Jon Weisberg

Snow Sports Leaders: Klaus Obermeyer

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“It’s Easier To Ski Than To Walk.”

Klaus Obermeyer is a skiing legend and innovator. The 97 year old founded Sport Obermeyer Ltd based on insights about ski wear while working in the late 40’s as an instructor in Aspen. One of his many innovations was the down ski parka, stitched together from a goose down comforter. Other product innovations include high-altitude suntan lotion, turtlenecks, nylon wind-shirts, and mirrored sunglasses. In 1961, the first Sport Obermeyer factory warehouse opened in Aspen, and innovations continued with “soft-shell” jackets, double lens goggles, pre-shaped gloves, the first waterproof, breathable fabrics, a built-in ski boot canting system and fashion-conscious, technically responsible skiwear.

Klaus Obermeyer

What are the most significant changes you have observed in the world of skiing?

Skis have gotten shorter and wider. Their advantage is that you can float at lower speeds in deep snow. They make it easier for everyone to ski deep snow. They also allow those who climb mountains to use a lot more of the mountain with or without the lifts.

 During your time, which well-known skiers have had the most impact on ski fashion?

Maria Bogner probably.

Please comment on the role of form and function in ski apparel?

For ski apparel to function well, for example, ski parkas, they need:

  • – To be waterproof and breathable;
  • – To have stretch material in places where stretch is needed;
  • – Be lightweight;
  • – Look terrific

For many years, you have been a role model for older skiers. Do you think equipment and apparel manufacturers would benefit from using older models and showing older people in their advertising and marketing?

The older models are slowly dying out and the young ones are tomorrow’s old ones. I think age makes no difference as far as technical performance of clothing.

What advice would you give older skiers who are still healthy but thinking about hanging up their boards in favor of other activities?

I think one should never give up skiing as it keeps the legs in good shape and even improves your walking after you’re over 80.

What advice would you give ski area operators to encourage older skiers to remain in the sport? 

Have parking places for older skiers so you don’t have to walk so far in those awful ski boots.

Of all people past and present with whom would you like to ride the lift?

With the best looking girl!

Please add any comments not covered above.

Skiing and boarding are sports that are absolutely unique and wonderful. The make you appreciate the incredible beauty of being outdoors in the mountains and give you tremendous choices of how fast to go, where to put your turns, and where to jump to get a zero G feeling. In the end it’s easier to ski than to walk.

Klaus in his earlier days

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 20)

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New Senior Ski Tips eBook, Solitude Races, Big White Resort Review, “Snowbound” Excerpt, Lift Tickets From Speeders?, OR Show Finds.

Oh, and the skiing ostriches.  Don’t ask, just watch.

It’s been a busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com. We are seeing ongoing, monumental snow falls in the West that are relieving drought conditions in California and creating avalanche hazards all over the mountains. The Northeast is depending on snowmaking and grooming.

We have received and posted our first ever reader-submitted video. Thanks to Emilio Trampuz for being number one. Look under Community in the top navigation menu. WE WELCOME MORE.  If you have a video you want fellow readers to see, post it on Youtube and send us a link.  This should be fun.

We also have a new, subscriber-only eBook we developed with Vail instructor Seth Masia called “9 Ski Tips Every Senior Skier Should Know.”  If you are a subscriber, just go to Community and select Subscriber-Only Content, confirm your email address and download the file.  If you’re not a subscriber, consider subscribing, it’s free.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis contributed two articles this week, one promoting Snowboardcross and Skicross Races at Solitude and another highlighting some really cool, senior-friendly products she found at the OR show.

John Nelson is churning out resort reviews, this week focusing on Big White in BC.  It’s low key area with skiing just right for seniors.  Check out his report.

With all the snow flying out West, we thought is would be symbolic to publish an excerpt from “Snowbound” John Greenleaf Whittier’s masterpiece about snow and life. Bottom line: Snow changes everything.

Finally, we have an important article from John Brown, a veteran ski patroller, who talks about lifting tickets from speeders and reckless skiers.  Turns out, it’s not as easy as it sounds.  We know our readers don’t like or are intimidated by speedsters and want the Ski Patrol to lift more tickets. What do you think?

Thanks for subscribing to SeniorsSkiing.com. Remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.

Alpine Meadows

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Nine Ski Tips Every Senior Skier Needs To Know

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Subscribers Can Download A New eBook For Free.

For Baby Boomer skiers, low impact and low torque are the keys to more runs per day and more pleasurable skiing in general.

With the exception of the occasional kamikaze, older skiers want to remain in control on all types of terrain. And they want have a good time and look good when skiing with spouses, kids, and grandkids.

Boomers learned the sport when teaching techniques and equipment required considerable athleticism. They learned to react quickly with joint jarring rotational and up and down movements and excessive exertion when correcting for changes in balance and preventing falls.

Recognizing that old techniques can damage older bodies, even those in good shape, Seth Masia, longtime PSIA instructor in the Vail Ski School (and a member of the SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Counsel), developed an instructional approach to help aging skiers change their ways. He teaches the technique in the three-day Ski Younger Now workshops offered throughout the season.

The technique is presented in a new, free, illustrated eBook developed with SeniorsSkiing.com. “9 Low Torque, Low Impact Ski Tips Every Senior Skier Needs to Know,” is available for subscribers.  To download the book, go to Community in the top navigation bar, click on Subscriber-Only Content, confirm your email address, then find the eBook, click on it. You will be downloading a PDF file.

Masia studied how older bodies, without risk of injury, could navigate a variety of terrains gracefully and more slowly. His new instructional approach takes into account skiers with artificial hip and knees.

He uses a straightforward retraining progression that reduces rotational stress on the knees and lower back. The approach shows skiers how to utilize gravity, terrain, and ski shape to do the work when initiating turns. Similar principles work for controlling speed.

When successfully implemented, each turn is a continuous and predictable arc, requiring less effort and minimizing stress and potential sprains.

The first day of each Ski Younger Now workshop focuses on the nine simple steps explained in the eBook. They start with the “Patience Turn,” which allows the ski’s shape to start each turn with virtually no muscular input. Other steps include a) changing the timing and location of planting a pole to have greater control on steeps and in bumps, b) carving, buttering, or smearing skis to produce a variety of turns, c) an explanation of how to apply pressure on different parts of the inside of the boot to produce different types of turns, and d) the influence of terrain on rhythm and turn shape.

This brief and well-illustrated instructional gem will give senior skiers a new way to enjoy runs with slower, gentler, and more stylish turns. Most important, the tips should result in fewer strains and sprains.

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Snow In Literature: Snowbound by John Greenleaf Whittier

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[An excerpt from Snowbound by John Greenleaf Whitter (1807-1892) to reflect on the tremendous snowfalls in the US and Canadian West.]

