Using Old Clothing And Accessories: Part 2
But Do You Really Want To Be Seen In A Neon Jumpsuit From The 80s?
[Editor Note: Correspondent Val E. rummages through his closet to assess what old stuff is still useful and what isn’t. Here’s the second part of his report. The first part dealt with skis, boots and bindings.]
Still wearing 35 year old ski clothing? It looks it.
Clothing
Base layers— cotton is NOT for skiing, silk could be OK for hot conditions, synthetic (polypropylene, acrylic) and merino wool and combinations of them will work. Some items can be used for 20+ years with no problem.
Mid layers—the same situation as with base layers, major brands make mid-layer jackets combining down with wool and synthetic materials. They are light and practical, if you do not use them as outer layers.
Outer layers—you love your neon overall from 1987? If it still works well and looks well, distinctive, use it! Check the zippers for leaks, especially if you ski where you may experience rain or wet snow. Sometimes people think their membrane jacket or pants are leaking. It could be delamination of the waterproof breathable layer. Spray DWR (Durable Water Repellant) coating on your jacket, and water will bead off.
Goggles and Sunglasses
The foam layer around your face and on the top of the goggles may start crumbling, and, in case of wet snow or rain, your vents will leak. Light sensitive lenses may lose their properties (will not be as dark as before). If you like your old school sunglasses, and they protect you well from all sides—use them. Beware—in case of collision, mineral glass may shatter into small sharp pieces.
Bags
You will be surprised to find new, more ergonomic and lighter bags for your ski boots, skis and other goodies. New ski boot bags have room for a helmet, goggles, and other critical things. Plastic ski bags will protect your skis, bindings, and poles better than padded ones. Some companies started making light ski bags with wheels which you can roll up when not in use. Bags on wheels will help you to save your back while traveling so you have more energy for skiing.
Old boots might be worth keeping.
Apres Ski Boots
Old school rubber-leather wool lined boots made by Sorel and Kamik are hard to beat, if staying warm for the entire cold season is your priority. Moon boots are cute… Boots with membrane fabric and soft and grippy soles are light and very comfortable for longer walks, they often look elegant, and they keep you comfortable both in warm and cold conditions.
Heaters
Chemical heaters have shelf life two-four years, but they may work outside of this time frame. Don’t throw them away, try them first. Electric heaters—if you ski less than 30 days a season, then your rechargeable batteries should be good for 10 years or more.
Your thoughts on old equipment?
Yes, neon jumpsuits were the rage…a zillion years ago. But you can get a new one by clicking here. Thanks to Shinesty for the pic.
Credit: Shinesty
SeniorsSkiing Guide: Deer Valley—Service And Senior-Friendliness
14 Things Seniors Love About Deer Valley. Read on.
Silver Lake Area at DV.
Credit: Deer Valley
Monday morning, 9 a.m. Deer Valley Resort, UT. Members of the Park City Mountain Sports Club are buckling their boots. Their goal? Be safe, have fun.
Typically, about 20-25 members, mostly retirees who scoff at Florida’s balmy temperatures, gather in groups of blue, double blue, or black to ski the smooth and the steep at this quintessential Utah resort tucked into the trees behind the town of Park City.
Ahhh. Fresh morning tracks.
Credit: Deer Valley
They meet at 10 a.m. at the “beach” outside Silver Lake Lodge, ski two hours, then break for lunch at the Empire Canyon Grill, “best food on the mountain,” they say. Some ski after lunch, others head home. But no worries, next day is Tipsy and Taco Tuesday at Park City. Each day, they ski a different area, alternating between Deer Valley, Park City, and the Canyons, according to a standard schedule that includes an après ski party every Sunday. It’s only $25 to join.
Most buy the Epic Pass that provides skiing to all Vail Resorts—which owns Park City. But some buy a season pass at Deer Valley for the relaxing pace.
Deer Valley is known for its service to skiers and much of what it created for coddling those with deep parka pockets serves us seniors well.
Here are 14 things for seniors to love about Deer Valley:
1) Wide intermediate slopes groomed to perfection like a prized Appaloosa. Meanwhile, for your inner college-era zeitgeist, the area has some serious deep and steep in places such as the Mayflower and Lady Morgan Bowls.
2) Fresh tracks to yourself, since most skiers stick to the tamed slopes. A forester on staff keeps the glades clear for well-spaced tree skiing.
3) A lot of variety. Plus all six peaks have a beginner or intermediate run down so you can ski as a family with varying abilities.
4) No snowboarders allowed. (Ditto drones).
5) Attentive staff. With a one to seven ratio of helpers to customers, the area treats you like royalty.
