So, I was riding the chairlift with my pal Angelo Ross at Laurel Mountain, Pa. and we discussed some things about ski technique. Angelo is the Education Development Manager for the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and an examiner with the organization. I like to listen to what he has to say and also […]
My friend Pete always laughed and said that ” Pat rides a bike to prepare for ski season.” And in many ways that was true. I wanted to ride to be able to have strong legs for skiing. And although the ski season is fairly short for us in the mid- Atlantic, even with our […]
So, I know it is only August, but I pulled the trigger on another new pair of skis for the upcoming season. After looking at some reviews on- line, also from the Stockli rep, and consultation with my friend in Tahoe, I decided on another pair of Stockli Stormrider 88s. I have a quiver of […]
So, I was surprised this week when my friend Eric, from Tahoe (formerly of Vermont), mailed me some pictures from way back when we skied Tuckerman Ravine together. Looking at these 40 year old photos, I thought back to a time when we laid down the only tracks one day in Dodge’s Drop ( and Eric […]
This time of year, the Ski Swap notices start coming and people get excited for the coming season. The Ski Swaps are not only an outlet for selling and buying equipment, but also a social time to reconnect with your ski buddies who perhaps you have not seen since last winter. But there are plusses […]
Editor’s Note: Deciding how to experience a day on the hill can be as simple as skiing familiar terrain or as thrilling as seeking hidden stashes of untracked powder. What you do is based on who you are, where you ski, and what you want to accomplish. I have a friend content with skiing the […]
I recently skied with Kathy Brennan, the new CEO of PSIA -E (Professional Ski Instructors of America- Eastern Division). Kathy has an impressive background in the snow sports industry and is currently on staff at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. She has been touring areas in her division which extends from Maine to North Carolina. An accomplished […]
When I hear that people don’t ski in their local areas because they’re spoiled by skiing out West, I believe they’re missing something. A lot of world class ski racers cut their teeth on areas that have less than 1000’ vertical. Lindsey Vonn and Kristina Koznick both were raised on Buck Hill in Minnesota, under […]
There are many similarities between mountain biking and skiing aside from the fact that both sports engage the same type of people. I love to mountain bike, but I use it primarily as an exercise to keep me in shape for skiing. I don’t take any chances. I ride to ride another day. But it […]
A Wide Lens View Of How Large And Small Resorts Managed To Deal With Restrictions And Constraints. [Editor Note: Pat McCloskey is a regular contributor to SeniorsSkiing.com. This article first appeared in Chronicles of McCloskey.] First, let me say I was glad that we HAD a ski season. From changing my boots in the lot […]
A Network Of Trails Run By Community Foundation Offers Multi-Use Recreational Activities. The motto above is the moniker of one of the most interesting trail systems I have seen to date. Round Valley, near Park City, UT, is a paradise for cross country skiers, fat bikers, hikers, and dog walkers. The well groomed trails encourage […]
Visitors To These Destination Resorts Send First Hand Report. [Editor Note: This article first appeared in The Chronicles of McCloskey, March 1, 2021.] How is the skiing experience in different areas around the country you might ask? We all have heard about the long lines in Colorado and Tahoe and even locally the lines have […]
Half-Way Through The Season, Pat McCloskey Takes Stock. [Please consider supporting SeniorsSkiing.com with a donation. We appreciate your help. Click here.] We are halfway through winter, and the groundhog has come out to let us know what he thinks about the rest of the winter. I wonder if he will be masked? In any event, […]
Easy Does It And Find The Rhythm. If you look at Henrik Kristoffersen here in the blue Norwegian National Team uniform doing slow turns, you will see the value of mechanics at a basic level. The important thing that I realized in watching Kristoffersen executing basic turn maneuvers at a very slow pace is […]
Master Making Those Modern Arcs. Ski instructor Paul Lorenz has a great instructional series on You Tube showing how to carve on skis. To properly execute this type of turn, it is important to consider the basics of balance. Those of us who have skied for a while know that it is most important to […]
A Lot Of Us Are In The Best Shape We’ve Been In For Many A Year. Gasping for breath up a steep climb recently on the mountain bike with my riding friends, I thought to myself, “Where is the race? Nobody’s going to the Olympics, why are we racing on this ride?” Then it occurred […]
“Start Slow And Taper Off.” The ski season came to a screeching halt as most of us are now staying inside with some socially distanced outings. As I look back on this shortened season, I can take heart in the fact that I made the most of it before cancelling my last trip. Skied a […]
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Instructor Pat McCloskey Recommends An Approach To Early Days. I had an interesting discussion with my lift mate this weekend at our local ski area. I asked the fellow beside me how his day was going. He remarked, “Well, the hill is fighting me back a little today.” I chuckled because the guy was a […]
You Can Do It If You’ve Done It Before. You know, as you age, little things creep into your mind like, “Can I still ski that?” “Am I too old to keep trying this pitch?” But, one of the things that keeps our minds in check is the familiarity with the terrain after years of […]
Riding mountain bikes in the “Mountain State” of West Virginia is nothing short of challenging. My wife asked me, after my recent trip, how it went and I said, “tougher every year, dear.” Riding in Davis, WV, is always fun but you better bring your “A” game because currently there are mostly expert black diamond […]
The Cochran Family Makes Maple Syrup And Ski Racers. There are a lot of Vermonters and others in the ski racing world who could tell you a lot more about the famous Cochran Family of Richmond, VT. I have friends who know them personally and tell the tales of the first rope tow that Mickey […]
Both Require Looking Down The Trail, Pressurizing To The Outside Of The Turn. I was out the other night riding with my pals and noticed that I was starting to look at the front of my wheel in sketchy terrain, and my balance was starting to be compromised. I thought to myself, “Pat, keep your […]
First Fat Bikes, Now E-Bikes. The Cycling World Is Spinning Up Innovation. An interesting phenomena has started to surface in the cycling industry. From July of 2016 to July of 2017, there was a 95% jump in sales of E-Bikes in what industry regulars say is currently a $65 million segment of the cycling business. […]