Alpine Meadows

So all night long the storm roared on:
The morning broke without a sun;
In tiny spherule traced with lines
Of Nature’s geometric signs,
In starry flake, and pellicle,
All day the hoary meteor fell;
And, when the second morning shone,
We looked upon a world unknown,
On nothing we could call our own.
Around the glistening wonder bent
The blue walls of the firmament,

Squaw Valley

No cloud above, no earth below,—

A universe of sky and snow!
The old familiar sights of ours
Took marvellous shapes; strange domes and towers
Rose up where sty or corn-crib stood,
Or garden-wall, or belt of wood;
A smooth white mound the brush-pile showed,
A fenceless drift what once was road;
The bridle-post an old man sat
With loose-flung coat and high cocked hat;
The well-curb had a Chinese roof;
And even the long sweep, high aloof,
In its slant splendor, seemed to tell
Of Pisa’s leaning miracle.

Sugarbowl

John Brown

Lift A Ticket? A Ski Patrolman Speaks

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There Are No Easy Answers.  It Might Hinge On Ski Resort Policy.

Editor Note: Last spring, we received a note from Frank Dolman, a 43-year member of the National Ski Patrol and a long time guide for the Over The Hill Gang at Steamboat. His comment: “Problem—Some owners of ski areas are cutting costs by lowering headcount and hours of the ski patrol. Consequently, reckless behavior can be out of control. Solution—A ‘license’ to ski, based on passing a test on the Skier’s Responsibility Code. License earns discounts, etc., as incentive.”  

Our Spring Survey 2016 revealed a lot of comments about controlling speeders. We’re still searching for an answer. This article by John Brown, a 38-year NSP veteran and patrolman at Ragged Mountain, NH, suggests lifting tickets really depends on the policies of the resorts. 

Know it, practice it, tell your friends.

Responsible behavior on the snow at times doesn’t seem to be a habit of a lot of skiers/riders today, and many people wonder who is responsible for the development of this go fast and take chances attitude. Is it the ski patrol? Is it area management? Is it equipment that may be too easy to use? Perhaps it’s the “point ‘em downhill and go” approach. And maybe it is a general apathy.

My answer is: “All of the above”.

So what can we do? Bring back and/or bring forward the skier responsibility code! Remember when it was posted everywhere, printed on napkins, the back of your ticket, on brochures and even a billboard or two? Look for it when you get a chance, and let me know where it pops up. Simply adhering to these common sense rules will make the slopes safe.

What should the ski patrol do? Well, first we would have to visit the individual ski area’s policy. Does the area encourage the patrol to be visible? Are there enough patrollers to actually patrol? Or does the patrol have to standby on top and wait to be dispatched?

Should the patrol take tickets away and under what circumstances? First offense? Based on a report? Before we build a long list of offenses, let’s first remember the patrol is not the police, and their primary mission is to keep the area safe and render aid when necessary.

There are various ski area policies that range from marking a ticket/pass to recording the name of a pass holder who has hit someone or otherwise skied/rode recklessly. An informative admonishment can be a valuable tool as well. A ski patrol that is visible can deter the potential speeder or reckless skier.

The ski area has a responsibility to take some sort of action when a report of reckless skiing is made. Whether it is customer service, the ticket counter, ski patrol or ski school, there must be a positive response to each visitor’s concern. You can’t ignore a ski area patron who takes the time to report what they feel is errant behavior which invariably could result in injury or worse, resulting in an unpleasant experience of a customer.

Of course, many people believe the easiest thing to do is to take away the ticket, and most certainly there are occurrences that warrant such action. Consider this though. After driving two hours and paying $80 for a ticket not to mention a $3 bottle of water, should we take away the ticket of someone who may or may not have skied too close to someone? Of course, if there is reason to believe recklessness resulted in injury or complete disregard for safety, then maybe the ticket should be taken. But what about gray-areas? Second-hand reports?  Not easy.

Just like the myriad of resorts in North America, the solutions will vary as well. There is one very proactive element that begins with all of us, and it is communication. No one will know there is a problem if it is not reported whether in person, by email, snail mail or by phone, once an area is aware of a concern there is a responsibility to act to make skiing and rider safe for everyone.

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 13)

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Deer Valley Senior Friendliness, Online Lesson Review Series Starting, Using Old Stuff, Part 2, Fun and Fotos; Black Diamond’s Founder Urges Outdoor Retailers to Leave Utah.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows this week and more snow coming.

The snow has been piling up and up in the West while the snow from last weekend’s moderate storm in New England has melted in 55 degree temps. Crested Butte was closed down for a while because roads were impassable and completely clogged with snow. Same in the Tahoe area; 10 feet of snow in the Sierra, I-80 closed. Too much snow. Meanwhile, the Northeast teeters on the edge between cold nights for snowmaking and warm and rainy days.  Very up and down season so far.

Sugar Bowl base lodge on a snow day.

What is most disconcerting though is news from various Western resorts where skiers are caught in backcountry avalanches.  Some lucky escapes have been caught on GoPro videos; others didn’t make it.  Too many deaths this season so far.  So, be careful out there.  Big, big snow has big downsides.

Peter Metcalf, founder and former CEO of outdoor equipment maker Black Diamond, urged the big Outdoor Retailer show to get out of Utah. His reasoning? The outdoor industry relies on access to beautiful public lands, but Utah’s political leadership is hellbent on selling it all to the highest bidder.

We have an interesting report from correspondent Tamsin Venn on Deer Valley describing how senior-friendly the resort can be.  Comfortable skiing, excellent dining, service staff standing by to help carry, direct, teach, or serve guests in many ways.  We hope to visit DV one of these days; a true stand-out resort.

Yes, neon jumpsuits were the rage…35 years ago.
Credit: Shinesty

Val E. continues his two-part series by talking about using, well, old clothes and accessories.  Did you know neon jumpsuits are coming back?  Have you seen anyone wearing an 80s fuschia onesie?

Reminder: Last week we asked for you to submit a video of your skiing experiences.  We had a terrific submission from one of you guys, and we are putting it on the magazine next week! Please send more.  

Next week, expect to read about a new content asset for subscribers-only, more resort reviews, an op-ed about the Ski Patrol (you will find this very interesting), and a review of an online instructional video.  Please keep telling your friends about us, visit our advertisers, and remember: There are more of us every day, and we are not going away.  AND DON’T FORGET YOU CAN FIND A LOCAL SKI CLUB BY LOOKING HERE.

Ahhh. Fresh morning tracks.
Credit: Deer Valley

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 6)

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More Resort Reviews, Stein Honored In Deer Valley, Using Old Equipment, XC History Lesson, Boot Wisdom from the Master of MasterFit.

