Jon Weisberg

2018-19 Trail Masters Now Online

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A total of 195 readers qualified as Trail Masters, reporting that the number of days they skied, boarded or snow shoed last season equaled or surpassed their number of years. 

Their ages average 67.6, and their number of days skied average 89.9. One-hundred-fifty-five respondents provided their names and contact details. Of those, 37 are women. Six are octagenarians.

At the end of each season, SeniorsSkiing.com asks readers if their number of skiing days equals or surpasses their number of years. Respondents fitting that requirement are named Trail Masters and receive an embroidered patch. 

The oldest Trail Master for the 2018-19 season is Fredi Jakob, 85. He lives in Carmichael, California and skied 87 days. Gerald Rehkugler, 84, Cortland, NY, skied 90 days. Gary Clarkson, 81, Pittsfield, Massachusetts skied 100 days. Bill Belk, 81, Driggs, Idaho skied 130 days. Roger Bourke, 80, Alta, Utah, skied 91 days. Michael Sharkey, 80, Waitsfield, Vermont, skied 84 days.

Sixty skiers in their 70s were named Trail Masters, as were 118 in their 60s, and 21 in their 50s. 

Reflecting SeniorsSkiing.com’s reader demographics, the majority of respondents are from the US, followed by Canada, Australia, and several European countries.

While SeniorsSkiing.com is oriented to the 50+ skier, boarder and snow shoer, the average reader age is 67. 

All Trail Masters since 2015-16 can be found by clicking “Features” on the menu bar.

Trail Master patches are expected to be mailed in October.

Jon Weisberg

Drumrolllll…2017-18 Trail Masters (all 106 of them) Announced

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Trail Masters are those SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers who reported that the number of days they played in the snow (ski/board/shoe) last season met or exceeded their number of years.

For the 2017-18 season,106 people self-qualified. The season before, 77 Trail Masters were named, and in 2016-17, when the program launched, there were 42.

Some readers have commented that the program favors youth—if people in their 50s qualify as “youth.” We understand their position and tried to come up with an alternative way to recognize those individuals who pursue their sport as they get older. We contemplated a few alternatives, but concluded that having the number of days on snow match your years is a pretty good one.

Most of last season’s Trail Masters are from the US. Four are from Canada, two from Australia, and one each from the UK and New Zealand. Each Trail Master has been sent the SeniorsSkiing.com Trail Master sew-on patch and a selection of decals.

The age range is 50 to 79. The two oldest are Roger Bourke and Michael Sharkey, both 79. Roger lives in Alta, Utah and skied 110 days. Michael lives in Waitsfield, Vermont and skied 100 days. The 50-year old is Dianne Maggipinto, 50, of Salt Lake City. She skied 80 days.

Frequent SeniorsSkiing.com contributor, Harriet Wallis, made the list by matching her age with 78 days on the hill.

The highest number of time in snow was achieved by Brad Noren of Ironwood, Michigan, with 210 days. He’s 63. Brad is an alpine/Nordic instructor. He reports that he skis almost every day from late October to late April. In the evening, he snowshoes around his property on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Next are Lynn Bourdaghs, 76, Cottonwood Heights, Utah and Rick Morris, 67, Kingscliff, Australia. Lynn reported 155 days; Rick, 152. Carlan Silha, 74, Spokane, Washington, reported 136 days.

There were 24 subscribers on the previous 2017-18 list of Trail Masters who also appeared on this year’s list.

Congratulations, Trail Masters!!!!!

Click here to see the full list of TrailMasters 2017-18