The Back Story: Skiing With 100 Year Old George
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Missed Turns, A Slipping Helmet, And Being In The Wrong Place. It’s All In A Day’s Work.
Hey, George, wait up!
Credit: Harriet Wallis
Covering a ski race is easy. Racers will be on the course.
But shadowing 100 year old George Jedenoff on Alta’s ski runs had challenges. Furthermore, we had two different genres going: A Ski Utah crew was videoing him, and I was shooting still photos I needed to stay out of the way of their cameras. It’s already getting complicated.
Here are some of the funny things that happened to me on the slopes with George for two days.
Can’t outski a 100 year old. We started from the top of a lift and George was in the lead. When he paused, I bulleted ahead to position myself at the side of the trail to snap photos as he’d ski by.
I yanked off my gloves and grabbed my camera. But before I could point it … there goes George… and he was gone. Repeat. Repeat.
When you come to a fork, take it. Skiers love George. They see him on the slopes and gather around him to talk and take photos. He is so gracious.
While Ski Utah videoed an impromptu trailside gathering, I knew I had lead time. I left the group, skied ahead, and chose the perfect spot to get my photos. I was on a steep slope under a chairlift.. My camera was ready. I waited and waited, but no George.
Then the group called down to me from the lift overhead. I looked up — and my helmet fell down over my eyes. I was stuck in my helmet and could see nothing. I felt really stupid.
I pushed my helmet back into place and wondered how George got past me. The main trail had a fork, and he opted for the side trail. Missed him again.
Deep powder, but over there. Another wrong guess. This time, we separated on purpose. George and the video crew took the high road to video him skiing deep powder. I took the low road and positioned myself for the best still shots.
But George didn’t appear on the most likely open slope. He found the snow up there was worn out, so he moved on down the ridge — out of sight behind dense evergreen trees — in search of fresher powder.
He found the fresh snow he wanted. But I couldn’t find George. Missed him again. But George had a wonderful time. That’s what really counts.
To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.
SeniorsSkiing Guide: Vail—Luxury Colorado Skiing At Its Best
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Vail was magnificent the day I skied there a few weeks ago.
We had bluebird skies, and despite Winter’s temporary retreat the snow was surprisingly good. The resort is vast and if my friend David hadn’t volunteered to guide, I would not have been able to see and ski as much of the place in a single day. He’s lived there several decades and knows it well.
Vail Resorts’ Goldola One
Shot by: Jack Affleck
We started at Vail Village on Gondola One and worked our way to Two Elk Lodge on the ridge separating The Front Side from Vail’s celebrated Back Bowls. Eventually, we skied and rode our way to Vail’s highest elevation: 11,570′ at the top of Blue Sky Basin.
Because of marginal conditions we chose not to go off-piste. From a few past visits, I know that powder in those bowls is great fun. But, vast as Vail is — 5289 acres and 31 lifts — powder gets tracked out by late morning. Secret stashes remain. David pointed out his favorites from the chair.
The resort is a top choice for senior skiers because of its long expanses of blue and single black terrain, chair lifts with foot rests, comfortable gondolas, and ample on-hill day lodges serving excellent fare. The few johns I visited were comfortable and clean.
It’s also home of the Ski Younger Now, hosted by the Vail Ski and Snowboard School. It’s a retraining program for older skiers and those returning to the sport after recovering from injury (see Ski Younger Now tips in Subscriber Only Content). After this weekend, remaining dates for the three-day workshop are March 13-15 and April 3-5.
Like other large Colorado resorts, parking can be an issue. In past visits, I’ve had to park in remote locations and bus it to the lifts; one of my least favorite experiences. This time the car never left David’s driveway. A shuttle picked us up at his house and took us a few blocks to the hill.
As can be expected, Vail Village and surrounding areas have a variety of high end lodging, restaurants, and retail, but reasonably priced options are available. A few years ago we found a nice, well-priced condo with indoor parking in nearby Avon.
