Off-Season Strategy: Ski Without Snow
For Die-Hards, Here’s How To Keep Going.
Signs that the season is ending are starting to sprout along with the crocuses. In the East, many areas will be closing this weekend; there’s still lots of snow on the ground, but many lift lines are nearly empty even on the weekend. Many skiers have had enough. Out West, conditions have been marginal to miserable all season. There’s plenty of cross-country skiing though, even in urban areas in New England, and we’ve been out in the sunshine several times in the last week.
But, can you beat this video from the British Nordic Ski Team, circa 1957, picturing Dutch ski enthusiasts roller-skiing along? It is possible that for some the season never ends.
Roller-skiing is not a new idea. At least you don’t need long underwear.
Credit: British Nordic Ski Team
Early Results From Our Subscriber Survey 2015
Much Useful Information To Steer SeniorsSkiing.com.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Our recent Subscriber Survey 2015 had a 22% response. If you’re familiar with surveys, you know that is exceptional. To us, it signifies that readers are engaged and involved with this online magazine. Even more, almost all our respondents answered every question!
SeniorsSkiing.com will be analyzing Subscriber Survey 2015 data over the next few weeks.
Credit: digitalart
The early results show us that discounts on lifts and passes are very important or critical for 100% of SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers. That is a dramatic statistic. Also very important or critical (75% of respondents) is easy access from parking to lift. And, a majority say other discounts on food, rentals, and/or equipment (51%) are very important or critical.
We know about our subscribers: 70% male, 30% female and the average age is just touching 70. You’d like to see more stories about gear suitable for seniors, health and fitness, and snow sports industry news.
Finally, 93% of you are interested in either reading or contributing to a Forum were you can contribute ideas, comments, and the like. Our crack technical team is working on that, and you can expect to see our new Forum soon.
We’re doing to be pouring over the other results of the survey in the coming weeks. Clearly, you advice and insights are extremely valuable to us. Thank you for helping us steer SeniorsSkiing.com into the next season.
Skis Just For Women
Should We Have Ski Equipment Just For Seniors, Too?
Jen Gureki saw a clear need for women’s skis and founded Coalition Snow.
Credit: The Ski Diva
At the ski shows last fall, we heard rumblings in the ski industry about products for specific segments. Now, our friend and colleague The Ski Diva has tracked down and interviewed Jen Gureki, CEO and Founder of Coalition Snow, which manufactures skis for women. Her rationale for developing a ski for women is interesting to us at SeniorsSkiing.com: The segment was getting second shrift from the industry. Existing women’s skis were shoddy, filmsy and didn’t meet the needs of advanced skiers. So, Jen designed and manufactured skis to meet their needs. Pursuit of opportunity. Just like perenial innovator Denny Hanson did with senior-friendly Apex Boots. Read her story and let us know what you think about segment-specific equipment. If someone made senior skis, what would they be like? What about cross-country equipment? Boots? Clothing? We think there is something here to dig into, don’t you fellow senior snow enthusiasts? Click below for the whole interview.
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