Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Alpine Racing Suits

Spyder Wind Tunnel Test

The US Alpine Team in PyeongChang is wearing highly technical suits designed and made by Spyder. Each utilizes a combination of materials, placed and fitted for the specific needs of each racer. Apparently, no two suits are the same. Used for one race only, they then become hand-me-downs for junior development programs.

 

 

Paralympics

The 2018 Paralympics will happen March 9-18. Recently I met Nick Manley, an exceptional individual with multiple neurological issues. He told me that not too long ago he could get around only with a walker — an advancement from his time confined to a wheelchair. When we met at Copper Mountain, it was impossible to tell that he had experienced limited movement. He told me that his recovery was due largely to skiing. “Skiing saved my life,” is what I recall him saying. He sent this video summary of the 2017 Huntsman Cup event at Park City Mountain Resort. It gave me a new level of understanding about the grit and joyful will of adaptive ski racers. Thank you, Nick!

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Noticing more Tesla autos in ski area parking lots? Some areas are installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Here are a few I know about: Brighton and Snowbird in Utah; Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie Pass, and Stevens Pass in Washington, Heavenly and Squaw in California/Nevada; Sunday River in Maine, and Jay Peak in Vermont. Know of others? Please include in Comments, and we’ll keep the list growing.

Colorado

Southwest Colorado got a 24 hour dump. Silverton received 24″, Wolf Creek, 22″, and Purgatory, 15″.  I-70 areas including Aspen and Vail reported a foot.

Montana

Montana’s resorts are getting lots of snow. Top gainer is Whitefish with a 10’+ base. Direct flights to Whitefish and Bozeman are available from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas. Visit the state’s tourism website for up to the minute snow reports.

Utah

Brian Head, in Southern Utah received 10″ and is expecting more. Eagle Point also benefited from the storm. Its web site indicates the area is thinking about reopening for President’s Weekend.

Skiing History Magazine

The newest issue has several articles about past Olympic greats. SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers are entitled to a free digital subscription to this gem of a publication. For details click Community/Subscriber Only Content/Skiing History Magazine. While there, you also can sign up for a free subscription to the paper edition of Ski Magazine.

How to Carve Video

This video addresses three common mistakes when carving on skis. It is well presented and may help you make better, more controlled turns in a variety of conditions.

 Spirited Gift Item

G.Griffin Wine & Spirits in Rye, N.Y.  custom engraves liquor and wine bottles like the bourbon bottle pictured. Check with proprietor Doug Kooluris (914-967-4980) regarding pricing, quantities and shipping.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Skiing, boarding and other Winter sports are about to get their quadrennial boost as the world tunes into the PyeongChang Olympics.

Courtesy ABC News

In some parts of the world it will help grow the sport. I doubt that will be true in the U.S., where for 35 years the total number of annual U.S. skier/boarder visits has remained relatively flat.

Add in other factors like climate change, ticket cost, paying off student loans and mortgages, and robust competition for our leisure time, and things don’t look good for skiing’s future.

Many of us grew up at a time when popular media presented skiing as the paragon of glamor and cool. The sport was being discovered by the masses. Wherever there were nearby mountains, ski trains carried city slickers to their slopes and trails. Ski clubs were a major organizing factor. (Ski clubs are still a terrific way to enjoy good value and meet new friends.)

Skiing no longer holds the same cultural status, except, perhaps, for the spectacle of the Winter Olympics when mass marketers pay the sport’s superstars big bucks to jump on their brandwagons.

I hope this Olympics gives the sport a boost in the U.S. and worldwide. If would be nice to know that enough newcomers are at least making up for those who leave the sport.

It also would be nice if winters returned (at least in this part of the West) with greater force and more cold.

Whether or not that happens, tune in to the Games and enjoy them. Better yet, push the record button, leave the house, get to the mountain, and ski!

 

LIV2SKI Patch and Helmet/Ski Sticker

In December we asked for suggestions for our first patch. Several ideas were submitted, resulting in the patch pictured here. The closest suggestion came from Pavel Lia .We like it so much that we also had neat small stickers made. They’re perfect for helmets and skis. We’ll be making them available in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

Your Vintage Ski Poster May be Valuable.

New York’s Swann Auction Galleries produced high prices for vintage ski posters during it’s February poster auction. Top sellers included Palace Hotel St. Moritz, Zurich, 1920 ($11,400); Union Pacific / Sun Valley Idaho, circa 1940 ( record $10,800); Sun Valley / “Round House” on Baldy Mountain, 1940, (record $7,800), and several Dartmouth Winter Carnival images.

 

You and Friends in Your Own TV Show?

A reality TV casting producer in NY is seeking a group of 70+ friends who are “sassy senior citizens” for a new reality TV show. The company’s notice states “Think Real Housewives but slightly older and more fabulous. They’re looking for “loud, over-the-top personalities,” preferably in warm-weather locations. To throw hats in the ring email mckayla@crybaby-media.com with bios/pics.

 

Sustainability at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows

Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows expects to be using 100% renewable energy by December. The resort is partnering with Liberty Utilities and Tesla on state-of-the-art battery storage for storage of surplus energy.

Northstar
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Unless you’re riding with people you know, ski lifts are public places, and conversational topics should reflect that.

Courtesy of Northstar

At least, that’s how I view the 8 – 12 minute ride with people who, if nothing else, have the sport in common. But experience shows that others may not share that sensitivity. How else to explain the ride on a triple where the night manager of a local hotel explained in detail how the owner was a drug dealer who used the property to launder money? Personal discretion must not have been a requirement for his job. That was a long time ago. More recently, on another triple, the man in the middle went on a racist rant for most of the ride. I told him he was using inappropriate language for a public place. He paused for a few breaths and resumed in a more obnoxious manner. I told him that based on what he said he was a racist. “No I’m not!” he yelled as we left the lift and he skied away. Regardless of age or status, lift conversation is our opportunity to bridge gaps and preserve the spirit of skiing.  Please make the effort.

IKON Pass Introduced. M.A.X. and Rocky Mtn Super Pass to be Retired 

Ikon is from Alterra Mountain Company and includes 23 resorts in the U.S. and Canada, many of which are part of the M.A.X. Pass, the Rocky Mountain Super Pass and the Mountain Collective. M.A.X. and Rocky Mountain passes will no longer be available and Mountain Collective will continue through 2018-19. The resorts include Mammoth, Squaw/Alpine, Deer Valley, Alta, Snowbird, Copper, Eldora, Aspen/Snowmass, Steamboat, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Killington, Sunday River, Sugarloaf , Loon, Tremblant and CMH. Ikon will announce costs at a later date.

Epic Pass adds Telluride

Telluride Ski Resort will be available on Epic Pass starting next season.

Winter Olympics

Courtesy, IOC

The South Korean games run Feb 9-25 in Pyeongchang, the name of a county about 40 miles from the DMZ. Opening and closing ceremonies will be held in a roofless five-sided stadium seating 35,000. South Korea is the second Asian nation to host the games. Korea’s Yongpyong resort has been the site for World Cup ski races four times since 1998. It has 14 lifts servicing up to 2,500′ vertical.

Warren Miller

Ski Utah posted this five minute edit of the1984 Warren Miller’s Ski Country. Hearing his voice narrate the film brings me back to another time.

Patagonia Environmental and Social Responsibility Report

This three minute video presents what Patagonia has done to improve the environment, preserve outdoor recreational areas, and contribute to improved lives in 2017. It’s an eye-opener.

apres cocktails
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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What are Your Favorite Apres Ski Cocktails?

“It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues,” Abraham Lincoln

In case you’ve been in Siberia or solitary, you may have noticed the return of the cocktail. Search “Skier’s Cocktails,” and you’ll find a variety of hot toddies, Irish Coffees and Mulled Wines. Some spike hot chocolate with whiskey, brandy, or peppermint schnapps. There’s even a fancy Crème Brulee Martini (Vanilla vodka mixed with Frangelico and Cointreau, shaken and served in a chilled cocktail glass with a crushed-graham-cracker rim.)

Before bed, following a day in the cold, I enjoy a combination of bourbon, honey, and chamomile tea. After a day of spring skiing, I favor pilsner and lemonade on the rocks.

Do you have a favorite mixed après ski drink? If so, send the recipe and its name. We’ll give each a try and, assuming the taster(s) recover, make it part of a SeniorsSkiing.com après ski drink guide. When submitting, let us know if you want your name included with your drink. We’ll do our best to provide proper credit.

While on the subject, the call for ski jokes is still open. We received a handful, but need more to publish a collection.

Send jokes and cocktail recipes to jon@seniorsskiing.com.

In closing, here’s W C. Fields on one of his favorite subjects: “If I had my life to live over, I’d live over a saloon.” 

R.I.P. Warren Miller

Warren Miller died Wednesday at his home on Orcas Island. He produced 500+ adventure sports films in his lifetime, narrating many in person on annual tours. As a kid in Troy, N.Y. I looked forward to his visit to the R.P.I. Field House, which filled to capacity with skiers whose laughing, hooting, and hollering added to the joyous presentations.  He was 93.

California

Mammoth Mountain is targeting entrepreneurial gig workers by providing work space and lift privileges at four resorts for $99 a month. The workspace is called The Fort, a satellite of the same type facility on L.A.

Colorado

The big SnowShow ski trade exposition in Denver is underway. It is the first time Snowsports Industries Association (SIA) and Outdoor Retailers (OR) have joined forces.

Crested Butte and other Western resorts are experiencing lower bookings, the direct result of poor snow conditions.

Japan

Twelve people, including eight soldiers, skiing on the slopes of a volcano near a hot spring resort in central Japan were injured earlier in the week by flying rocks from a sudden eruption. One soldier died.

Utah

Snow (finally) arrived. Alta got 24″, Brian Head, 21″, Snowbird, 21″ All other areas got from 15″ to 8″.

