Jon Weisberg

Two Reasonably Priced Gifts That Solve Getting Ski Boots Off and On

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Other than warmth and comfort, the two big boot issues as we age are getting them on in the morning and off at the end of the day. If your home is slopeside, it may not be so much of a problem, but for those of us who boot up or off in lodge or lot, it can be a struggle.

Here are two reasonably-priced products that solve those boot problems. If you’re looking for a different kind of gift for older skiers on your list, both will last longer and be far more appreciated than a tie, a mug, or a fifth.

Several years ago, I learned about DeBooter, the ski boot jack that helps remove boots fast and smoothly. It is a must-have device for every older skier who has struggled with end-of-day boot removal. DeBooter is an advertiser and gives SeniorsSkiing.com readers a 20% discount off the list price of $39.95. I carry one in my car and loan it generously to appreciative neighbors in the parking lot. A few friends tell me that their grandkids love to take their boots off using DeBooter.

More recently, I came across The Bootster, a well-designed compact device that simplifies getting into your ski boots. It incorporates a piece of slick material that allows the heel to slide easily into the boot. I’ve tried it with cold boots, and my foot slipped in with virtually no effort — a far cry from the discomfort of corkscrewing foot and ankle into that stiff chamber. I generally keep my boots on at lunch, but many older skiers prefer to remove theirs. Among the benefits of The Bootster is how well it fits in parka pocket, so it can be used as needed. The Bootster recently started to advertise. It costs $25.00.

Jon Weisberg

This Is What You Told Us You Want

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A few months ago, we reported on the key finding from our Spring reader survey:

 

  • Grandparents are a significant influence getting grandkids into the sport. Once the kids have been introduced, almost 95% stay with it.

Another significant finding is that 56% of respondents reported they spent between $1000 and $5000 per person last season on skiing, boarding, and related activities. More than 10% spent $5000 or more, per person.

The survey also produced robust responses to the open-ended question about how we’re doing and how we could improve. The congratulatory messages gave us a nice feeling. The critical ones focused primarily on technical issues. The majority expressed what you, our readers, want to see covered in SeniorsSkiing.com. Those suggestions fall into six categories, which, when you think about it, reflect the general interests of older snow sports enthusiasts.

Here they are:

Travel/Resort Reviews/Ski Clubs

Readers want to know more about ski resorts outside of where they live, as well as in Canada and Europe. Many of you inquired about organized ski trips. In response, we’ll be increasing our coverage of ski clubs, and I’ll report on a variety of unusual ski programs from the Italian Alps.

Discounts and Free Skiing

These are important reader interests. This season, we’re expanding our list of resorts where seniors ski free (or virtually free) to include Canada.

Finding Other Older Skiers

So many of you want to meet up with your skiing contemporaries. The ski club system is a great way to accomplish that. Many clubs don’t require local membership to participate in their trips. For more information on ski clubs: http://skifederation.org. And the 70+ Ski Club has many regional and international offerings. When traveling in the US, look for a local chapter of the Over-The-Hill-Gang. They give free mountain tours for older skiers.

Health/Conditioning/Recovery

Readers facing joint replacement or recovering from other health issues want more guidance from those who already have been through the experience. How to prepare, how to recover, how to stay fit for the coming season. We have a good selection of those articles and welcome more. If interested, click “HEALTH” on the home page menu bar and start exploring.

Equipment and Technique

Readers want information about ski school programs with special senior offerings. We’ll report on them as we learn about them. Please let us know of your favorites. In terms of equipment, we work closely with realskiers.com to present the best ski selections for seniors and with America’s Best Bootfitters for the best boot choices.

General Editorial

Your suggestions include more articles profiling interesting older skiers. More on snow predictions and snow science. More on X-C (cross-country veteran, Roger Lohr, was recently named X-C and Snowshoe Editor). More on backcountry, snow biking, and Ebikes. Adapting to our age. Identifying good retirement places for older skiers.

Your input gives us direction and lifts us in moments of doubt. We’ll continue to do our best to inform you, to create a community of older skiers/boarders, and to heighten awareness of the importance of the older population to the sport.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Marker Recalls Some 2017/18 Touring Bindings

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Possible steel pin breakage in Marker’s Kingpin models 10 and 13 may lead to lower release forces and result in falls, according to the manufacturer.

Marker is recalling its 2017-18 Kingpin toe binding

The ski touring binding is targeted at the backcountry market. Marker is replacing the binding toes at no cost. If you have the binding contact your local Marker Authorized Retailer or visit https://www.marker.net/en-us/support/recall/ for assistance.

seniorsskiing

Vail and Alterra’s Unfairness Doctrine

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Editorial

Regardless of whether the steady elimination of season pass senior discounts is personally insignificant or presents a financial burden, you should be aware of the lack of fairness and gratitude exhibited by this new policy.

