Proposal
After living in Anchorage, Alaska, you find there are countless things that set Alaska apart from the “lower 48”. Upon moving in 6th grade, one thing about Alaska I began to obsess over was skiing. However, I’m not completely referring to the recreational sport; I’m talking about the lifestyle. The state’s largest ski resort resides in a small town called Girdwood, which is located about 45 minutes away from Anchorage. During the winter, you can hear Anchorage residents planning trips to this resort to spend the weekend skiing, dining, and partying. A large number of Anchorage residents buy cabins or condos in Girdwood to make trips easier and more frequent. I remember the first time I went down to Girdwood. I fell in love. The atmosphere was indescribable. It was completely relaxing and calming but also full of an exciting, buzzing energy. I began to recognize the unique culture this small town had. From grades 6-10 I aspired to be amongst them as a ski bum, driving down there each weekend, meeting awesome people, and hanging out at all the cool restaurants. However, I drove down less and less. It made me realize that sadly, I’m was not a true Girdwoodian.
I plan to interview the different represented “peoples” of Girdwood, which means I’ll need to interview a Girdwood resident and a skier who lives in Anchorage but owns a Condo in Girdwood, which seems to be a common trend amongst the skiers of Anchorage. Through this autoethnography, I want to research what makes someone compatible to the town and what it’s like to be a true person of Girdwood. Girdwood is often made fun of for being a bunch of hippy ski bums, but I really think that everyone just wishes they could be apart of this open, but intrinsically exclusive community. Through this research, I hope to find out more about Girdwood’s residents, culture, and lifestyle.
I plan to interview the different represented “peoples” of Girdwood, which means I’ll need to interview a Girdwood resident and a skier who lives in Anchorage but owns a Condo in Girdwood, which seems to be a common trend amongst the skiers of Anchorage. Through this autoethnography, I want to research what makes someone compatible to the town and what it’s like to be a true person of Girdwood. Girdwood is often made fun of for being a bunch of hippy ski bums, but I really think that everyone just wishes they could be apart of this open, but intrinsically exclusive community. Through this research, I hope to find out more about Girdwood’s residents, culture, and lifestyle.