• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Because the Family that Skis Together, Enjoys Life Together.
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Featured Author
    • Brand Ambassador
  • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Contact Me

The Brave Ski Mom

Building a new generation of skiers and snowboarders.

  • Skiing
    • Skiing With Kids
    • Ski Racing
    • Learn to Ski
    • Cross Country Skiing
    • Telemark Skiing
    • Snowboarding
  • Ski Resort Reviews
    • United States
      • Alaska
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Pennsylvania
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • Argentina
    • Australia
    • Austria
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • France
    • Finland
    • Greece
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
  • Ski Gear Checklist and Recommendations
    • Equipment and Gear
    • Product Reviews
    • Brave Ski Mom Stickers
  • Hiking
    • Camping
  • Biking
    • Downhill Biking
    • Mountain Biking
    • Road Biking
  • Good Stuff
    • Parenting
    • Health
      • Getting in Shape
    • Reflections

Tight Turns: Whither Vacation? and Movies/Websites to Get You Stoked for Winter

August 7, 2014 by braveskimom

spring skiing aspen
Vacation is a good thing…whether for a week or a few hours away from it all, spring skiing at Aspen.

There’s a petition that’s been making its way around our western Colorado community this week. You see, school started on August 4th — between 2 and 3 weeks earlier than it has in years past.

And as you might guess, most families are not happy with this change.

Being an online petition at Change.org, it’s fascinating to read the comments. “Bring back summer,” reads one. “Don’t take away vacation and family time,” reads another.

The Vacation Equality Project (#VacationEquality)

So I was pretty much primed for petitions, when the next one, a national petition in favor of vacation hit my virtual desktop yesterday. Created by the Vacation Equality Project, this petition calls on the President and Congress to support guaranteed paid vacation days for all Americans.

As it currently stands, the US is the only economically advanced country that does not guarantee paid vacation days. Our system of employer-based vacation benefits works pretty well for 75% of Americans, but one in four working people, about 28 million, don’t get any paid vacation.

And the Vacation Equality Project thinks that’s wrong. It’s not just that some people can’t go on vacation, but they can’t even take time off to watch a child’s Little League game.

When I think about it this way, it seems wrong to me, too.

The Vacation Equality Project is sponsored by the travel and tourism industry and Hotels.com created the promotional video. Clearly, these people have an economic interest in more vacation days. But then, really, almost everything that our government does has an economic interest lurking in the background somewhere. So why not promote vacations?

If you’re interested, check out this amazing 2 minute video of sandcastle art. The creativity alone may spur you to sign the petition. And why not? It’s probably a conversation worth having…when the Congress and President come back from their vacations.

PS: The signing deadline is August 15th.

Get Your Snow Stoke On!

Whether you’re on vacation or not, hot August days are a good time to take an afternoon and watch a movie.

During the summer of 2011, I must have been really focused on movies, because I wrote two posts about them.

The first, Ski Movies Make You A Better Skier, gave my summertime picks for virtual training on the couch. While the listed films are now 3 seasons old, there’s always a new crop to enjoy.

And, not only will the steep ‘n’ deep shots inspire you, but I think watching the world’s best skiers has an “imprint” factor.

Picture them. Picture you. Then merge those pictures together next time you’re feeling a bit trepidatious at the top of a run. It works, I tell ya!

The second post, The Nine Best Ski Movies of All Time, starts with 1969’s Downhill Racer and ends with 1988’s The Blizzard of Aaahs. The titles in between range from familiar (The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977) to obscure (Deep and Light, 1949). I still haven’t seen them all, but I’m trying!

Two films that I’ve discovered that aren’t on this list include Charade, an entertaining 1963 caper film with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant that starts at a tony Swiss resort during skiing’s long-lost glamor days and Spellbound, a 1945 Alfred Hitchcock film that really isn’t very good, but does feature a laughable ski scene in which Ingrid Bergman “skis” the easily identifiable slopes of Alta, Utah.

It’s so bad, it’s fantastic.

Of course, there’s really no reason to turn to Netflix or Redbox when you’re in the mood to watch skiing. The internet has plenty of sites and endless videos, both good and bad. Currently, our favorite site is Unofficial Networks, a partner of USATODAY Lifestyle/Action Sports, with everything from blog posts to video.

Here’s my favorite video from today’s offerings.

Your jaw will drop and it will blow your mind…in just over 3 minutes.

Enjoy!

© 2014 – 2018, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.

Spread the Love (thanks!)

  • Email
  • Print
  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Related

Filed Under: Good Stuff, Outdoor Adventure, Skiing, Travel Tagged With: Family, ski, skiing, travel

Primary Sidebar

2023-2024 Partners

FERA
World Snow Day
FERA

Welcome

I'm Kristen, a western Colorado mom, wife and trail boss in a busy outdoor family. Our family has a passion for skiing and my goal is to provide information to help other families enjoy their skiing adventures. Whether you have tiny toddlers just learning to slide or grown children with whom you're planning a reunion, you're in the right place. Cheers!

Never Miss a Post

Enter your email address to subscribe. You'll receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Me

FacebookInstagram Pinterest Twitter

Today’s Most Popular Posts

  • No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
    No Snow? No Problem: Summer Skiing in North America
  • Upside Down Ski Resorts: When the Base is at the Top
    Upside Down Ski Resorts: When the Base is at the Top
  • Family Skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail
    Family Skiing at Beaver Creek and Vail
  • A First-Time Family Guide to Skiing Breckenridge, Colorado
    A First-Time Family Guide to Skiing Breckenridge, Colorado
  • Telluride's Bear Creek Trail: Family Perfect
    Telluride's Bear Creek Trail: Family Perfect
  • Our Child Doesn't Want to Ski. What Should We Try?
    Our Child Doesn't Want to Ski. What Should We Try?

Categories

Footer

Recent Tweets

My Tweets

Featured In

snowlink world snow day snowkidz
liftopia mtn town learn to ski and snowboard mom trends
Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Affiliate Disclosure · Product Review & Giveaway Policy · Guest Post Policy · Privacy Policy · Login
 

Loading Comments...