How to measure a record ski year?

Measuring skiing is very difficult. In fact it’s a question that I have wrestled with for quite a long time. 

Can it be measured by the actual miles covered on snow, the vertical drop, the number of days or even hours out on the slope? What about time spend on the lift? And the terrain or conditions, easy or difficult. Did I mention visibility? Except perhaps for sailing or flying, few other endeavors get even close to skiing when it comes to the number of parameters that constantly keep on changing. 

Any kind of comparison is very hard indeed, yet we can only measure based on our own skiing style and preferences. Some only ski “groomers”, other everything, a few just the steep and gnarly. So my conclusion is to go by the vertical, knowing full well that super challenging conditions are probably worth no less than four to six times an easy, well groomed, cruiser run for the difference it requires in proper technique, balance, quick reaction and strength. 

Further, we now have easy phone apps or smart watches to keep track of all that kind of data. This said, it’s almost impossible to compare performance that way between individuals with so many intractable parameters, so I would think that such comparisons can only be applied by one individual in comparing his/her own performance at regular intervals. So whatever the type of measurement we choose, it’s can’t be universal and compare a multitude of individuals, but just personal to compare a rate of improvements or setbacks.