Why I RV and Ski

with Ryan Barrick
Ryan Barrick driving his RV.
Ryan Barrick standing in falling snow.
Ryan Barrick standing in falling snow.

Ryan Barrick

22, Professional Skier

Ryan Barrick fell in love with skiing at a young age. At 20 years young, he realized a normal life wasn't for him. He now travels and skis all over North America, staying in his 2013 Thor Motor Coach Ace 27.1 Class A Motorcoach and chasing his dreams.  

An RV on the road in the snow.

What made you decide to buy an RV?

I decided to buy an RV so that I could follow the snow storms, get up and go wherever I want, and just be free. When I was younger, my family took a trip in Alaska for a few weeks in an RV, and I got a taste for it. After high school, I spent some time living on a 30-40 foot boat, but you can't get close to ski resorts that way. But it made me realize that staying in a small space with only what you need was a viable way of life.

Ryan Barrick hanging with a friend in his RV.

What kind of RV do you own and what do you like about it?

I currently own a Thor Motor Coach Ace 27.1. It has heated tanks. They're inside so I can use my shower and stuff during the winter. My last RV wasn't able to do that. The Ace has a big slide on the side, so whenever I'm stationary for a while I can open up and have a lot of room to have friends over.

A guy on skis doing a trick jump at the bottom of a mountain next to an RV.

How does your RV allow you to pursue your dreams? 

My RV allows me to live the life that I want to live by being able to pick up all my stuff and go to a different ski resort, visit different friends and just have the freedom to move around. A lot of friends just pay rent and lock into one year leases, and then they can't really go places. I get to own my home and move around and not be stuck anywhere.

Today I'm in Utah, but I could get a phone call from friends and be in Colorado tomorrow. Or I could hear about a big snow storm coming to a ski resort a few states over and have the freedom to chase it. 

Ryan Barrick and a friend skiing outside an RV window.

Where do you park your RV when you travel?

I'll park my RV out front of friends' houses or at a cheap campground near a ski resort. In Mount Hood, Oregon, at Trillium Lake, there’s a campground where you can wake up and see an amazing view of Mount Hood across the lake. It's usually sunny and you're 20 minutes from the ski resort so you can ski every day.

Ryan skiing down a rail.

What do you see in your RV future?

In 10 years, I hope that I'm still traveling in an RV, chasing bigger snow storms, maybe with a few sleds behind the RV. Just skiing all the time.

Ryan Barrick standing outside his RV.

What advice would you give people thinking about buying an RV?

Just go for it. There's so much stress about overthinking it or researching it or looking for what suits you exactly. But the best way to learn is from experience. Your first RV will teach you a lot about what you like, what you value, and what you can do without.

Ryan drives a 2013 Thor Motor Coach Ace 27.1.

Interested in exploring winter activities in a RV? Check out the THOR family of brands that can support your winter activities when properly outfitted for winter weather. Inquire about cold weather and all season options with your local, authorized dealer.

Find Your Perfect RV

Whether you're new to the world of RVing or you're ready to narrow your search, we're here to help you sort through it all and find the RV that's right for you. Explore RVs based off of your lifestyle and the features important to you.

Find Your RV
An travel trailer RV parked in a green field.