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Ski Bum: Large Print Special Edition
A flunking Midwestern college student drops out and moves west to live the ski bum life. In the Colorado mountains he finds a group of like-minded, and sometimes degenerate, friends who show him that a ski town is the ideal place for young people to raise a middle finger to societal norms and do as they please. It’s a spontaneous party life of hot tub poaching, illicit sledding, and living scrappy and poor in a place where rich people vacation. It’s a life he quickly comes to love, but as winter turns to spring, the path forward isn’t clear.
A classic coming-of-age story, Colin Clancy’s debut novel is a profoundly charming depiction of skiing, mountain culture, and the beauty of human connection with the natural world.
A classic coming-of-age story, Colin Clancy’s debut novel is a profoundly charming depiction of skiing, mountain culture, and the beauty of human connection with the natural world.
539 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2024
6 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Colin Clancy
2 books8 followersStill a Michigander at heart, Colin Clancy lives in the mountains of Utah with his wife, two sons, and dogs. Colin spends his free time outside—skiing, fly fishing, and hunting—and drawing and painting in India ink. He has degrees from Western Michigan University and Northern Michigan University, is the author of The Real Jackalope (2025), Ski Bum (2022), and has published work in The Ski Journal, The Flyfish Journal, Condé Nast Traveler, Powder Magazine, Strung Magazine, and elsewhere. He works as a writer—and sometimes photographer—in the outdoor industry.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 13, 2022
"At its best, skiing distills life to one run at a time, a two-thousand foot burn from top-to-bottom--the world becomes a single mountainside-- your tracks behind you, your past, and the untracked snow ahead your future with the endless possibilities of trees, bumps, cliffs, and groomers. Each chairlift ride is resurrection."
Clancy wrote a deliriously fun book about the ski bum lifestyle that revels in high-action scenes but also spends time working out the intricacies of relationships and being young. I enjoyed the hell out of it. The writing is paced well and he sets the scene beautifully. This book really gets life in a mountain town when you're young and broke.
Clancy wrote a deliriously fun book about the ski bum lifestyle that revels in high-action scenes but also spends time working out the intricacies of relationships and being young. I enjoyed the hell out of it. The writing is paced well and he sets the scene beautifully. This book really gets life in a mountain town when you're young and broke.
August 30, 2023
I’m writing this review while sitting in an office, alone, listening to the Pandora Riot Grrrl station. I might be here a while, mulling the point, wondering how long it will be before I pack up the tent and disappear for a while. This happens a lot, and that daydream usually ends when I realize I have cats to feed and niflings to buy Christmas presents for.
Colin Clancy’s debut novel, Ski Bum, speaks directly to that part of my soul. There is this secret life you’ll never know, and friendships, born amongst voluntary poverty, the radiant love from which you’ll never feel, unless you decide to give up everything.
But you can gleam it here.
We ride shotgun with Jimmy as he ascends the Colorado Rockies. We’re introduced to a cast of misfits, each their own genuine representation of this mountain life. We search for the true value of a dollar at the bottom of countless empty tall boys. We do this through a voice and prose that reflects the time, the life, and the chase of that fleeting feeling of serenity that accompanies any good run.
This book reads like you’re waiting for the skis to touch back down. It is essential for anyone who’s ever ridden a chairlift, or anyone who’s ever wondered what would happen if they just said screw it and headed out into the unknown. I would buy Clancy a beer, should we ever meet in the future.
Colin Clancy’s debut novel, Ski Bum, speaks directly to that part of my soul. There is this secret life you’ll never know, and friendships, born amongst voluntary poverty, the radiant love from which you’ll never feel, unless you decide to give up everything.
But you can gleam it here.
We ride shotgun with Jimmy as he ascends the Colorado Rockies. We’re introduced to a cast of misfits, each their own genuine representation of this mountain life. We search for the true value of a dollar at the bottom of countless empty tall boys. We do this through a voice and prose that reflects the time, the life, and the chase of that fleeting feeling of serenity that accompanies any good run.
This book reads like you’re waiting for the skis to touch back down. It is essential for anyone who’s ever ridden a chairlift, or anyone who’s ever wondered what would happen if they just said screw it and headed out into the unknown. I would buy Clancy a beer, should we ever meet in the future.
March 31, 2023
"The thing that sucks about trying to live in the moment is that you end up broke and hungover when you wake up tomorrow."
Direct and down to earth, Colin Clancy's "Ski Bum" follows ski enthusiast Jimmy as he drops out of college in Michigan to head out west to chase the big slopes of Colorado. Aimless and romantic in an understated, blue-collar kind of way, Jimmy is looking for more than fresh powder. He wants to live life, to chase new experiences, even as he discovers how tough that can be on a part-time ski instuctor's budget.
Living in workers' quarters, Jimmy falls in with a crew of friends and quickly settles into a service-job routine: shots at night, the monotony of teaching rich kids to ski in the mornings, and stealing moments on the slopes whenever he can. Uncomplicated without being simple (just like Clancy's writing style), Jimmy seeks basic pleasures alongside the more difficult work of determining who exactly he wants to be.