Snowfall forecast for the Rockies from a Denver TV station.
Credit: Joe Durzo

This week has seen some extraordinary snowfalls in the west, from the Canadian Rockies and Cascades to the Wasatch, measured in feet and meters these days. Wow.  Clearly, the snow dances have worked there. In the East, we had a perfect storm in the middle of the holiday vacation week which laid down a base that should last for the rest of the season.  And cold will continue for snowmaking.  So we’re having a better start than last year.  But, from what we hear, European Alps are still snow-starved.

SeniorsSkiing Readers:  Do you have a video of some extraordinary runs you’ve made? Some graceful runs? Some funny events?  Please send them along, or contact us and we’ll figure out how to share them. We’d like to create a readers’ video section with clips you provide. Okay?

Powder at Solitude

Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg and correspondent John Nelson visit two really extraordinary areas:  Solitude in Utah and Mt. Hood Meadows in OR.  Both are high, with magnificent views and varied terrain where seniors can ski comfortably.  And both are the recipients of mucho snow this season, so worth a look if you are planning vacations or visits.

Stein thrilled visitors to Park City with his aerial flips. He was a gymnast in school and his graceful moves influenced several generations of free stylers.
Credit: Park City

Correspondent Tamsin Venn visited Deer Valley over the holidays and was an eyewitness to the Stein Eriksen Memorial ceremony.  Stein’s son and grandson were there to unveil a plaque to one of skiing’s greatest innovators.  Did you know Stein was a gymnast by training growing up in Norway? We’ll be posting Tamsin’s resort review of Deer Valley next week.

MasterFit’s CEO, Steve Cohen, talks about boots and what to do to make them fit and perform correctly.

Should you continue to use your old skis?  Occasionally, we see an old pair of 360s and such on the lift line and wonder why. Some folks just like retro-skiing, we guess.  Correspondent Val E. suggest some caveats re: using old stuff.  Be careful, but it could be okay. Read Part 1 of his article here.

Finally, XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr offers an inventory of the big milestones in the evolution of XC skiing.  We remember the days when XC was a niche sport practiced by only a few athletes and outdoor types.  Wooden skis, leather boots, four-pin bindings, exotic ski waxes (skivox), pine tar, and bamboo poles were the style.  Then came fish-scales and plastic skis. Today, XC equipment is high-tech and much more user friendly.

So off we go to the heart of the season.  Let us know how it’s going out there.  Reminders to our subscribers about our FREE content:

You have access to Skis For Seniors recommendations developed with realskiers.com, a guide to 108 areas in North America where seniors can ski for free, access to Experticity’s Snow Influencers Group where you can get discounts on top gear and clothing from major manufacturers, and you can download a 16-page booklet of historic ski posters developed with the International Ski History Association.

GO TO THE TOP NAVIGATION BAR, CLICK ON COMMUNITY, THEN CLICK ON SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.  

See you next week.  There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Famous Lange boot ad from the early 70s

 

Jon Weisberg

Snow Sports Leaders: Steve Cohen, CEO, MasterFit Enterprises

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[Editor Note: Steve Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Masterfit Enterprises, oversees the Masterfit University Training Centers, the America’s Best Bootfitters organization of top ski bootfitting shops, and Masterfit’s insole and bootfitting products lines. He created the annual national on-hill boot testing program in 1988 while serving as executive editor of Ski Magazine. He is a senior contributor and co-authors all the boot content for Ski and Skiing magazines and their websites, and for the America’s Best Bootfitters website (www.bootfitters.com).]

Steve Cohen, CEO, MasterFit

Experienced skiers advise that ski boots rank most important. Why is that?

Boots are both the suspension and steering link between the body and the ski. If your boots don’t fit comfortably and efficiently transmit power between foot and ski, you’ll never ski to the best of your ability.

What’s more important for comfort and performance: boot liners or boot insoles?

Both are important. But the liners that come with most quality ski boots are pretty good and bootfitters are great at making comfort and fit modifications to them.

The insole is a critical fit, stance and performance component. But the dirty little secret of the ski boot world is that the insoles that come in most ski boots, even the most expensive ones, aren’t very durable or supportive. In fact, boot companies expect skiers to upgrade their insoles so they see it as a place to shave cost.

Think of your boot insole as the foundation for the entire boot. If you aren’t standing on a stable, well-balanced platform, all the joints above that are so crucial to executing a ski turn—ankles, knees and hips—will be out of kilter. That can lead to pain and make it difficult to execute turns.

Explain the importance of Masterfit University and seeking out a shop with an “America’s Best Bootfitter” designation when getting boots fitted.

Would you rather go to an auto mechanic with professional training or one who figured stuff out by trial and error? Masterfit University is where ski retailers send their personnel to be trained in the science and art of bootfitting by the world’s elite bootfitters.

The shops that earn the America’s Best Bootfitters mark of distinction are the best of the best. They have elite skills, knowledge and a complement of specialized tools to provide the best in boot sales and service.

Do you recommend custom insoles for ski boots, or are off-the-shelf models sufficient?

Depends on how often you ski and your aspirations. What we call drop-ins or cut-to-fit models definitely provide better fit, stability and comfort than stock insoles. They’re great for skiers on a budget and those who ski infrequently or at a casual pace. But if you have a complex foot problem, stance issue, ski frequently, or aspire to ski at an advanced level, custom insoles should be inside your boots.

How frequently should skiers replace their boots?

That’s a function of how often they ski. Full-time instructors and others who ski daily will replace their boots every year or two.

For recreational skiers, figure 150-175 days of use or 7-8 years. Whichever comes first. The boot’s shell is subject to incredible stresses in every turn. The plastic eventually loses resiliency and strength and can even crack or explode. The padding in the liner also compacts and loses its resiliency. Components like buckles start breaking. I like to have a transition season where I phase out a boot and break in a new one.

If you frequently walk on hard surfaces with boots, all the guidelines above can be tossed out. Once your soles start wearing thin or losing their shape, it can affect how your binding releases. That’s serious stuff. Your binding may not hold you in when it should or it might not release when it should. Both are dangerous situations. Your boot/binding interface should be inspected and tested periodically by a certified shop.

What should older skiers be looking for when they’re shopping for a pair of boots?

A good bootfitter to guide them. Older feet have more problems and need someone with experience and skills to help in the selection and make modifications and accommodations. Older skiers might also want to consider a softer boot than they used in the past as well as one designed for easy entry/exit and easy to close and open buckles.

Masterfit organizes the annual event where the coming season’s boots are evaluated. The results appear in Ski, Skiing, and at the America’s Best Bootfitters website and inform ski shop sales personnel around the country. How is this information relevant for older skiers?