Vermont

Killington, Pico, and Tesla have joined forces to provide charging 45 electric vehicle charging stations.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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I hope you’ve been following the new weekly Mystery Glimpse feature.

It’s our way of drawing attention to ski museums. The idea is to ask readers to identify old photos or pictures of objects from museum collections. Mike writes copy explaining where the item comes from and links it to the institution’s website. We figure the more you know about the place the more likely you are to visit and support it. The first Mystery Glimpse images came from The Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City. Soon they’ll be coming from the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe and the Ski Museum of Maine in Kingsfield.

If you’re a friend of a ski museum that might want to participate, please let them know what we’re up to.

It’s not a museum, per se, but the International Skiing History Association does an outstanding job preserving and communicating about the history of skiing. Their bi-monthly magazine, Skiing History is one of those very special and superbly executed small magazines. The diversity of articles and always interesting graphics make it one of my favorites.

If you enjoy skiing’s past and haven’t already taken advantage of the free digital Skiing History subscription available to SeniorSkiing.com subscribers, I urge you to do so. You can find the link under Community/Subscriber-Only Content on the menu bar.

Mike and I are preparing for the SIA/Outdoor Retailer trade show next week in Denver. We’ll do our best to deliver a full issue.

Apex Ski Boot System

In one of last year’s reader surveys, we learned that 25% of you planned to purchase new boots. Your reasons had to do primarily with comfort, warmth, and fit. All of which contribute to performance.

If you’re thinking about new boots, I seriously recommend exploring the options in the Apex Ski Boot System. Apex is an alternative to conventional ski boots.

Apex combines a boarder-type boot with a detachable outer shell. An easy to use cable system allows for convenient adjustments. They are a staple in ski shops around the country. Domestic and international outlets are listed at the Apex Ski Boot System site. Also on the site are locations of demo centers in Colorado, California, Vermont and New York.

I skied them a few years with great satisfaction and look forward to trying them again. Excellent performance with improved comfort, warmth, and fit: If you’re among the 25% planning to purchase new boots, look at Apex.

The Better Mountain Cam

Resorts around the US are improving their Mountain Cam technology with Prism cameras. I don’t quite understand how it works, but Prism is a big improvement over the more conventional cameras currently in use. Following links are to Prism cameras (not too pretty in the fog and snow): Sun Valley, Tamarack, Deer Valley, Park City, and Mount Snow.

Colorado

Several Colorado Ski Country USA resorts offer an array of women’s programs. Most feature instruction. Some include meals, networking opportunities, yoga and other wellness activities, etc. They’re listed below. Visit websites for more information.

  • A-Basin: Legendary Ladies Clinic meets Wednesday mornings.
  • Aspen Snowmass: Women’s Edge Program four day clinic has been running for 30+ years.
  • Copper Mountain: Women’s Wednesdays.
  • Crested Butte: Women’s Tips on Tuesdays is a weekly half-day class.
  • Eldora: Women’s Days Program
  • Loveland: midweek Women’s Only Clinics.
  • Monarch: Women’s Wednesdays.
  • Powderhorn: Ski Like a Girl.
  • Silverton: All-women heli-skiing weekend Feb 10-12 in the San Juan Mountains; April 6-8, Annual Silverton Sisters’ Meeting weekend for experts-only.
  • Steamboat: three-day Women’s Ski Camp clinics.
  • Telluride: 36th anniversary of Telluride Women’s Ski and Wellness Week. Resort also offers its SheRide Women’s Snowboard Camp for every level boarder.
  • Winter Park: Women’s Ski Camps
  • Wolf Creek: Ladies’ Ski and Snowboard Clinics on specific Sundays

Europe

The Alps are getting good snow. I recently learned about Alpskitour Snow Adventures, a group of European ski professionals that organizes five day resort-to-resort guided alpine ski tours. Accommodations are lovely. Whether or not you plan to go, the website is fun to visit.

Parisian auction house Drouot will auction the official 10th Winter Olympic Games’ (Grenoble) torch, Wednesday 24 January at Drouot Auctioneers, Paris. Estimate: €40,000 / 50,000.

Utah

The public is invited to meet the U.S. Olympic Moguls and Aerials Team 2-3PM, Tuesday, January 23 at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Lodge Plaza. The team will compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The Essence

This short video from Black Diamond gets to the essence of the ski experience. Not all of us will spend our time skiing backcountry, but the message in BD’s video should resonate with every older skier.

Finally

 

 

I hope you’re getting in more skiing than I am, here on the Colorado Plateau. On a hike a few weeks ago, I came across this track in the sand. Aren’t bears supposed to be checked in to Holiday Inn this time of year?

Alfs Crew
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Wednesday, I skied Alta. It was my second day out. Snow was blowing. Light was flat. I felt the chill.

After a few runs, it was time for something warm. I headed for Alf’s and looked around for a familiar face. No one even remotely familiar.

Tje crew at Alf’s makes terrific soups and other goodies.

So I took my bowl of mushroom bisque (consistently good at Alf’s), walked up to a table where another older skier was seated and asked if he wanted company. He did. I sat down, and we had a pleasant conversation. Turns out he’s a Vermont ski industry veteran and, to my pleasant surprise, a SeniorsSkiing.com subscriber. We talked shop for a while and skied together the rest of the afternoon.

We know from reader surveys that most older skiers prefer to ski with others. In the past I was happy to ski alone, but with age, I enjoy teaming up. I don’t have many friends who ski so I pick up ski companions on lift or in the lodge.

If you find yourself in a similar circumstance — on vacation, not knowing other skiers, simply wanting company — don’t be reluctant to approach an age-appropriate (or younger) stranger and start to chat. If he or she seems compatible, suggest taking a run together. The camaraderie is enjoyable. There’s the opportunity to learn more about the mountain. And, if either of you run into trouble, there’s someone there to help.

ALTERRA MOUNTAN COMPANY: New Name for Recently Formed Ski Area Coalition

Announced last year, the group comprises Big Bear, June Mountain, Mammoth and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California; Steamboat and Winter Park in Colorado, Blue Mountain in Ontario, Mont Tremblant in Quebec; Deer Valley in Utah; Stratton in Vermont; Snowshoe in West Virginia, and CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures in British Columbia. It will be interesting to see how Alterra’s to-be-announced season pass will compete with Vail’s Epic Pass.

CALIFORNIA

Achieve Tahoe provides winter and summer adaptive sports instruction for adults and children with disabilities. January 16-19 in North Lake Tahoe, it will host its annual “Ability Celebration & Winter Ski Festival.” The program is sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, and Warfighter Sports. Thirty-four injured veterans will receive complimentary ski and board lessons (including individualized adaptive instruction and adaptive sports equipment), accommodations in the Village at Squaw Valley, meals, and transportation.

MASSACHUSETTS

Expect to see more about Massachusetts ski resorts on the Internet. The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism and the Massachusetts Ski Areas Association are advertising on TripAdvisor. The campaign runs through March. The state’s 12 alpine areas produce 1.5 million skier visits each year. 

PENNSYLVANIA

The state has a great program for grandkids who ski or board there. It offers free lift tickets to all 4th and 5th graders, regardless of whether or not they’re state residents. As part of the program, first timers receive a complimentary beginner lift pass, lesson and equipment rentals. First time adults with them receive a 50% discount. Visit http://www.skipa.com for details.

QUEBEC

February 2-4 is the 4th edition of the Festival Rando Alpine Tremblant presented by Smartwool. Activities include alpine touring, trail fatbiking, dinner, and a nighttime climb on skis to Mont Tremblant‘s summit.

VERMONT

Ski Vermont continues its series of humorous videos with the hopes of educating people about skiing safety. Their release is timed to coincide with National Safety Awareness Month (January). Individual areas throughout the state will be hosting their own safety education initiatives.

Bromley will host its 15th consecutive Mom’s Day Out fundraiser, Saturday, January 20. Mothers receive a day pass in exchange for a $25 donation to the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center (SVRCC) based in Bennington. To qualify, mothers need to show a picture of their offspring at the ticket window. Last season, 400 mothers participated.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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And Then, I’ll Take Off My Skis.

That’s the punch line of a joke I heard in college. Many of you will know it.

Two Russian soldiers are called home from their post in Siberia. They pack their belongings and start their long ski trek across the snowy steppe.

They talk about what they’ll do when they arrive home.

Boris says, “First I’ll embrace my wife at the door.”

And Ivan asks, “And then?”

“I’ll drink a tall glass of vodka.”

“And then?”

“My wife and I will make passionate love.”

Once more, Ivan asks the question.

Enter punch line above.

Even as I write this, the joke makes me smile. Not a bad feat for something I’ve known for a half-century or more.

I tried to find other jokes about skiing. The stuff online takes aim at snowboarders, instructors, beginners, etc. (e.g. What do you call a ski instructor without a girlfriend/boyfriend? Homeless.). Amusing but not funny.

I’m confident that members of our rapidly growing community know some good ski jokes. If you do, please write them up. We’ll publish the best as a collection and post it in the Subscriber Only Content section. Contributors will be named, and if we can find some interesting swag, there will be rewards.

Even though Jan Brunvand reported he’s on his 14th day of the season, many of us have yet to even see snow. I hope to change that this weekend at Solitude, an outstanding area in Big Cottonwood Canyon, adjacent to Brighton, another good place to play in the snow. For those not familiar with BCC, it’s just outside of Salt Lake City, a few miles north of Little Cottonwood Canyon, home to Snowbird and Alta. Snow patterns often favor Brighton and Solitude.

One of the reader surveys indicated interest in learning more about lesser known resorts. Weather-permitting, I have January plans in to visit three in Idaho (Soldier Mountain, Pomerelle, and Pebble Creek) and two in Montana (Maverick Mountain and Discovery Mountain). I’ll review each from the perspective of the older skier including things such as lot to lift access, terrain, ambiance, toilet facilities, food, lodging, etc. Several contributors have written about the places they ski. All area reviews can be found by going to the menu bar at the top of the page, click “Destinations,” and then clicking “Resort Reviews.”  Let us know if you’d like to submit an area review.