Through Vail’s EPIC Pass and Alterra’s IKON pass, the companies are advancing elimination of senior discounts, while acquiring more areas. In fairness, some localized Vail Epic passes offer senior discounts. But Alterra’s pricing policy is more draconian because it substitutes its own IKON bundled pass for (most) local area season passes. In doing so, it also eliminates local area senior pass discounts.

Granted, for those who choose to travel to ski, IKON and EPIC offer decent value. But for most Alterra resorts, those who don’t travel but want to ski at one of the Alterra areas are now forced to purchase the bundle.

Why is the elimination of senior discounts unfair? Because areas removing senior discounts still offer student and military discounts.

Why does the elimination of senior discounts reflect a lack of gratitude? Perhaps the most obvious reason is related to our years of participation and support. After 30, 40, 50, 70 or more years of supporting ski resorts, why can’t resort operator’s reward us for our collective loyalty? It’s done in many other industries.

A subtler and possibly more significant reason is the older skier’s role in introducing young people to a  sport whose US  base hasn’t grown in 35 years. The most recent SeniorsSkiing.com reader survey shows that grandparents are a major factor introducing grandkids to skiing and boarding. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents were grandparents. They introduced more than 68% of their grandkids to the sport. Of those, 94.5% continue to participate. Considering that each grandparent or grandparent set has an average of 3.7 grandkids, the influence of older skiers on new skier/boarder recruitment — one of the biggest issues facing the ski resort industry — is profound. Why yank discounts when we’re helping to add new skiers and boarders?

Maybe they think they can boost revenues because we’re an easy and decentralized target. Maybe the people making the decisions have a built-in age bias. Maybe it boils down to old-fashioned greed.

And maybe it wouldn’t be so disturbing if it were fair. But it’s not fair. It doesn’t recognize our decades of support to the industry. It does not take into account that most of us go midweek. And it ignores our role introducing new skiers and boarders to the joys of being on snow.

We’d like your thoughts on this point of view. Please comment.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Are older skiers the Rodney Dangerfields of the slopes? Sometimes it feels like ski resorts show us no respect.

Consider that there are no Epic or Ikon senior discounts, and, in the case of some Ikon resorts, there no longer are local season passes and the senior discounts associated with them.

Some of the big players are doing very well. Vail Resorts, which owns Epic, reported a 58% increase in second quarter net revenue over second quarter 2017. Part of the increase was a one-time bonus from the new tax law; part of it was from increases in lift ticket and season pass products.

Like any other business, the ski industry follows the money. Which brings me to one of the key findings from our most recent reader survey. Fifty-six percent of all respondents spent $1000 to $5000 per person on skiing and related activities last season. More than 10% spent $5000 or more per person.

The same can’t be said for Millennials and Gen-Xers, the industry’s primary target markets.

One in five U.S. skiers and boarders are 52 or older. Our survey, which had more respondents than any of our previous reader surveys, showed an average of 15 days on the hill. More than one-third skied 23 days or more.

For those bottom line oriented ski executives who may be reading this: We use your facilities more and spend more than the youngsters. Think twice before removing senior discounts.

 

New Canadian Resort to Have Longest Vertical in North America

Valemount Glacier Destination is being developed in the Cariboo Mountain Range in British Columbia. When completed, it will have the longest vertical drop in North America (6726′) and the third longest in the world. Developers expect it to become a year-round skiing and sightseeing destination. Near Jasper National Park, the area already has substantial infrastructure. When completed, there will be skiing on several mountains, the largest of which is Mt XXXX, which summits at XXXXX ‘. The resort is a 75 minute drive from Jasper. It is located on the trans-Canada rail line and has a local airport within walking distance of the resort base. Larger airports are several hours away.

According to Tomas Oberti, project manager, the first phase is expected to open for day skiing in December. Full build-out of the project will occur over 20 years.

More on Valemount Glacier Destination at http://valemountglaciers.com.

Seven Skiers Die in Alps Storm

Seven skiers on the Haute Route in Switzerland died in a sudden storm in early May. They were part of a guided group forced to overnight in freezing temperatures. Adding to the tragedy: they were just a few hundred meters from an alpine hut. Elsewhere in the Alps, the storm claimed the lives of another seven climbers and tourists. It was the most loss of lives in Switzerland since 1999, when 12 died in an avalanche in the Valais.

 

The Daily Senior Skier Skinning Session at Arapahoe Basin

Doris Spencer is 72; Kent Willoughby, 79. They have been skinning up A-basin for nearly 18 years. This short documentary inspired me. I expect it will do the same for you.

