If skiing and the University of Edinburgh share one common feature, it is their long-standing reputation for elitism. When reading week rolls around, many hit the slopes for what students and lecturers frequently nickname ‘skiing week.’ For the vast majority of students, a skiing holiday is not the norm, but this culture can create the illusion that it is. With a significant portion of Edinburgh’s students being privately educated, students from low income backgrounds often feel outnumbered, and the culture of exclusivity that a costly sport like skiing perpetuates only worsens this. But are the stereotypes justified, or has skiing left its elitist reputation in the past?
Skiing is an inherently expensive activity, hence its reputation as a ‘posh’ sport reserved for the upper classes. Just one day at the slopes requires specialised equipment, clothing, and transport, not to mention lessons for beginners. While being at university often means we have access to reduced prices, not all students have the money to splurge on an extracurricular activity. Edinburgh is constantly battling accusations of classism, so it is unsurprising if students who have not ‘done a season’ or experienced regular trips to the Alps find starting out an intimidating prospect.
The stereotypes surrounding ‘posh’ sports like skiing may be founded in reality, but there are ways to overcome these barriers. A glance at the Edinburgh University Snowsports Club (EUSSC) website makes it clear that steps are being taken to make snowsports more inclusive for every level of experience. A full year’s recreational membership comes to just £65 – a fee which includes access to the January ski trip, socials, equipment rental for the year, recreational skiing, and a team t-shirt.
EUSSC is making a conscious effort to combat the elitism and make skiing more inclusive, as displayed in a conversation with a student on this year’s committee: “It is an expensive sport, but we do our absolute best to avoid that culture [of elitism]. I think our club itself and the core members are not part of that at all.” The member explained that for those with no previous experience of skiing, the club offers beginner lessons from the start of the semester, which are comparatively affordable and create an atmosphere where newcomers feel less intimidated. “I would really hope that anyone would feel welcome to come along. The most important thing for us as a club is just to give it a go.”
As part of the drive for accessibility, the committee member also highlighted that this year EUSSC provided four fully funded spaces on the annual ski trip to students on the Widening Participation programme – those from lower income backgrounds who are unable to fund the trip themselves. Coach travel, lift passes, accommodation, ski rental, and lessons were all included in the funding. “It’s a really nice way of trying to make it more accessible and more inclusive – I think it’s the best thing that we do, personally.”
While this programme helps to break down the financial barrier, social exclusion remains a concern among those from lower income backgrounds. One student who received an opportunity to apply for one of these spaces explained why she didn’t jump at the opportunity for a fully funded place: “I wouldn’t have gone on the trip because I know the kind of people who will be there and I don’t want to be around that.” She went on to comment that her decision didn’t come from a lack of interest in skiing, but a fear that the trip would be dominated by unwelcoming students from more privileged backgrounds.
Sport is a fundamental part of the university experience. Edinburgh University’s wide range of sport and exercise clubs allow us the freedom to continue an existing interest or discover a new one, all while developing connections outside of class and escaping exam stress. Many students meet their closest friends on a football pitch or a ski slope. A financial barrier to these clubs therefore represents not just an inconvenience, but a missed opportunity to make lifelong friendships and core memories.
This is precisely why EUSSC’s accessibility initiatives are so important, and according to the interviewed committee member they are making a real difference. “I think that the culture is slowly changing, and I’ve seen it change throughout my time at uni…I think there has been progress made every year.” Elitism affects all aspects of student life, but initiatives like these are fundamental to changing the narrative. Breaking down social and financial barriers to activities like skiing creates an environment where all students feel comfortable pursuing their interests, regardless of experience level or financial background.
Photo by Maarten Duineveld on Unsplash