We have a lot of exceptionally-experienced skiers who are 50+ testing boots for us. Their experiences and feedback gives older skiers a reference point from which to start a boot search.

 

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Dec. 30)

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Happy New Year! Ski Carefully.  This Week: Fun Videos, Almost Lost Ski Area, Where To Find Our Senior Ski Recommendations.

SKIING magazine editor and ski legend Doug Pfeiffer at a ski show sometime in the early 70s.

Another busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com’s press room.  We hope your holidays were happy, and that, as we head to the New Year, everyone reflects on their blessings and the promise of the year ahead.

We’ve apparently aroused major interest in our readership when it comes to skis for seniors.  We have had a great boost in the number of subscriptions (free, fun), but some new folks are having trouble finding our valuable content assets for subscribers only.  So, we spelled out simple instructions for finding our senior ski recommendations and for downloading our other free offers to subscribers. Just click here for directions.

Correspondent Cathie Judge, a long-ago colleague at SKIING magazine, sent us a nostalgia-tinged video reflecting the classic Harry Leonard ski shows of yesteryear.  Industry veterans will appreciate this view of the personalities that dominated the biz in those inchoate days. Thanks, Cathie.

We also found a cartoon from the 60s that shows how skiing was viewed from Goofy and Mickey’s perspective.  Kinda fun.  Thanks, Walt Disney.

We all know that owning a ski area is a challenging business.  Success depends on many factors that owners don’t have control over. As a result, as the industry grew, many small and medium-sized ski resorts have become “lost” over the years, trails overgrowing and property reverted to condos or other uses.  The great exception in this story is Laurel Mountain in Western Pennsylvania.  Laurel was built around the same time as Cranmore Mountain, NH, another pioneer area.  And, it was backed by some of the same moguls.  Better, the trails were laid out by none other than Hannes Schneider.  Thanks to correspondent Pat McCloskey for bringing this story of reclaiming an almost lost ski area to us.

Next week we will be bring you more resort reviews, advice on using old equipment, a report on Stein Eriksen Day in Utah, and more.

As you enjoy winter sports this week, please remember that SeniorsSkiing.com depends on you telling your friends about us.  There really are more of us everyday, and we aren’t going away.

Happy New Year 2017!

Flipping out at a 60s ski show.

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SIA Asks For Your Input For Industry Survey

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Snowsports Industries America Is Conducting Research And You Can Help.

SeniorsSkiing.com is honored to be asked to support a special survey being conducted by SIA.  It’s all about Alpine boot buying.  If you respond and are selected, you might win some cool prizes from SIA as a reward, including boots, cameras and t-shirts of all kinds.

We’ve taken the survey, and it’s short and to the point.  Please let’s give SIA a hand and provide some input.

Click Here To Take The SIA Survey.

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (12/16)

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Find Ski Buddies, Ski For Free, More Gizmo Gift Ideas, Mt. Bachelor’s Appeal, New Backcountry Area Open and Short Swings!

We have some terrific news for all readers of SeniorsSkiing.com.  Through our reader surveys, we know that many readers are looking for skiing companions.  We thought of different ways to fill that need from boosting our FORUM to literally individually matching people who wrote in to us. Finally, we came up with a much better idea.

We’ve formed a relationship with the National Ski Council Federation which is an umbrella agency of regional ski councils comprised of hundreds of local ski clubs.  That means you can look up a ski club near you, go on a group outing or trip to a distant resort, join, make friends, and transform your outdoor winter experience. We think this is a really important addition to the value we bring to our readers, and it is available to anyone who comes to our site; you don’t have to be a subscriber to access the NSCF page which is under the COMMUNITY menu pick.

But, as a reminder, we’ve just created a Subscriber-Only area which contains valuable information that we’ve worked hard to compile and produce.  The Subscriber-Only menu can be found from the top navigation menu.  Go to COMMUNITY, and in the drop-down you will find a menu pick.  You will be asked to confirm your email address.  No Password! You will then have access to…

  • Our list of skis recommended just for seniors developed in collaboration with realskiers.com
  • An inventory of 108 ski resorts that offer FREE skiing to seniors, thanks to the help of the National Ski Areas Association
  • Instructions for accessing and signing up with Experticity, a portal to many deep discounts on top gear and clothing brands specifically targeted to our readers
  • A downloadable, 16-page historic ski poster collection we curated with the support of the International Ski History Association.

Look for more Subscriber-Only content coming soon.

Where Seniors Can Ski For Free

We’ve just posted the 2016-2017 list of 108 ski areas in the US where seniors can ski for free. This is a Subscriber-Only asset, and you can find it under COMMUNITY. As with last year’s list, please be sure to check with the ski resort to ensure the listing is accurate. Some areas start as early as 60 while free skiing for others starts at 80+.

Last Minute Gizmo Gifts

Washington, DC, based SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Val E brings us some highly practical gift  ideas for connecting with people when you’re in back bowls, back country or remote trails. Did you know a low-cost device can add local texting and location capabilities to your SmartPhone even out of cell-tower range?

Luxury Yurts In Backcountry

Speaking of backcountry, correspondent Harriet Wallis provides you with an overview of Whisper Ridge, a brand new Cat skiing area opening this season in Utah.  Aside from the 100 square miles of skiing, the new resort features lodging in luxury yurts. And we mean luxury.

Mt. Bachelor A Friend To Senior Skiers

Finally, Seattle-based correspondent John Nelson introduces us to Mt. Bachelor in our first official Resort Review of the season.  Mt. Bachelor is opening a new lift this weekend, check out the view.  Also, John met up with a 98 year old skier who continues to make turns on what he says is a “darn good mountain.”

Bernie Weichsel Honored

We also want to highlight Bernie Weichsel, a SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Council member and snow sports industry leader.  Bernie was honored with a lifetime achievement award by YES (Youth Enrichment Services), a Boston-based organization that provides opportunities for outdoor adventures for urban youth.

Next week, we’ll be looking at a return of the Ski Trains of yore, why guided skiing makes sense, some holiday fun and other stuff.

As usual, please tell your friends about us.  There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Credit: Parents Magazine

 

 

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Where Seniors Can Ski For FREE: Huff Post

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108 Ski Resorts In North America Recognize Seniors With Free Lift Tickets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SeniorsSkiing.com’s co-publisher Jon Weisberg has another article on Huffington Post, this time describing where seniors can ski for free or for very little money.  [NOTE: You can only download this list from SeniorsSkiing.com. There is no download link in the Huff Post article.  See instructions in BOLD below.]

