Still Skiing After All These Years
Peter Theriault with another generation at Jackson Ski Touring.
We’ve all seen the classic posters: “Old skiers never die; they just go downhill” or “You don’t stop skiing when you get old—you get old when you stop skiing.”
And anyone who is out on the slopes regularly will notice that there seem to be a lot of active, over age 70 seniors who can identify with those posters and they’re out participating regularly at the many ski areas around the country. I see them everywhere here in Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire.
Take Peter Theriault, 76, of Jackson, N.H., for instance. He started teaching skiing at Wildcat in 1970. Yes, 1970! And he taught there every year until just this past season. But he still goes downhill skiing as Vail Resorts, which owns both Wildcat and Attitash in Mt. Washington Valley, gave him a lifetime pass for his years of service.
And, on top of that, he continues to teach cross country skiing to both local school children and adults at the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation (JSTF). “I’ve been involved in the Jackson elementary school after-school program since 1975. What’s that? Fifty years!” he said recently. “In fact, I’m now teaching some grandchildren of my first students–Jeff and Sally Maynard’s daughters were in my classes, and their children are in the program now.”
Add that Theriault also teaches adult cross-country lessons on weekends at JSTF and on Fridays he teaches downhill skiing to school children via the Eastern Slope Ski Club program at another local area, Black Mountain.
While all that might exhaust someone half his age, Theriault says it keeps him young. “I get a little winded – huffing and puffing keeping up with the kids,” he noted. “They have boundless energy back like I used to have.”
More older skiers?
Yes, the average age of skiers is increasing. Melody Nester, assistant director of Ski New Hampshire, noted, “Nationally, the median age of snow sports participants indicates a gradual aging trend. According to a demographic study conducted by the National Ski Areas Association, the national median in the 2023/24 season was 37 years of age, compared to 35 years of age in the previous year.”
But it’s not just the aging Baby Boomers who are skiing into their seventies. The trend started decades ago. There’s even a 70 Plus Ski Club that was first formed in 1976 by Lloyd Lambert, a retired sportswriter and radio and TV announcer who covered skiing during his career.
When he turned 70 back in the 1980s, Lambert was dismayed to find his contemporaries had to pay full fare for a lift ticket, which he thought was wrong because not many people over 70 could spend a whole day on the slopes so they never got their money’s worth. As a result of the efforts of Lambert and the 70 Plus Club, the older skier now enjoys free skiing or reduced rates at almost any ski area in the country. Plus, the 70+ Ski Club hosts trips for members to top areas in the U.S. and Canada, plus to resorts in the Alps and even to Argentina. Find more information at www.70plusskiclub.org.
Keep on keeping on
Tyler Palmer is still carving up Cranmore.
Olympian (Sapporo, Japan, 1972) Tyler Palmer, 74, is still out skiing at Cranmore in North Conway, N.H. It’s the same mountain where he started skiing at age two. “My best days as a kid were Monday afternoons, just skiing with the other kids and former Austrian ski racer Edi Mall. I realize now what a total privilege it was to have Edi Mall, Herbert Schneider [son of famed ski meister Hannes Schneider], and other Austrians teaching us,” Palmer said, adding that because of Cranmore’s St. Anton and Hannes Scheider connection, he was recognized throughout his skiing days in Europe.
Now he acknowledges that while he’s still into skiing, he’s just a little slower. “First off over 70, it’s hard to get into your boots, it’s hard to get your jacket on, and it’s hard to get out of your boots. It’s just hard to get in and out of all the stuff that you have to,” Palmer said. “But, when you get up there and you’re skiing, none of that stuff makes a difference. I really enjoy it, even if my body doesn’t.”
“I still ski, but not racing,” said Danielle Dion, another local over-70 skier who noted that her parents skied into their 80s. “I decided I’d rather ski at my own pace.”
“Seventy is the new 60,” added Dion with a smile.
- Still Skiing After All These Years - March 5, 2026
At our local ski area there has always been seniors skiing on our mountain. We were weekend skiers and weeknights racers when my group of skiers met. Now we are retired we are the old people. They offer a senior pass. We ski most week days . At Wachusett Mountain we look forward to ski season. We know many people by name and we know most of the staff who work there. I never thought of it as a special group. It’s just something we do every winter – ski. Thanks for the article to telling me I’m in a special group.
Love this. I’m 80 plus and still skiing up a storm. Not close to hanging them up.
Approaching 92 birthday racing at wachusett in the finals this weekend raced in the wenesday race league will race in Mass senior games 76 years on skis will be there next year
love your site
live and ski near Banff Alberta
Mt Norquay is celebrating 100 years on March 28 this year
up until 1948 the North American that may US skiers would come to had to be walked up as the lift went in the next summer. a single seat chair lift
the lower mountain had a high speed rope tow that i grew up on
the north am as we call it had many US skiers come up as it was the longest vertical race in north america at the time
I enjoyed your article about 70+ skiers. I’m 74 and started in 1963 as an eleven year old. You mentioned the issue of us over 70’s getting a break on ticket prices. While I know some areas offered reduced rates or even free tickets, the Epic and Ikon do not! I ski enough to warrant having both and get no discount. How do we continue to lobby for this? Your point about the time we spend on the mountain on any given day is a good one. My typical day is to be at the lift when it opens, and ski until just after lunch. That’s usually enough! So we don’t get our money worth.
