What is Apres Ski?
“This is where the brotherhoods and sisterhoods are cemented. Where you lock in the friendships of the crew you’re ripping with and make the sacred vow that hell yeah, we’re doing this again.”
It’s the on snow equivalent of high fives in the locker room after a game. It’s the satisfied kick back after a job well done. It’s the ringing in your ears after a concert, stumbling out of the club to find something to eat and exchange slack-jawed can-you-believe-that with the lucky few to share this moment. Apres ski is the flush-faced, post-sex afterglow where the high is too fresh to get dressed and rush off to the next thing. It can be a blissed-out trance sitting on the tailgate in the middle of a parking lot and it can be a loud lodge with a yardsale of gear stacked precariously close to an open fire, while skiers and riders swap stories from the day (usually wildly exaggerated while promising to send the footage). For us, apres ski is the chance to say thanks to the driver with a hot order of chicken wings, an opportunity to send a “My Bad” beverage to that guy you dropped in on, and most importantly to raise a toast to the Creator of this glorious white stuff to let next time be even sicker and pow-ier than this time.
How to Apres Ski
There are many ways to apres whether we’re ripping our town hill or on a month-long resort hopping excursion. A small sampling of apres to explore:
Hanging out in the Ski Lodge bar on mountain.
Local venues off the mountain - breweries, taco shops, a gas station cafe.
Live music and events.
The classic, hot tub apres… aka “Wet Hot American Winter”.
Enjoying a flight of beer at Iron Furnace Brewing in Franconia, NH.
Our gold standard is to be outside, gear on, enjoying the cool-down. Around a fire is great, a view of the mountain even better. A cheap bucket of beer, a hot toddy for the homie who dunked her hand in a stream during a deep dive in the trees. With every sip that stoked feeling washes into our bones. We also need snacks. It doesn’t have to be great food but the less great it is, the cheaper it better be. 10 cent wings, hell yeah. $10 burger/beer/tots combo special, you bet. $3 mega pretzel covered in huge salt crystals with honey mustard on the side. An enormous pizza. Something easy to eat and quick to order. Bonus points for creativity. Busting ass and shredding gnar all day works up an appetite!
Tailgate Style Apres Ski
As a matter of pro-tip, keep a custom mixed case with both alcoholic and regular seltzers in your trunk or gear locker. Nothing is better than chuckin a couple cold ones to the crew and cracking one in the parking lot staring up at the peak and replaying the greatest hits from the day in the stories we tell. We’ve had impromptu pot lucks out here too. Someone brings a bag of chips to pass around. One time a container of chipotle chicken salad made the rounds with a loaf of bread turning into epic sandwiches and it was glorious. The #1 priority for the apres scene is to take all that free-flying radical stoke from the day and funnel it into whatever is coming next without leaving too much room to fall asleep before dinner.
Hitting the Lodge for Apres Ski
Arguably the best version of the sacred ritual of Apres, the majority of mountains have a lodge bar. Swap stories about secret stashes and the dopest lines and catch the scoop for next time. At the lodge, engage anything local and unique. Apres is an extension of the mountain, part of the 5 senses of the travel experience. Take a chance on the pickled eggs behind the bar or the black diamond atomic wings.
The Local Apres Ski Scene
Dive into the brewery scene and drink local! Take a tour of local beers and embrace the lore and legend of any establishment. Roll the dice in a shake-a-day or drop a dollar on the bar’s ring hook game. The adventure continues long after the planks are unstrapped.
Live Music and Events
Who knows, you might discover a musician you’ll love or a band you have never heard before. Say what’s up to people you saw on the mountain, you’ll probably recognize their gear. These chance meetings can turn into longtime friendships and hands down the best way to hear about the next thing you want to try. Backcountry tips, new destinations, or simply the next thing going on tonight in this small mountain town could be the fruits of your exploration. (This attitude once famously led to last minute overnight crashing at a vacant vacation condo and discovering a pop-up strip joint in the woods of Maine)
Other apres activities to search for:
Karaoke
Pond skim
Trivia
SNOW PORN - ski film showings
Cool Down with Hot Tub Apres
You may be heading to a snow-covered mountain paradise but make sure to bring a swimsuit. Once you’re done shredding champagne powder it’s time to lose those layers and slide into the hot tub. Not only is this a great spot to relax but also to keep the stoke going. Pom Pom hats, sweet tunes, and your drink of choice are all you need. Chill out and share your exaggerations of how gnarly you got throughout the day.
Ice beard photo shoot
Battle sips
Drinkin’ buddies bar dice
Snow dunking thermal treatment
Wherever you end up this season, be good to each other and be good to our Mother.
Keep it steazy, and stay stoked!
The Brewskis Team