Analysis: Two Groups Living Harmoniously
Through my interviews, research, and analysis, I have come to several conclusions about the people of Girdwood. There appears to be two dominant groups of people who choose to live in Girdwood- skiers/snowboarders and non-skier/snowboarders who are more there for the outdoors and like to be one with nature. Skier/snowboarder families are often viewed as "rich", "yuppies", wearing brand names like Arcteryx or buying the latest ski gear. The non-skiers of Girdwood seem to be "hippies" who may or may not participate in recreational smoking and have a vast different in style compared to their neighbors. Stereotypes of these two groups vary drastically, so how do they come and live together in a town like Girdwood?
Well, though these two groups seem strikingly different, it's hard for an "outsider", like me, to notice. This is due to the one thing that easily brings people together: partying. Skiers and non-skiers alike pack the Sitzmark and Double Muskies each night to engage in socialization and drinking. The partying lifestyle and the small community combined makes it easy for the two groups to stay away from segregating thoughts.
Annual events such as the Spring Carnival and the Forest Fair support my earlier of two groups coexisting through celebration. The Spring Carnival, for instance, is focused towards skiers and snowboarder. Hosted by Alyeska, the main attraction of the Spring Carnival is the Slush Cup, where volunteer skiers and snowboarders attempt to ski across a frozen pond with hundreds of spectators. Regardless of the Carnival's targeted audience, skier/snowboarders and non-skier/snowboarders both like to enjoy the spring carnival.
The Forest Fair, on the other hand, is targeting the non-skiers/snowboarders of Girdwood where people gather in Girdwood's forest grounds and celebrate through song, art, and food. Many skiers and non-skiers attend the event each year. Even in my interviews, these "skiers" made an effort to note the Forest Fair, as a big cultural influence of Girdwood.
So perhaps it's not one quality or the other that successfully makes you a Girdwoodian, maybe you need a combination of the two. Even Hannah, a devout skier admitted in her interview, "everybody's got a little hippie in them." Maybe this would explain why after 8 years, I haven't been able to keep up the Girdwod lifestyle.
Well, though these two groups seem strikingly different, it's hard for an "outsider", like me, to notice. This is due to the one thing that easily brings people together: partying. Skiers and non-skiers alike pack the Sitzmark and Double Muskies each night to engage in socialization and drinking. The partying lifestyle and the small community combined makes it easy for the two groups to stay away from segregating thoughts.
Annual events such as the Spring Carnival and the Forest Fair support my earlier of two groups coexisting through celebration. The Spring Carnival, for instance, is focused towards skiers and snowboarder. Hosted by Alyeska, the main attraction of the Spring Carnival is the Slush Cup, where volunteer skiers and snowboarders attempt to ski across a frozen pond with hundreds of spectators. Regardless of the Carnival's targeted audience, skier/snowboarders and non-skier/snowboarders both like to enjoy the spring carnival.
The Forest Fair, on the other hand, is targeting the non-skiers/snowboarders of Girdwood where people gather in Girdwood's forest grounds and celebrate through song, art, and food. Many skiers and non-skiers attend the event each year. Even in my interviews, these "skiers" made an effort to note the Forest Fair, as a big cultural influence of Girdwood.
So perhaps it's not one quality or the other that successfully makes you a Girdwoodian, maybe you need a combination of the two. Even Hannah, a devout skier admitted in her interview, "everybody's got a little hippie in them." Maybe this would explain why after 8 years, I haven't been able to keep up the Girdwod lifestyle.