Winter in Colorado is like a blank canvas. White to start, but later carved with lines that mimic brushstrokes. Snow-capped peaks allure many; they beckon freedom for some, fun for others, and danger to all. A dream, a vision—a ski bum's fantasy.
Each year, thousands flock to the slopes to partake in the renaissance of their beloved mountain sports. Such enchanting beauty and thrilling adventure yet, upon further investigation, an illusory reality.
Heather Hansman, a Durango, Colorado local, captures the essence of this reality in her book, Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns, and the Future of Chasing Snow. Drawing from personal anecdotes and journalistic research, Hansman unveils the unspoken truths and tough realities of the ski bum lifestyle. She questions its sustainability in light of today’s climate crisis and economic inequality while celebrating the beauty of its tight-knit community and cherished memories.
Hansman wonders what her life would have been like if she never left—if she had continued to chase the dream. In the introduction, she writes, “It was me chasing me chasing the dream, trying to understand my obsession.” Yet, like any other form of obsession, this chase is constant and unending. She states, “There’s something really cool about the lack of gravity and going downhill fast that is beautiful.” Similarly, “you see bikers in town who are also after that chase. And I think there is value in that, but…it’s really complicated.”
Part of this complexity lies in understanding the mind of a ski bum and their ability to prioritize skiing over other essential elements of life, such as health, family, and finances. In her research, Hansman found that this “obsessive nature” has a lot to do with mental health and brain science. Her findings clarified why people kept chasing that “thing.” Ski bums may “live in a finite shack with eight roommates to go skiing, even though it doesn’t make sense.” For them, where you lay your head at night pales in comparison to the adventures that await tomorrow.
Some studies support the notion of obsessive tendencies in ski sports. Hansman explains, “There is brain science behind it. Some people are what they call ‘Higher Sensation Seekers,’ meaning they need more physical inputs to stabilize themselves… Skiing sorta fills the void for them in ways other things can’t.” For some, the freedom felt during a fast downhill descent offers reprieve from many of life’s anxieties.
Another major topic Hansman highlights is economic inequality. Skiing, she argues, is “a microcosm of what’s happening economically across the country.” In these ski towns, the top 1% wield the power to make decisions that shape the future. Everyone else struggles to keep up, often working in towns they can’t afford to live in. Hansman notes, “The divide is really stark.”
Powder Days is a nostalgic yet critical look into the ski bum lifestyle and the intricacies of its culture. This book serves as a catalyst for conversations about issues that directly impact our community.
That was one of the questions at the core of it, what if I hadn’t left? What would my life be like 15 years in?