Does It Matter If You Ski Well?

When I first began writing about skiing, I interviewed a little-known but influential figure who, years prior, had helmed a seminal magazine. Now a part-time electrician, he had become something of a quiet elder statesman of the skiing world with a distinguished portfolio of articles focusing on avalanche safety, gear innovation, and technique.

And our discussion eventually touched on the complicated topic of skiing proficiency.

I eschewed the standard post-COVID protocol for the...