As long as conditions are good and the light’s not flat, I’ll ski any terrain. But I prefer to do it at my own pace. David, on the other hand, gets down the hill quickly. Throughout the day he waited patiently for my arrival.
Game Creek Club
Shot by: Kimberly Gavin
At one point we headed for Game Creek Club, a private dining facility in Game Creek Bowl. It is beautiful and accessible only via snow in winter. Game Creek is open to the public for dinner (night access via cat).
Following lunch we made a few more runs. I began to feel wobbly. Some readers are accustomed to a lot of daily vertical, but this was my fourth day of the season, and having booked 20,000 vertical, I needed to go home.
Because it has been a major destination for so long, many of you have had the pleasure of skiing Vail. If not, add it to the list. If you haven’t been there for a while, go back. Vail is luxury Colorado skiing at its best.
Why Take An XC Ski Lesson?
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A Lesson? But It Looks So Easy.
[Editor Note: This article first appeared in XCSkiResorts.com. Thanks to Publisher Roger Lohr for providing it to SeniorsSkiing.com.]
Old expression worth heeding. “Nordic skiing is easy to do but even easier to do wrong.” Take a lesson.
Credit: XCSkiResorts.com
The vast majority of cross country (XC) skiers do not take XC ski lessons, but rather they start with friends or family, who are usually not trained to teach XC skiing. So, who needs XC ski lessons? Most of us do!
Starting with the basics, a XC ski instructor can help a skier choose clothing and equipment that is appropriate for weather and his or her skiing goals and abilities. Equipment selection can make a huge difference in a skier’s experience.
A ski instructor can gently guide any XC skier to better skills and match a skier’s pace to his or her level of fitness and interest, keeping the skier from working too hard. Interestingly, most people who do not XC ski perceive the sport as too much work. An instructor can show the proper way to balance, transfer weight from one ski to another, and how to use the poles. Learning to keep the body forward with appropriate ankle and knee bend can start a new skier with confidence.
The first time a new skier approaches a hill, whether going up or down, can be a make-or-break experience. A lesson can help one learn simple techniques to travel up a hill with confidence. Going down a hill on XC ski equipment can be challenging to any skier. Narrow trails, difficult snow conditions, rocks and trees are difficult even for experienced XC skiers. An instructor can make sure the initial down hill experience safe and comfortable by starting on the right terrain and practicing skills and techniques.
Can a Lesson Help Seasoned Skiers?
Alpine (downhill) skiers who are trying XC skiing for the first time will also greatly benefit from XC ski instruction because the equipment and techniques so different between the sports. Skiing uphill is a totally new experience for the Alpine skier and going down hills on XC ski equipment, which is lightweight and has a free heel can be more than thrilling.
An experienced XC skier can also benefit from a ski lesson. Most XC ski control and efficiency problems involve incorrect body movements or timing issues and these problems will waste energy. Even constantly looking down at the skis will distort good body position while XC skiing.
Years of incorrect technique can instill the wrong muscle memory and correction requires a certified and experienced instructor.
Because many XC skiers use outdated equipment, instructors can be helpful in discussing newer, appropriate products. There are so many derivations of XC skiing, that it is imperative to get informed advice to match what someone wants to get out of XC skiing— gliding on a groomed trail or mastering the glades in untracked powder or other ski conditions.
Finding a Qualified XC Ski Instructor
To find a qualified XC ski instructor visit or call a XC ski area. Discuss skiing goals with the instructor and find out if they have been certified by the Professional Ski Instructors Association. Certification involves training and passing a test to teach XC skiing. The instructor should be a “people person” easy to talk to and offer positive feedback on a skier’s strong points and encouragement on how to do better. With enhanced skills and techniques, XC skiers can experience the fun aspect as well as enjoy the outdoors and fitness associated with the sport.
Thank you to Brad Noren, of NordicFusion.ski who is a PSIA certified level 3 Alpine and Level 2 Nordic ski instructor for information in this article based on his experience teaching since 1972 in northern Michigan.
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