mikemaginn

Coming Back From Injury: Avoid One-Sidedness

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Adaptive Ski Instructor Provides Advice on Predictable Issues for Returnees

Alisa Anderson, Smuggler’s Notch’s (VT) adaptive skiing program manager, is a highly-specialized PSIA instructor who, over the past 20 years, has applied techniques and tools for skiers of all kinds who need a little extra help getting down the mountain.

Adaptive Ski Instructor Alisa Anderson guides a student on the "Snow Slider" at Smuggler's Notch. Credit: Alisa Anderson

Adaptive Ski Instructor Alisa Anderson guides a student on the “Snow Slider” at Smuggler’s Notch.
Credit: Alisa Anderson

She trained at the National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park, CO, where she learned how to use bi-skis, mono-skis, and outriggers. At Smuggler’s Notch, she purchased a “Snow Slider” which is basically a walker on skis. While these tools are mostly used with people who have chronic physical disabilities, she also helps people who can ski on their own skis get back to skiing after injury, accident, or knee, hip or shoulder replacement.

“It’s important that people coming back from an injury take a lesson from a trained instructor,” said Alisa. “One reason is to help them get through the natural apprehension that you’d expect after being through major surgery and a year or so of rehab. The other reason is to spot and correct physical mistakes before they become habits.”

Most people coming back after rehabilitation, she said, will clearly favor the healing side. “It’s natural. There’s been a trauma to the area, and the body wants to ‘save’ that side. What you see are people not pressing the ski on that side or being very tentative about flexing.” That stiffness is risky because the skier doesn’t have bi-lateral control.

People aren’t even aware they are favoring one side, she said. That’s where coaching comes in.

“If they continue to be stiff and one-sided, they are going to form some bad behaviors. Stiff muscles lead to fatigue, and the risk of injury goes up,” she said. “They need to be constantly in motion.”

The solution is for the instructor to give the student skier active feedback on what she sees. “Basically, I remind the student to focus on keeping pressure on the front of the boot and weight on the ball of the foot. It’s really back to the basics. It’s important for the skier to loosen up, extend, get tall and bend their joints into through the turn.”

Alisa says that one lesson might be all a skier needs, others, maybe a couple more. “Most people get it pretty quickly. It’s just a matter of getting through the first days doing it right.”

Alisa knows what she is talking about. In addition to her experience as an adaptive ski instructor, she’s also recovering from ACL reconstructive surgery. “I have to wear a brace. It reminds me all the time about what it’s like to be rehabbing. Sometimes, I don’t like wearing it, but I do it, and I’m still skiing.”

 

Harriet Wallis

Knee Replacement—How I Chose My Surgeon: Part 4

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How To Identify An Athletically-Empathic Surgeon.

I’m lucky to live in Salt Lake City. There are 10 ski resorts nearby, and there are opportunities for an active lifestyle year-round. Because of that, there are many top surgeons here who put athletes back together when they get injured or need replacement parts.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis chose Dr. Beck for many reasons. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Correspondent Harriet Wallis chose Dr. Beck from Salt Lake City for many reasons that made sense to her.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

But when I needed to have my knees replaced, I wanted to choose the right doctor for me. My list of questions helped me differentiate between the five surgeons I interviewed. Here’s the essence of just three of my questions and how the doctors’ answers focused my decision.

Do my knees need to be replaced? When?

            Doctor X: Yes, they need replaced — when you’re ready.

Doctor Beck: When the quality of your life is gone, and you can’t do the things you want to do, it’s time. Do it while you’re still active enough to get the best outcome and get back to the things you want to do.

What’s your surgery technique?

            Doctor Y said: I do the surgery this way. I do it this way all the time. I never vary from doing it this way.

Doctor Beck said: This is what I plan to do. But when I get into your knee I might find something that doesn’t show up on the x-rays and I’ll have to take care of it — but “I don’t want to hurt you any more than I have to.”

Can I ski?

            Doctor Z said: I wouldn’t ski anymore.

Doctor Beck said: “You’re darn tootin’ you can ski!” Pick good snow days, take some breaks, and you probably should stay out of the moguls.

For many reasons, this was the right surgeon for me.

         Good luck finding the right surgeon for you.

Editor’s Note: This is a 5-part series in which SeniorsSkiing’s correspondent Harriet Wallis describes her knee replacement journey with tips to guide you if you’re anticipating knee replacement. Part 1: Inspired by a ski patroller with artificial knees. Part 2: Research 101 – why and how to do it.  Part 3: Interviewing the docs.  Upcoming Part 5: Rehab and why to love it.

