We are on a four-day, adults-only ski-cation in Vermont. My daughters are six and one, back home with my mother-in-law. Iβm stoked because itβs the first time Iβve been away from my youngest child, who is recently walking and hellbent on killing me. I love my kids and I’ll miss them, but Iβm ready to take a chill pill and throw all caution to the wind as I sail down icy trails if you know what I mean.
Unfortunately, all my female friends bail on the trip. Too expensive? Too far? Too many loud dudes with stinky feet in a small house? I have no idea their reasons, but I do know Iβm the only girl at this gorgeous chalet with a private sledding hill in the middle of two iconic ski resorts, Stowe and Smugglerβs Notch, in upper Vermont. Like Iβd miss all this because of some stinky feet? As if!
We spend the entire first day in below zero temperatures on a two-chair lift that s-l-o-w-l-y spans one of the biggest, if not the biggest, mountain on the east coast. It takes longer to go up than it does to go down.
So, day two my butt has freezer burn and my lips are dry and cracked like the Sahara Desert. I need a laid-back, go-at-your-own-speed, drink-peppermint-schnapps-from-the-flask kind of day.
Everyone else agrees, so we dust off the eighties ski jumpsuits and prepare to make a rad video with mountains, neon colors, vintage sunglasses, and big hair. Unfortunately for me, I forgot my crimper at home.
I have to say, Wes has the best jumpsuit. He says he bought his online from some specialty Italian retro-thingy-online store. He also paid more than $200 for his dayglo white, green, and pink ski suit. Thatβs just bananas. Justin, my husband, found his butt-huggers online as well. Itβs a womanβs jumpsuit and, as the loving nickname suggests, itβs rather tight on his bum. I do like the blue and yellow, though. I kind of wish it fit me. Then thereβs Jayβs. That thing is just heinous. I canβt believe he paid a hundred dollars for his black, purple and Ecto-green outfit. Gag me with a spoon. Even in the eighties, I bet they thought it was grody.
Mine, however, mine is glorious.
Itβs turquoise with a pop of purple and an elastic belt with one of those plastic clasps we used to pinch our fingers in as kids. Totally tubular. And, the best part, is that I found this baby at Goodwill for $9.99. My new nickname on the trip is Goodwill Queen. I aintβ mad about it either. These boys can go ahead and spend stupid money on their used eighties ski jumpsuits. Looking at the four of us, you canβt tell who paid top dollar and who got hers for a steal. We all look like idiots.
I go the entire day with a wedgie that spans my supposed-to-stay-put undies, my base layer, and the jumpsuit. But the mild pain is so worth it when the ski lift operator says, βyou guys are winning the week.β

After we bounce, I pick the song Jump as our home videoβs background song, because itβs pretty much the best eighties song ever. For more fun, you can watch our home video here.



12 responses to “Eighties Ski Jumpsuits Make Gnarly Conversation on the Slopes”
Love it!! You guys are totally rad….like, totally.
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That video is hysterical…well done.
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Thanks for reading and watching =)
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Danielle, this is such a fun piece. You wove in all the 80s slang so well. I did no skiing back then, but you all look righteous to me. π
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Thanks, Margaret! I had fun writing it too!
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I totally had several of those jumpsuits, haha. Also the 80s-speak was making me laugh.
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Glad you enjoyed it! I have two of them, and if I ever come across another I’ll buy it too. I love them! They are wearable art π
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Love it. I have never gone skiing (midwestern gal here) but clearly I missed some hilarious fashion opportunities! I loved this line, made me laugh, βLooking at the four of us, you canβt tell who paid top dollar and who got hers for a steal. We all look like idiots.β
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Thanks, Jen! Glad you enjoyed reading it π
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I’m having a hard time wiping the grin off my face. I grew up skiing in New England in the 80s… This all looks so familiar. Thanks for reminding me how much fun that time was.
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Cool beans! Great read! I love the lingo and the story and everything about this ππ
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Your sense of adventure makes for such fun reading. You had me at the line about your youngest trying to kill you, and I was enjoying being included in your video plans. Such fun!
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