Consulting the Doozeometer

Mixed emotions at the end of the 2015-16 season with the Sugarbush Ski & Ride School.

Many years ago, for purposes of modern science, together with some of my dearest guests and favorite ski companions, I created the Doozeometer Scale. The Doozeometer measures the extent to which something is a "doozy" and it proves very useful when in need of perspective.

I have very vivid memories of a particular afternoon in the spring of 2016 at Sugarbush, sitting over a beer with trusted members of my management team at the end of the season, feeling like we’d just competed in one of those cross country ski races where all of the athletes collapse and are sprawled out on the ground in a heap after crossing the finish line. The winter of 2015-16 was the worst season for snow that any of us could remember in a way that was quite stunning - it was difficult in every respect, but the staff at Sugarbush inspired us every day and I remain proud of the work we all did and think back fondly on that time we had together. Still, as challenging as the 15-16 season was, the particular details that made it so exceptionally difficult did fall into the class of issues one could reasonably have expected in a business dependent upon snowfall. I'd give that season a 9 out of 10 on the Doozeometer. This season just completed, 2020-21, was challenging in ways that were very different.

There are far too many pundits, prognosticators, philosophers, and pedagogues filling the airwaves in this day and age, and I have no interest in wasting anyone’s time drawing big picture conclusions about ‘what we learned in the pandemic ski season’. I’m too psychologically tired for that and finding the proper perspective will take time; lots of time. Still, what’s been cracking me up lately as I look back and consider is that there seem to have been equal numbers of incidents, aspects, and anecdotes that leave me shaking my head, raising an eyebrow and saying “ooph”, and those that have me closing my eyes for a moment, nodding slowly and say “ahhh”. Ooph and Ahhh are like the yin and yang of expression by exhalation.

Speaking of psychological effort, I was aware throughout this past season and still am now that the moments of anxiety, discomfort, disgust, loss of faith in humanity – the “ooph” moments – felt as though they overwhelmed the good, faith-inducing ones – the ahhhs. Not letting the fewer, negative experiences tip the balance of how we were all feeling about the season took effort, certainly, but it also required that we all be far more deliberate in taking the time to focus on what was good, caring, welcome, beautiful and genuinely fun. There may have been moments where looking at the view, ‘stopping to smell the roses’ as it were, felt contrived or forced, but this year I am confident that my friends, colleagues, and guests appreciated all that our time together in the mountains provided. This year more than ever, skiing was a truly joyful way to spend our time. Ahhhhhh.

Somehow, by hook or by crook, I generally had a busy season and by some miracle managed to remain healthy throughout. In November and occasionally throughout the season, I held my breath a bit over whether anyone could or should come skiing at all – ooph. Then there were plenty of moments where I was fortunate to spend my time with wonderful people whose concern for all of our collective safety and well-being allowed me to literally and figuratively breathe easily - ahhh. And when we set off down the mountain, every time we set off, the skiing felt normal in a way that was meaningfully reassuring and for which I remain truly and immensely grateful. For that reason, for the balance of ooph and ahhh, I rate the 20-21 season a 9 out of 10 on the Doozeometer. A true 10 would be tough to imagine and I hope I never see one.

What’s my plan for the shoulder season? Simple. Breathe in, breathe out. Put my feet up. Clear my mind on my beloved bicycle. Go for a hike. Reconnect safely with friends and family without fear. Day-dream a bit about the post-pandemic world. That sure was a doozy. Ooph, we made it. Ahhh, we made it. Thank Goodness. Hopefully, we won't need to bust out the Doozeometer for the next season.