We are told by ski industry veterans that free skiing for seniors used to be much more widespread. However, a decade or so ago, some resort owners decided that they would rather cash in on seniors rather than gift them a ski lift ride in recognition for years of loyalty to the sport; big discounts and free skiing were gone.

From this list of 108 North American ski resorts, it appears that some more enlightened resorts might be swinging the pendulum back to free skiing.  Sure, some of these resorts are small- or medium-sized, but they are attracting seniors, filling lifts, especially mid-week, and perhaps hosting their families.  The impact of having a loyal group of seniors gathering at the lodge, skiing together, having lunch, staying occasionally for dinner is a huge positive for a ski resort.

Part of our mission at SeniorsSkiing.com is to show the industry the value we bring to their businesses beyond passes and tickets.

If you ARE a subscriber to SeniorsSkiing.com, you can download the list of resorts that offer free skiing by going to the top menu, click on COMMUNITY, then click on SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.  In the drop down menu, you will find the list of resorts.  Re-enter your email address, and you can download the file.

If you ARE NOT a subscriber, sign up.  It’s totally free, and we have strived to bring our readers value in the form of ski recommendations for seniors, discounts from top brands, and a collection of historic ski posters from the International Ski History Association.  All free and focused on helping seniors continue to enjoy the outdoors and snow sports of all kinds.

 

mikemaginn

Find Ski Buddies Near You Through NSCF

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Now Our Readers Can Pinpoint Local Ski Clubs. Check Out Their Events And Activities.

Clubs rule. Ski with friends and the fun begins. Austria circa 1920s.

In Flying Solo, a recent article by XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr, the joys of solitary skiing, nordic or alpine, are highlighted.  From the comments, many readers agree.  There are definitely benefits to going at your own speed, especially when you ski with people whose skills are at different levels.

On the other hand, wouldn’t it be great if you could find like-level companions to ski trip with? Share costs, enjoy group discounts, even socialize and form friendships with? Well, in last spring’s Subscriber Survey, we found that 49.33% of respondents wanted to find other skiers in their region to ski with.  That’s a huge need we identified in the senior sport sport enthusiast population.

With those needs in mind, we approached the National Ski Council Federation to see if we could work together to bring its resources together with our subscribers search for ski pals.

The National Ski Council Federation is an umbrella organization that serves 29 ski council across the US, providing communications, education and benefits to member councils.  Those councils are comprised of many ski clubs with a total membership of about 300,000 folks.  These ski clubs plan trips, both locally and to distant resorts, providing serious discounts on lift tickets, instruction and other expenses. You can decide to join a club or join a club’s trips to see if membership might be for you.

If you want to check out ski club activities near you, just go to SeniorsSkiing.com’s top Navigation Menu bar, click on COMMUNITY, then pick FIND SKI BUDDIES WITH NSCF.  There you will find a map you can click on that will take you to the NSCF site where you can drill down to discover ski clubs in your region, state, and city. From there, you can identify a club officer’s email.  Connection made.

Now don’t be shy.  Ask a friend to join you.  This might open up a whole new and improved snow sport experience.

All of this is offered to SeniorsSkiing.com readers, including non-subscribers, at no cost.

Special thanks to the National Ski Council Federation executives who worked with us to create this link.

The National Ski Council Federation can connect you to a local ski club.

 

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (Dec. 9)

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Subscriber-Only News, Gift Ideas, Season Photo Book, Are SmartPhones Upstaging Ski Talk (?)

A Message To Our Subscribers

It’s been a busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com headquarters. Not only is the ski season ramping up everywhere, the holiday gift rush in acceleration mode.  And we have some great news for our subscribers.

As you may be aware, SeniorsSkiing.com has created a number of free and valuable benefits for our subscribers.  These include:

  • Skis recommended for seniors, developed in collaboration with realskiers.com.
  • Ski resorts in North America where seniors can ski for free, developed with the help and support of the National Ski Areas Association.
  • Discounts and really great deals on top brands from Experticity which has created a special “team” just for our subscribers.
  • A 16-page eBook collection of historic ski posters, compiled with the International Ski History Museum.

Up till now, these were offered as exclusive downloads to new subscribers when they received their welcome email, the final step in the subscription process. We couldn’t put these on the magazine’s site because they were meant for subscribers only, and we didn’t have a “firewall”.

But many subscribers either missed or lost the email, forgot to download the special content offerings or just didn’t know we had these benefits available.  So, we had to respond to many individual requests from existing subscribers to send these offerings well after they subscribed because they were intentionally not on the site.

Over the past months, we’ve worked with our technical consultant—the wonderful Alice Winthrop of Gatehouse Web Design—to develop a way for our special content to reside on the site without the need for a username and password for subscribers. We don’t like passwords, and we bet neither do you.

Here’s the new pop-up to access Subscriber-Only Content. Only your email is necessary to enter.

The answer is simple.  We’ve created a Subscriber-Only Content area.  To access it, go to the top menu bar, click on COMMUNITY.  Under that, click on SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.  Then, click the download you want.  You will see this pop-up appear that asks you to confirm your email address. Enter it, and you will get your download.

Bear in mind, this is brand new and we may have a few wrinkles.  Your patience is appreciated if you run into issues. Nevertheless, it is a huge step forward in getting our special offers and benefits into the hands of our readers.

Let us know what you think.

 

 

 

 

Gift Ideas For Senior Skiers

Also this week, co-publisher Jon Weisberg has an article in the Huffington Post with gift ideas for seniors that we think you’ll find interesting and…different.  Check it out.

Of course, for subscribers-only, you have access to serious discounts from many top brands through Experticity. All you have to do is register as a SeniorsSkiing.com subscriber.  Those instructions can be found in our new Subscriber-Only Content area.

Document Your Season In A Photo Book

Utah-based correspondent Jan Brunvand advises us to start the season with the goal of producing a photo book of each day you head out either on slopes or trails.  He’s been creating a record of his season as a book for years.  Find out how easy it is to do.

Are SmartPhones The Ruination Of “Ski Talk”?

Correspondent Harriet Wallis has clearly drawn a line in the snow.  SmartPhones and skiing don’t mix.  She tells us about an incident where technology came between people, detracting from one of most pleasant aspects of snow sports.

Next Week

Interested in skiing with others?  The results of our Spring Survey 2016 revealed that many of our subscribers are looking for skiing companions.  We’ve been working with the National Ski Council Federation to show you how easy it is to connect with a ski club.

And much more news and interesting ideas.

Stick with us, tell your friends, share our online magazine, please.  And remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Early One Pole Skiers

 

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Still More Gifts For Senior Skiers: Huff Post

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SeniorsSkiing.com’s Jon Weisberg Publishes Ideas For Holiday Gifts In Huffington Post.

