This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Sep. 28)
Other Great Ski Publications, Protect Our Winters, Anticipation, Snowmaking As Fire Protection.
As you may have read, SeniorsSkiing.com is entering its fifth season of publishing. Over these last few years, we have entered the amazing world of ski publications and their publishers, all of whom have been welcoming, supportive, and collegial to Jon and me as newcomers. You should know about some of them.
The Ski Diva is a weekly publication focused on women who ski. Wendy Clinch, The Ski Diva’s publisher, has been an extremely helpful colleague and friend from the very beginning of SeniorsSkiing.com’s journey. We thank her for that. The Ski Diva has won awards from the North American Ski Journalists Association and is recognized for its unique, woman-focused articles. Its Forum contains thousands of posts from its many subscribers.
Another highly niche-oriented publication, XCSkiResorts.com is published by Roger Lohr, targeting the activities of cross-country ski resorts. Roger has been reporting on cross-country for years and is not only an expert on resorts but also equipment, personnel, travel, technique, and safety. If you are interested in a magical stay at a cozy cross-country resort, XCSkiResorts.com should be your first stop.
Snowbrains.com has been an inspiration to us. We don’t personally know the California-based publishers Miles Clark and Eric Bryant, but we admire their newsy, high quality approach. There’s always an awesome video or current event story worth checking. There’s also snow reports and forecasts.
OpenSnow.com is a weather/snow reporting site, publisher by Joel Gratz, a professional meteorologist. The site has a ring of correspondents around the country reporting snow conditions and forecasts. There’s also a very cool “Powder Finder” if you’re interested in that sort of thing, and news from resorts. Well done site, especially if you are amateur weather-watchers like us.
We mention these because you, or someone you know, might find them interesting. In one way or another, each of the above has offered—directly or indirectly—material help and support to SeniorsSkiing.com as it got up and running. There are many others that are worth mentioning; we’re sorry we didn’t get to them all. And we’d like to hear from you what other sites you like.
Of course, SeniorsSkiing.com is the ONLY online magazine for senior skiers, offering a listing of Free Skiing (or Almost Free) For Seniors, Ski and Boot Recommendations, Experticity Discounts, and Historic Ski Posters, so don’t wander, you guys!
And, also of course, readers of SeniorsSkiing.com can get a FREE SUBSCRIPTION to Ski Magazine, the granddaddy of ski publications, just by signing up under SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT. (You will be asked to confirm your name and email address.)
Climate Brouhaha
Our recent series of articles on El Nino and its impact on winter weather caused a small handful of readers who are climate change deniers or skeptics to send some flak our way. Let there be no doubt, SeniorsSkiing.com is concerned about global warming and the increasing level of CO2 in the atmosphere. The reality of the impact of those atmospheric changes are all around us from mega-cyclones and hurricanes, droughts, excessive snow or no snow, and coastal flooding.
We admire the work of Protect Our Winters, a non-profit group that is advocating action in the outdoor sports community against climate change. This climate activist group is trying to influence the political agenda as well as educate students and the public about what they can do it mitigate what is happening to the atmosphere. After all, the snow sports industry is dependent on snow and when and if it falls. There are some ski resorts that are actively working to reduce their carbon footprint with different strategies. This is an important development worth paying attention to.
This Week
Speaking of climate change, the wildfires in the west this summer have been frightening. Ski resorts in the high country could be targets and what they can do to avert or minimize damage is an important ingredient the confronting the danger. Correspondent Harriet Wallis offers a story on how Deer Valley has a plan to deal with potential catastrophe.
Also, we have a lovely note on anticipating the ski season from correspondent Don Burch. Think about it; it’s pre-ski show time, pre-parka-buying season. We’re buying season tickets, and that alone gets excitement going. We can see the season rolling in with snow falling out west, snowmaking operating at A-Basin, and folks bringing in their skis for sharpening. Anticipation.
Coming Soon
We are preparing the 2018-19 Where Ski Resorts Can Seniors Ski Free (Or Almost Free) directory. Look for it soon. This year, we will be including a host of Canadian resorts.
Don’t forget our SeniorsSkiing.com “gathering” in New York on Nov. 14. Details below. 
Dear readers, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away. See you soon!
A Message From Mike And Jon
SeniorsSkiing.com is entering its fifth publishing season. When we started in 2014, we had a vision of creating an online magazine for snowsports enthusiasts over 50 and with it a community.
Getting the magazine off the drawing board required many decisions. What should we call it? How frequently should it publish? Should it be free? Should we pay contributors? Etc. Etc.
We struggled with the name: ElderSkier seemed too religious. SkiGeezer, too self-effacing. MatureSkier, too staid. We settled on SeniorsSkiing.com with full knowledge of its limitations. People in their 50s don’t perceive themselves as “seniors.” That moniker starts to fit after 65. Interestingly, the average SeniorsSkiing.com reader age is about 67.
Frequency of publication is something we’re still thinking about. For the past year, we published every Friday in season and once a month off-season. This season, we’re back to our every Friday cadence. What amazes us is that even off-season, readers continue to sign up.
We started by making SeniorsSkiing.com free and have kept it free. From time-to-time we’ve considered charging a small fee for premium subscriptions that would provide access to a variety of services and products. At present, we have no plans to go there.
Contributors are an essential asset. Over these five years, almost fifty writers have published with SeniorsSkiing.com. Some are professional journalists. Others are amateurs who love to write about their special interests. Still others are simply people with wonderful stories to tell. We rely on our contributors and appreciate what they do for us and for you.
