All Images: Ian Zinner, Courtesy of Arapahoe Basin
In an era when the world is becoming less and less human and more robotic, it is important to preserve moments of humanity. Skiing is no exception to this shift, as the industry has become so commercialized. So it can be hard to remember what skiing is actually about: community. But, parking lot tailgates are helping bring a human aspect back to ski culture.
To be honest, nothing makes me more excited for a ski day than pulling into the parking lot. I know what you're thinking, 'okay but it's just a parking lot.' But ski parking lots aren't just any old, boring place to park your car. I mean, where else in the world do you hear a range of reggae, rap, and EDM while seeing people aged 3 to 70, all getting hyped for the day ahead? I can't think of any other place. Not to mention, the number of times a friendly neighbor has told me about a run that is opening up that morning makes the hike from the parking lot to the slopes all worth it. While parking lots will never disappear at ski resorts, we, as skiers, need to keep this long tradition alive.
Tailgating Brings Community Together
As I said before, there's no separation in a parking lot, just a bunch of skiers gathered together with the same anticipation and excitement filling their system. It is a space where strangers become lap buddies, people share food, dance to music and obsess over a sport that thousands love. Besides skiing, though, it is one of the few spaces where I have seen people really disconnect from technology and focus on the moment rather than a screen. In this day and age, that is rare, and I think skiing as a whole is one of the only environments where technology isn't the main focus. The parking lot also lets people who aren’t even skiing come and enjoy the mountain and culture without stepping into a pair of boots. I remember convincing my non-skier friends to come with my skier friends and me to the mountain to experience the culture. My friends and I, who ski, suited up and hit the mountain, while the non-skiers made drinks and played games till we came back and partied in the lot till the sun set. Even though they didn't ski, they still had a great time and told me they understood all the hype around skiing. At the end of the day, ski culture shouldn’t be reserved just for those who ski, but for everyone who enjoys the mountains and the community that comes with it.Â
Democratizing the SportÂ
Finding drinks and food for under $10 on the mountain is impossible these days. But if you and your friends go in on some sandwich or burger materials, you could get a meal on the mountain for under $10. But where can you cook this food? Well, the parking lot, of course. Parking lots make a great excuse for skiers to take a break and refuel their bodies with food and drinks that don’t burn a hole in their pockets. It also gives you more freedom for the type of food and drinks you want on the mountain. I mean, hey, if you have the right equipment and setup, you could have an entire lobster boil. Some Cooks champagne and orange juice that's cheap, bottomless mimosas right there. Sounds like the perfect combination for a great day on the slopes if you ask me.
Preserving the Culture
Every ski resort has a different approach to parking lot culture, but no matter how different each one is, that authentic mountain culture and community will always come out. In my opinion, Arapahoe Basin does tailgating best. The resort itself is known for keeping its mom-and-pop mountain culture alive, and A-basin's beach days are a testament to that. The A-basin beach consists of parking spots that people reserve in the front row of the parking lot, which backs up right to the base of the mountain. There, people can set up tents, grills, and even throw themed parties. Some of those themed parties include an "unofficial" Guy Fieri party held at the beach every year. Skiers dress up like Mr. Flavortown himself, grill hot dogs, and come flaming down the mountain. Literally though, because they are wearing the flaming Guy Fieri button-down. The lot is open from sunup to sundown, so you can get the first and last chairs of the day without even worrying about timing. Spots usually range from $150 to $350 per day, so it is recommended to get a group together to split one. From all-day Guy Fieri parties to chill gatherings with friends, A-basin has figured out how to bring the ski community together without over-commercializing. These tailgating rituals create a sense of place and identity that corporate resort experiences can’t replicate.Â
Lastly, tailgating allows us to slow down and appreciate the mountains we came to enjoy in the first place. The world already moves fast, and skiing definitely doesn't slow down either, but the parking lots do. While ripping runs from open to close is sometimes a must on powder days, there is something to be said for taking a moment to soak in the atmosphere that has long been a part of ski culture's identity. So next time you pull into a lot, look around, dance to some music, talk with your neighbors, and get ready for a day spent in the mountains with people who love a sport just as much as you do. After all, some of the best moments on the mountain happen off the slopes.
