Ski Bum – as defined by the online urban dictionary, is “a skier, usually male, in his late 30’s or older, who generally spends the entirety of his life at ski resorts. The rest of his life is spent sharpening skis or purchasing skis on eBay. Alternatively, he coaches a high school ski team.”

Kevin Wiesner, owner of PhD skis in Bozeman Montana, fits this ski bum definition for the most part. He is male, older than 30, and has spent the entirety of his life skiing Bridger Bowl. The rest of his life has been spent purchasing skis and ski equipment to resell at his ski shop on West Main Street. He started skiing at Bridger Bowl in 1963 when skiers parked at the Deer Park Chalet and skied the t-bar and Bridger lift. In the 5th grade he got the nickname “The Doctor” for tuning and waxing his friend’s skis – thus the PhD for his businesses name. In the 80’s he worked at Baldy Mountain Ski Supply on North Rouse, and co-owned Big Sky Ski Supply on the South side of West Main before buying out his business partner Sammy Wilson and changing the name to PhD Skis. In the summer of 2000 he moved the shop to its current location at 2405 W Main Street.

Tuning skis as a 5th grader can pretty much define you as a ski bum. Skiing up to 110 times a year should qualify. Kevin’s definition of a ski bum is “live in the parking lot and ski every day.” He admits he will probably never do it, but would if he could.

“I ride lifts; I hike” he says. With an average of 70-80 ski days a year, and sometimes more than 100, you’ve likely seen Kevin on the slopes at Bridger. Each fall he gets there before the lifts are running: “Not because I think it’s safe, but because I know where to go, where the grass is.”

Although Bridger Bowl has been his main mountain for longer than I’ve been alive, Kevin doesn’t have anything against America’s Biggest Skiing.

Calling Big Sky and Moonlight “fabulous additions” to our area, he notes that without them the local ski season would be a month shorter. He also gives due respect to snowboards because without them “we’d have no sidecut” and who doesn’t love sidecut?

Just after the second storm of the early 2012 season Kevin got out of the shop and hiked at Bridger, following it up with his annual Pray for Snow Party (PFSP). This original Pray for Snow Party has been going on for over 20 years, with friends and employees of PhD, often between 30-50 people attending each season. This year a burn ban was in place for the opening weekend of big game hunting–the usual PFSP weekend–and its delay brought out only a handful of skiers. But big or small, the party brings out die hard skiers to burn skis, fry fish and have an old fashioned good time.

Kevin is truly unique to the Bozeman ski experience. How many folks do you know who have been skiing Bridger since ‘63? He admits that “as locals we demand the most perfect conditions, we’re spoiled, [and] we live 16 miles away.” Keeping it all in perspective is what keeps Kevin grounded. Last year when conditions were less than desirable for the majority of the local spoiled skiing crowd (myself included, although I was pregnant; what’s your excuse?) visitors from other states were thrilled with our snow. When Bridger ran 1/2 price tickets over Christmas vacation Midwesterners couldn’t stop talking about how great it was. Perspective people.

The next time you have a question about skiing, local conditions or equipment, or get the urge to move to Bridger’s parking lot, don’t feel powerless or misunderstood! Go to PhD Skis and talk to the Doctor. For the up and coming ski bum Kevin offers this advice: “ski while you can.” It’s your choice: “play while you’re young.”

Angie Ripple is the publisher and infrequent contributor of Bozeman Magazine. She started alpine skiing at the age of 16 at Montana’s Lost Trail Ski Area on skis borrowed from the family of aerial gold medalist Eric Bergoust.