 

Snowbird’s One Star Season

The Bird just issued this one-minute video summary of the season. The resort characterizes 2017-18 as a “one star” season, but you’d never know it from the skiing and boarding in the video.

 

Baltimore Ski Club Celebrates Member’s 90th Birthday

Dave Karczmarek, BSC Director of Ski Trips, recognizing John Wotell on his 90th.

John Wotell turned 90 in February, and the Baltimore Ski Club recently turned out in force to celebrate. A long time skier, he and his wife, Ann, were active members of the Ski Club of Maryland since the 1960s. For years, he was president of the group and made “President for Life” when he stepped down. He celebrated his 90th at Big Sky. Happy Birthday, John!

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Skiing Grandparents Play Major Role Introducing Grandkids to Winter Sports

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Courtesy: Daily Mail

Grandparents who ski or board play a major role introducing their grandchildren to the sport. This is one of several significant findings from the April reader survey.

It was the fifth SeniorsSkiing.com reader survey, and it produced the largest reader response to date.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents identified as grandparents. The introduced more than 68% of their grandchildren to the sport. Importantly, 94.5% of the kids continue to participate. Each responding grandparent or grandparent set has an average of 3.7 grandkids.

These “gateway grandparents” may instruct the kids, pay for lessons, or encourage their adult children to do the same. Even if the grandparents don’t live nearby, readers report that they purchase equipment and clothes as gifts, and often host family ski vacations.

The average survey respondent is 68 and skied or boarded an average of 15 days last season. More than one-third skied 23 days or more.

“As this survey shows, grandparents play a major role introducing younger people to skiing and boarding,” observes Mary Jo Tarallo, Executive Director of Learn To Ski and Snowboard, the national initiative dedicated to spreading the joy of skiing, snowboarding and winter sports.”At a time, when the ski industry is seeking ways to attract more participants, the SeniorsSkiing.com survey results shed light on grandparents as a reliable but overlooked source of new skiers and boarders.”

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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The first rule for skiing powder is to get to it before anyone else does.

NO FRIENDS ON A POWDER DAY???

It skis best when untracked, and it doesn’t stay untracked for long. The other day at Grand Targhee in Wyoming, I bought a ticket that gave access to the lifts an hour before opening to the public. The other option would have been pricier cat skiing. As it turned out, eight runs in untracked were more than adequate. Once the others arrived — especially the boarders — the snow got cut up quickly and the skiing, while still nice, was no longer the same. It’s a joy to look down a slope devoid of tracks, to drop in, and have that bottomless experience so difficult to convey to those who haven’t. In your wake is a series of cursive turns that are yours. Warren Miller referred to them as your skiing signature.

Speaking of Warren Miller, someone in Montana mentioned he had seen a bumper sticker with this: Thank You, Warren.

Skiing History magazine Honors NASTAR’s 50th

International Skiing History Association (ISHA) will honor NASTAR’s 50th anniversary Friday evening, March 23, in Squaw Valley. The occasion will be featured during ISHA’s 26th Annual Awards Banquet, which also will honor the year’s best creative works of ski history, including books, films, websites and other media projects. Click here to purchase tickets.

 Melting Western Snowpack
A just-published snowpack study by Oregon State University and UCLA shows reduced snowpack since 1955. It’s not snowing less; snow in higher elevations is melting earlier in the season.

Canada

EPIC Pass has added these Canadian resorts for next season: Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Nakiska, Mont Sainte Anne and Stoneham. EPIC now provides access to 61 resorts worldwide.

Mont Tremblant is introducing its new Tonik Pass which gives 118-day access to the mountain, including 28 weekend days. It’s on sale until April 9 for $449, plus provincial taxes. A $75 add-on gives first track access, gear tune-up, $200 gift certificate at Boutiques Tremblant, other benefits.

New Hampshire

Cranmore Mountain will host its 22nd annual Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Race, March 9 – 11, honoring the founding father of ski instruction who joined the resort in 1939. Event includes Friday night uphill race, welcome reception and Dual GS Race; vintage skiwear contest and silent auction, Saturday afternoon. Proceeds to benefit New England Ski Museum. Free spectator admission.                                     

Utah

Winter had a late start across the West, but March came in like the proverbial lion. Some Utah resorts received 120″ in the last 30 days!!!

Deer Valley 2018-19 season passes are available. Purchased before Oct 15, the adult price is $2365. Senior (65-71) is $1205, and Super Senior (71+) is $1,100.

Vermont

Killington will install a new 6-person high speed bubble chairlift at South Ridge.