Here’s a brief non-ski report from last weekend in Bluff, Utah. Bluff is a pretty flyspeck near the Four Corners. It is an entry point for Bears Ears, the national monument with recently changed status. Three things from Bluff:

  • The one and only restaurant that’s open this time of year is better than good. Twin Rocks Cafe took on a new chef, and she is producing some nice selections. If you’re there for breakfast order the blue corn flour pancakes. Wonderful.

Dancing Bears—pre-conflagration—in tiny Bluff, UT.

  • Each year, Joe Pachak, a local artist, constructs a giant wooden sculpture in the middle of town. It’s set ablaze on the Winter Solstice. This year, in recognition of Bears Ears and the Navajo culture, he created two dancing bears covered in willow twigs.
  • This is perfect hiking weather and just a few miles from town there are hikes to Anasazi ruins and rock art. High on Comb Ridge up a fairly steep incline is Procession Panel, discovered in 1989 and considered one of the most interesting in the entire Southwest. It was not easy to find, but once we did, WOW. It depicts processions of small human figures, some carrying crooks, walking toward a circle. One line extends for 60 or 70 feet. Sandstone Spine (David Roberts, The Mountaineers Books, 2006), an interesting account of the first traverse of 125 mile Comb Ridge, suggests that the panel was created in the first millennium BCE. If you take the hike and find the panel, the experience will be a keeper.

Not enough new information arrived on screen to do my weekly report of ski activity. A few standouts are snow pix submitted by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Lookout Pass, and Big Sky Resort. BSR’s deep pow video shot within the past week shows nice depths and terrific turns.

We’re taking next week off. I wish you good heath, warm reunions , and wonderful skiing.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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I’ve always believed in working with a competent car mechanic.

The same applies to a well-trained bootfitter. Many older skiers experience boot issues, and a good fitter can help overcome them. Masterfit is in the business of training people to fit ski boots. Their instructors include pedorthists, professionals with specialized training to modify footwear and employ supportive devices to address conditions which affect the feet and lower limbs. Graduates of Masterfit University populate ski shops around the nation and abroad. They can be located at bootfitters.com, which lists elite ski shops specializing in bootfitting.

Recently, in Masterfit’s typically low-key manner, the organization trained 275 REI employees in the skill of fitting ski boots. Most of them work in REI stores throughout the West, but employees from REI’s Soho (NYC), Framingham (Mass.) and Minneapolis stores also participated. Clearly, REI is upping its game when it comes to professional boot fitting. It will help them provide more complete service to REI members (Is there anyone reading this who is not an REI member?).

I remember being in a chain sporting goods store in midtown Manhattan several years ago where a salesperson with ZERO experience fitting boots was “helping” a customer with ZERO ski experience purchase ski boots. My tongue still hurts from biting so hard.

With this new development, boot shoppers can go to REI, seek out one of the people who went through Masterfit training, and proceed to get fitted with confidence.

Southern Utah Redux

Bear’s Ears. Courtesy: Chicago Tribune

Reader Alan Cort commented on last week’s piece about Patagonia‘s position against the administration’s reduction of Bear’s Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments:

In regards to Bear’s Ears, also a shout out to Black Diamond, maker of a lot of really good outdoor equipment.  The following is from their latest customer email: Nearly 60% of our country’s climbing areas lie on federal public lands. We repeat, over HALF of our nation’s beautiful, wild crags are on public lands. That’s just one reason why we, at Black Diamond, believe that public lands should stay in public hands, and also why we strongly support the designation of Bears Ears as a National Monument.  Think how many ski areas, especially in the West, operate on federal public lands; ones that I’m sure every SeniorSkiing reader has a special attachment to.

Thanks for making that point, Alan.

One of the issues in southern Utah, where these monuments are located, is that county commissioners and state officials are opposed to Federal land ownership. They think they can manage these vast areas more effectively. Among other goals, they want to create a handful of jobs by opening these beautiful wilderness resources to the extraction industries (A uranium mining company is reported to have pressured the White House to reduce Bears Ears.) Last weekend, we visited Goblin Valley State Park, a wonderful area filled with human scale hoodoos. The State of Utah manages the park. Trails are ill-defined, people can walk wherever they choose, signage is virtually non-existent. By comparison, we hiked Arches National Park the day before, where all systems and operations were efficient and well run. The Utah locals seeking control of Federal lands are amateurs who don’t accept the idea that their backyards belong to all citizens.

CALIFORNIA

Santa-costumed skiers and boarders will participate in Mountain High’s annual Santa Sunday this weekend. The event raises funds for Protect Our Winters (POW), the climate change advocacy group for the snow sports community. Registration requires minimum $20 donation to POW. Receipt can be exchanged for a day ticket. Visit Santa Sunday for details.

COLORADO

Aspen Highlands opens Saturday with limited terrain. Pray for snow!!!!

MAINE

Maine resorts received 21″ of natural. Time to head north!

New York

Many upgrades at Whiteface and Gore (lodge expansions, upgraded snowmaking/grooming, etc.).

Lake Placid hosts World Cup Luge this weekend, FIS 2018 Freestyle World Cup aerials competition (Jan. 19-20), Empire State Winter Games (Feb. 1-4), USCSA Ski & Snowboard Championships (March 4-10), Lake Placid Nordic Festival and Loppet (March 18), and ECAC Hockey Men’s D1 Championships (March 16-17).

If you’re in the neighborhood the weekends of Jan 19 and 26, drop by The Sagamore Resort‘s (Bolton Landing) and hoist one at its Glacier Ice Bar & Lounge, featuring nine tons of carved ice.

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is Feb. 2-11 and features a massive Ice Palace. The palace tradition dates to 1898. They feature tunnels and mazes and are decorated with flags, ice furniture and sculpture.

New this year is the Adirondack Snowshoe Fest ,Feb. 24 -25 in Saranac Lake. Races are scheduled for all levels. Lots of surrounding entertainment to take off the chill.

QUEBEC

Mt Tremblant reports recent snowfall and perfect snowmaking temps resulting in opening of all 4 sides of the mountain by end of weekend. 60 runs to be available! If you’re planning to visit over the holidays, don’t miss La Famille Grelot (December 23 -31), a feisty family of singing, dancing and acrobatic elves in the pedestrian village.

UTAH

Salt Lake City is promoting itself as an “apres cultural mecca” while skiing the state’s nearby iconic resorts. There’s theater, dance, classical music, jazz, professional sports, and art and natural history museums. More at Ski City USA.

VERMONT

Some resorts received as much as 24″ of fresh this week. Current trail conditions and weather alerts at SkiVermont.com; resort information, deals and events at Resort Finder.

OTHER

 

R.I.P. Bruce Brown, the documentarian who brought us The Endless Summer and On Any Sunday died earlier this week in Santa Barbara. He was 80. For many of our generation, his surfing films and motorcycle films stirred a fantasy of the possible.

 

 

Free, Last Minute, Online Gifts for Senior Skiers

These magazine subscriptions are available free to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers:

  • One year (six issues) subscription to SKI Magazine (U.S. residents only).
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To register, click the Subscriber-Only Content at the top of the SeniorsSkiing.com Home Page.

  • For SKI Magazine, go to bottom of form and click on: Click Here For Free One Year Subscription to SKI Magazine and follow directions.
  • For SKIING HISTORY go to bottom of form and click on Click Here for Your Free Subscription to SKIING HISTORY Magazine, scroll to Digital Membership, select 1 Year-Digital Only, add to cart, enter coupon code SENIORSKI17, checkout, then set up your account.

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Many Readers Have Requested A Fabric Patch.

It’s a good idea, and we’d like to make it available. The question is what to put on the patch. We’ve explored the vintage image of the skier that appears on the SeniorsSkiing.com sticker. Unfortunately, patch production technology makes him indecipherable. Whatever we do, we plan to include the SeniorsSkiing.com logo. You may have some ideas for a slogan. We envision something small and rectangular, so it can’t have a lot of words. A few ideas from this end include: Ski Forever; Skiing Makes You Younger, and Ski More. Live Longer. If you have a preference among these or can suggest additional statements, please email jon@seniorsskiing.com. If it gets used, we’ll send some form of SWAG you, hopefuly, will find useful. Thank you!!!!

CALIFORNIA

Mountain High, Southern California’s closest (to LA) winter resort, opened this week with top-to bottom greens and blues. The first 100 skiers received free gloves. Seniors 70+ ski free at Mountain High.

COLORADO

Colorado Ski Country USA resorts will be hosting a variety of Holiday events from Santa encounters (virtually all areas), to caroling (Aspen Snowmass), Ugly Sweater Contest (Eldora), torchlight parades (Aspen, Copper, Crested Butte, Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, Steamboat, Telluride), and any number of tree lighting ceremonies and gourmet feasts). Check resort websites for more details and reservation info. One standout event will take place this Saturday at Crested Butte, which hopes to break the World Record for the largest number of skiers in Santa costumes. Participants must be decked out in a full Santa suit and will be eligible for $25 lift tickets.

MONTANA

Lookout Pass, on the Idaho/Montana border, has opened almost 50% of its terrain. Between natural and man-made, the top has 27″ and the bottom 12″.

UTAH

Ski Utah’s email states 18″ to Start the Week ,yet looking at accumulations at the seven open resorts, the maximum new snow is 7″ (Snowbird). Other open Utah resorts are Alta, Brian Head, Brighton, Deer Valley, Park City, Snowbasin, Snowbird, and Solitude.

If you’re in the vicinity of southern Utah’s terrific Brian Head resort this Saturday the ULLR Festival is the annual juggling, comedy and circus ritual to celebrate the arrival of the Norse Snow God. Festivities start at 1:00PM; ULLR’s entrance is scheduled for 5:45PM.

