Dear Younger Self (Video)
Senior skier writes letter to his younger self.
Don has fused his passion for skiing with the art of videography, giving birth to Skiing New England (formerly Montage Ski Productions) on YouTube and Facebook. His distinctive perspective captures the thrill, splendor, and fellowship cherished by everyday skiers. With more than six decades of skiing under his belt and experience as a ski instructor at Sunday River and elsewhere,Don possesses a profound appreciation for our sport, which shines through in his work. Don is an active contributor to SeniorsSkiing.com and proudly holds membership in the North American Sports Journalists Association (NASJA).
Latest posts by Don Burch (see all)
- Senior Women Skiers (Video) - March 19, 2025
- Your Grandfather’s Ski Adventures (video) - February 18, 2025
- The Senior Ski Bum - December 9, 2024
What a great “Thanksgiving” story – thanks Don.
Glad you enjoyed the video Alan!
This weekend is going to be the most watched skiing event in maybe 100 years.
Don, Thanks so much for that Beautiful Sentiment about our younger selves! And I’d also like to thank my high school sweetheart and her family for taking me skiing the first time; AND thanks to my parents for buying my first ski equipment when they realized that I was in love with skiing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of us senior skiers!
Great to hear from you Roger. A lot of people helped us as young skiers. Must have been skiing with you high school girlfriend.
Thanks for your video. So much of your story brought back memories of my own experience. As I approach my 77th birthday my time on the slopes is no longer lift open to lift close. I am fortunate to have watched my kids and now grandkids experience the joy of the sport that I love. I will keep on skiing as long as I can and hope that my grandkids continue to pass on this joy to their future children.
Thanks for the comment. I hope you’re enjoying skiing as much as ever even though you’ve had to cut back. Hope you have a fun season.
I enjoyed your video. It reminds me of when I started skiing. I’ve been skiing for 60 years, the best sport I ever took up. I still ski, also run NASTAR courses. I get in about 40 days a year. I’m a PSIA Instructor at a local mountain. I’m 81 years old and plan to ski until I drop. “Don’t Let The Old Man In”.
I’ve also been skiing for 60 years! Not letting the old man in is also my goal but it’s taking a bit more to do so each year.
I started skiing when I was 12. My Dad and I would ski at areas outside of NYC that were served by rope toes or T-bars. I am 79 now and a PSIA instructor. Thanks for reminding me of those early ski days—some of the happiest memories I have.
We had to be tough back in the day…long skies, low tie boots, rope tows… BUT truely wonderful memories.
I give particular thanks to the addled teacher who, one afternoon in the fall of 1965, rather than showing one or another of the the usual short-subject scare films about the dangers of smoking, drinking, driving, or sex, instead gave a private screening of Warren Miller’s ‘Many Moods of Skiing’ to the entire 10th grade class of Cheltenham Senior High. I have always wondered how many potentially productive lives were that day redirected to ski bums. Quite a few, I think.
I love your comment! Teachers in my junior high school taught at a ski camp I attended. I’ll never forget that my Science teacher was the one who taught me how to parallel.
Wonderful video. I’m sure many of us tell the same story about how we started skiing. I was blessed that my best friend’s family took me skiing when I was about 12 years old.
My parents didn’t ski and I too was fortunate to frequently get invited on ski trips with friends and their families.