Visit skivermont.com for up-to-date conditions for the state’s 20 alpine ski areas and 30 cross country ski centers.

Grants to Enable Injured Athletes

David Weiner is being helped by High Fives Foundation

In January, the High Fives Foundation granted $30,678.00 to ten US athletes seeking to reach their recovery goals. One of the grants went to David Weiner, an experienced skier who lost control on black ice and hit a tree. Started in 2009, High Fives has helped 188 athletes with living expenses, insurance, travel, health, healing network, adaptive equipment, winter equipment, etc.

Harriet Wallis

100 Year Old Skier Inspires Us To Become Our Better Selves

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[Many expenses for technicians, designers, and others are associated with delivering SeniorsSkiing.com free each week and developing and publishing Subscriber-Only content. Please help by making a modest donation by clicking here.]

George Jedenoff, 100, Is In Love With The Mountains, The Snow, And Life. Everyone Who Meets Him Says, “I Want To Be Like George.”

The paparazzi chase George while trying to keep up.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

“Age is just a number,” he says adding: Don’t let age be a barrier. Do your best. Become your best. And keep on going. He’s a living legend at Alta.

He’s also quite a super skier who skis like a kid. He swings his feet on the chairlift. He cruises down steep trails. And when jumps into patches of powder he shouts with glee.

Two moguls meet. Alta’s new General Manager Mike Maughan welcomes George.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

To maintain his fitness, he works out every day for 45 minutes before breakfast. The workouts toughen him mentally and physically to keep him going even when life is unkind.

“Never give up,” is his motto.

On a chairlift ride, he leaned over to me and said: “People come up to me — sometimes with tears in their eyes — and tell me that I’ve inspired them to keep going and never give up. Of all the things to be remembered for, I’m so surprised that I’m being remembered for my skiing.”

But it’s more than just about skiing. It’s about life.

George stirs others to become their better selves — to try harder, to reach higher, and to never give up. While others are revered for their academic achievements, business success or community service, George is loved because he touches people’s souls.

Age is just a number even when it’s 100.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Back in 1960, George was transferred to Utah to be the general manager of the Geneva Steel Plant. He was athletic, and he learned skiing from the best: Alta’s legendary Alf Engen, Snowbird’s iconic Junior Bonous, and Earl Miller, the granddaddy of release bindings.

George grew to love Alta’s powder, and when he was transferred away in 1967, community leaders honored him with a gift that was sure to lure him back: a lifetime season pass to Alta. He’s still using it! He now lives in California but he returns annually to ski Alta.

He’s a celebrity and a living legend. Skiers cluster around him to have their photos taken with him. The digital images become reminders to reach higher, try harder, and keep going — just like George.

Ski Utah has produced annual videos of George. The very first one, when he was 95, is still my favorite. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoQ5IEUpKEA

http://www.skiutah.com/explore/videos/george-jedenoff-97-year-old-utah

https://www.skiutah.com/blog/authors/yeti/98-year-old-skier-george-the-powder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb23maq0rtQ

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

 

Jan Brunvand

Soft Skiing for Seniors

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When I heard of the book Soft Skiing I had to check it out.

At age 84, that’s how I ski— with minimal effort, smoothly, cruisin’ the blues. The subtitle of this small paperback was encouraging: “The Secrets of Effortless Low-impact Skiing for Older Skiers.”

The author, Lito Tejada-Flores, was “born at 13,000 feet in the Bolivian Andes,” and he was age “68 and counting” when he wrote it in 2010. I hoped I could learn from this youngster who promised “ . . . if you can walk you can ski. Gracefully, efficiently, elegantly.” It’s a concept he promoted during years of instructing at major Western resorts.

Lito begins with two reasons why effortless skiing is possible. First, gravity “the motor” that pulls the skier down the hill. Second, the phenomenal improvement of skis, so that “great turns are somehow built into our modern gear.” The secret is to let gravity and shaped skis do most of the work.

After a brief admonition to stand “tall and loose,” centered over one’s skis, with hands spread and reaching forward for balance, Lito reminds us of why skis turn. The sidecut of our skis creates a smooth turning arc when one ski (the “outside” or “downhill” ski) is simply weighted.

All skis to some degree are shaped and, thus, they naturally want to turn when curved by a skier’s foot pressure. Today’s shorter more radically shaped skis carve better than ever if we just let them do their thing.

How do we initiate these soft carved turns? Simple, says Lito. Just “walk in slow motion” onto, say, your right ski, stay balanced there for a second or two. Voila!! A carved left turn happens on its own. Walk again in slow motion onto your left ski and your skis carve to the right.