VERMONT

Old school, Mad River Glen is kicking off its Preserve Our Paradise fundraising campaign with a goal of $6.5 million. Monies will be used to improve snowmaking and replace the Birdland lift, among other things.

Areas across the Green Mountain State are celebrating the holidays with Santa visits, torchlight parades, wine and beer tasting events, gourmet dinners, etc. Check websites for details.

Jay Peak skiers never had it so good. This video from last season’s mega-dump is proof that all things are possible.

OTHER

The Nov. 27 edition of The New Yorker magazine has a feature article on 22-year old American skier Mikaela Shiffrin. Writer Nick Paumgarten has done a fine job. It’s required reading for anyone preparing for the February Winter Games in South Korea.

Thank you, Patagonia, for taking a position on important environmental and land use issues. This week, following the White House’s expected announcement that Southern Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments would be dramatically reduced, Patagonia emailed information under the title, The President Stole Your Land. The accompanying message reads: “In an illegal move, the president just reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monuments. This is the largest elimination of protected land in American history.” For many, these vast areas are merely an idea. To get a sense of what Bears Ears (close to the Arizona border) look like, click here.

Cute knit hats for the grandkids at https://cirquemtn.com/product-category/kids/kids-headwear/

Jon Weisberg

SKI and SKIING HISTORY Magazines Available Free to SeniorsSkiing.com Subscribers

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We’re pleased to announce that subscribers to SeniorsSkiing.com are eligible to receive a free subscription to the print version of SKI Magazine.

SKI is the venerable publication that has been catering to snow sports enthusiasts for decades. It covers the full range of the sport from equipment and technique to personalities and destinations. It is published six times a year and has a cover price value of about $29.

 

 

As announced a few weeks ago, SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers are eligible for a free digital subscription to SKIING HISTORY Magazine, which, with membership in International Skiing History Association, is a $49 value.

 

 

To register to receive your free SKI Magazine subscription and/or your free SKIING HISTORY Magazine subscription, click the Subscriber-Only Content at the top of the SeniorsSkiing.com Home Page.

  • For SKI Magazine, go to bottom of  form and click on: Click Here For Free One Year Subscription to SKI Magazine and follow directions.
  • For SKIING HISTORY go to bottom of form and click on Click Here for Your Free Subscription to SKIING HISTORY Magazine, scroll to Digital Membership, select 1 Year-Digital Only, add to cart, enter coupon code SENIORSKI17, checkout, then set up your account. P.S. Once you’ve subscribed, you’ll have access to the archives to 2009.
Joan Wallen

Commute, Rent, Or Buy?

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The Best Way To Enjoy Your Ski Time.

Choose a small chalet…

While some snowsports enthusiasts are fortunate enough to live and work in ski country, most skiers and riders have to commute from their homes, often two, three or more hours from their favorite mountain. For the frequent skier—those who want to spend every weekend, plus vacation weeks on the slopes—their commute can become very tiresome.

This can be especially true for families with young kids. Parents, and grandparents, have to get the kids organized every morning to get in the car at an early hour so as to be at the slopes for the start of the day. If the kids are in some kind of racing program or weekend recreational class, hitting the road in a timely fashion becomes even more important. “Did you remember your gloves, goggles, hat”, even “your boots”, is sometimes heard as the car heads out the driveway.

…or a luxury, slope side condo. It all depends…
Credit: Steamboat Springs

Many families opt out of this weekly hassle by renting a house or condo near their favorite resort or perhaps in close proximity to several areas so they have a choice throughout the season. Ski gear and clothing can be left there, they can drive up on Friday evening, relax and be ready to go on Saturday morning without the stress of an early morning drive, and return after a day on the slopes for a relaxing evening.

What should you look for when renting a property in ski country?

Well, that depends a bit on your lifestyle and the resort where you want to spend your time. If very young grandchildren children are part of the mix, you might want to find something slope side or very close to the mountain so one family member can take a child home when he tires out. A ski in, ski out unit is best for this, but even a house or condo a mile or two from the area will let someone be delivered home easily without disrupting the entire family’s day.

Another thing to consider is what you like to do in the evening. If you’re content to return to your rental after the lifts close, have dinner in, watch tv or movies or play games, then you might look for something out of town in a quiet, country setting. But if you want entertainment, like to eat dinner out frequently, sample the nightlife, then perhaps a house in a town or around the base area (depending on the resort you choose) is a better option.

As far as the actual property goes, you need to again examine your lifestyle as well as your budget. How many bedrooms do you need? Will you or your children or grand children be bringing guests? Is one living space, whether large or cozy, where you can all be together preferable? Or would separate spaces for relaxation work better for the family? Do you prefer something upscale, in a condo community with amenities such as a spa, swimming pool, workout equipment? Or will a simple house work fine for your group?

Budget is an obvious important consideration. If you rent a single family house, in addition to the rent, you will likely be responsible for paying utilities including cable and wifi as well as plowing costs. Be sure to ask about the type of heat the house has and how efficient it is. Fuel costs over the course of a winter can sometimes come as a big, surprising shock, and you want to be prepared.

When searching for a seasonal rental property, it is a wise idea to use a real estate rental agent. These folks know the properties and, by asking a few questions, can often direct you to something you might not find on your own. They will have a handle on expenses for the winter, condition of the property and lots of tips on location relative to the mountain and other activities that may be of interest to you. There are plenty of ways to book lodging on line, but if you go this route be sure to use reputable web sites and ask a lot of questions.

Another option is purchasing a home in ski country, clearly a more complicated process which will be addressed in a future article.

Short Swings
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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We’re still transitioning into the Information Age and, like a well-skied trail, the bumps are plentiful.

Personal data is compromised. Weird account charges are difficult to get removed. Criminals and other rogue players are changing how we would normally communicate with each other. But there are some bright spots. Older skiers are pleased with purchasing lift tickets online. In fact, 93% of SeniorsSkiing.com survey respondents indicate they are somewhat or highly satisfied with buying tickets online. More than 50% of you purchased them directly from the resort; 10% from Liftopia and other online aggregators. Sites like Liftopia are worth visiting before going to a specific area’s site because they may be offering special deals. Please click through to Liftopia from the ad you see in the right column. And for many of us, there may be no charge at all. The list of 115 US Resorts Where Seniors Ski Free has grown to include 115 areas. Be sure to check out the most updated version in the SUBSCRIBER ONLY button under the COMMUNITY tab.

Colorado

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs will celebrate its Centennial year in 2018. The resort hotel has played a major role in figure skating. On Saturday, January 20, a gala at the resort will salute Peggy Fleming Jenkins and the 50th anniversary of her Olympic Gold Medal in Grenoble. Click here for details and tickets.

It appears the new KSL Holdings/Aspen resort coalition will be announcing its new name and 2018-19 pass details later this season.

Aspen Mountain is open top-to-bottom. The Silver Queen Gondola, Ajax Express, and Bell Mountain Chair are open. Snowmass has limited skiing. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are scheduled to open December 9.

Montana

Big Sky Resort opened the Lone Peak Tram in the area’s first week of operation. Lone Peak (11,166′) has a 49″ base. More snow expected this weekend.

Utah

Deer Valley Resort will open for the 2017-2018 ski season on Saturday, December 2, 2017, with eight chairs and nine runs.

The Utah Olympic Oval will host the 2017 ISU Long Track Speed Skating World Cup beginning Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 10. Skaters will be racing in the following distances: 500m, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and Team Pursuit. General admission: $7. More info: UtahOlympicLegacy.org

Good news: The International Biathlon Union (IBU) selected Soldier Hollow Nordic Center as the host venue for the eighth stop on the 2018/2019 World Cup season tour. It will be the first major international biathlon competition to be held at Soldier Hollow since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Less Good News: It will be held in February, 2019. Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with shooting. Competitors ski through a cross-country trail system whose total distance is divided into either two or four shooting rounds, half in prone position, the other half standing. With a total cumulative TV viewership approaching one billion, biathlon is the most popular winter sport in Europe.

Vermont

Like all of us, Vermont is praying for more snow. In the meanwhile, resorts there have come up with a variety of non-ski entertainments.

  • Trapp Family Lodge at Stowe has a series of wine tastings scheduled for the first half of December.
  • This Sunday Okemo is giving a $39 lift ticket in exchange for donations of five food items
  • On December 8, Stratton will host an alternative rock festival.
  • December 9
    • Jay Peak to hold its season pass holder annual party
    • Killington has a $25,000 purse rail skiing event
    • Smuggler’s Notch hosts its annual BrewFest. $20 ticket buys 8 samples and other goodies
  • December 12 is Founder’s Day at Mount Snow. Lift tickets will be $12
  • December 16, is Spirits of the Season at Stratton.10 tasting-ticket pack is available for $25 in advance; $30 at the door

Visit individual resorts sites for more details on these and other events.

Other

Watched “War For The Planet of The Apes” on a flight a few days ago. One scene takes place at an abandoned ski area. The culminating scene is in another mountain location and involves a massive avalanche. I still think the first in the franchise is the best.

Jon Weisberg

The Best 2018 Skis For Senior Skiers

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One Might Say You Can Never Have Enough Skis.

My wife disagrees. She skis on a relatively old pair that she loves. They’re relatively soft in shovel and heel. For her, one pair is enough.

Mine is a completely different story; too long to get into at the moment.

Jackson Hogen, publisher of the ski review site realskiers.com, has been testing skis for decades. He works with testers from around the country, gathering their observations and consolidating them into pre-season evaluations of the upcoming season’s crop.

The complete list of the recommended 2018 skis for senior skiers is available free to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers. Click on COMMUNITY (home page menu bar), then click on SUBSCRIBERS ONLY CONTENT in the drop down box.

(Free short reviews can be found at realskiers.com. The more complete evaluations require a subscription. Details on how SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers can subscribe to realskiers.com for 50% of the normal rate are at the end of this article.)

