Skiing is more than just a sport. It's a lifestyle. A scene. A way of life. Après-ski typically refers to the time of day right after skiing, but can extend into the evening and early morning hours. It's cocktails enjoyed at the famed Palace Hotel ice rink bar in St. Moritz, and a game of snow polo in Aspen; a dip in the Manza Onsen (one of Japan’s highest-altitude hot springs) and dancing on tables at La Folie Douce in Val d’Isère, France. Traditions vary by region and even by neighboring resort. No matter where or how you unwind after a day on the mountain, what happens around the actual skiing has helped shape the culture of the sport for decades.