Editorial: We Hear You.
Responses To Questions You Asked In Our Subscriber Survey
Our Second Subscriber Survey 2016 closed just this morning, and we wanted to respond right away so you know we are listening. There is some important information in here for our readers that respond to the questions you raised via the survey.
Mission—Just to be ultra clear: Our mission is to help the ski industry see the value of seniors who actively engage in snow sports. And to help you keep at it. To do that we are going to promote the senior demographic’s value proposition in as many ways as we can. One idea that is taking form in some Alpine ski areas are “Senior Days” or “Master Clinics” which are mid-week events focused on a variety of engaging activities. We have found some ski resorts that are staging these events and we are going to tell you and the industry all about them. If the idea of “Senior Days” takes off, you can help us promote it. Stay tuned. We are also going to continue to promote senior-oriented products, cover fitness ideas, influence ski instruction and describe destinations you might like.
Discounts—Where are the discounts is a big question you asked. Some immediate advice back to you: Many ski areas offer senior discounts if you buy online, especially a few days before you go and if you buy multi-day passes. There are online ticket discounters that are really making a difference. Check those out here. Other areas have deep, deep discounts for season passes if you buy in September. So, they are out there, you just have to look. Also, SeniorsSkiing.com ran its Second Annual Ski Area Survey of ski resorts to determine which were the most “senior-friendly”. Check out the results here. You guys offered more ideas here. And here’s a list of deals for seniors from Ski New Hampshire. And here’s a deal site for the Tahoe area. Thanks to the International Ski History Association, we also published a directory of ski areas in North America that offer free skiing to seniors. If you are a subscriber, you should have downloaded that when you signed up. Finally, we posted an article about where you can find senior-friendly Nordic ski resorts.
Another option for discounts is going on a package deal ski vacation with a group. We had recent articles about Roads Scholars Nordic and Alpine trips. We plan to tell you about more group travel options as we form relationships with bona fide trip organizers.
If you know of any other super deals and discounts, please let us know on the FORUM/Destinations.
Meet Ups—Another big question you asked was how to meet other like-minded seniors for skiing, socializing and hanging out. To facilitate that, we want to make sure you know about our FORUM that is apparently one of SeniorsSkiing.com’s best kept secrets. Our subscribers should already be registered to post on the FORUM. The FORUM can be found by clicking on the darker blue banner at the top, just to the left of ABOUT. We just started a new topic called Meet up/Get Together on the FORUM. Use this place to post your intentions. Ski clubs and groups can use this to announce events. Please follow the Rules For Being A Citizen Of This Forum.
We learned a lot from this Second Subscriber Survey 2016. We heard about the challenge of reading blue letters on blue background and we’re talking steps to adjust that. We also heard about the need for special ski instruction. We’re with you and have some articles planned to discuss that topic. There are many other ideas you offered and they are all interesting and much appreciated.
We are energized and excited to hear from so many of you. We appreciate your words of support and hope to hear more from you as we develop. Tell your friends. Remember, there are more of us every day, and we’re not going away.
The FORUM allows subscribers to communicate with each other.
American Airlines Introduces Direct Flights to Big Sky
Now It Is Easier To Get To A Montana Destination Resort.
Now you can get a direct flight from Dallas to Bozeman. Welcome to Big Sky Country.
Credit:Michel Tallichet
American Airlines now has direct service between Dallas/Ft Worth and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), 40 miles from Big Sky Ski Resort. The once a day flights are scheduled through April.
Big Sky is one of America’s most spectacular resorts. It has 5800 acres spread over four peaks and sports a vertical of 4,350′, making it the longest drop in the lower 48.
It is a snow magnet, attracting on average 400″. Best of all, it’s vacant. If a few people are ahead of you in line, you’ll be talking about it that evening at one of Big Sky’s terrific lodging options.
Karst Stage provides shuttle service to the resort. Multiple car rental options are available.
Legendary Over-The-Hill-Gang A Model For Seniors
Started at Copper in ’76, OHG Now Around the Globe.
[Editor Note: This report on the Over The Hill Gang was written by Steve Lipsher and originally posted on the Copper Mountain Blog. Here is a link to the original article.]
Over The Hill Gang poses on Copper Mountain. Not exactly a club, OHG is open to anyone 50+ and has spread around the globe.
Credit: Copper Mt.
It’s easy to spot members of Copper Mountain’s Over the Hill Gang: sexagenarians, septuagenarians and octogenarians blasting down the slopes – often hooting and hollering – decidedly not acting their age.
The Over the Hill Gang was created at Copper Mountain in 1976 by part time instructors Moe Mosley, Bill Magill and Tom Stein. Their vision was simple; encourage skiing as a lifelong sport for skiers over the age of 50 and share their passion of the sport.
“If it wasn’t for the OHG, I probably wouldn’t be skiing,” said Dyann Gray, explaining that for lack of companionship on the slopes many seniors simply give up skiing when spouses lose interest or physical abilities.
OHG member Norman Crawford said he probably was lucky to get in four to six days of skiing a season before joining the group. Last year he skied 50+.
Each group of eight to 10 skiers is accompanied by a certified Copper Mountain ski instructor, who serves as guide, cheerleader and low-key instructor.
“They help members improve, either when asked or when they see something that needs a little tweaking,” said Jennifer Walker, who coordinates the classes and instructors on behalf of the Copper Mountain ski school.
On a recent day with the “Club Decline” group – skiers who could ski anywhere on the mountain but who are deliberately toning it down – OHG guide Steve Hultquist offered general group guidance about technique and specific tips to individuals.
Given the suggestion to look at the spaces between the pointy moguls, for example, Gray bragged that she had “slithered” down a slope that previously had given her nightmares.
OHG member Mary Goodwin said the pro advice and gentle peer pressure/examples set by fellow skiers have produced positive results for her.
“I ski better now than I did 20 years ago because of these guys,” she said.
Many participants take delight in discussing pacemakers and replacement joints. “If you took a metal detector around here, it’d go ‘ding, ding, ding,’” Swain laughed.
The group gathers 52 days a season – Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays – and members can take advantage of special instruction, such as a two-day bump clinic, women’s workshops, and ski-school lift-line privileges.
Part ski club, part social group and all fun, the club has spawned chapters and associated groups at ski resorts around the world over its 39 years of existence. Last year OHG received the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame’s “Top of the Hill” award.
OHG is open to anyone 50 or older. Membership is $400 for the season ($200 for those 80+). Four-day mini-memberships and a one-day trial are available with cost applied to full membership to those who inevitably are hooked.
To learn more about the Over the Hill Gang, e-mail ohg@coppercolorado.com or call (970) 968-3059.
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