Recognizing that certain ski characteristics are more suitable for older skiers than others, last year, realskiers.com identified the best ones for older skiers. These skis generally have a soft flex, which allows the sidecut to engage with minimal exertion. When they’re used, the skier doesn’t work as hard. They’re easier to turn. They’re forgiving. You don’t have to be in peak shape to ski better or longer. The entire experience is more enjoyable.

Recommended skis are grouped into six categories, each based on skiing preference, location, and snow conditions. They follow:

Frontside (aka “Carving” skis)

  • These skis encompass the broadest range of skier abilities from entry-level to experienced and are for general use on groomed terrain. Wider models are usable off-trail.

All-Mountain East

  • Skis that are extremely versatile and for general use on groomed terrain. They also work off-trail.
  • This category is suitable for those who have not skied in a few years. 

All-Mountain West

  • These are good for use in the West by high performance skiers and are good both for groomed trails and for powder. 

Big Mountain

  • Skis for use on big mountains with selections for strong and for less strong skiers.

Powder

  • Specialty skis for use in deep powder.

Technical

  • These have high performance race ski characteristics and are suitable for carving turns on hard-snow.

While many consider skis to be unisex, some women prefer skis with weight and flex more suitable to their size and physique. The list also identifies preferred women’s skis.

Jackson advises approaching your next ski purchase by taking these three important steps:

  1. Identify the most suitable category.
  2. Work with a quality ski shop.
  3. If possible, demo selections to compare before purchasing.

To subscribe to realskiers.com: Visit site. Scroll down to/click on “Subscribe Today!” Click “Sign Up” in the “Annual Membership” box. Complete the form and enter SS17 in the field under “Coupon Code.”

 

 

 

ski and bike
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Bull Wheels At More Areas Have Started To Turn.

 Purgatory opened last weekend. People were lined up at 5:00AM, Saturday, Nov. 18. One report had hungry skiers cooking bacon and eggs as they waited in the dark. In what may have been a first, pass holders used Day 1 to ski and bike.

  • Lookout Pass, about 90 minute drive from Spokane or Missoula, reports 34″ on top and 20″ at the base. The area straddles Idaho and Montana and has plans to double acreage and increase vertical. It will open Thanksgiving Day.
  • Brighton Resort opened Tuesday, Nov 21 with “top to bottom” skiing serviced by two lifts. The open runs have a 10″- 20″ base.
  • Park City scheduled Thanksgiving Day to open.
  • Mont Tremblant also was scheduled to open Nov 23 with 10 trails. The Quebec resort has 12″ of fresh, natural snow.

If you have the early season itch, check web sites before going.

Thoughts on the Vanishing Ski Bum Ecosystem

Leave it to Jackson Hogen of realskiers.com for an intelligent take on all things skiing. A few weeks ago he lamented the slow but steady passing of the classic ski bum. These old timers are repositories of all kinds of useful knowledge. As resorts corporatize and workers are forced to commute longer distances, even ski shops are struggling for knowledgeable personnel. That’s especially important when shopping for new boots. His advice is to shop early when qualified fitters are available. Another option is to visit AmericasBestBootFitters.com which lists shops where personnel has been trained specifically to fit boots.

Subscriptions to real skiers.com are available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers at a discounted annual rate of $9.95. To sign up, visit realskiers.com. Scroll down to/click on “Subscribe Today!” Then click “Sign Up” in the “Annual Membership” box. Complete the form and enter SS17 in the field under “Coupon Code.”

Free Skiing List Update

Reader input is making the list of US resorts with free skiing privileges more complete. The list currently has 114 resorts. Those added: Bear Valley, CA; Sugar Mtn (NC), Gunstock, NH, and Okemo, VT. Those removed: Hunter Mtn (NY) and and Mad River Glen, VT. Thank you for your continued input! To access the complete list, go to the homepage, click COMMUNITY on the Menu Bar, and click SUBSCRIBER ONLY CONTENT.

Ski Insiders is Rossingol’s New Online Community

Rossingol launched the Ski Insiders website for all ski enthusiasts to express their winter sports passions. According to the company, members of the Ski Insiders community will be invited to express opinions and share ideas about brands and new products through questionnaires and discussion forums. Click here to register.

Colorado Ski Country Resorts to Host Olympic Qualifiers

Colorado resorts will host numerous qualifying events leading up to the February games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. For details click here.

A Fine Liquid Idea

Teton Gravity Research and Melvin Brewing have teamed up to create TGR Pils-Gnar.

The birth child of two longstanding Jackson Hole entities, the new brew is described as being a German-style pilsner that is simultaneously spicy and fruity. If you collect beer cans/bottles with a ski theme, this looks like a good one. Looking forward to sipping this new brew.

A Few Ifs

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Snowbird, Sunday, Dec 3; if there are clear skies, and if you want to experience what sounds like a sensational dining experience under a full moon, get a ticket for Snowbird’s Full Moon Dinner. It will be held in the Summit Lodge at 11,000′ on Hidden Peak. Wonderful menu, musical accompaniment, SPECTACULAR VIEWS. Adults: $75; kids: $25-$45 (depending on age). Price includes aerial tram ride. Reservations: 801.933.2222.

World Ski Awards Announced

Val Thorens, in France, was named World’s Best Ski Resort. Ski Dubai (UAE) received Best Indoor Ski resort. Bella Coola Heli Sports (Canada) got World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator. In the US, Deer Valley received the top resort prize. The World Ski Awards are selected by professionals working within the ski industry and by the public. Votes are submitted online at World Ski Awards website.

Learn to Ski/Board Month Awards People Introducing Newbies

The promotion rewards those who help introduce newcomers to beginner lessons from trained instructors. Click here to learn about the program (starts Jan 5) and the generous rewards.

 

Jon Weisberg

SHORT SWINGS!

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Several years ago I did the unthinkable at Thanksgiving.

I abandoned my wife and young daughters and went to Alta for a long weekend. I had my wife’s blessing, but she has a long memory, and I still get reminded of that mid-1980s lapse. But I also have sweet memories. It dumped 3′ and, except for the lack of a good base, skiing was excellent. Areas across the country are in the process of opening. If there’s enough snow where you ski, take advantage of it early. A lot of folks tend to wait until the holidays or January to get their first tracks. I prefer not to wait for dessert. Happy Thanksgiving!

What? Work at a Resort at My Age?

I lost track of co-worker who was an avid skier. He retired as a Park Avenue desk jockey sometime in the 1980s and became a ski bum at Alta. His daughter once told me he had the best season of his life. Resorts everywhere are recruiting people for a wide variety of jobs. Even if you’re not in the market for work, the site, SkiResortJobs, is fun to visit.

The White Book of Ski Areas Contest

Our friends who publish the White Book of Ski Areas have a new contest with a prize of two, 2-day lift tickets to any North American ski resort. Around since 1974, The White Book of Ski Areas is the Bible for ski resort data. It is Wikipedia’s primary reference for ski area queries. To enter, visit http://www.whitebookski.com.

Liftopia To Discount Tickets

Liftopia will have a one week sale featuring discounts at 250+ North American resorts and discounts on Liftopia Gift Cards (excellent stocking stuffers). For example, spend $200 of a gift card and get $250 in value. The sale starts Midnight, Tuesday, Nov. 21 and ends at 11:59 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 28. Click on the Liftopia advertisement on the SeniorsSkiing.com Home Page.

Ski and Bike at Purgatory

If you’re in the vicinity of Purgatory Resort this Saturday (Nov. 18), you’ll be able to ski and mountain bike.  Weather permitting, the resort will dedicate one of its chairs to people with mountain bikes. Two others will be for skiers/boarders.

Learn to Ski Snowboard

January is Learn to Ski/Snowboard Month and people are being encouraged to bring a friend to the mountain. It’s an important industry initiative to get newbies onto the mountain.

Alta’s 80th Anniversary

Alta will celebrate the start of its 80th season with $70 lift tickets from opening day through December 14. Discounted lift tickets may be purchased online at https://buy.alta.com/date-specific-tickets.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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This will be my 64th consecutive year on skis, a factoid I should have mentioned at a recent ski industry event where each of the 50+ people gathered for lunch were asked to say something brief about what they do.

I was the oldest in the room and spoke about older skiers and how we comprise 20% of the US skiing population. I sensed they were more interested in desert. Now when I get the question, I mention my 64th consecutive ski season. It gets their attention. Many of us have lived through a significant period of skiing history. As we enter 2017-18, I encourage you to share your skiing experiences with the kids. That is, if they’ll put down the phone, take off the speakers, and pay attention.

Free Subscription to Skiing History Magazine

International Ski History Association

On the subject of skiing history, the International Skiing History Association is offering readers a free one-year subscription to the digital edition of  Skiing History Magazine. It’s a $29 value. Published bimonthly, Skiing History has been documenting all aspects of skiing for many years. It is a gem. To subscribe, go to https://www.skiinghistory.org/join, scroll to Digital Membership, select 1 Year-Digital Only, add to cart, enter coupon code SENIORSKI17, checkout, then set up your account. P.S. Once you’ve subscribed, you’ll have access to the archives to 2009.

Seniors Ski Free at 111 U.S. Resorts

See the full article on the 2017-18 list of resorts where can seniors ski free. Most resorts provide free skiing at age 70, but its also available to those in their 60s.

Bromley, Cranmore, Jiminy Peak Introduce Airline-Style Ticket Pricing 

Jiminy Peak, Cranmore Mountain, and Bromley have introduced variable ticket-pricing. Similar to air ticket pricing, the system rewards skiers who purchase early with lower prices. Consult each resort’s online pricing chart to lock in the best deal. One sacrifice for lower cost: no refunds.

CALIFORNIA

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe was the first Tahoe resort to open this season. It began daily operations on November 11.

Gondola to Link Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows

If the plan overcomes resistance from environmental advocates, the base-to-base gondola will be ready for the 2019-20 season. The gondola would eliminate the need to drive or bus between mountains.