That's when he's sober. When he's partying, Jimmy can turn into someone else entirely--throwing his phone into a snowbank after a screaming match with his girlfriend or wading into a bar fight for the thrill of it. But he's not the worst drunk in a party scene full of them, and Clancy does his strongest work capturing several hellish bacchanalias, the kinds of bleary binges that render the next morning into slush under your boots.
The group's excursion to New Orleans is a particular lowlight, taking what's supposed to be a fun party weekend and transforming it into something hateful and queasy, half-riot, half-purge. The characters are still young enough that it's fun for them to tie one on and get out of control; I'm much older than they are now, and reading Clancy's book, I couldn't help but worry for them, seeing the trouble on the horizon.
But the book reminds us they're still young enough to make mistakes, to flounder, and to bounce back. "Ski Bum" does a memorable job capturing a slice of youth in a special place. The characters aren't sure what they're doing, but they don't have to be quite yet--they still have time to bum around a while before shifting back to conventional lives, finishing school, getting real jobs.
It's unclear how things will turn out for these characters, but the easy read rewards us for the time we spend with them.
Direct and down to earth, Colin Clancy's "Ski Bum" follows ski enthusiast Jimmy as he drops out of college in Michigan to head out west to chase the big slopes of Colorado. Aimless and romantic in an understated, blue-collar kind of way, Jimmy is looking for more than fresh powder. He wants to live life, to chase new experiences, even as he discovers how tough that can be on a part-time ski instuctor's budget.
Living in workers' quarters, Jimmy falls in with a crew of friends and quickly settles into a service-job routine: shots at night, the monotony of teaching rich kids to ski in the mornings, and stealing moments on the slopes whenever he can. Uncomplicated without being simple (just like Clancy's writing style), Jimmy seeks basic pleasures alongside the more difficult work of determining who exactly he wants to be.
That's when he's sober. When he's partying, Jimmy can turn into someone else entirely--throwing his phone into a snowbank after a screaming match with his girlfriend or wading into a bar fight for the thrill of it. But he's not the worst drunk in a party scene full of them, and Clancy does his strongest work capturing several hellish bacchanalias, the kinds of bleary binges that render the next morning into slush under your boots.
The group's excursion to New Orleans is a particular lowlight, taking what's supposed to be a fun party weekend and transforming it into something hateful and queasy, half-riot, half-purge. The characters are still young enough that it's fun for them to tie one on and get out of control; I'm much older than they are now, and reading Clancy's book, I couldn't help but worry for them, seeing the trouble on the horizon.
But the book reminds us they're still young enough to make mistakes, to flounder, and to bounce back. "Ski Bum" does a memorable job capturing a slice of youth in a special place. The characters aren't sure what they're doing, but they don't have to be quite yet--they still have time to bum around a while before shifting back to conventional lives, finishing school, getting real jobs.
It's unclear how things will turn out for these characters, but the easy read rewards us for the time we spend with them.
Want to read
December 8, 2023Hot tub poaching!
February 9, 2024
hmmmmm. wanted this to be more than drinking & hooking up but I guess that is also what happens when u work a season. took me tooooo long to realize this took place at copper LOL
January 7, 2025
Honestly, this book surprised me with how captivating it was. There was a decent plot to the book and the main characters were genuine, real people. It’s young adults figuring out life and wanting to adventure and making mistakes along the way. This was a quick read, but a lot of fun at the same time. Truth be told, I would’ve given this book 5 stars, however, the end was a little disappointing. I felt like there was a lot of filler towards the final few chapters and then it all abruptly ended. Maybe that’s how the author intended it because that’s how real life is? I’m not sure, but it felt a little sad not knowing the rest of Kylie and Jimmy’s story.
Overall, I for sure recommend this book as a fun, easy, and quick read! It’s almost like reading through a TV series!
Overall, I for sure recommend this book as a fun, easy, and quick read! It’s almost like reading through a TV series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2023
3.5. I don't think I'm the target audience for this book. The county library will have the author speak next week and I wanted to have at least read the book. If you ever dreamed of being a ski bum, you will probably enjoy this.
November 19, 2024
It might be because I’m from the Midwest and moved to Colorado, but I found this book charming. There’s honestly not much to the plot, but it was the quick, easy read that I needed.
My only regret is that I didn’t save it as my ski lodge read.
My only regret is that I didn’t save it as my ski lodge read.
December 2, 2024
Saved this to read before my ski season starts, and glad I did. Took me right back to a few years ago when I lived a very similar life, in the northeast instead of the west. Nothing quite like being a young local in a ski town, and I think this book summed it up perfectly.
January 28, 2023
Quick read and fun.
February 15, 2023
Excellent writing
I cannot believe this is his first book. He writes with clarity and a sense of being there. A taste of life as a ski resort employee
I cannot believe this is his first book. He writes with clarity and a sense of being there. A taste of life as a ski resort employee
April 19, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. Reminds me of ex girlfriends and good times with friends.
September 10, 2024
Would be a fun movie. Someone should produce and direct it. I can hear the soundtrack throughout. A fun nice read.
April 25, 2025
Can I give this a 0 stars? Just terrible. Seems like ChatGPT wrote this shit. Cliches everywhere. Some chuckle moment. Do not recommend or re-read.
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December 2, 2025I can't believe the author doesn't know the difference between your and you're...
May 7, 2024
Kylie deserved better.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews