General Discussion

MichMan

(17,080 posts)

35. Plenty of opportunities at HS and College levels in winter sports

Sun Feb 8, 2026, 01:33 PM

Feb 8

It's limited by geography, because you're not going to take up luge in a hotter climate. And it's limited by popularity, because what kid would want to take up luge?

Whose fault is that? A significant part of the country lives in climates with cold weather, and not everything has widespread popularity.

For examples of other sports, High Schools often have Cross Country Skiing, which doesn't need a designated course, and Hockey programs, so those would be available to any student in that district regardless of income. If you perform well at the local and state level, there are all kinds of opportunities available in college sports for athletes to compete on a bigger stage. How is that any different than many summer sports like Track & Field events etc.?

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The Winter Olympics are full of entitlement and leisure class athletes [View all] superpatriotman Feb 7 OP

Biathlon and x country skiingis often military or ex military from cold places JT45242 Feb 7 #1

I would hardly call downhill sports (snowboarding/skiing) "elitist". sir pball Feb 7 #3

Day passes at skiing resorts are crazy expensive...throw in gear JT45242 Feb 7 #7

It certainly does not need to be that expensive. sir pball Feb 7 #11

Agreed PJMcK Feb 7 #2

the nordic skiing events generally highlight warfare skills rampartd Feb 7 #4

There's a theory ... Straw Man Feb 9 #64

what can they possibly be thinking as they stand near the top of a freakin' alp .......... rampartd Feb 9 #66

You probably have to be at least edhopper Feb 7 #5

Realistically you have to be middle class to pursue any non-major-league sport. sir pball Feb 7 #12

And? So what? BannonsLiver Feb 7 #6

Is there a rule that all sports oberle Feb 7 #8

Then I Suggest You Not Watch the Winter Olympics. MineralMan Feb 7 #9

Snort! electric_blue68 Feb 8 #30

Where are you getting this information? mysteryowl Feb 7 #10

You are wrong, on both counts obamanut2012 Feb 7 #13

For years it was design to keep the working class Johonny Feb 7 #14

Curling is expensive? Speed skating? Hockey? tinrobot Feb 7 #15

Hockey is definitely expensive. WhiskeyGrinder Feb 7 #22

Yes, it's a couple of thousands of dollars a year. sir pball Feb 7 #26

A pair of quality ice skates isn't any more expensive than a pair of top name brand basketball shoes MichMan Feb 8 #37

Figure Skating has athletes who can't afford their costumes MagickMuffin Feb 8 #39

Those costumes are ridiculously expensive! SheltieLover Feb 8 #55

Indeed, Madison Chock's costumes are Devine MagickMuffin Feb 8 #59

I agree, comments annoy me. SheltieLover Feb 8 #60

Ok... oof what an odd post. themaguffin Feb 7 #16

Disagree. nt Celerity Feb 7 #17

Bryan Sosoo - Bobsled Deep State Witch Feb 7 #18

Ah. I'm happy to find out that Simon Biles was born into the lap of luxury. Igel Feb 7 #19

Lots of people here complain about multi millionaires not paying enough in taxes MichMan Feb 8 #33

A number of high schools here in the Minnesota Twin Cities MineralMan Feb 7 #20

Polo hasn't been an Olympic sport since 1936. That said... sir pball Feb 7 #24

high school hockey in MN is as big as HS football in TX pstokely Feb 8 #62

Alysa Liu quaint Feb 7 #21

And ???? JI7 Feb 7 #23

Man, as I read this thread (language warning)... sir pball Feb 7 #25

If your assessment is in error, that error is RockRaven Feb 7 #27

Despite all the negative comments, the point you were trying to make is in fact correct. Wiz Imp Feb 7 #28

Median household income is around $75k. Those ranges you cite aren't exactly describing wealthy silver spooners. tritsofme Feb 7 #29

You didn't read the article. At the time of the article, it mentions median household income was around $50,000 Wiz Imp Feb 8 #34

Plenty of opportunities at HS and College levels in winter sports MichMan Feb 8 #35

Nothing you say changes the fact that to become a winter Olympian in the US, Wiz Imp Feb 8 #42

That's meaningless data-it's just "what sports rich people like the most". sir pball Feb 8 #63

From chapter 3, Eat the Rich, of the how-to book "Provoking Progressives and Lampooning Liberals." betsuni Feb 8 #31

I'm not sure exactly what that means with regards to sports fujiyamasan Feb 8 #32

Youth hockey equipment is readily available second hand as kids grow out of it. MichMan Feb 8 #36

The issue isn't the cost of equipment. Wiz Imp Feb 8 #44

Given that the US and Canadian Olympic Hockey teams mostly use NHL players, why does the cost of youth hockey matter? MichMan Feb 8 #47

So you think a hockey player can make the NHL with having been a successful Youth player? Wiz Imp Feb 8 #48

I can't figure out why anyone cares about the cost of any sport or hobby unless they are the ones doing it. MichMan Feb 8 #49

And I can't figure out why you or anyone cares about someone pointing out the factual Wiz Imp Feb 8 #53

It seems to bother you quite a bit for some reason MichMan Feb 8 #54

Doesn't bother me but It really seems to bother you significantly. Nobody is forcing you to keep rsponding. Wiz Imp Feb 8 #56

Evan Lysacek, 2010 gold medal figure skater, phylny Feb 8 #38

Figure Skater Todd Eldredge raised funds through his community MagickMuffin Feb 8 #41

From what I gather, his coaching had to cost at least $30,000 a year Wiz Imp Feb 8 #46

"Not everyone is from wealthy families, they have to be creative in finding sponsors and fund raising." MichMan Feb 8 #50

Who cares? Boo1 Feb 8 #40

I competely missed the part where the OP said a damn thing about people enjoying the Winter Olympics Wiz Imp Feb 8 #45

Guess you don't read between the lines much Boo1 Feb 8 #51

The OP said it was all full of "entitlement and leisure class athletes" MichMan Feb 8 #52

Ok. It costs money to play sports at a high level. equipment, time, etc. What's your point? Captain Stern Feb 8 #43

Truly who cares. These are people who've devoted their lives to fitness Melon Feb 8 #57

Far cry from 1980 lake placid. yourout Feb 8 #58

winter sports are for American rich kids pstokely Feb 8 #61

The traditional alpine skiing disciplines can be practiced at any moderate-sized facility. Straw Man Feb 9 #65

🥱 QueerDuck Feb 9 #67

Sounds serious Torchlight Feb 9 #68