CANADA

Crowd funding investors are responding positively to Red Mountain Resort’s (Rossland, B.C.) pitch against the trend for big corporate ownership of ski resorts. Using the slogan, “Fight the Man, Own the Mountain,” the resort’s web-based campaign drew pledges for C$508,500/$394,000 the first day. The campaign closes Dec.1 with a minimum target of C$1.5 million.

COLORADO

Colorado Ski Country USA’s Kids Ski Free programs offer free and discounted lift tickets for children, specialized lessons and rental discounts at member resorts. There’s a 5th and 6th Grade Passport Program covering most of the state’s resorts and many other free skiing benefits at individual areas. To learn more visit http://www.coloradoski.com or area websites.

IDAHO

Lookout Pass opened Nov 4 with 28″ at the summit and 16″ at its base.

Opening dates:

Sun Valley: Nov. 23
Silver Mountain Resort: Nov. 24
Schweitzer Mountain Resort: Dec. 1
Brundage Mountain: Dec. 8
Tamarack Resort: Dec. 8
Bogus Basin: Dec. 9
Pebble Creek: Dec. 16

MONTANA

Teton Pass Ski Resort will be closed this winter.

UTAH

Beaver Mountain in northern Utah got 20″.

Park City ended night skiing for recreational skiers.

Park City Area Lodging Association is offering a $300 Delta Gift Card with three-night stays at Lodges at Deer Valley, Silver Baron Lodge, Goldener Hirsch Inn, Signature Collection, or Trail’s End Lodge between December 1 and April 8.

Opening Dates

Alta Ski Area: November 22
Brian Head Resort: November 17
Brighton: Early As Possible
Cherry Peak: December 18
Deer Valley Resort: December 2
Eagle Point: December 21
Nordic Valley: December 9
Park City Mountain: November 17
Snowbasin Resort: November 22
Snowbird: November 22
Solitude Mountain Resort: December 2
Sundance Mountain Resort: December 8

VERMONT

Vermont resorts are offering a variety of ways to save on tickets. Visit the resort sites for more details.

Okemo’s annual Ski and Snowboard Swap benefiting Okemo Mountain School is scheduled November 17-19.

OTHER

Bode Miller will be an Olympic commentator. It will be the first Olympics since 1998 that he hasn’t competed.

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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SeniorsSkiing.com Needs You!

…especially if you’re willing to write articles that would be of interest to our readers.

Articles can cover prepping for the season (exercising, nutrition, personal accounts, etc.); thoughts on equipment, gear, clothing; technique; profiles of older skiers (well-known or not), destinations, planned trips, nostalgia, ski/board/snowshoe history, skiing with kids and grandkids, etc.

We prefer articles no longer than 500 words and like them to be accompanied by pictures.

Articles don’t need to be Pulitzer Prize ready. We edit as needed.

If you’re not ready to draft something but have an idea you think might interest readers, feel free to send it along.

Sorry that we’re not in a position to pay. But there are other perks: the opportunity to receive products for review, occasional skiing privileges (some areas will comp your lift ticket if you’re on assignment), and the personal pleasure of contributing to an online magazine read by thousands of skiers/boarders/snowshoers worldwide.

If interested, drop an email to jon@seniorsskiing.com or mike@seniorsskiing.com.

GOOD NEWS FROM NOAA?

Good News: NOAA predicts wetter-than-average conditions across most of the northern US, extending from northern Rockies to eastern Great Lakes, and western and northern Alaska.

Less Than Good News: NOAA’s caveat reads Snow forecasts are generally not predictable more than a week in advance because they depend upon the strength and track of winter storms.

CYBER BULLYING A FEMALE SKI MOUNTAINEER

Caroline Gleich is a professional ski mountaineer and adventurer based in Salt Lake City. An advocate for social and environmental justice, she works on issues such as climate change, clean air and cyber harassment. She is committed to inspire people to experience and protect the out-of-doors. Caroline is the first woman to ski all 90 lines documented by Anrdrew McLean in The Chuting Gallery, the back-country steep-skiing guide to Utah’s Wasatch range. Unfortunately, those and other accomplishments have been accompanied by cyber-bullying and harassment. REI produced this thoughtful video about her. It’s well worth watching.

IS SKIING THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH?

Salomon produced a nice video of a late 40s American skier who traveled to northern Japan to learn about the relationship between skiing and longevity. He spent time with a father and son who summited Everest together when the dad was 80. The son is a microbiologist specializing in aging. He concludes that skiing adds years to life. (We know it adds life to years.) Among the reasons: proper technique = less impact on joints. He believes there’s a relationship between lower body strength and longevity.

IDAHO

Grandkids in 5th and/or 6th Grade ski free or at steep discounts at all 18 of Idaho‘s ski resorts. Idaho residency not required. More info at skiidaho.us/programs/passport. There’s a $15 processing fee.

UTAH

If your plans take you to Utah mid-November, consider attending the BMW IBSF Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup, Friday/Saturday November 17/18 at Utah Olympic Park in Park City. Bobsled and Skeleton athletes from 20+ countries will participate in Women’s Skeleton, Men’s Skeleton, Women’s Bobsled, and 4-Man Bobsled.  Admission for spectators is free. While there, don’t miss the Alf Engen Ski Museum. It’s a real treat!

VERMONT

Members of the Hermitage Club, the private ski resort at Haystack Mountain, are being assessed a one-time $10,000 fee. The fee is needed to cover cash flow problems related to state permitting delays, poor weather in the 2015-2016 winter season and a slow membership drive.

Killington is installing several new solar projects. They are expected to generate more than 3,300,000 kWh of annually for the resort and sister property, Pico Mountain.

R.I.P.

Morrie Shepard died Thursday, Oct. 12. He instructed at Aspen, before joining Vail in 1962 where he was its first ski school director. His other titles while at Vail; building inspector, fire chief, building coordinator; professional funster. He was born July 2, 1925.

OTHER

All Adventure Camp Blankets are the first modular three-part blanket system. Each of the lightweight components can be used to stay warm and/or protected in variety of situations from camping to sitting on the beach. The manufacturer, Kammok, is raising funds via Kickstarter. Their home-made video explains the system.

 

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seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (September 29)

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It’s Warm In The East, And The Rockies Are Turning White.

So it makes sense that one of the articles in this week’s package reviews the Tannus tubeless foam-filled bicycle tire and another explains why this is the best time to purchase a season pass.

Harriet Wallis, an active biker, skier, and SeniorsSkiing.com contributor wrote the piece on the foam tire. If you’re considering that as an option, it’s worth seeing her critique.

Mike “Bear Foot” Warner publishes SeniorSkiDeals.com. His piece on the economy of passes, even if they’ll be used for a portion of the season, is well-reasoned. Next month, we’ll add to the discussion when we publish our comprehensive listing of all the U.S. areas where seniors ski free.

Remember ski ballet, the short-lived Olympic demonstration event? Jon’s reminiscence about that graceful form of skiing is fun to read. The vintage Bogner video featuring Suzy Chaffee and John Eaves is a joy to watch.

Thanks for subscribing to SeniorsSkiing.com and for being a part of this growing community of older skiers. We still have SeniorsSkiing.com stickers available. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: SeniorsSkiing.com, Box 416, Hamilton, MA 01936. A new design is in the works.

In nautical terms, Senior Skiers are the stabilizing keel of the ski industry. As a group we represent 20% of total US skiers/boarders. Per capita, we ski more frequently and spend more than younger population segments. The industry sees youth and other factors as the fuel that keeps it sailing toward the future. That’s why it markets to younger generations. Senior skiers have power and influence. There are more of us every day; we aren’t going away.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Snow Has Arrived Around The West.

Utah first snow. Ski Utah

Half-Price Subscription to realskiers.com: Jackson Hogen, publisher of realskiers.com, publishes short essays related to the the sport. The current one, about older skiers, is titled “Not Dead Yet.” You can sign up for the essays and receive them free. I recommend getting a paid subscription where, among other things, you’ll find intelligent and comprehensive ski reviews (including the best skis for senior skiers). Subscribers also are entitled to one-on-one consulting with Jackson. That comes in handy when considering your next equipment purchase. Youngsters pay $19.95 for a year’s subscription. SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers pay $9.95. To sign up, visit realskiers.com. Scroll down to/click on “Subscribe Today!” Then click “Sign Up” in the “Annual Membership” box. Complete the form and enter SS17 in the field under “Coupon Code.”

COLORADO

Area developments for 2017-18 follow: 

  • Arapahoe Basin: 371 acres of difficult/extreme terrain to be accessible by hiking; 4 person lift to be added next summer.
  • Aspen Snowmass: Snowmass celebrates 50thAnniversary with $6.50 lift tickets (opening day 1967 lift ticket price) on December 15, plus other activities throughout season. Aspen to host Olympic qualifying events when the U.S. Grand Prix stops in Snowmass January 10–14, 2018. Breathtaker mountain coaster opens at Snowmass in December. 
  • Cooper: Celebrates 75thAnniversary New Year’s Eve.
  • Copper Mountain: Hosts Olympic qualifying events December 6-10. New Kokomo Express Lift and Koko’s Hut serves beginner terrain in West Village. Rocky Mountain Coaster opens this Fall.
  • Eldora: New six-person high speed detachable Alpenglow Express lift ready for action.
  • Loveland Ski Area: Celebrates 80thyear of operations; adds snowcat skiing in Dry Gulch.
  • Purgatory: Expanded terrain with new intermediate and expert trails on the back- and front-sides; adding new gladed skiing; installed a mountain coaster.
  • Silverton: will celebrate 50+” powder days with area-provided snorkels.
  • Steamboat recently opened its Outlaw Mountain Coaster, the longest in North America.
  • Telluride celebrates its 45th anniversary.

 MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON: 36thANNUAL SKI & SNOWBOARD EXPO kicks off season, NOV. 9-12, at SEAPORT WORLD TRADE CENTER. ADMISSION:$15 adults; Under 12 free. Paid admission includes one-year subscription to SKI magazine and a $10 Gift Card from GetSkiTickets.com.  Purchase tickets online at www.skisnowexpo.com/boston-expo or at door.

MICHIGAN 

Ishpeming: Eight skiing athletes/others to be inducted to U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame next April . They include freestyle icon “Airborne” Eddie Ferguson, freestyle’s somersault king Herman Goellner cross-country coach Marty Hall, ski mountaineers twin brothers Mike and Steve Marolt, and (posthumously)130 mph alpine speed skiing world record holder, Steve McKinnney. Ceremonies to be held at Squaw Valley.

MONTANA

 Big Sky reported snow above 6500′. National long-range forecasts for the 2017-18 winter season predict average temperatures and above-average precipitation in the Rocky Mountain West.

PENNSYLVANIA

 “First-Time Ski/Snowboard Program” gives beginner ticket, lesson and rentals for $59. Click here for more.

TEXAS/FLORIDA

NOAA reports that Harvey delivered 49.32″ of rain and Irma, 16″. At 30°F, 1″ of rain falls as 13″ of snow. The snow amount could be as much as 50″ dry powder under certain conditions. Using the 30°F/1″rain =13″ snow formula, the amount of rain from Harvey would produce 641.16″ snow; the amount from Irma would equal 208″.

Dick Brooks with Hurricane Harvey debris in Houston

Dick Brooks is a SeniorsSkiing subscriber who lives in Houston and Durango, Colorado where his home resort is Purgatory. He reports that his home was dry and that he and wife, Claire, have volunteered by preparing food for those impacted and by carrying damaged items to the curb. Dick sent this photo of nearby damage.

 

 

 

UTAH

Deer Valley, which Ski Magazine readers just named the #1 resort in North America, will host the 2018 Visa Freestyle International, January 10-12. The event determines the freestylers who will represent the US at the South Korean Winter Olympics in February. The event is held at night under lights. The steep slope is covered in bumps. It can get chilly, but it’s a terrific thing to see.

Opening dates for Utah resorts:

  • Alta Ski Area: November 22
  • Brian Head Resort: November 17
  • Brighton Resort: Early As Possible
  • Cherry Peak Resort: December 18
  • Deer Valley Resort: December 2
  • Eagle Point Resort: December 21
  • Nordic Valley Resort: December 9
  • Park City Mountain: November 17
  • Snowbasin Resort: November 22
  • Snowbird Resort: November 22
  • Solitude Mountain: December 2
  • Sundance Mountain Resort: December 8

VERMONT 

OOPS. Ski Vermont recently announced that Parker Riehle, e group’s head, would leave that post to lead National Ski Areas Association. Citing personal reasons, he decided not to take the new position. Long time NSAA president, MIchael Berry, will remain in post until a new replacement is identified and transitioned.

Snowmaking and grooming improvements will improve the experience this season at Bolton Valley, Burke Mountain, Mount Snow, Okemo Mountain, Stratton Mountain, Sugarbush, and Suicide Six.

Okemo Ultimate season passholders now qualify for $49 lift tickets at Stratton Mountain Resort during the 2017/2018 season. Limited to one per day, non-holiday periods only, this special offer is non-transferable, and can only be used by the passholder. Stratton Summit passholders receive this same benefit at Okemo.

 

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Something Old. Something New.

I just read two books about trails.

The old one is American Skiing, published in 1939. It’s author, Otto Schniebs, was one of the Arlberg Technique pioneers in New England and contributed to the development of several areas.  He founded the American Ski School of Boston and coached at Dartmouth College and later at St. Lawrence University.

When was the last time you saw someone do this?

The first chapter, “Adventure on Skis in the Colorado Rockies,” is a colorful account of a Spring visit to the Elk Mountains between Aspen and Crested Butte. This was ’39 and Aspen didn’t start as a ski area until ’46; Crested Butte in ’62. Schniebs and his companions encounter a variety of terrain, snow and avalanches. The text is fun to read and is richly illustrated with photos. Throughout are page references to technique, which is covered in the next section, where he uses motion picture stills to explain a full range of ski moves ranging from those for beginners to achieving jump turns, and somersaults!

This is followed by ruminations about organizing ski areas, building trails and slopes, a single sentence on mechanical lifts, longer sections on ski patrol, developing instructors, ski schools, and equipment.

The book has many photos, including a fold-out panorama of the northern Adirondacks (Whiteface to Mt. Marcy to Redfield in Winter), a classic shot of Dick Durrance, skiers in Tuckerman’s Ravine, etc.

I’ve had my copy since 1962. Google shows first edition copies for less than $50.

The new book is On Trails: An Exploration, by Robert Moor. This New York Times Bestseller is a wonderful read. The information — it does not cover ski trials — is fascinating and presented with graceful and engaging prose. We accompany the author as he explores a multitude of ancient and modern trails. His observations take us into the realms of natural and human history, economics, philosophy, and literature. Who knew that studies of how ants travel have been digitized and the results used to inform flows in factories and warehouses? The trail and road walkers he encounters range from amusing to weird. I highly recommend On Trails. The pages turn on their own.

New Zealand

Mt Hutt has a 120″ base, and plans to remain open through October 15. The 6800’+ resort is one of the highest in New Zealand.

Vermont

Listed below are the deadlines for lowest season pass prices in Vermont. Note the threshold ages for skiing free (some may require a small processing fee).

  • Bolton Valley: September 25 Ski Free: 75
  • Bromley Mountain: October 15
  • Burke Mountain: October 9
  • Jay Peak Resort: October 9
  • Killington Resort: October 12 Ski Free: 80
  • Mad River Glen: October 15 Ski Free: 70
  • Magic Mountain: October 15
  • Middlebury Snow Bowl: November 30 Ski Free: 70
  • Mount Snow Resort: October 18
  • Okemo Mountain Resort: October 9
  • Pico Mountain: October 12 Ski Free: 80
  • Smugglers’ Notch Resort: October 31
  • Stowe Mountain Resort: October 8
  • Stratton Mountain Resort: October 9
  • Sugarbush Resort: September 13; Boomer Pass (Age 65-89) Price: $139; includes midweek, non-holiday skiing at Lincoln Peak and Mt. Ellen. Ski Free: 90

Other

Take five minutes and give yourself a treat. The Man at the End of the World is a beautiful video about an older couple living in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. If you enjoy the clip, click “like’ in the lower right corner to help it score well in a video competition.

 

 

Harriet Wallis

Confessions Of A Ski Thief

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[Editor Note: This personal account by contributor Harriet Wallis makes me smile. It appeared in SeniorsSkiing.com January 2, 2015.]

Start the Season Off Right: Know Where You Put Your Skis

It had been a glorious day on the slopes. Toward the end of that day, skiers and riders were coming off the hill and settling onto the patio to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine with some beverages and live music. Before I could join them, I had to park my skis, but it was nearly impossible to find an empty slot in the racks.

Where O where art thou? Getting skis mixed up is too easy in this forest of fiberglass. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Where O where art thou? Getting skis mixed up is too easy in this forest of fiberglass.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

With so many people and so many skis, I reasoned that it might be easy for someone to grab the wrong skis when they were ready to head home. To prevent such an accidental mix up, I put one ski in the rack and placed the other against the building. They were old skis, but they were my only skis, and I didn’t want them to go home with somebody else. With one ski here and the other ski over there, I was sure my skis would be waiting for me when I was ready to leave the mountain.

And sure enough, skis were waiting. I gathered one ski from the rack and the other from against the building. I threw them into the car and headed home.

A few days later – just as I was ready to ski again – I picked up my skis and was horrified. They didn’t match. I had a 170cm ski and one that was 163 cm. They were identical except for the size. Same ski, same integrated binding. Just different sizes!

I replayed the scenario in my head. I had put one in the rack and the other against the building. But another skier had done exactly the same thing – one ski in the rack, one ski against the building. And I had stolen a ski that belonged to somebody else.

I made frantic phone calls. My ski was waiting in the resort’s lost and found. When I retrieved it, there was an angry note taped to it saying: “It was the last day of my vacation, but I had to fly home to North Carolina with only one ski. Someone stole my other ski.”

I shipped the 163 cm ski to her immediately, and I included some goodies as an apology.

But when I told my son, he capped the matter. “Mother, I told you to use a ski lock. Now do it.”

Kids. We raise them with our wisdom, and then they turn around and give us a dose of their wisdom.

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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A forced march may be my most effective pre-season training.

While it wasn’t really forced, our hilly, eight day walk in the Dordogne region of France was a delightful, though at times strenuous, way to get in better shape.

After a few days in the 90s, temps dropped to the 60s; perfect for our daily 6-8 hours on narrow roads and even narrower farm lanes. We purchased the trip from Utracks, which arranged for our bags to be moved to the small hotels they had booked along the way. Their maps and directions were okay, not wonderful, and they neglected to inform us of an app that tracks your movement along the trails, helping to prevent numerous wrong turns from following the directions they supplied. That said, every hotel was spotless and the meals (included in the package), outstanding.

This is the land of ducks, geese, truffles, and cheese. Every place we stayed served it fresh from the area and beautifully prepared. No caloric guilt after all that walking. The last day, we took a car part way, walked seven miles, then canoed the final leg down the Dordogne River to another tiny town and our hotel. We had zig-zagged about 70 miles; the ride back to where we left the car was about 20 minutes.

Next time I trek will be closer to the season.

The Dordogne also contains the Vézère Valley, one of the world centers of prehistory. Among the 147 sites is Lascaux, the cave network whose walls are lined with glorious depictions of animals. These masterpieces were created 20,000 years ago. The original cave is off limits, but, in typical French fashion, it is beautifully exhibited in a precise underground copy; the centerpiece of a large, modern museum dedicated to this exceptional discovery. Other sites, including the comprehensive National Museum of Prehistory are scattered throughout the valley. If contemplating a visit to Vézère Valley, it’s best to decide an itinerary and purchase tickets in advance, especially for the more highly visited sites.

