For many students at Berkeley High School, the winter months are a cozy time to cuddle up and read a book or watch a movie. But for some, when the calendar reaches December, it means one thing: time to hit the slopes.
It is not uncommon to ask a classmate or even teacher what they are doing for the weekend, and for the answer to be something like “I’m heading up to Tahoe!” While encountering people who ski in Berkeley is common, they are still in the minority, as the financial barriers can be overwhelming.
Skiing is simply not accessible enough. Currently, at Palisades Tahoe, an adult ski lift ticket over Presidents Day Weekend is $275 per day. A four-day unrestricted ski lift pass is $649. Already the bill is adding up, specifically if a family wants to go together. Most people decide to rent equipment, many at Berkeley's Sports Basement. For a basic ski package, the price for a season is $294. Hotel lodging, necessary for all, can be approximately $1,500 a night for a family needing two rooms. Altogether, you are looking at a $7,500 weekend trip to go skiing. This makes it almost impossible for many middle and working-class families to go skiing.
Unfortunately, skiing is often a homogeneous and insular experience. Similar to golf, with a typical household income of $125,000; sailing, with an aging white male majority; and hockey, where 90 percent of National Hockey League players are white; the skiing demographic lacks diversity. According to the National Ski Areas Association, the racial makeup of skiers is approximately 88 percent white. To ensure future generations can enjoy skiing, financial barriers need to be minimized significantly to make it more affordable. In doing so, the stigma around skiing being a "white" sport can hopefully be mitigated, and all people will be able to take part.
Furthermore, the ski business is known to mistreat its employees.
On Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, ski patrollers at Park City Utah went on strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. Like many other ski towns, Park City, Utah, is an expensive place to live. According to The Park City ski patrol union, the Park City living wage is $27 per hour, though workers were making significantly below that. It is crucial to note that if you live in a ski town, many of the only job opportunities center around the ski resort business. This can lead to monopolization. Due to industry agglomeration, ski-resort workers have a limited number of potential employers, making it extremely difficult for them to switch jobs and easier for them to be exploited.
In response, the skiing universe has to undergo some serious changes. First, by focusing on lowering the prices of tickets and equipment, skiing will become a sport welcome to all regardless of background. Then, if ski resorts prioritize their employees' well-being, the industry will become further inclusive. It is with a less elitist and more collaborative attitude that skiing culture can avoid going further downhill.