6) At drop off, ski valets rush to take your skis off the car.
7) Hosts stand at trail map boards to offer suggestions on where to go.
8) Good food! The Natural Salad Buffet, grill items, carved roasts, deli sandwiches, paninis, soups, chilies, and chocolate chip cookies nearly as big as a Frisbee, plus the new Bald Mountain Pho at the Silver Lake Lodge. That’s just for starters. Where most eat to ski, here you ski to eat.
9) Short vertical drops—average 1200 feet so you don’t lose too much steam before hopping back on a fast moving lifts (12 high speed quads) for a well-deserved rest.
10) Free mountain host tours in the morning and afternoon to ski with others.
11) An elevator.
12) Lift ticket sales limited to 7,500 daily so short waiting lines, roomy trails and mountain restaurant seating.
13) Watch the grandkids learn to ski right outside the window of the Snow Park Lodge, while you sip a latte, maybe spiked with something.
14) Free overnight ski storage, so you don’t have to schlep your boards back and forth every day. Worried about skis getting stolen? You can drop them off for storage for any length of time.
Prices 2016-17:
Full day senior pass, 65 and older: $89
Season Pass, 65 and older $1,255; midweek only $1,140; 72 and older, $1,140
The Facts:
2,026 acres
Base elevation 6,570 feet; Summit 9,570 feet
101 runs, 21 lifts
Longest vertical, 1,380 feet off Little Baldy
Average snowfall: 300 inches
27 percent beginner, 41 percent intermediate, 32 percent advanced terrain
Trail Map: Click here
Web Cam: Click here
This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 6)
More Resort Reviews, Stein Honored In Deer Valley, Using Old Equipment, XC History Lesson, Boot Wisdom from the Master of MasterFit.
Snowfall forecast for the Rockies from a Denver TV station.
Credit: Joe Durzo
This week has seen some extraordinary snowfalls in the west, from the Canadian Rockies and Cascades to the Wasatch, measured in feet and meters these days. Wow. Clearly, the snow dances have worked there. In the East, we had a perfect storm in the middle of the holiday vacation week which laid down a base that should last for the rest of the season. And cold will continue for snowmaking. So we’re having a better start than last year. But, from what we hear, European Alps are still snow-starved.
SeniorsSkiing Readers: Do you have a video of some extraordinary runs you’ve made? Some graceful runs? Some funny events? Please send them along, or contact us and we’ll figure out how to share them. We’d like to create a readers’ video section with clips you provide. Okay?
Powder at Solitude
Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg and correspondent John Nelson visit two really extraordinary areas: Solitude in Utah and Mt. Hood Meadows in OR. Both are high, with magnificent views and varied terrain where seniors can ski comfortably. And both are the recipients of mucho snow this season, so worth a look if you are planning vacations or visits.
Stein thrilled visitors to Park City with his aerial flips. He was a gymnast in school and his graceful moves influenced several generations of free stylers.
Credit: Park City
Correspondent Tamsin Venn visited Deer Valley over the holidays and was an eyewitness to the Stein Eriksen Memorial ceremony. Stein’s son and grandson were there to unveil a plaque to one of skiing’s greatest innovators. Did you know Stein was a gymnast by training growing up in Norway? We’ll be posting Tamsin’s resort review of Deer Valley next week.
MasterFit’s CEO, Steve Cohen, talks about boots and what to do to make them fit and perform correctly.
Should you continue to use your old skis? Occasionally, we see an old pair of 360s and such on the lift line and wonder why. Some folks just like retro-skiing, we guess. Correspondent Val E. suggest some caveats re: using old stuff. Be careful, but it could be okay. Read Part 1 of his article here.
Finally, XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr offers an inventory of the big milestones in the evolution of XC skiing. We remember the days when XC was a niche sport practiced by only a few athletes and outdoor types. Wooden skis, leather boots, four-pin bindings, exotic ski waxes (skivox), pine tar, and bamboo poles were the style. Then came fish-scales and plastic skis. Today, XC equipment is high-tech and much more user friendly.
So off we go to the heart of the season. Let us know how it’s going out there. Reminders to our subscribers about our FREE content:
You have access to Skis For Seniors recommendations developed with realskiers.com, a guide to 108 areas in North America where seniors can ski for free, access to Experticity’s Snow Influencers Group where you can get discounts on top gear and clothing from major manufacturers, and you can download a 16-page booklet of historic ski posters developed with the International Ski History Association.
GO TO THE TOP NAVIGATION BAR, CLICK ON COMMUNITY, THEN CLICK ON SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.
See you next week. There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.
Famous Lange boot ad from the early 70s
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