Aspen/KSL/Intrawest/Mammoth

A new 800-pound gorilla is about to enter the room. Last week, Aspen Skiing Co., KSL Capital Partners, Intrawest, and Mammoth Resorts closed on the deal announced in April. The new entity has 12 resorts including Aspen, Mammoth, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Steamboat, Winter Park, Stratton, and Mt. Tremblant. It also includes heli operator, Canadian Mountain Holidays. Total terrain (CMH excluded) is 20,000 acres. Total annual skier visits: 6 million. Vail Resorts is the other 800-pound gorilla. What does this consolidation mean for senior skiers? Stay tuned.

Ski Younger Now

Ski Younger Now is a retraining program for older skiers, and skiers returning to the sport after recovering from injury. It teaches low-impact, low-torque techniques to enable efficient skiing in all kinds of terrain. Created by SeniorsSkiing.com advisor, Seth Masia, SNY is entering its third season as a Signature Program in the Vail Village Ski School. Six 3-day sessions are scheduled for 2017-18. To sign up, download the registration form and return it to the Vail Ski and Snowboard School, call (800) 475-4543, or email Ingie Franberg, Adult Specialty Programs Manager, at ifranberg@vailresorts.com.

Climate Change Ends Summer Snow Camp

Camp of Champions, which for 28 years has been held on Whistler Blackcomb‘s Horstman Glacier has ceased operations. In a letter posted on the camp’s website, founder Ken Achenbach writes, “The predicament I find myself in is nature’s fault, not Whistler Blackcomb’s. In 2015 alone, the glacier lost 35 vertical feet of ice.” The camp required big terrain park features which could not be built due to drier snowpack. Other camps continue to use the glacier.

Outdoor Industry’s Political Activism

The outdoor industry is politically involved in saving public lands from private development as reported July 27 in The New York Times.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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I Hate Sue.

That’s the name we gave the voice on the rental car’s navigation system. We programmed her to direct us about 500 kilometers across France. Instead of doing as instructed, Sue gave us a Tour de France, all the way to the Mediterranean at the end of a major holiday. We were stuck, bumper-to-bumper, for hours. At one point she broke down, blurting out impossible directions, one after the other. We turned her off, stopped at a rest area (French toll roads have them every ten or so miles) and went analog. We bought a road map. With Sue’s help, what should have been five hours turned into nine.

My wife and I are walking through the Dordogne, a relatively sparsely populated area with gorgeous ancient stone villages and friendly people. We’re using the Grande Route, a well-marked network of narrow country roads and farm paths. Day One was about 10.5 miles; not all that bad were it not in the high 90s. A few too many steep hills and a wrong turn or two complicated our journey. After eight hours, supposedly a kilometer or so from our destination, I waved down a car. The driver took us to the hotel; about a 20 minute ride. Luggage was already in the room, a few steps from a great pool. The bartender made a Panache: half lemonade; half beer, on the rocks. Nothing is more refreshing after a very long and hot day on the trail.

A few days earlier we drove up Mt Ventoux in Provence. The temps at the bottom were mid-90s; the top (about 6273′ elevation), 15° cooler. Mt Ventoux is a frequent stage on the Tour de France, and the day we visited, an impressive number of amateurs were pedaling up and down. The mountain’s bald top can be seen across Provence. We ascended the north side. About two-thirds of the way we passed a smallish ski area. There’s one on the south face, as well. Some quick research indicated that high winds and limited snow pack make for icy and limited seasons.

Pepito leads the way.
Credit: Jon Weisberg

Day Two, feet hurting, we rode part way and hiked another 8-10 miles. About an hour in, a black and white dog with the face of a Russian wolf hound joined us. He seemed to know the route, occasionally departing into wood and field; always reappearing. We shared sausage and water with “le chien.” Later, he protected us from an aggressive hound as we passed his turf. Several hours later, arriving at our destination, hotel staff took him to the vet around the corner. The chip reader located the owner. We learned later our four-legged friend’s name is “Pepito.”

Taking the day off today. Time to rest our own weary dogs.

 

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows closed its 2016-17 season on July 15, the latest date in the resort’s history. Here’s pic we are sharing from snowbrains.com that shows conditions on the list day. What a season! Sixty feet of snow! 200 days of winter operation! Snowiest month on record (283 inches in January)!

Good to the last drop a Squaw Valley, CA.
Credit: RogerRomaini/Snowbrains.com

NEW YORK

The July 3 edition of The New Yorker magazine has a short story titled “The Adventure of a Skier.” The author is Italo Calvino, and it describes a group of awkward young boys forcing their ski movements and a beautiful young girl making graceful turns with no apparent effort, using knowledge-based skill. Why the magazine chose to publish this winter story about chaos and order at the height of summer is a matter of speculation. Placed in our current political context, it makes sense.

UTAH

Alta‘s 2017-18 passes are now available. As with most areas, savings and bonuses are available with early purchases.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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There’s something odd about sitting in the shade in high desert, sun beating in the mid 80s and my laptop pinging with ski-related emails.

George Jedenoff at Snowbird.

Ski Utah’s alert is about George Jedenoff, who, as reported in last week’s Short Swings!, plans to spend his 100th birthday next week taking a few runs at the top of Snowbird. A quick search of “centennarian skiers” produced Lou Batori, 106 who skis at Crystal Mountain in Michigan. He is reported to have skied every winter since 1920. Keizo Miura, the Japanese ski instructor skied at Snowbird on his 100th. He lived to 101. Others took to the slopes for their 100th celebrations as well. May we all enjoy our days doing what we love.

The resorts, naturally, have been emailing about their summer offerings. Regardless of where they’re located activities are bundled into music of every genre, mountain biking, zip lining, and other high thrill adventures, and food/wine/beer events.

And Patagonia, that wonderful purveyor of terrific products and sustainable ideas, has been encouraging its customers to speak out in defense of public lands. The company reminds us that the comment period for all monuments is open until July 9. A portion of the Patagonia site lists all threatened national monuments, including four in Arizona, seven in California, two each in Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, and one each in Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

SOUTHERN SKIING

For a quick snow report of Southern Hemisphere resorts — whether you’re planning to go or just living vicariously — visit On The Snow.

SKIER’S INK

Some people simply can’t resist a questionable idea. Hence the advent of skier tattoos. These examples are quite amazing, especially #s 10 and 22.

VERBIER, SWITZERLAND

I spent a week there in the late 70s. It was fantastic. One memorable day I joined a small group and a guide for a short fixed wing flight to the top of a glacier. We spent most of the day skiing down. Our last stop was in a small village where we had lunch before taking a train back to the resort. Fall Line Magazine in the UK recently published this graphic showing how Verbier has grown since 1935.

AND THEN THERE’S THIS

From the AARP.  Your thoughts?

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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I’ve spent the past several days in downtown Chicago.

Maybe it’s the nice weather or the pleasure of being in a big city after an extended post-season stay at our desert place, but Chicago is wonderful. The architecture is impressive, as was the tour boat through downtown explaining the broad variety of design. While I was working, my wife took a Frank Lloyd Wright tour in Oak Park. This is the 100 anniversary of his death, and there’s a lot of the Wright stuff going on. She had a glowing report. The food here is something else. I don’t watch chefs on TV, but, apparently, every star has staked turf in Chicago. One BBQ place, Isabelle’s in Wicker Town, was memorable. Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza was out of this world. Steak at Gene & Georgetti was very good, but not on our return list. Millennium Park is filled with treats including the 110-ton polished stainless steel “Cloud Gate” sculpture by Anish Kapoor; “Crown Fountain,” comprising two 50-foot glass blocks with LED composite images of Chicagoans spouting water from their mouths, and an outdoor concert stage and serpentine bridge designed by Frank Gehry. My kinda town!

THE SEASON

Nationally, skier days were up to 54.7 million from 52.8 million in 2015-16, a 3.7 percent increase. Visits varied by region with strong rebounds in the Northeast, Southeast and Pacific Northwest. Declines were seen in the Pacific Southwest, Rocky Mountains and Midwest. Those declines notwithstanding, visits at Colorado Ski Country USA‘s 22-member areas (Vail not included) totaled 7.3 million, estimated to be the state’s second best on record. Ski Utah reported 4.6 million skier days, up 2.85 percent from the previous record during the 2015-16. And Ski Vermont reported 3.9 million visits.

MEANWHILE, IN NEW ZEALAND

It’s the first run of the first day of ski season at Coronet Peak, Queenstown, NZ.
Credit: Coronet Peak

Coronet Peak, the closest ski field to Queenstown, NZ, opened on June 17 as planned with the Magic Carpet lifts, Meadows Express and Coronet Express Chair lift, and the tubing park, all open.

Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager Nigel Kerr said, “This is a really good start to the season. We had a big turn out for that first ride and it has been building up throughout the day.”

Coronet Peak welcomed more than 1000 people by lunchtime on Day One.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

The New York Times publishes short videos each day that allow the viewer to mouse around the image at will. It’s an interesting use of technology. Today, the first day of summer, the Times 360 video shows how to make an igloo.

DISCOUNTS

25% off Panda ski, trekking, and camera poles.

SUPER DUPER SENIOR SKIER GEORGE JEDENOFF TURNS 100

100 and still skiing, George Jedenoff.
Credit: Ski Utah

George Jedenoff, a resident of California has been traveling to Utah to ski Little Cottonwood Canyon (Alta and Snowbird) every year since 1960. George learned how to ski at Alta when he was 43 and claims it was the best decision he has ever made. He is a remarkable man who draws his true happiness from the slopes and has become an inspiration to the Utah ski community. His official birthday is July 17.  Happy Birthday, George and thanks for the inspiration.