Open Mic is the series on BLISTER where we invite various people in the outdoor industry to say what they have to say, and share whatever it is they feel like sharing at this particular point in time.
Today, we hear from Hadley Hammer:
Sometimes I worry that I’m not “enough” of a skier to be a skier. That I don’t fit the mold. For instance, I don’t like mountain biking — detest it, really. Surfing neither. The only consistent magazine subscription I’ve had is to Vogue. I prefer a night reading George Saunders or Margaret Atwood to a loud apres. That is, unless 90’s hip hop is playing at a bar, then you couldn’t drag me away from the dance floor if you tried. I like dirty jokes and I try to read a poem a day. I love to ski. I also love climbing, running, and hiking. I’m soft spoken, unless there’s an opportunity to sing Mariah Carey at a karaoke bar. I like sharing stories through words, not tiktoks. I like finding myself on steep ski lines, but have no interest in fear-driven pursuits.
All these traits, preferences, paradoxes are me. A professional skier, published writer, but mostly just a human.
Even more worrisome than fitting in, is when I start to feel that I’ve let too many of my multitudes shrink as I try to fit my identity into a pixilated square, or into one industry. I worry that the skiing industry too has limited the size and type of people who are accepted. I worry about the comments and looks I get when I wear tight ski pants (do I have to wear baggy gore-tex to be considered a serious skier?). If I don’t always feel accepted in the ski industry … who could?
The older I get, and the more time I spend thinking through my thoughts (sometimes too much time), I’m beginning to think the answer to how not to worry about fitting in comes from embracing it all. Embracing all parts of me. And embracing all parts of others. Not worrying too much if I don’t fit into industry trends at the time. Not worrying if I’m too much of a human and not enough of a skier. Letting go of the impression management and filters and embracing being the most me no matter what I’m doing.
And the more I am myself, the better I feel. But here’s the thing — the ski industry might not be down for it, and swimming against the current is hard. It’s easier on the human brain for people to remain in boxes. I believe that skiing or snowboarding, or mountain biking or trail running, or virtually any sport or business or industry is doing itself a disservice the more it requires everyone to act the same. The more pressure that sport or business or industry puts on people to fall into line with the speed and quantity of first descents. The more it requires participants to conform — whether it’s conforming to a dress code, or a way of talking, or sharing content. Skiing claims to be a form of freedom from modern society — freeskiing, freeriding, freestyle skiing — but have we forgotten the free part?
Industries have constrictions by default. In my mind, skiing’s only boundaries should be the act of a human sliding down snow. I would urge every skier to remain themselves while doing this (relatively absurd) activity. Even if being yourself feels akin to always setting the bootpack. And when you don’t feel accepted by the community or industry or algorithm … go into the mountains. Because trees and snowflakes don’t give a shit about what you’re wearing, what kind of music you listen to, or how many instagram followers you have. And they surely don’t care if you mountain bike.
About Hadley Hammer
Hadley Hammer is a professional skier. She is also a reader, writer, and a multitude of other things…
Well said, Hadley!
I’ll cheers to that and definitely resonate with a lot of what you said (minus the baggy pants part lolz). Thanks for sharing Hadley, your writing is incredible.
Appreciate this one :)
Love it. We’re all a wee bit different and we should celebrate it, not shy away from it
Cheers to all of this and all the multitudes!
Preach it!
Because the trees and snowflakes don’t give a shit. Damn right. Love your beautiful perspective. Starting my day with it.
Love all this. So much!
Beautiful and poignant. Thank you.
Pitch perfect.
Love this. Much love Hadley!
This was very relatable & delightful to read. as industries & technology push sameness & copy paste strategies for success, expressing our humanness is such medicine! Thanks for the share
Nailed it! Thanks for always sharing your insight.