For many people in Grosse Pointe including myself, skiing is a big part of their winters, but skiing has been known to be on the expensive side for an activity, so for most people, they might not just be able to walk out and take a nice ski vacation. In Grosse Pointe, people don’t just go skiing, they invest their time, money and resources into it too.
Skiing requires a lot of time and money, from skis and boots to helmets and goggles the equipment alone can cost upwards of $1,500. Now there are ways to not spend that much, you could rent your equipment, or buy it used which can potentially save you a ton of money. I know most people in Grosse Pointe buy their own equipment and spend a lot more money than the average person would because that’s how they grew up. Along with others, I started learning to ski at three years old and once I learned to ski I got my own equipment.
Along with equipment, the lift tickets, lessons to learn, possible flights and hotels can also cost thousands. Lift tickets on average are usually between $50 and $100 and, if you’ve never skied before or want to better your skills, lessons can be over $150 per hour. If you are going somewhere not in Michigan to ski, flights and hotels can be any amount of money and it all adds up.
I think that because so many people in Grosse Pointe grow up skiing, they don’t realize the amount they spend on it. However, the socialization, being with friends, and hopefully watching their kids find something they love doing make the expensive price tag worth it.
Even if Grosse Pointers spend a lot of money on skiing, I could find places in other states and countries that spend just as much, if not more. Grosse Pointe is not special in that sense. With Michigan winters being so cold and snowy most of the time, skiing gives people a nice activity to enjoy over the winter. Skiing can be very expensive, but for some, they would spend any amount to do what they love.