Still wondering about a gift for your favorite senior snow sport enthusiast?  Co-publisher Jon Weisberg has some creative ideas that go beyond gloves and long underwear.  Jon is an outside-the-box kind of guy, and his gift idea are quite clever.

Click here for his article on gifts for senior skiers just published in the Huffington Post.

Many of these gift ideas can be purchased online and require shipping. Which means you have to get busy.  So if you’re going to browse and order, do it asap.

Why are there two of them?
Credit: @TahoeLight.com

Jan Brunvand

Creating Your Own Ski Season Photo Book

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Start Now To Produce An Attractive Photo Book with Minimal Camera and Computer Skills.

Many seniors keep track of their ski days, planning (or hoping) to ski their age each season. With a little more effort, and with minimal camera and computer skills, one can create an attractive ski-season photo book.

I think my ski books, compiled for the past ten years, are stunning. At least they should be of interest to future generations, showing them what the old man and lady were up to in their dotage.

Cover of Jan Brunvand's 2015-16 Season Album

Cover of Jan Brunvand’s 2015-16 Season Album

The first step is to keep your ski log current. I update it at the end of each ski day, right after wiping off our skis and putting the boots on the dryer. I keep it simple: One line on a legal pad listing which day of the season it is, the date and place, and who skied.

Second, you need a “picture-of-the-day,” which means having a small camera or a smart phone with you daily. I carry both, and sometimes my Polaroid Cube helmet cam. So, I take several photos every ski day.

The obvious subject—skiers posing against a snowy background—gets old after a while. So do selfies. Look for shots that convey a sense of that particular day: Friends, animals or animal tracks, dramatic vistas, funny license plates or signs, a friendly liftie, patrollers and rescue dogs, and the like.

One page shows several days. Each image represents a separate day.

One page shows several days. Each image represents a separate day.

Action shots are hard to get right, so occasionally I buy photos from the pros. I scan these to add to my trove. Last season at Alta, we got a great shot of us with a granddaughter riding a lift taken by a professional standing on the run below.

After I download the day’s photos to my computer, I select one for that day, and I caption it: “Day #5, Alta, 12/8.” I keep these in a folder on my desktop,, and I add miscellaneous shots to fill out the book, using descriptive titles like “Sugarloaf Summit” or “Porcupine Tracks.” I may also copy some individual frames from my helmet cam.

I assemble my book using the Apple Photo program, the successor to iPhoto. PCs have similar programs, or one can use an online service like My Publisher. Also check Shutterfly and Snapfish. It’s quite simple to create a handsome book, once you get the hang of it.

I start with a page of text summing up the season, then go to pages of one to eight captioned images, each illustrating a day, interspersed with the best of the miscellaneous shots.

The printed book, ordered online, arrives in a week or so, ready to show family and friends. Folks tell me how impressed they are, but maybe they are just being polite. Whatever.  My wife and I love these remembrances of ski seasons past.

Now that the new season has begun here in Utah, I’ve got my legal pad out, and a folder on my desktop labelled “2016-17 Ski Season.” The first shot is already there; the date of our first snow in the city written with my finger on the car window.

First day of the season!

First day of the season!

Harriet Wallis

Have Smartphones Ruined The Ski Experience?

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We Used To Just Ski. And Ski Talk. What Happened?

There we were, making turns in the soft powder as it dumped from the sky. The fluff was mesmerizing. Then my companion-of-the-day announced: “I have to stop.”

Are Smartphones an insidious barrier to socializing on the slopes? Credit: Harriet Wallis

Are Smartphones an insidious barrier to socializing on the slopes?
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Off came the gloves. Out came the phone. She began snapping photos.

My mind said: “Take your photos, then let’s ski.” But the photo session continued.

“I need to send these photos to my friends in Germany right now.”

My thoughts said: “They’re asleep in Germany right now. It’s the middle of the night.”

On the lift, the phone came out, and the thumbs tapped away. They tapped in the lodge, and they tapped as I drove us down the canyon toward home.

I had my fill of this phone-thing and spoke up hoping she’d take a hint. “Would you like me to pull over so you can finish texting?”

“No,” she said. “I can do this while you drive.”

I’d been invisible most of the day, and then I was relegated to being the chauffeur.

What ever happened to ski talk?

In the past, ski friends would exchange news of the family and get caught up on each other’s activities. And in the past, if you got on a lift or sat at a table with someone you didn’t know, the ski talk began. “Are you having a good day?” “Where are you from?” “Do you ski here often?”

By the time the lift reached the summit or when you’d finished your burger, you’d exchanged life stories and probably had a tip for a great restaurant. Socializing was an important part of skiing.

But now, Smartphones have reduced communication to Neanderthal grunts—and tapping thumbs say, “Don’t bother me. I’m busy talking to somebody other than you.”

Has part of the ski experience been lost?

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

 

 

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Dec. 2)

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A Great Book Idea, Museum Visit, Balance Tip, Why Commercial X-C Ski Resorts, And Ski Mojo.

First day of the season!

First day of the season! Credit: Jan Brunvand

There is snow in the air: definitely lots of natural in parts of the West, more like serious making of snow in the East.  Nevertheless, resorts are opening and the season is beginning.  And just in time for the holidays.  That means gifts. Speaking of which we have three sources…

…If you are looking for a snow sports oriented holiday gift, head over the the “Ski Influencers” group at Experticity.com.  You can get major discounts from top brands of gear and clothing. If you are not a subscriber, complete our free subscription form in either the pop-up or the right column and you will get instructions on how to sign up with Experticity If you are already a subscriber, you should have registered with Experticity.  If you need instructions on how to do that, email us at info@seniorsskiing.com with “Experticity” in the subject line.

This week, co-publisher Jon Weisberg shares a book idea either for yourself as a gift.  The connection to snow sports is that is makes a great apres-ski read by the fire.  We haven’t seen him so enthusiastic for a book in a while.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis traveled to the New England Ski Museum at the base of Cannon Mountain for a report on its exhibits as well as its unique gift shop.  More interesting ideas for presents with a snow sports twist, so to speak.

Pat McCloskey, a veteran ski instructor and SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent, offers technique tip on balance.  It’s simple and effective.

You might wonder why you should go to a commercial xc center or resort when you can just go across the road to your local park, forest or golf club to ski all day for free.  XCResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr presents the case for visiting a commercial xc center.

Finally, we have a new advertiser, Ski~mojo, a supportive device that is said to take the pressure off knees and hips. Please check our first Sponsored Content article about the Ski~mojo product and let us know what you think.