What about the inside ski? It merely rides along, possibly rolling slightly toward the inside of the turn, a move Lito calls “phantom edging,” that actually causes a stronger edge angle on the weighted outside ski, creating a “shorter, snappier” carved turn.

Lito admits that this last move is “difficult to demonstrate without lifting the light inside ski off the snow.” Sure enough, the cover photo clearly shows that his inside ski is lifted.

There’s more detail to all this, of course, including subtle pole action and “anticipation,” but the essentials are as I summarize. His DVDs “Breakthrough on Skis 1, Expert Skiing Simplified” and “Breakthrough on Skis 3, The New Skis” beautifully demonstrate his method. The lifted inside ski is very obvious in these excellent instructional video, and he includes videos of useful practice exercises.

FYI, Lito’s #2 DVD covers bumps and powder, but I have not viewed it. I’ve learned to handle powder pretty well after living in Utah for fifty years, and I no longer ski bumps. (My wife says, “You never did.”)

I found Lito’s concise description of his approach plus the illustrative videos convincing, partly because they duplicate methods that I’ve worked out myself. While he imagines soft skiing as walking in slow motion down the hill while carrying a tray before you, I’ve thought of it instead as biking slowly down the hill—depressing one pedal after another—while “steering” with wide old-fashioned bike handlebars.

Order Lito’s books and DVDs from his website www.BreakthroughOnSkis.com. Also offered there is This is Skiing, a large-format book of stunning ski photographs accompanied by some of Lito’s writings on the joys of skiing. A free PDF file of the book may be downloaded, while the hardcover edition costs $45. As Lito points out, That’s cheaper than a day of skiing.

That’s also soft sell if I ever heard it.

seniorsskiing

Seasons Greetings From SeniorsSkiing.Com

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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

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

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SKIER SCARECROW. Teasdale, Utah

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

mikemaginn

Meanwhile In Australia…

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We Have Hurricanes And Wildfires.  Oz Has Big Snow.  Sound Like A Theme?

Early September 2017, Perisher Ski Resort.
Credit: Perisher

The news from Down Under is that the snows are prodigious, the depths of which haven’t been seen in 17 years.

The snowpack in Australian snow fields is up to 97 inches, eight feet, which sounds awfully similar to the monster snow this year in the North American west.

So while we contemplate extraordinary weather conditions from wild hurricanes and fires, it appears Oz and NZ are also having extraordinary weather.

Here’s a video from Threadbo, one of Australia’s most popular resorts.  Looks like they are having fun.

And thanks to Snowbrains.com for the head’s up.

Jon Weisberg

ShortSwings!

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According to NSAA (National Ski Areas Association) last season there were 8.4 million active U.S. skiers and boarders: 6.5 million skiers; 2 million boarders.

The number is significantly lower than reported by SIA (Snowsports Industries America), which, for 2015-16 reported 11.6 million skiers and 7.6 million boarders. NSAA collects its information from a sample of resort skiers. SIA uses other criteria.

What is striking about NSAA’s figures is that those who are 51 and older represent 1.84 million of the total. Our reader surveys show that the majority of you are skiers, not boarders. With some slight (an imprecise) mathematical adjustment, we can assume that older skiers comprise about 27% of the country’s total skier population.

Which brings us to an announcement this week from Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows about its association with a big Chinese skiing-related enterprise. Modern skiing is relatively new in China and is growing briskly as China’s

Zhangjiakou Wanlong Ski Resort

middle class grows. According to the China Ski Association, referenced in Squaw’s announcement, the number of skiers in China has increased from 200,000 in 2000 to 12.5 million in 2015.

For 2000/01 NSAA reported total U.S. skiers/boarders at 9.3 million. Our numbers are going downhill.

China currently has 93 resorts, compared to 463 in the US during the 2015-16 season. US and Canadian areas, especially those in the West, expect more visitors from China.

Colorado

Eldora Mountain Resort, near Boulder, has a new high speed detachable six-pack. It also will have free Wi-Fi in its day lodges.

Montana

Good news for Big Sky skiers! United Airlines is expanding service to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. In December it will increase by 30% flights and available seats to Bozeman from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Houston and New York/Newark.

Utah

Deer Valley Resort is vying to be named the World’s Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards. The group already has named DV the United States’ Best Ski Resort. Voting for the 5th annual World Ski Awards takes place through September 22, 2017 at worldskiawards.com. In addition to public input, votes are cast by ski tourism professionals worldwide.

Vermont

Dutch Hill, ski area of my youth and for many years abandoned, is scheduled to re-open for backcountry skiing.

Other

HBO has a new must watch documentary featuring Carl Reiner and other celebrated people in their 90s (and older). It’s titled, “If You’re Not in The Obit, Eat Breakfast.”  It is uplifting and inspiring.

