Ski bum
Meaning: A person who lives in a ski town and prioritizes skiing over career ambitions.
A ski bum works just enough to fund their ski habit — waiting tables, bartending, or working at the ski resort — so they can ski every possible day. Ski bums live in tiny apartments with five roommates in towns like Vail, Jackson Hole, and Tahoe. It is both a lifestyle choice and a point of pride. 'I am a ski bum' says 'I chose powder over promotions.' The rising cost of living in ski towns has made the classic ski bum lifestyle increasingly difficult.
Examples
- He has been a ski bum in Tahoe for ten years — no savings but 100+ days on the mountain every year. 他在太浩湖当了十年滑雪浪人——没有积蓄,但每年上山100多天。Lleva diez años de vagabundo del esquí en Tahoe — sin ahorros pero más de 100 días en la montaña cada año.彼はタホで10年間スキーバムをやっている――貯金はないけど毎年100日以上山にいる。그는 타호에서 10년째 스키 범으로 살고 있다 — 저축은 없지만 매년 100일 넘게 산에 있다.
- Being a ski bum sounds romantic until you see the rent in ski towns. 滑雪浪人听起来很浪漫,等你看到滑雪小镇的房租就知道了。Ser un vagabundo del esquí suena romántico hasta que ves los alquileres en las estaciones.スキーバムって響きはロマンチックだけど、スキータウンの家賃を見たら現実が分かる。스키 범 생활은 낭만적으로 들리지만 스키 타운 집값을 보면 현실을 알게 된다.
- She gave up her law career to become a ski bum and has never been happier. 她放弃了律师生涯去当滑雪浪人,从来没有比现在更快乐过。Dejó su carrera de abogada para convertirse en vagabunda del esquí y nunca ha sido más feliz.彼女は弁護士のキャリアを捨ててスキーバムになった――今までで一番幸せだそうだ。그녀는 변호사 커리어를 포기하고 스키 범이 되었다 — 그 어느 때보다 행복하다고 한다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: skiing, lifestyle, mountain culture
Tone: admiring, aspirational
✓ Do Say
- Living the ski bum life.过着滑雪浪人的生活。Viviendo la vida de vagabundo del esquí.スキーバム生活を満喫中。스키 범 생활을 즐기는 중이야.
- I was a ski bum after college.大学毕业后我当过一阵滑雪浪人。Fui un vagabundo del esquí después de la universidad.大学卒業後スキーバムだった。대학 졸업 후에 스키 범이었어.
✗ Don't Say
- Ski bum life is increasingly unsustainable due to housing costs.由于住房成本高企,滑雪浪人的生活方式越来越难以持续。La vida de vagabundo del esquí es cada vez más insostenible por los costes de vivienda.住宅費の高騰でスキーバム生活はますます持続困難になっている。주거비 때문에 스키 범 생활은 점점 유지하기 어려워지고 있다.
Origin & History
American ski culture from the 1960s–70s as recreational skiing boomed. The archetype of the carefree skier became a counterculture ideal.
Cultural Context
Era: 1960s–present
Generation: All generations
Social background: Varies
Regional notes: Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Lake Tahoe, Vermont
More From This Topic
More from Outdoors & Nature
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free