The skiing community I would have to say is made up of all kinds of different people who simply live for the slopes. From the weekend warriors to the ski patrol pros, everyone plays a role in some way. One thing that stands out is how skiers talk. Youll hear phrases  all the time such as “yard sale” (a crash that sends gear flying), “pow day” (a day with fresh powder), or “gaper” (a clueless beginner). These words aren’t just slang they’re part of how skiers bond and share their stories.

I had recently interviewed a local skier and good friend of mine AJ Manning, whos been skiing since he was a kid aswell. He told me, “There’s just something about being out there in the cold snowy mountains that makes you feel... free. You’re not just skiing—you’re a part of something bigger, you know.” AJ also explained how safety and respect are huge in the community. “We look out for each other. If someone wipes out, you stop and help. That’s just how it works, you know.”

Other than just the language, skiing has its own set of values and unwritten rule I guess you could say. Whether its waiting for your turn at the lift line or giving someone a heads up about icy patches, us skiers and snowboarders truly do rely on each other. I mean, we are all just one big community... A discourse community! And its a mix of independence and teamwork that makes the community strong.

Working on project two especially my skiing website and my profile I wrote helped me see how writing can be a social thing. For outcome B, I feel like I had  learned that writing isnt just something that you do alone. When I had talked and listened to videos of a few people from the skiing community and wrote about them I feel like I had to really listen and think about how I was going to share their story in a way that felt true to them. Skiing might seem like a local thing, but its also part of a much bigger group. Skiers across the country and even around the world for that ,atter use the same kind of slang, Like “yard sale” for a messy fall or “bluebird day” for perfect weather. That shared language  helps them feel to connected, even if theyve never met. I would largely blame social media for this. Not in a bad way though.

Outcome D was more about writing clearly in standard English. This was a challenge because the skiers I talked and listened to used a lot of casual language and jokes. Again, I feel like I  had to figure out how to keep their voice and tone you could say while still making the writing sound somewhat clean and professional. I feel like I also learned how to guide readers through the story without loosing the fun parts of the skiers personality which was super important.

Outcome E had made me think more about how people use different types of language depending on where they are and who they were talking to. In my journal I wanted to make a note about how the skiers used slang with friends but switched to a more serious tone I feel like when teaching beginners about their safety or how to ski properly. That showed me the difference between dialect and register. I would have to say that dialect is more about the words and style someone uses all the time, while register changes depending on the situation. Seeing that helped me to understand how flexible and powerful language can be.