My Second Career as a Ski Patroller at Age 72
By Alan Slobodnik
When I retired from full-time work at the end of 2017 after a rewarding 50-year career as a family therapist, I was looking for a new passion and challenge in which to invest my energy and continue helping people live to their full potential. I had always been adventurous and active, including skiing, golf, pickleball, weight lifting, long-distance cycling, hiking, kayaking, T’ai Chi,so something physical appealed to me.
As luck would have it, my wife and I met the Assistant Ski Patrol Director and his girlfriend at our local bar, near where we lived in Waterville Valley. As I expressed my interest, he said enthusiastically, “You should come out for the Patrol and meet our Director,” never once mentioning my age (72 at the time).
Photo by Harriet Wallis
I’m now entering my sixth season, and it has become the adventure of a lifetime and pushed me beyond what I thought was possible.
It is hard not to fall prey to the ageism in our society and even in ourselves. One of my good friends and skiing buddies, an age-group national gold medalist in GS, told me that things in the body really start falling apart at age 75. I started to think that my seventies was not going to be my best decade, that my best skiing was behind me and the rest of my life was about loss and preparing for death. Boy, was I wrong!
Research shows that people do best when they push their comfort zone by 4%. Living with a positive and growth oriented attitude makes every decade feel better than the last.
Receiving instruction to improve my skiing (and developing toboggan handling skills) from the training directors, and hanging out with Patrollers of all ages who believed in me has been exhilarating and also keeps me feeling young, because I have a new peer group to keep up with. Passing my medical training (a completely new skill for me) and receiving my white cross on my Patrol jacket was one of the proudest days of my life, partly because conventional wisdom said there was no way I should be doing this. The other part was because I truly love every part of being a Patroller, and no intention of quitting any time soon.
Have there been physical and mental challenges? Of course, but true to my philosophy, I met them eagerly because I wasn’t ready to give up my adventures and joy. I had to work hard at my skiing, even though I thought I was already pretty good.
I had my fourth joint replacement in July and crushed my rehab so I could be skiing by mid-November. When I felt my balance and agility slipping, I doubled down on T’ai Chi and started seeing a personal trainer.
Stick to blue groomers in perfect conditions? That may happen in the future, but for now it’s “Hell No!” I’m having too much fun being the first one ripping down an ungroomed double black to see if it is safe to open to the public! And I want to be the first one to respond to someone who has suffered trauma in a fall, because I have worked hard to learn the skills to help them.
I’m not an exceptional athlete, but I believe that 50 years of honing a positive mental attitude has prepared me well to find this phase of life so exciting and rewarding. And it’s something we all can do.
My advice to everyone is to follow your joy and believe you can achieve your dreams and goals, whatever they may be. Don’t give in to the myths of ageism! Focus on what you (and your body) can do and not what you can’t! I guarantee you will surprise yourself!
If your joy is skiing, keep at it however you can and look me up on the slopes of Waterville Valley. I will be the guy with a huge smile on his face wearing a red jacket with a white cross.
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Love, love this story!
Thank you for sharing such a great story and being an inspiration to all of us who still want to get out there and play like kids!
Not to mention, a mentor to those younger ski patrollers—How many go home thinking, “ this is great! I wanna be just like him when I grow up!”
Thank you, Linda! We are capable of so much more than we think! And yes, younger patrollers often say to me that they want to be like me at 77! And my cycling friends say the same thing!
Wow, Thanks for your service! Very inspiring.
Thank you, Richard! It feels great to be giving back to the sport and community that I love and has given so much to me! Even the relatively routine events like splinting up a broken ankle and taking the guest down in a toboggan gives me great satisfaction!
Atta Boy!
Thanks, George! There’s a lot of life left in our amazing bodies!
Alan, you sound like my twin. As a life-long attorney, and avid skier, I took Hunter Mntn’s Instructor Training Course, in 2002, at age 71, started and still enjoy part-time teaching, Hunter greatly improved my skiing, I achieved PSIA Alpine Level II, and I share all that you so well expressed. If it works, don’t stop doing it.
Thank you, Ralph! I am happy and proud to be your twin, and to have you as a comrade in arms!
That is such an inspirational story.I love it when I read about people who don’t let age stand in their way.There is so much ageism in this world and some people are far to quick to write off those of us with grey hair ! I’m going to forward this to all my ski buddies .Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Jane! People are really resonating to my story, so please send it to anyone who might benefit. So true about the ageism. Not only do we have to endure others’ perceptions and judgments, but we also have to guard against our own unconscious internal biases. I make sure to take my turn carrying the 5 gallon water jugs into our HQ, even when others offer to do it!
Keep it up. I am 88, still patrolling, running sleds. I am now a Patrol Director at a small area, patrol also at a much larger area, and am a Section Chief. I hope to be able to continue for a long time.
Way to go, Charlie! I love running sleds! So great to hear that there are no limits! Klaus Obermeyer skied for over 100 years before hanging them up! No reason that can’t be us!
Good for you Alan.
I to am in my 70″s, 74 to be exact. I am still working but not at the same level as have in the past. I hope to find something that I can feel as passionate about.
I do ski, play golf and keep busy but to find something like you have done is my goal.
Keep up the positive attitude!
Thank you, George! You are so right that it is the passion that keeps our minds and bodies young! Go do it!
Not close to any mountains in the Chicago area but I would like to get back skiing again. I am inspired by your post and let’s see if I can find a way
As a Wisconsin resident, may I suggest Alpine Valley. I took up downhill skiing 8 years ago at the age of 60 and enjoyed a great lesson there.
They have a super group of instructors and visiting midweek guarantees you wide open runs and zero wait at the lifts. Have been visiting various mountains out west every year and continue taking lessons wherever I go.
Linda, that sounds like a great suggestion to get back into skiing! Dan, don’t just “see if you can find a way”, go do it! We’re all in this together, supporting each other!
Sorry, I meant Linda and Bruce in my reply.
YEA!!! Well put by all of you, I’m grateful for this publication, thank you from a west coast 87+ skier
Can’t wait to see what you are doing at 90+! We have an amazing skier here in Waterville Valley in her 80’s who is NASTAR Platinum!
Wow! Awesome story and thanks for sharing! I’m 66, retired for 2 years and was just beginning to wonder if I could do this. I would definitely need work on my skiing skills, so I’m not sure that I would qualify. Do you have to meet minimum qualifications before they are willing to spend the time and money to train?
Hi Chuck;
Wow! Thanks for your interest. As a NSP Alumnus and former OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) instructor, all I can say is contact your local patrol as individual mountains have their own protocols and selection processes. This would include “pre-ski”, as well as monetary and time comments ìrequired by you. Regardless, your first step is contacting your local patrol. Good luck and best wishes.
CJ
Thanks, Chuck! Exactly what CJ said, start with your local patrol. The smaller ski areas with somewhat modest terrain may be more receptive. The sky is the limit! I’ve just started working on training to become a toboggan instructor, with the support of my patrol director!
Alan, keep up the good work your doing. Just as I am enjoying my passion as well at 81. See my article about roths safety in this week’s post.
Well done on ski safety, Mike. I’m dismayed about the number of collisions we’re seeing. If skiers and boarders would follow the basic code of conduct, we could significantly reduce the number of collisions. These can’t be stressed enough.
Im the APD that Alan first talked to. Ive been a patroller for 30 years. Mt Snow, Steamboat, Squaw Valley. Also down under. Buller and Thredbo. Ive seen and worked with the best of the best. Im am proud to wear the cross along side with Alan
You are the best, brother! Your belief in me made this all possible! Let that be a lesson for all the patrol directors out there! Give people a chance and they may surprise you!