Jon Weisberg

Huff Post: What Senior Skiers Must Remember

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Huffington Post Highlight’s SeniorSkiing’s Co-Founder: Is there something outdated about your equipment?

SeniorsSkiing.com’s Co-Founder Jon Weisberg has a new article on Huffington Post’s Post 50 blog, this time about the potential risks of skiing with old equipment and a lack of reasonable fitness in senior skiers.  Click here for the Huffington Post blog about what seniors should think about before heading downhill with those long, skinny skis, rear-entry boots and untoned muscles. 

Huff2

seniorsskiing

Special Edition: First SeniorsSkiing Ski Area Survey Results

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Free Skiing, Deep Discounts For Senior Skiers Plus “Senior Friendly” Awards

oldfashionedskierWhich areas are truly trying to accommodate 50-plus skiers? To find out, we surveyed 85 North American resorts. Several resorts stand out for giving senior skiers special attention and deals. They received the new SeniorsSkiing Skier Friendly Award. Those with the deepest discounts and best amenities received Gold awards. Those with better than average discounts received Silver Awards.

The survey had a 34 percent response and will be conducted annually. We hope that by asking the right questions for our readers, SeniorsSkiing.com will help drive greater recognition, discounts and amenities for senior snow sports enthusiasts.

SeniorsSkiing “Senior Friendly” Gold AwardsGold_Waterville_Valley_Resort

Of all respondents, six stand out with the best discounts and amenities.

  • Whitefish Mountain Resort, MT — Free skiing for 70-plus skiers
  • Hood Ski Bowl, OR — Free skiing for 71-plus skiers
  • Ski Whitewater, BC — Free skiing for 75-plus skiers
  • Alta, UT — Free skiing for 80-plus skiers
  • Lake Louise, AB — $20 season pass for 80-plus skiers
  • Waterville Valley, NH — Hosts Silver Streaks, the country’s longest running senior ski program. “We provide the structure and facilities; the members organize their own events,” explains Peter Sununu, Waterville spokesman. Members gather daily for coffee and pastries in a designated meeting area; enjoy mid-week NASTAR races, complimentary clinics, preferred parking, après-ski parties, awards banquets, other amenities.

Free skiing as a strategy to introduce the next generation

The percentage of all midweek senior skiers at resorts which offer free lift tickets for seniors is estimated to be about 50 percent. Mt. Hood Ski Bowl’s Hans Wipper explains the value of providing free skiing to the older customer, “We want to reward loyal skiers, and we want them to bring their extended families.”

SeniorsSkiing “Senior Friendly” Silver Award

Silver_Copper_MountainThese respondents had great discounts for seniors:

  • Sutton, QUE — 55 percent off tickets Tuesdays, January – mid February.
  • Okemo, VT — pre-December season pass purchase (includes Mt. Sunapee, Pico Peak, Killington, Crested Butte): 45 percent off for 65-plus; 70 percent off for 70-plus.
  • Ski Butternut, MA — pre-December season pass purchase: $125 for 65-plus
  • Sugarbush, VT — $199 for Mid-Week Boomer Pass for 65+ (was $99 before Sept 9).

Other Silver Awards went to:

  • Alpine Meadows, CA
  • Copper Mountain, CO
  • Vail, CO
  • Hunter Mountain, NY
  • Windham Mountain, NY
  • Deer Valley, UT
  • Snow Basin, UT
  • Snowbird, UT
  • Red Mountain Resort, BC
  • Whistler Blackcomb, BC
  • Mont Tremblant, QUE

Takeaways: Lift ticket deals are out there, especially for the early-bird, pre-season buyer. So are discounts in restaurants, rentals and other amenities. Look and ask.

We also encourage ski area management to consider the business benefits of catering to the interests of the senior skier: increased mid-week traffic, younger “tag along” full paying clients, and a loyal and vocal clientele.

Michael Conley

Toast Your Booties: Two Ways To Keep Feet Comfy On Cold Days

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No more wrestling with cold, stiff boots on a crowded ski lodge bench.

A few years ago, I indulged in my version of the middle-aged cliche: Instead of a red sports car, I snagged some very nice new skis and a serious pair of custom-fit boots. All was glorious but for one problem—the boots were 120’s, so stiff that by the time I forced my feet into

Plug your boot bag in for pre-ski warm-ups. Ahhhh. Credit: HotGear

Plug your boot bag in for pre-ski warm-ups. Ahhhh.
Credit: HotGear

them in the ski lodge, I was exhausted, bathed in sweat and ready for a break. To the rescue came the Hot Gear Bag, a thoughtfully-designed, electrically-heated boot bag. Plug it into the condo wall or your car for the ride to the mountain, toast your booties, and you can ease into a deliciously warm and pliable pair of boots. If you have trouble with your back or hands, you will greatly appreciate how rigid ski boots become like slippers and easier to buckle, too. Depending on your boots and the weather, your feet stay warm and comfy for a few hours.