Please note: We are working on making some of our special subscriber-only assets available on line to our readers.  This is taking a bit of engineering, but soon, perhaps as soon as next week, you’ll be able to access our recommended Skis for Seniors, Free Skiing for Seniors, Sign Up Instructions for Experticity, and our eBook of historic ski posters from the International Ski History Association. 

And remember there really are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

This photo of Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt Washington occupies an entire wall. Credit: NESM

This photo of Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt Washington occupies an entire wall.
Credit: NESM

 

 

Jon Weisberg

This Season Read One Good Book

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The Orphan Keeper: A Fantastic Apres Ski Read.

orphankeeper_cover_largeAs I approach my 73rd birthday and commence my 63rd consecutive season, I want to declare that from the time I was 10, skiing has been a source of joy.

Not too long ago I was good from when the lifts opened until last ride. In recent years, I’ve been starting a bit later (except on powder days) and leaving the hill earlier, especially when the light begins to flatten. I’ll go back to the lodge or drive home, clean up, pour a glass of something pleasant and, more often than not, open a book.

Recently, I came across a terrific read that deserves to be better known, and probably will be. The Orphan Keeper was written by Camron Wright, an award-winning novelist based in Utah. The book is based on the astonishing true story of Taj Rowland. It begins in India where the seven year old boy is kidnapped and sold to an orphanage. He’s then adopted by unsuspecting parents in the United States who have no idea their new son isn’t really an orphan. By the time the boy can speak enough English to tell them he already has a family, it’s too late. They write letters. They make phone calls, but all roads lead to dead ends.

Taj grows up in the United States, goes to school, plays sports (even learns to ski), and his story may have ended there—except his past isn’t content to let him be. I won’t spoil how the story develops, other than to warn you that after reading a few chapters après ski, you’ll want to read through dinner, and keep on reading. This is a well-crafted page-turner that had me shocked, laughing, at times dabbing my eyes, and eager to learn more. It is terrific story made even better by the fact that is based on Taj Rowland’s real experience.

Years ago one of my teachers gave this advice for summer vacation: Take one good hike. Read one good book. Make one good friend.

My advice for this winter season: Take many great runs. Enjoy your friends. Read The Orphan Keeper.

Pat McCloskey

Hands Up For Balance: A Technique Tip

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Keep An Eye On Your Arms.

Note arms elevated and away from the body, a key to stability and balance. That's Ted Ligety, by the way.

Note arms elevated and away from the body, a key to stability and balance. That’s Ted Ligety, by the way.

One of the best tips I ever got was from a guy who was a former Colorado Pro Tour racer.  Frank Anderes had a keen eye for what was happening on the hill and besides telling me that it was important to make a lot of turns on a smaller hill, his tip about balance still resonates with me today.  One day in the lodge, Frank remarked that I skied with my hands too far inside.  He said that I would never guard anyone in basketball with my hands  in tight or hit a tennis ball with hands in too tight.  The  reason to get the hands out wider is primarily for balance.  He then showed me a graphic example of how that works.  He asked me to put my hands in tight to my body and immediately he knocked me off balance with a push to my left side.  He then said, “ Pat – get those hands out to your sides in peripheral vision range and see what happens.  He then tried to knock me over again but I was able to remain stable on my feet.

When I look at the forces that occur in a ski turn, like what is shown here with Ted Ligety, it would be next to impossible to execute a powerful turn like that with your hands in tight to your body.  Unfortunately a lot of skiers get lazy and keep their hands in tight and low and skid through the turns.  In order to make a dynamic turn, one has to put a lot of pressure on the outside ski and bend it. In order to  maintain that balance and fight the centrifugal force, you have to have those hands out just like Ted.  A slightly countered position facing the new turn with the hands out wide, will enable you to create a strong edge angle, be solid on your feet and execute a strong turn.  So, if you have played any sport, you will remember the coaches referring to the “ready” position.  Hands outside, joints flexed, ready for action.  Think Snow!!!

Roger Lohr

The Case For Skiing At Commercial XC Resorts

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XCSkiResorts.Com Publisher Highlights The Benefits.

Groomed trails are only one advantage of skiing at a commercial XC resort or commercial center.

Groomed trails are only one advantage of skiing at a commercial XC resort or commercial center.

Is there a difference between cross country skiing at a commercial center and “in the woods?”

One of the greatest obstacles for xc skiing growth is the common image of a lone xc skier going into a narrow dark trail as if the very isolation in the woods was the goal. But designed trails at commercial xc resorts offer much more than solitude.

Often trails that are built by loggers and by the government in state and federal parks have long straight ascents and descents. Most average skiers are often afraid of the speed of a long downhill. Instead, trail designers such as John Morton of Morton Trails recommend undulating and twisting trails that spark interest on every turn and also help slow down the speed. Destinations, scenic vistas, and accomplishment upon arrival make great sense on xc ski trails, and these are characteristics of what well-designed trails should provide.

Most commercial xc ski resorts charge a fee between $15 and $29. For that fee the patron gets a business operation and trails that:

  • are designed for xc skiing or snowshoeing in harmony with the environment and are skier-friendly;
  • are regularly maintained or groomed, and include tracks and a lane for skaters;
  • can be expected to be free of debris or fallen trees and provide consistent skiable quality;
  • have clear signage with available and understandable maps;
  • have quality rental equipment that enhance the activity (easy to use and provides greater control for the average skier);
  • offer ski instruction in various forms (kids, women, group, private) in an area for learners where they are not embarrassingly on display;
  • include a food and beverage service;
  • offer special organized programs for school kids, older folks, etc;
  • has a facility where people can change clothes, get warm, or socialize;
  • includes a friendly helpful staff, who can share local information;
  • has ski patrollers to help, if necessary.

Yes, admittedly many people can xc ski out their back door in the backyard, on a local golf course, or on a trail in a nearby forest, and it is very convenient to do so. But commercial xc ski resorts offer a different skiing product. New Hampshire’s Jackson Ski Touring Center, emulated by hundreds of xc ski resorts across North America, is a perfect example. In addition to these services, Jackson also has something intangible: the “Culture of XC Skiing.”  History, Expertise, Community, Education. That’s why Jackson can be considered one of the true meccas of xc skiing.

Of course, the major issue with non-commercial cross country ski trails is the condition of the snow. The weather rules the snow and without trail grooming and trail maintenance, the snow can be hard packed, icy, sticky, too deep for non-powder skiers, or too inconsistent to offer a good experience.

The statistics have shown over many years that less than 20 percent of xc ski outings are at commercial resorts. Skiers that experience the other 80 percent of the xc skiing outings are missing out on the benefits, and many are not even aware that those services exist. If you haven’t stayed at a commercial xc resort, give it a try. It’s a great winter experience.

[Editor Note: To find out more about XC commercial resorts, check out XCResorts.com for details. You’ll also find Top 10 lists for scenery, trails, lifts, romance and more.]