WalletHub, which among other financial services, offers free credit scores and full credit reports, just published its take on the best and worst places to retire. Their analysts compared affordability, quality of life, health care and availability of recreational activities for thecountry’s 150 largest cities. Their #1 pick is Orlando, followed by Tampa, MIami, Scottsdale, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Honolulu, Denver, Austin, and Las Vegas.

WalletHub also compares best and worst. For example, Yonkers, New York, has the fewest property crimes (per 1,000 residents), giving it a score of 10; 9.3 times fewer than Salt Lake City, the city with the most and a score of 93. View the full report and your city’s rank: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-to-retire/6165/  

Mountain Collective Pass is currently priced at $469. The price generally climbs as the season approaches. It provides two days at each of 16 big name resorts, most of which are in the US and Canada. Subsequent days are discounted 50%. No blackout days and lots of extra goodies.

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.

 

 

mikemaginn

Experticity Update: Good News, Bad News

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Experticity Discount Benefit For SeniorsSkiing.com Is Changing.

For the past couple of months, we’ve been getting emails from new subscribers asking for clarity and/or instructions for accessing the Experticity site where readers can get amazing discounts on gear and clothing from top brands. These new readers were unable to get on the site.  So, we inquired, and after a decent interval, we inquired again.  And then we finally heard back from an Experticity rep.

Here’s the scoop.

Last summer, Experticity merged with Promotive, the original online discount site we worked with to set up this benefit for our readers.  When the switcheroo came, Experticity gave us a new code and a new group name (“Ski Experts”) that differed from the Promotive name and code.  No worries so far. New subscribers were able to sign up with Experticity with no problems.

Recently, the folks at Experticity have been taking a closer look at who has access to their site.  They state that the discounts offered to the “Ski Expert” category is meant for people who are athletes, instructors, coaches, industry members, and the like. In other words, industry professionals. Their vendors expect the people who buy through Experticity to have those kinds of credentials; that’s part of the value Experticity adds.  While we do have a lot of ski instructors as subscribers, most of our readers are not those kinds of professional skiers.  So they pulled the code and, for now, have blocked access to the discounts for new subscribers.

What does this mean?  We are in the process of figuring out how we can revive that important discount benefit to our subscribers.

Good news: If you have already signed up when Experticity was Promotive and have been able to access the site, you will continue to have access until you reach the anniversary date of when you signed up.  Then you have to go through a new sign-up process.

Bad news: If you are new subscriber, we ask you to be patient until we figure out how or if we can work with Experticity to re-establish access. They gave us a new code, but there is a new sign-up process which we are trying to understand.

We are on top of this situation and will let you know as soon as we know what’s going on with Experticity.

 

 

 

Jon Weisberg

WANTED!!

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88-94 Year Old Female Skier for TV Commercial.

A talent agency in Vancouver is looking for an older female skier. She must be 88-94, live in North America, and be available to travel to Whistler to participate in filming, May 27 – June 5.

According to Sonya Bertolozzi, president of Canada-located Reel Athletes Agency, the assignment is for a car commercial featuring multiple athletes including ParaOlympians, runners, and people on skis. Anyone interested in the assignment should email current face images, date of birth, and her city of residence. The assignment pays $600 per day on set plus a $12,000 buyout if her face appears on the final edit. If interested, email requested information to reelathletessonya@gmail.com or call Sonya on her US cell phone: 720-421-2455. Please let us know if you’re selected!

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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People I’ve met love the Mountain Collective Pass


For those prepared to travel, it’s a no-brainer. Two day passes at any number of well-known ski resorts for $399. I purchased one a few weeks ago for next season and quickly encountered the dark side of this attractive product: weak Customer Support. I made the non-refundable purchase and was then prompted to register. That process didn’t function properly. I notified Customer Service, which, in turn, sent unhelpful automatic responses.  Despite this, I’m looking firward to using the pass next season. Has anyone else had an issue with customer support? 

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows reached 700″ of cumulative snowfall for the 2016-17 season, the second greatest on record. First was 2010-11, with 810″ inches. California Department of Water Resources declared 2016-17 winter northern Sierra Nevada’s wettest. Average annual snowfall at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is 450 inches.

LESOTHO, AFRICA

Believe it or not, there’s a small ski hill in Lesotho, the tiny African monarchy surrounded by South Africa. For readers who might want to check this one off the bucket list, click here for more on this Southern Hemisphere oddity.

 SIBERIA

Sheregesh is a Siberian ski resort with a long season. It is a great distance from anywhere, but each Spring, thousands of scantily clad women and men travel to Sheregesh to party on skis. These Google Pictures make our costumed Spring pond-skimmers look tame.

