What are SnowBrains Readers’ Favorite Ski Traditions?

Skiing and snowboarding are sports filled with traditions and community. From extravagant après parties to pole-tapping lift towers to Mardi Gras beads in trees, each skier has their own favorite traditions and customs that make spending time on the mountain enjoyable.

With all the hundreds of traditions in skiing, we wanted to know: which traditions are SnowBrains readers’ favorites? We took to our Facebook page to find out and received over 200 responses detailing dozens of unique traditions. Here are some of the most popular.

#1: Trusting Your Ski Gear is Where It’s Left

The most popular response, with over 119 likes, is trusting that ski gear can be found where it’s left. At ski resorts across the world, skiers and snowboarders leave thousands of dollars of ski equipment scattered around the slopes. Whether it’s putting skis down on the snow to take a rest or putting them in the racks to grab a snack in the lodge, leaving ski gear unattended is an everyday experience for the average skier.

But for the vast majority of skiers, leaving ski gear unattended has never been an issue. Gear theft is generally rare, as mountains are typically a high-trust environment filled with people who share a common interest. Many people see skiing as a tight-knit community, and skiers view theft as something that goes against the spirit and tradition of the sport.

With the trust that skiers can leave their gear around without theft, the mountain has built one of skiing’s most popular traditions.

• Related: Top 7 Ski Propaganda Takes SnowBrains Readers Aren’t Falling For

#2: Returning Runaway Skis

Reeling in 83 likes, the second-most popular response was returning runaway skis to their rightful owners. In certain situations, boots can pop out of their skis. Sometimes, skiers can get lucky, and the ski’s brakes can stop them from gliding too far away. Unfortunately, sometimes the skis can travel way further down the mountain, forcing skiers to awkwardly walk down the run in their uncomfortable ski boots.

But it was thanks to runaway skis that a popular tradition was born: giving runaway skis back to their rightful owners. When you see a loose ski on the slopes, it is a tradition to grab it and attempt to locate the owner. Skis commonly pop off during crashes, and bringing the ski back to the skier is a nice little display of kindness. It also gives the good Samaritan a chance to make sure the crash victim is alright.

So, if you are out on the slopes and see a runaway ski, it’s tradition to find the skier and give them back the most important piece of equipment that helps them get back down the mountain. 

#3: The Bra Tree

The third most popular tradition among SnowBrains readers is the bra tree, earning 65 likes in our comment section. 

If you are not familiar with the bra tree, it’s exactly how it sounds. At various resorts across the world, there is typically one tree covered in bras thrown by skiers as they pass by on the chairlift. With colorful bras dangling from the tree’s branches, the tree becomes a staple sight at that resort.

One of the leading theories of the bra tree’s origin comes from Aspen, Colorado. According to The Aspen Times, the original bra tree was born in the 1980s near Aspen’s Bell Mountain lift. At one time, the tree sported between 40 and 50 bras to signify rebellion. Eventually, ski patrol threatened to chop down the tree or worse — revoke the ski passes of bra-throwing skiers.

After Aspen discontinued the Bell Mountain chair, the bra tree moved to Vail before spreading to resorts across the country. For many skiers, seeing a bra tree at a local resort indicates that the rebellious, punk side of skiing is still alive and well.

• Related: Why is That Tree Covered in Bras and Beads at the Ski Area?

#4: Lift Conversations with Strangers

Next on the list of SnowBrains readers’ favorite traditions is conversations with strangers on the lift. While many skiers keep to themselves and focus on the music in their earbuds, some find a simple conversation with a fellow skier to be one of the most rewarding activities on the mountain. And the conversations can be about anything. Maybe someone has an incredible story to tell. Or maybe they have a helpful tip on how to float better in the powder.

No matter what the conversation may be about, getting to know another skier out on the mountain is the best way to connect with the community. And it could lead to you having a riding buddy for the rest of the day.

“This is one of my favorite parts of the day,” one commenter said. “You meet so many interesting people on the lift. Keep the earbuds turned off on the lift. You might have a great conversation with someone, and maybe even get a tip on a secret stash!

Other Popular Traditions

There were many other popular traditions that SnowBrains readers mentioned.

“Pole clicks!” one commenter wrote. “Every run. For good luck.”

“Morning parking lot beer,” another wrote. There’s nothing like a beer before a powder day.

And one of our favorites? “Booing those who ride single on a double chair on a pow day!”

With all these traditions in mind, there seems to be a trend: all involve interactions with strangers at the mountain. Leaving ski gear unattended requires trust that strangers will not steal it. Sometimes, runaway skis belong to strangers. Many people who throw bras at trees are people you do not know. And obviously, many conversations on lifts are with strangers.

All of these small interactions with strangers show how deeply interconnected the ski community is. Skiing is a simple activity: riding down the snow on a piece of wood. And while it may be the most fun activity on the planet, it’s the interactions with strangers that make skiing so enjoyable.

So the next time you’re out on the hill, say hi to a stranger, because that stranger loves skiing, too.