Group Ski Trips

[Kimmyt]

What do you Love/Hate about em?

I like group trips when:
it is understood that no one will be babysat
not everything needs to be done as a huge group (i.e. people can go do their own thing if they wish)
there is a hot tub
everyone understands that they are responsible for their own good time

I hate group trips when:
The Group becomes like a large moving blob, devouring things in its path and generally causing others around The Group to roll eyes and move slowly away
First lift is missed because you are waiting for someone to put on their boots/pee one last time/buy a lift ticket/look for their banana
People don't understand that you will see each other back at the house, or the car, and that if someone goes off in a smaller group, they are not dissing you

That being said, I have committed to a group trip this season, and I'm nervous. I've heard good things from a friend in the way this trip is organized, but I guess what they say is true, 'once burned' etc.

What do you think about group trips?

 

[ski diva]

A few years ago my husband and I went on a group trip with a local ski club to Aspen/Snowmass. Some friends of ours belonged to the club, and we didn't know anyone else on the trip.

Turned out to be a pretty good experience. We didn't have to worry about transportation, lift tickets, or accommodations. And in this particular group, we all did whatever we liked. There were no group expectations, no "moving blob" mentality. So it was like we were on our own, but with benefits.

Of course, if there's one group trip you KNOW is going to be fantastic, it's the Divas trip to Solitude. But that's another thread.....

 

[Jilly]

Hubby and I have always had good luck too with group trips. But its a group that is hand picked. Everyone is on their own. Usually depending on the length of the trip at least 1 group dinner at a reasonable place. I have had the "other experience", but it was only a weekend trip, and never again. I want to know who I'm skiing with, or try to bring people I can ski with. I know that some people take group trips because they just don't know how to travel, look after themselves or entertain themselves. I take goups trips because I like these people, we get along well and ski similar. Its entertaining when we get together, but I don't need to see them every night.

 

[abc]

The Group becomes like a large moving blob...

Never had been in any group trip that are like that!

So, needless to say, I don't have bad experience with group trips. Therefore, I would gladly go with any group.

I have to say I'm a very "independent" kind of gal. So, if I ever find myself in a group I don't like, I would discretely disappear from the group and go on my own merry way.

 

[altagirl]

Never had been in any group trip that are like that!

So, needless to say, I don't have bad experience with group trips. Therefore, I would gladly go with any group.

I have to say I'm a very "independent" kind of gal. So, if I ever find myself in a group I don't like, I would discretely disappear from the group and go on my own merry way.

Heck, you don't need to go on a trip for that to happen. We regularly end up with way over people who all know each other all meeting up. And it's just impossible to keep moving quickly with that many people. I've gotten to the point when I "accidentally" get lost when it gets too slow.

Though it really depends on conditions and my mood. If it's people I just love being around and the skiing isn't that good anyway - then it's no big deal. If it's a powder day? I usually go my own way (or with no more than 3 other people) right from the start.

 

[Ski Spirit]

My husband and I have been on group week-end ski trips but they're pretty open-ended and groups within the group form....or people just go their own way and that works fine.

 

[sibhusky]

Heck, you don't need to go on a trip for that to happen. We regularly end up with way over people who all know each other all meeting up. And it's just impossible to keep moving quickly with that many people. I've gotten to the point when I "accidentally" get lost when it gets too slow.

Yeah, I call this "gang skiing". Once you get above three people, I have to make a stop or ski a different trail. It's like bringing Pocono skiing (metro NY) to Montana trying to ski with that many folks on the trail with you.

 

[dloveski]

Group skiing....

Rule #1 to group skiing: there are no friends on powder days.

If you are with a buddy on a powder day, etiquette requires you to share; sometimes let your buddy have first tracks.

 

[Kimmyt]

Yeah, I call this "gang skiing". Once you get above three people, I have to make a stop or ski a different trail. It's like bringing Pocono skiing (metro NY) to Montana trying to ski with that many folks on the trail with you.

That's exactly what it's like when you're with a 'bad' group. I love my friends, but there's a small group of them that I swear, just don't understand the concept of a trip where you share lodging and car rental, and ski each day in small 2-3 person groups and just meet up at the end of the day to swap stories. What is there to talk about over beers if you've spent all day together? It's the same way for climbing, it drives me nuts. They grumble that I'm being antisocial or mean because the last ski trip I just couldn't wait for another person to take one last pee break (it was like I was with infants) and finally I just left and skiied by myself for a few hours.

K.

 

[Greeley]

My husband & I pretty much ski by ourselves most of the time. We get tired of always waiting for someone if we are in a group. We went on a 3 day trip with another couple once-never again. They literally stopped every 300-500 feet of vertical to chat for 10-15 minutes. It didn't take me long to get bored with this, I would take off at the top of the run and say 'see you at the bottom'.
We also lapped a friend on an epic powder day. He lost one of his poles in about 3' of pow. At least we stayed on the same run.

 

[Pequenita]

A bad group is one where half of the skiers take smoke breaks while the other half comes up on the lift and waits for the smokers to finish. This is not my preferred company in a ski group, but I've definitely been there.