Pair the heated boot bag with  Boot Gloves ($29.95) from DryGuy to retain the heat, and you have a comprehensive warm-foot strategy. The Boot Glove is, well, a

Boot gloves can make a difference on cold, cold days. Credit: DryGuy

Boot gloves can make a difference on cold, cold days.
Credit: DryGuy

neoprene glove for your boot. For more on boot gloves, click here.

Heating feature aside, Hot Gear has a great bag, well-designed and sturdy. Zippered or mesh pockets are everywhere! Carry it with the grab handle or the removable, padded shoulder strap, stowable in a zip side pocket. The other side pocket opens to reveal fleece-lined sleeves for goggles and spare lenses. Another zipper on the back reveals backpack straps for a balanced carry and also an integral cable and lock for security. A bungeed helmet carrier on top zips flat when not needed, and a padded plastic foot pad can be deployed from the underside to provide a clean place to stand.  Now, that’s a clever addition. The connection cords for house or car outlets hide behind their own zippers in front. Sturdy rubber feet protect the bottom of the bag.

The large main compartment is surrounded with an electric heating pad. Select one of three settings, and your boots, gloves and anything else you can fit in are nicely warmed and softened, or, at the end of the day thoroughly dried out. Velcro-ed in place, the heating pad is easily removed for replacement, if necessary. Velcro-tabbed compartments hold extra socks, neck gaiters or base layers, and there’s a generous mesh pocket for all those small doodads. I keep an old hand towel at the bottom of my bag to soak up melting slush at the end of the day. When traveling, besides my boots, I can put my helmet, gloves, and several pairs of socks in the bag, and it fits nicely in the overhead bin on a plane.

There's a variety of heated boot bag models from Hot Gear. Credit: Hot Gear

There’s a variety of heated boot bag models from Hot Gear.
Credit: Hot Gear

I own the Classic 110-volt model ($179). Other models include the somewhat larger Pro ($199), a double-size for two pairs of boots ($249), the smaller Ajax ($149) and the Classic Trolley ($239) with wheels and a telescoping handle, variously available in 110- and 220-volt versions.

I’ve used mine for several years now and consider it an essential piece of equipment. I love the heating feature and am currently working on a recipe for Boot Bag Baked Brownies.

To find a retailers near you, click here.  Not near you?  Click here to buy direct.

mikemaginn

Winter 2015 Forecast: Maybe Snow, Maybe Not

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Handicapping 2014-2015 winter can lead to confident-sounding but wrong predictions.

By now, you’ve noticed that the weather in the past few years has become a series of conversation-starting, concern-causing, head-scratching, question-asking phenomena.  Last winter was—as they say down east— a “hoser”.  In the Northeast, we had the most persistent, bitterly cold winter in memory.  According to the National Weather Service, New England temperatures frequently and persistently ranged at or below normal low ranges from January to the end of March.  Even the Mid-Atlantic States had a cold and snowy season.  Early snow and a lot of it created deep powder conditions in the Alps, especially Italy.  Meanwhile, the Polar Vortex brought a cold and snowy season to the Northern Rockies and Midwest while California was unseasonably dry and warm.

What’s in store for 2014-15?  Joel Gratz of OpenSnow, an interesting online forecasting site we recommend to our readers, is

OpenSnow Compared US and International Models Credit: OpenSnow

OpenSnow Compared US and International Models
Credit: OpenSnow

not enthusiastic about long-range forecasts in general.  Nevertheless, he compared a number of US and European forecasts for the upcoming 2014-15 season and found some consensus:  Dry in the Northwest, Snowy in the Far West and uncertain from the Rockies eastward to New England.  Just to test the reliability of long-range predictions like this, he compared the accuracy of several forecast models from the prior 2013-14 season with actual results.  Those predictions were “far from perfect”.

So, he concludes, “Can we trust seasonal forecasts from these models? Based on last year (predictions), definitely not.”  He suggests we treat all of this as entertainment.  On the other hand, this year’s El Nino might actually “force the weather to behave in more predictable ways.” At the end of the day, who knows?

Besides, the Boston Globe reported this June that long-range climate is warming fastest in the Northeastern states, led by Maine and Vermont and in the South West.  Conclusion:  Ski when and where you can.