one more year

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@wasley, that's the spirit! snowHead

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I am really grateful to the many messages that have been posted on here, and the kindness and thoughtfulness of the replies. Not like normal social media at all! I have read them all carefully - there is a lot to think about. The anhedonia (@Ryunis) thing did chime with me as I know I have a somewhat melancholy mindset but as with all these things it’s nice to see that I am not alone in having these thoughts.
Walking, snow shoeing, ski touring… all these things are attractive and appeal to me as a way of enjoying the mountains without the risk and the cognitive noise of alpine skiing.
I’ve not come to a conclusion. I don’t need to anyway, not for the time being at least. I was on the verge of selling my gear, but that seems premature so have put that on hold. In the meantime I’m still in plaster, 10 weeks on from injury and hoping I will not need a bone graft and a screw… the scan on Monday coming will inform that decision though.
Once again I’m very grateful for all the comments and the time you have all taken to respond. It is much appreciated.
Chris.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Cant correlate but I sort of wish I was feeling the same way so I would be not so depressed during offseason. Contrast with being the office full time is too much to not wish I was skiing. I do a bunch of other sports but none are any close to it, none.

So there can be a positive perspective from it I guess Happy

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I have given up skiing (am 78 and suffer from heart failure) but have enjoyed a couple of holidays out in familiar mountains with younger family. I live in a place where sailing is one of the main leisure activities and I have a lot of friends going through similar conversations with themselves - especially those who have boats, which take a lot of energy, as well as money, to keep going. I crew for a 91 year old skipper who was a very keen, and very good, top class dinghy helm back in the day, and extremely competitive. We gave up cruiser racing a couple of years ago (came overall first in the needle race between the two local clubs and retired on a high). Now we just potter. Sometimes I am less than enthusiastic about a prospective outing but I am actually a pretty indispensable member of the crew of three so that gets me out there, and I always enjoy it. But we really do know our limitations and don't any longer sail in the dark, or in bad weather. This summer we will probably go to France but if you pick the right day, that's actually very straightforward - easier than going down to Devon round Portland and across Lyme Bay. I have my own cabin, with my own en-suite loo. I'm no longer up for sharing a cabin, need my own space. And the boat is set up for ease - powered headsail winches, for example. And we have a cockpit tent which is designed to be left up for sailing, which makes life hugely more comfortable. No need for £900 quids worth of foul weather gear and three layers underneath just to go down the Solent. So we do "elderly sailing". But I have other friends who are basically racers who get knackered, and then feel downcast because they're knackered, and end up going out in some marginal weather when old people should be tucked up in port. I do think that as you get older, deciding on the balance between giving things up too soon, or just soldiering on to prove you can, is tricky.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I must admit a magic moment on almost my last run of the season (combination of soundtrack, sun, surface conditions, empty piste and some reprobates to chase) has probably given me the fuel to tide me over a full summer. Almost cue Elbow.....

Doesn't mean that first week back next winter I'll not be freezing while skiing some shite boilerplate and thinking "why the hell was I pining for this all summer?"

@doctorhammond, sensible decision. You don't need to commit to being an ex-skier, you can simply have a sabbatical. And maybe think about if you do return finding an enthusiastic but supportive yet wee wee-taking group to go with like on a sH bash. Hard to be a miserable barsteward with that many people spouting that much BS.

After all it is free · Last edited by After all it is free on Thu 8-05-25 8:10; edited 1 time in total

In many sports akin to skiing, the phrase that is often used is "lost your mojo"....

Though obviously nothing to do with a certain skiing ekoskeleton.

And especially after a serious injury, as one gets older, it's certainly way harder to get back on the horse, though I did see Nick Skelton being interviewed yesterday about his staggering comeback after injury and literally getting back on his horse, and winning Olympic Gold!

I wouldn't say I've lost my skiing Mojo but I choose not to ski on the piste and will choose cross-country quite often over the piste, and will ski-tour whenever the conditions allow for that over everything else. Obviously, a good fresh snow morning is still up there but you have to be very lucky if on holiday to ski untracked every day, unless of course you take up touring Very Happy

After the winter I do various water-based sports, and over the years have seen many friends lose their windsurfing Mojo and retire from the sport, in part due to the advances of gear technology and silly price increases as well as kitesurfing coming onto the scene, and or having less available time in their domestic lives to drive down a couple of hours and then sit on a beach for yet more hours waiting for the wind, so hence, bit like living in a ski resort, those that still practice the sport live close to the beach and can just nip out for a couple of hours when conditions are right.

And now there's a whole bunch of us who have reinvigorated their Mojo by going back to being a beginner and learning something new, which is yet another water-sports fashion bug, Wing & Parawing foiling - and the mantra "You have to be brave to suck at something new" has never been more true, and I'm in my mid 60's.

And in taking up foiling I did stop kitesurfing for a couple of seasons and whilst away last Autumn in Brazil, conditions at times were not suitable for foiling so I was back kiting, in what has to be said were stunning conditions so that helped, and my Mojo was fully restored, so much so that I still say that if I was only given one choice, skiing or kiting/wingfoiling I'd choose the later, but that would mean relocating to Brazil Laughing

Similar here.

I'll be 57 this year, skied for approx. 30 years and this will be the first season since 2006 that I haven't done a ski tour.
Smashed my ankle up skiing 3 years ago but I was only out for one season and that's all healed now.
Unless I invest a lot more time and money, my skiing is unlikely to improve.
Normal pistes bore me after a few hours. It isn't getting any cheaper and resorts are often overcrowded.
Only went on a couple of long weekend trips this year and to be honest the fun return on the money spent is greater for me elsewhere.
Snow is a lot more scarce too. 25 years ago I used to be able to ski & ski tour from Nov through to late spring.
Ski touring within 90 mins drive (of Vienna) was possible on the weekends.
Mid season snow conditions were almost a cert but now even in the middle of the season snow can be sketchy.
The percentrage of powder days seems to be getting much lower with time.
As I live in eastern Austria (but am 4hrs drive away from the big resorts) it's something I now do when the snow is good.

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Understandable, and if you are not feeling it you are not feeling it yet by asking this question I think you want to feel the passion again.

You did not mention whether you are skiing alone or with a group, i like skiing on my own but skiing with one or two others always pushes me to up my game and get a bit more motivated.

What about a mountain holiday whereby you can introduce other activities during the time and only ski a day or two - ie join a group ski lesson, have a half day of cross country, snow shoe, intro to touring, take a paraglide flight, visit a local city (easy in austria with trains to salzburg, innsbruck, vienna etc), have a day at the spa with a deckchair and good book, have an apres ski bender and so on. Not sure if i'd like the pressure of a ski holiday and feeling like i need to ski many hours every day to get value from my week's ski pass and think i'd possibly go off skiing too.

Good luck, Hope you find the joy again.

Help!!

Falling out of love with it

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