UTAH

Onno Wieringa, Alta’s GM, is retiring following a career that started as a liftie, advanced to ski and avalanche patrol, and went on to manage one of North America’s iconic resorts. He started in 1972, the year my wife and I got hitched. 2017 is his 45th anniversary (ours, too). We started skiing there in 1973, and it’s a rare season I haven’t returned. I never met Onno, but his reputation is that of a down to earth, competent manager. See Harriet Wallis’ article this week for more on Onno.

Utah’s elected officials openly disdain protection of public lands. It’s the main reason that the Outdoor Retailers are pulling their twice annual gathering from the state. OR, in association with Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), The Conservation Alliance and Outdoor Alliance are organizing a march and rally during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market to express support for federal public lands. Participants in the This Land is Our Land march will walk to the Utah State Capitol and hear Utah tribal leaders, outdoor industry leaders, athletes and policy makers speak to issues related to public lands.

VERMONT

The federal court appointed management team managing fraud-fraught Jay Peak and Burke Mountain was commended for stabilizing the resorts’ operations and accounting practices and increasing profits by nearly 500% since taking control of the properties a year ago.

 OTHER

Jeremy Jones, founder of Jones Snowboards, is an executive with a social conscience. His essay on the perils of climate change presents a perspective of the younger generation. It’s worth reading.

Panda Poles are bamboo and they’re terrific! I bought a pair at an end-of-season price. They feel good on three counts: they function well; they look great, and they are made by a company committed to sustainable materials. These poles also are nostalgic. I’m old enough to remember switching from bamboo to aluminum. Now I’ve gone full circle. Want a pair? The Panda Pole website has a 30% discount through April 22.

Jon Weisberg

Baby-Faced Leader Builds Baby Resort in Hills of North Korea

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Masikryong Ski Resort , North Korea

Gates-To-Masikryong Ski Resort, North Korea

Baby-faced supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, built a luxury ski resort on Taehwa Peak, a 4,460′ mountain in Kangwon Province. It was constructed in 10 months by the Korean People’s Army. The cost is estimated at US $ 35+ million. It has nine blue and green runs, a ski school and a children’s snow park. The resort includes a 120-room hotel with pool, restaurants, and ice rink.

In 2013, a deal with a Swiss ski-lift manufacturer was blocked in response to one of North Korea’s nuke tests. At the time Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs characterized the resort as a “prestigious propaganda project for the [North Korean] regime.” In response, the North Korean Central News Agency issued the statement: “This is an intolerable mockery of the social system and the people of the DPRK and a serious human rights abuse that politicizes sports and discriminates against the Koreans.”

Finally, the resort opened with a 30-year-old Austrian-made gondola, retired from Ischgl. It was supplied by China.

Kim Jong-un is reported to have skied in Switzerland while attending boarding school there.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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For me, this has always been a melancholy time of year.

Most North American lifts stop running, and the joy of winter shifts to summer diversions. Some people use the time to push their limits. Years ago, I’d drive to New Hampshire to ski Tuckerman’s Ravine on Memorial Day. It was an Eastern skier’s rite of passage. When older and commuting into Manhattan, I bumped into a neighbor also waiting for the train. It was a dreary day, but his face was glowing fresh with sun. He had returned the night before from skiing Tuckerman’s. It was at least 8-hours each way. He had driven up Friday night where he stayed in a lodge in Pinkham Notch. Saturday morning he hiked the 2.4 miles to the base of Tuckerman’s then skied all day. No lifts; just climb and ski. At the end of the day he hid his equipment and returned to his lodge. Sunday morning, he awakened to rain, had breakfast, and hiked up to get his gear. Once there he looked around and determined that it wasn’t raining hard enough to keep him from taking a few more runs. Telling the story, he said, “Jon, I figured, what the hell, I might as well enjoy it while I’m here.” George Herzog was 76 when that happened. It was at least 30 years ago.

CALIFORNIA

National Geographic Bowl is adjacent to Squaw Valley, a few feet out-of-bounds from the top of Granite Chief Peak. It now will be accessible by lift and with guides from Alpenglow Expeditions.

COLORADO

Power Pass, on sale now through Apr. 28, provides unlimited skiing plus a host of other benefits (e.g. 12 buddy passes) at five Southwest areas: Purgatory Resort, Arizona Snowbowl, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, Pajarito Mountain, and Hesperus Ski Area. Purchasers also ski free or with discount at Copper Mountain (CO), Loveland Ski Area (CO), Monarch Mountain (CO), Crested Butte (CO), Grand Targhee (WY), Eldora Mountain Resort (CO), Diamond Peak (NV), Mount Bohemia (MI), Ski Cooper (CO), Kiroro (Japan), Panorama Mountain Resort (Canada).