When we launched in 2014 we had virtually no subscribers. Word of mouth and articles in Huffington Post and other places brought in several hundred readers. Then, The New York Times published a half-page interview, and the floodgates opened. We started publishing the annual list of US ski resorts where seniors ski free. As word got around, more and more people signed up. That was followed by the annual lists of the best skis for older skiers compiled by realskiers.com and the best boots for older skiers compiled by America’s Best Bootfitters. More subscribers.
Then we added access to Experticity’s deeply discounted access to outdoor products. That lasted a few years before the company changed policy. Currently, SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers have access to free subscriptions to Ski Magazine and to Skiing History Magazine.
Since we started, we’ve published almost 900 articles. Subscribers have access to the annual reports of places to ski free (this year Canadian resorts will be included), best skis, best boots, and other subscriber-only materials explaining ways to improve technique, etc.
To celebrate our 5th, we’re hosting a party, Wednesday, November 14 in Manhattan. If you’re in the NYC area, please come. Areas and ski-related companies are sending products and SWAG. Among other things 70+ Ski Clubis providing a free trip to Okemo; APEX Boot Systems, a free pair of boots; Bootsteris sending some of it’s compact ski boot horns to help you get your boots on, and DeBooteris sending several of its ingenious skiboot jacks to help you remove them. Orsdenis providing a few ski parkas for the raffle. Jon wears the Orsden parka. He loves it! For invitation and RSVP info click here look at the top of the home page.
Before closing, we want to share with you our mission:
SeniorsSkiing.com is committed to advancing the interests of older snow sports enthusiasts by
- Publishing relevant and useful information
- Encouraging an engaged online community, and
- Advocating on their behalf.
Thank you for subscribing to and supporting SeniorsSkiing.com. We’ll continue to do our best to keep you interested in and on the snow.
Short Swings!
“Snow is the cosmetic of the Earth.” That’s one of many memorable lines from Moby Dick, Herman Melville’s masterpiece about one man’s obsession with the destruction of a gigantic white whale.
Riding early morning lifts, especially on a powder day, brings Melville’s observation to life. The smooth, undulating surface conceals what’s below. My skiing dreams and day-dreams invariably show untouched surfaces. There’s a reason we call it virgin snow.
With rare exception, conditions like that don’t last long. Dropping into an untracked slope and leaving your own lines is a joy. By definition, joy is ephemeral — a fleeting moment of intense happiness. Powder snow is ephemeral. Anything that is temporary is ephemeral. We’re about to enter another season, and we’re not getting younger. Relish the anticipation. Experience the joy. Embrace it all.
Bootster Is THE ESSENTIAL Older Skier’s Accessory
Our newest advertiser is Bootster, a compact ski boot shoehorn that makes boot entry effortless — even when they’re cold and stiff. It utilizes a super slick material that eases foot into boot. It is compact and fits into a pocket. Many of you will have your own techniques: talcum powder; various sprays; etc., etc. but Bootster does the job with perfection. No need for contortions. It’s one of those simple solutions for a persistent problem. Having used an earlier version of the design, I fully endorse its effectiveness. And at $25, it’s an ideal gift for any older skier on your list.
Documentary Explores Abandoned Colorado Ski Areas
Abandoned is the title of a soon to be released documentary about independent Colorado ski areas that no longer exist. The film explores skiing before the influence of corporate resorts and current effects of climate change. I’ve only seen the trailer. It’s well worth watching.
Tremblant Video Shows Latest Improvements
Last week’s Short Swings! column described Mont-Tremblant’s new high speed quad and the expanded glade areas it serves. This very cool short video shows it with unusual creativity.
Jiminy Peak, Bromley, and Cranmore offer savings through their respective value cards (check websites for details):
- Jiminy Peak‘s costs $62 and includes two days of skiing followed by savings of lift tickets purchased throughout the season.
- Bromley‘s costs $81 before December 14 and includes one day ticket and $30 off additional tickets throughout the season.
- Cranmore‘s is $89 and includes one day ticket and $20 off additional tickets throughout the season. Every seventh ticket is free. Cranmore also allows those purchasing a ticket after 2:00PM to use the same ticket the following day.
Ikon Pass Price Increases Oct. 10
The full adult pass (unlimited access to 14 destinations and 7-days or 7-days combined at 21 destinations; no blackouts) is currently available for $999. Starting Oct. 10, it increases to $1,049. The IKON Base Pass (unlimited access to 12 destinations and 5-days or 5-days combined at 23 destinations; 10 blackouts) is currently available for $699. Starting Oct.10, it increases to $749. More at www.ikonpass.com.
Maine Ski Hall of Fame To Induct 19th Century Adventurer, Others
Norman Libby, the winter adventurer who was the first to ski Pleasant Mountain (Shawnee Peak) in the 1890’s will be inducted (posthumously) to the Maine Ski Hall of Fame, Oct 27 at the Grand Summit Hotel at Sunday River. Also being added to the Hall of Fame are Karen Colburn and Anne Dowling, US Freestyle Champions; Leon Akers, cross country coach and ski shop owner; David Stonebraker, prep school ski coach; Warren Cook, Sugarloaf ski executive, and Kristina Sabasteanski, biathlete. The Maine Ski Hall of Fame is a program of the Ski Museum of Maine.
Skiing the Great Indoors
The world’s largest indoor ski resort will open in Shanghai, China in 2022. It will feature three slopes, numerous other attractions, and four hotels with a total of 1,000 rooms.
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