Geroge, if you are an eastern skier. Epic has an east coast pass for over 80 (you have a few years to go) at somewhere about 50 bucks
Was ready to hang it up at 71 but now not so sure.
Age is just a number… still teaching skiing at 79… PSIA are now offering instructors clinics in “Teaching the aging skier”.
Just came in off the slopes in Blowing Rock NC. This was my 77th day on snow this season. 4 more days of skiing to reach my goal of a ski day for each of my 81 years of age. First tracks is a great way to start the day.
Why am I not surprised I found you on a national website and discovered how damn old you really are? Congrats on keeping the turns coming.
Jim, I am 82 now and I am still working otherwise I would probably be skiing my age as well. Darn work getting in the way!!!
Inspiring to see these posts as I am also still doing some skiing at 71. Just got back from skiing a few days at NorthStar with a friend I’ve skied with more than 30 years, then skiing with another old ski buddy at Copper Mt for a few days.
At 66, I love seeing all the old fogies still out on the slopes, giving me something to look forward to. Living at or near a mountain makes it much easier to keep the streak alive. The nearest resort to me is 2.5 hours. In any event, your demographics lean toward the average age getting higher because of older skiers. My first thought was it was getting older because of fewer young skiers, and quite simply affordability. Do you have data to indicate otherwise? I hope I’m wrong!
Where once upon a time putting on ski boots was the hardest part of the ski day, now it is bending over to pick up skis at the end of the day. I started skiing at 30, patrolling at 36. I’m still doing both at 89.
Charlie, I know the feeling, riding the lift is easier than taking the gondola, since I too have to bend over to get the tips to lift them up and I can feel the BP going up!!!! but we must keep on going!
Waking up from a nap after a morning of spring skiing at Greek Peak near Virgil New York. Day 58 so far this season as I approach my 91st birthday in April . I hope to keep going for at least a few more years! I feel really blessed that I have had such a long run! Great therapy. Still trying to keep up with the 70 year old youngsters.
All of the people I used to ski with have since hung up their gear. Four years ago my granddaughter turned 13. I told my daughter I wanted to give her some money for her Bat Mitzvah. My daughter replied, ” Mom, why don’t you take her skiing.” She is now 17 and I am 75 and we go every year to Park City, where I have been skiing since I was 26. Last year my daughter came with us and it was a real thrill to have three generations of women ski together. A trip I will never forget.
BRAVO, I can’t wait to get my great granddaughter on skis, hopefully next year when she turns 4
This article made my day!! I am soon turning 80 and recently widowed. My Condo is right at the base of the Mt – ski in/ski out, but I am just not getting out on the slopes as I should be…no excuse, but? Most days I need to push hard to get motivated, get dressed in all the layers, sometimes fight to get the ski boots on & give up. And when I actually do get outside and skis on, than its wait at the lift for some one to come along and ride up with me, as I can’t manage lifting the bar myself. I find myself XC skiing more everyday. So much easier to get outside on my own timeframe with a lot less effort involved. Will make sure to secure my free ski pass for 2027 season.
I started skiing in 6th grade and when I was a senior in HS, I weighed 160 pounds. After college and getting married, my weight rose gradually to 200 pounds. Now, I have entered my early 70s, I am back to 185 pounds and still skiing. So, I am curious on percentages of present body weight in comparison to your maximum weight, and also comparison of HS graduation weight in comparison to today’s weight, especially for those of you who are hovering in the vicinity of 80 years of age and are still an active skier. For me, from HS to maximum weight I went up 25% and from HS to today I am 8.1% above my HS weight. I also dropped to 92.5% of my maximum weight, based on today’s weight. I am curious what weight comparisons do you guys have and this may be a big factor of many regarding having the endurance to still be able to comfortably ski.
You (we) are all a bunch of folk heroes!
George Adzick -> Minnesota
I envy those who are skiing in ther late 80’s and in their 90!s. Arthritis stoped me skiing at 85. I still miss it! I remember the local and national OTHG,. And the over 70 groups. Skied over 38 western mts. Plus several Midwestern hills. Enjoy!!!
I stumbled on this conversation while inquiring about how many 85 year old men still ski. (Ans = << 1%.). Back in 1961, at the age of 20, I was a regular army specialist in radio propagation serving a 1 year tour at Camp Tuto, at the base of the North polar ice cap. We had found army cross country skis (7.5 feet long), screwed down the backs with leather bindings and, using a Weasel to haul us up the slope, went skiing on the edge of the ice cap. Been skiing ever since. Joined the 70+ Ski Club in my mid 70's and now ski 15 to 35 days each year (Some years have meager snow). My wife and I ski Mammoth Mountain during the first or second week in March where she attends an emergency Medical conference each year. Conference sessions are before and after the lifts operate. Great time to ski Mammoth as the mountain is replete with ER skiers.
My skis carry an 85+ Ski CLub decal which is a great conversation starter. Many of the young lifties give me a high five.
Michael, I too have the same feeling as well as wearing my 80plus patch, hopefully there will be another article post in the next few issues about that post.
AT 84 my 80+ patch gets some high 5’s and a number of congrats for still being out on the slopes. Living in Florida it’s always a flight north and a rental car to get to Bretton Woods. Don’t get as many days each winter as I would like, but returning to the North Country and New England, where I grew up, is always rewarding and refreshing.