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Nov. 25)

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Big News For SeniorsSkiing.com, Resort Openings, Senior Ski Deals, Alternative Medicine, and Getting In Shape 3.

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Tremendous news for SeniorsSkiing.com.  Two of our illustrious Advisory Council members have been given a huge, huge honor.  Find out who and what here.  We are so proud of them.

We are also very pleased to welcome our newest advertiser Ski-Mojo, a supportive brace device that is said to reduce pain in knees and hips.  Check out their ad in the right column and visit their site.  Expect to hear more about Ski-Mojo in the future.

Also there’s lots of area opening news in this week’s Short Swings.  Also, we were stimulated by a reader’s question to help you find when areas are opening.  You’ll find resources in our article, “Who’s Open, Opening, And When?”

We have been watching a site whose mission is very important to us.  SeniorSkiDeals.com publishes where to find discounts for seniors. The publisher, Mike “Bear Trap” Warner, started by focusing on Tahoe areas, then moved to North America.  You can check out his latest here. Remember to check with specific areas, and plan to buy online a few days before you go. You can get even bigger discounts that way.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis brings us a story about a young ski racer whose career as an active skier was almost dashed by a serious racing accident.  Her path to health was partly through alternative medicine.  Interesting and inspiring.

Finally, Rick Silverman wraps up a three part article on getting in shape.  In this series, he’s focused on legs and hips.  Unless you consider yourself in top shape from summer cycling and hiking, please take a few weeks to get ready. It would be a mistake to head out to your first day on snow without limbering up your muscles.

By the time you read this, Thanksgiving will be over, the FIS World Cup will be taking place at Killington, VT, and the holiday shopping season will have begun.  And some of you will have made your first runs of the 2016-17 season.  Tell us about it! Send a picture (.jpg to info@seniorsskiing.com. Please identify people and places.  This should be fun!)

Next time, we’ll be looking at some gift ideas as well as other tidbits.

Once again, our list of subscribers is growing every day.  Thank you for passing our online magazine along to your friends.  And remember, there really are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Arapahoe Basin this morning (11/23) via webcam.

Arapahoe Basin this morning (11/23) via webcam.

 

 

 

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Senior Season Pass And Lift Ticket Deals

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Seniorskideals.com Inventories Discounts At Popular Resorts.

Deals are out there. Here's a website that will help seniors find them.

Deals are out there. Here’s a website that will help seniors find them.

We are very pleased to hear that Seniorskideals.com has updated more information on its site, a source for season pass and lift discounts for seniors. The site’s publisher, Mike “Bear Trap” Warner, has been busy since we last checked in back in mid-Sept.

Last year, Bear Trap started collecting discounts at Tahoe area resorts, now he’s expanded to 93 top resorts across North America. The updated list includes season pass and day lift tickets at these selected resorts.

We think its a great start and a great place for you to start looking for where you can ski for less. Bear in mind, this is a work in process. And Seniorskideals.com focuses only on top resorts defined by Zrankings.com, a site that ranks ski resorts in North America.

As we have learned, you can probably ski for less if you 1) go to a local hill that isn’t a “name” resort, 2) buy tickets online through the resort website or Liftopia a few days before you go, 3) buy a season pass in the summer, or 4) go with a ski club.

As with all things online, double check with the resort to confirm prices and restrictions.

Many thanks to Bear Trap for providing this information to senior skiers.

Mike "Bear Trap" Warner is publisher of Seniorskideals.com and a former ski instructor.

Mike “Bear Trap” Warner is publisher of Seniorskideals.com and a former ski instructor.

 

 

 

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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (Nov. 18)

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It’s “Wondering About Winter” Week.  Pre-Occupied With Waiting For Snow.

Credit: Shot Photos

Credit: Shot Photos

As this week progressed, we realized that most of our stories revolved around snow: Forecasting it, watching for it, or singing about it. Unfortunately, not much about skiing on it.

Our Short Swings! industry news round-up announces some fun events, especially around the holidays where some ski resorts are giving a free lift ticket to anyone showing up as Santa. Of course, the real Santa doesn’t need a lift ticket, right?

Also, we look at the news from the National Weather Service confirming the advent of a weak La Nina which more or less reinforces the three-month forecast for Jan-Feb-March 2017.  Find out what that means for your region.  And remember, predicting weather is all about probabilities.

We found an incredible video of “undercast” fog creeping over Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, home of some of the most extreme weather in North America. And, correspondent Harriet Wallis tells us how to look to the Wooly Moth caterpillar for clues to the winter ahead.

Finally, as part of our ongoing Skiing In Literature series,  we bring you a haunting song about snow by none other than Pete Seeger, who, you may be surprised to learn, composed a number of beautifully lyrical, poetic and little-heard songs.

As we mentioned last week, we ask our readers to do a favor for us.

Please tell your friends about SeniorsSkiing.com.  “Like” us on Facebook. 

And remember, there really are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

La Nina impact how the jet stream bends over the Pacific. Here's NOAA's prediction as of end of Oct. Credit: NOAA NWS

La Nina impact how the jet stream bends over the Pacific. Here’s NOAA’s prediction as of end of Oct.
Credit: NOAA NWS

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What New La Nina May Bring To Snow Forecast

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The Latest Update Shows Impact Might Good for Some, Uncertain For Others.

La Nina impact how the jet stream bends over the Pacific. Here's NOAA's prediction as of end of Oct. Credit: NOAA NWS

La Nina impact how the jet stream bends over the Pacific. Here’s NOAA’s prediction as of end of Oct.
Credit: NOAA NWS

NOAA’s National Climate Predication Center announced that La Nina has returned. She’s weak but still might pack a sting for our winter weather.

La Nina means cooling of water in the eastern Pacific.  As remote as that may seem to North America, that coolness effects how weather masses form and move around the globe.  As we reported earlier, the Climate Prediction Center said that La Nina hadn’t developed as expected after a record El Nino (warming water) in 2015-16.  But just last month, a weak La Nina was detected.

What does that mean for snow forecast? Weather forecasting is about probabilities. A look at the temperature map below (right) reveals that temps are expected to be generally warmer across the lower US and cooler in the Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest and Ontario.  The precipitation map says below normal precip across the southern US, continuing the drought situation there, and above average precip in the upper band across the US-Canada border.  This is pretty consistent with the snow forecast we reported on last month.  Confirming an La Nina just ups the odds.

So, good news for the Pacific NW and BC, Montana, Wyoming.  Uncertainty for just about everyone else.

Remember, these are probabilities and not definitive.  Variance will happen.  NOAA will update their forecast in a few days.  We’ll let you know.

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off03_temp