MONTANA

Now that winter is winding down, the Montana Office of Tourism is promoting it’s craft beer producers. If visiting the state this summer, there’s no shortage of finding a locally-produced brewSKI. For example: check this short video.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

An avalanche earlier this week in Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt. Washington was caught on this short but dramatic video.

UTAH

Powder Mountain announced that its day ticket limit is being reduced from 2,000 to 1,500. Powder Mountain is the largest skiable resort in North America. Lift accessible terrain is close to 8,000 acres! With fewer tickets available, there will be more untracked pow available to visiting skiers. The resort had 500″ of snow this season.

WYOMING

A split board is a snowboard that separates for climbing and can be reattached for descents. They’re popular for backcountry adventures. Jones, a leading split board manufacturer, issued a terrific photo and video account of their use in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. The scenery and boarding are fantastic.

OTHER

Rice University bioengineering students are building a device to help people with impaired sensation in their feet stay upright and avoid falls. A brief video explains what these innovative youngsters are up to.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

For Senior Skiers, Online is Just Fine

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Like generations of more recent vintage, SeniorsSkiing.com readers are comfortable making online purchases.

Nintey-five percent of the respondents to the most recent SeniorsSkiing.com reader survey reported they were “satisfied” with purchasing lift tickets online from ski areas and from ticket aggregators like Liftopia.

And more than half of the respondents reported that they’re likely to purchase ski apparel, such as parkas, on line.

The survey was the fourth that SeniorsSkiing.com has conducted with its growing base of reader/subscribers. Similar to earlier surveys, 27% of SeniorsSkiing.com readers responded.

The average age of respondents is 67, which is consistent with the last time that question was asked in 2015. The gender balance shifted from earlier surveys. In 2016, it was 60/40 male/female. The most recent result shows the ratio closer to 70/30.

When asked how much they expected to be on the snow this season, almost 42% reported more than 15 days. Of that, more than 25% expected to be on snow 25 or more days.

Seventy-one percent are between the ages of 60 and 74. Slightly more than 13% are in the 75 to over 90 range.

About sixty-six percent intend to make hotel/lodge/Airbnb/VRBO purchases next season. The next most popular purchase will be season passes (individual area and multiple area). Those purchases are followed, in order, by layering garments, pants, goggles, socks, gloves, and helmets.

When purchasing ski jackets, 82 percent spend up to $400. Almost 90% purchase ski apparel pre-season, end-of-season, or off-season. Surprisingly few purchase during the season.

Do any of these stats come as a surprise? Please drop us a line to let us know.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Pond Skimming at Vail

Skiing’s Silly Season starts this weekend with the annual ritual of the pond skimming competition. They’re generally associated with live music, costumes, BBQ, beer and LOTS OF FUN. Seven Springs (PA), Stratton (VT), Mt Snow (VT), Nashoba Valley (MA) and others have theirs scheduled for Saturday. Many others will be in April. Mt Bachelor‘s (OR) is the latest I found — May 28. It’s unlikely many SeniorsSkiing.com readers will compete, but if you do, check out these instructions for getting a good run. Be sure to send the video!!

COLORADO

Colorado Ski Country USA announced that its 22 member ski areas reported a January/February increase in skier visits over the same months last year. Snowpack is 125 percent of average and March and April are typically the snowiest months.

MASSACHUSETTS

Nashoba Valley Ski Area’s March Meltdown will be held this Sunday. Prizes for best costumes and pond skimming. Costume theme is 80’s TV or cartoon characters.

QUEBEC

Mont-Sainte-Anne announced the start of its 6 week spring season featuring live outdoor music, a slopeside sugar shack, and sunny terraces. Last day: April 30th.

UTAH

Snow Basin celebrated #nationalpuppyday with an Avalanche Dog Fundraiser benefitting Wasatch Backcountry Rescue.

Whisper Ridge, the new Utah heli/snowcat operation about a hour north of the airport has closed for the season. The company reports a banner season. Whisper Ridge is taking reservations for the coming season: 801-876-4664 or email info@whisperridgeutah.com

VERMONT

Okemo is promoting  an “all-new, bigger, better and bolder lineup” of season passes for ’17/’18. All passes are eligible for a M.A.X. Pass add-on. Purchase by April 30 for best prices and added value. Prices drop dramatically starting at age 65.

OTHER

Zeal Optics has an end of season 30% off sale on all goggles.

KJUS skiwear is beautiful, technical and pricey. 2016-17 Fall/Winter merchandise currently available online at 20% off.