Didn’t Make It This year? Here’s A Snapshot Of The Show.
Correspondent Don Burch covered the recent Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo at the World Trade Center. It’s the last year the show will be held at this venue and it’s also the last year it will be produced by Bernie Weichsel and BEWI. Next year, SIA takes over.
Big Changes Are Underway This Season. Will They Help Solve The Problem?
Flashback To Last Winter
Bumper to bumper traffic creeps up Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons toward Alta and Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude. But resort parking lots are already full.
It’s mid-morning on a typical weekend.
Rabid skiers ignore the parkies. And they ignore One Way signs. They drive the wrong way and create blockades. They ram their cars onto berms and they jam up fire lanes.
Every parking spot is taken. There’s no place to park. Cops turn cars around and head them back down the canyon.
Outraged skiers then park along the 2-lane road — further and further away from their resort. They park on both sides of the narrow, twisting road.
Car doors hang wide open into the traffic lanes while skiers sit to put on boots. High snowbanks force skiers to trudge on the car-clogged road toward their resort, hauling their equipment, kids and coolers. The 2-lane road becomes a 1-lane obstacle course.
Some cars that park along the road sink into the deep snow and must call a wrecker to get pulled out. Other cars that park sloppily and threaten safety are often ticketed and are sometimes towed away.
That was last winter. It wasn’t pretty.
Why All The Mayhem?
Salt Lake City’s economy sizzles. Home and apartment construction booms, and that spikes the local skier population.
More than 300 flights arrive daily at Salt Lake International Airport, and 10 resorts are within an hour’s drive. Skiers with a multi-resort pass, such as the Ikon pass, flow unpredictably from resort to resort.
The only way up each canyon is by two-lane road. Resorts on national forest land must comply with regulations and cannot make changes on a whim.
Last winter topped the charts with 711 inches of snow, and, like a magnet, it sucked skiers up the canyons. Just add up all those issues. The net result was humongous traffic jams.
Partners For Solutions
Canyon roads have been a concern for more than 30 years. Solutions have been proposed, and some have been tinkered with. But last winter’s traffic nightmare pushed the hot button.
This winter, it’s all hands on deck. Ski resorts plus Save Our Canyons, Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, the Central Wasatch Commission and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) are stepping up efforts to change skier behavior and solve the traffic issue.
What’s Up For This Winter?
UTA added more ski buses in both canyons. It removed the inside ski/board bins to provide more standing room. And it eliminated some bus stops to speed up transit times, Skiers with a resort-specific season pass or an Ikon season pass can ride the UTA ski bus free.
Snowbird expanded its R.I.D.E. program—an Uber-type ride share app so skiers can carpool. (R.I.D.E. is the acronym for Reducing Individual Driving for the Environment. Download the iOS Snowbird R.I.D.E. app or the Android Snowbird R.I.D.E. app.)
In addition, Snowbird skiers who carpool or take the UTA ski bus earn R.I.D. E points toward sweet rewards. And carpools with three+ people get VIP parking.
This year, Alta, Brighton and Solitude implement the R.I.D.E. app.
At Alta, there are ride share vans for employees, and it dedicates 25 percent of the Wildcat parking lot for carpools with 3 or more.
Solitude takes a bold step and will charge for parking. Daily fees range from $5 for cars with four passengers to $20 for just one or two passengers. Those with a Solitude or Ikon season pass can buy a season parking permit for $150. The permit will cost $225 for non-season pass skiers.
More To Come
The question remains: What will it take to change skier behavior and eliminate the traffic jams? Stay tuned. The 2019-2020 ski season is arriving right now.
By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.\\
SeniorsSkiing.com is taking the holiday week off to spend time with family and friends. We are definitely thankful for our diverse and engaged readers who continue to inspire us with their insights and resolute allegiance to snow sports of all kinds. We are also thankful for our talented correspondents who have offered ideas, creativity, coverage that resonates with our readers. All is good as we approach our sixth Thanksgiving.
CAPTION CONTEST
We were searching the internet for a fitting Thanksgiving video we could post as a holiday treat for our readers. Instead of happy skiers making tracks in Pilgrim costumes, we discovered this…odd…video. It shows a guy skiing down a groomer at Breckenridge on Thanksgiving in 2013. But there is something…ah…missing.
We thought it would be fun to ask our readers to come up with a caption for this video. Just put your entry in the Leave A Reply section below. Hey, you may win a coveted SeniorsSkiing.com sticker…
DIN You Know?, Incidents And Accidents 2, XC Stereotypes, Skier Code Review, First T-Bar Pic.
We dropped our skis and new boots off at the Sports Stop in Wenham, MA, the other day. We wanted to make sure our new boots and bindings worked in harmony. And to generally slick up the skis for the season.
Imagine our surprise when the ski tech said, “You only have one year left on these bindings.”
“What?” says I.
“Bindings are good for 10 years,” he patiently replied to my confusion. “Springs aren’t reliable. And ski shops won’t work on them if they are on the DIN List.”
Several thoughts popped up: Has it really been 10 years since I bought those skis? Wow. This is a cash-cow for the binding/ski/boot business. Wow. Wait a minute, wasn’t there just a ski-skate-board swap down at the high school gym? Wowser again. Those obsolete skis and bindings are probably unusable, if not unsafe, and lots of kids are going to ski on them. And, what is this DIN List?
Apparently, the DIN List is not readily available to the public. We did find an undated copy on SkiBum.net with an explanation of what “indemnification” means. The article also includes a set of rules in place if a ski shop does, in fact, work on old bindings. Here’s also a DIN List from 2016-17 from PugSki.com.
Here’s the point: Do you know if your bindings are on the DIN List? What have you done about that if they are? Are you the kind of sportsman who holds on to equipment as long as possible? Are you aware that might/might not be a terrific idea?
After all, we still have wooden XC skis that we treat with pine tar and old-fashioned wax like the old days.
Time to buy new equipment for the season? You may have to.
This Week
We have another reader-submitted report on ski hill Incidents and Accidents. This time, it was a self-inflicted injury, stemming from improperly adjusted bindings. Interesting how we forget to adjust to changing physical capabilities as well as our DIN settings. If you have a story to tell, please try to follow the suggested format and send to INFO@seniorsskiing.com
Jonathan Weisel offers thoughts on the value of ski grooming at XC ski areas and why it is worth a fee to support excellent conditions, routings, and consistency. He bursts several myths about XC that most people assume.
Veteran journalist Mike Roth helps us remember to make a loud announcement of intent when we passing downhill skiers. It’s a way of being safe; why don’t we hear “On Your Right” more often? He review the Skier’s Code of Responsibility here.
Finally, we have a mystery photo this week of a very early T-bar, the very first in this particular state. Name the state, name the ski area.
That’s it. Thanks for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Please tell your friends and remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.
Accidents Can Be Self-Inflicted, Too.
[Editor note: SeniorsSkiing.com is collecting stories from readers about incidents and accidents that they have experienced. We intend to review these for patterns and themes and use that data to influence the safety policies of resorts and other stakeholders. The following is the second article submitted by a reader in our new feature “Incidents and Accidents. If you have a story to tell, please follow the format used below and send to INFO@seniorsskiing.com]
Carol Goodman, New Hartford, NY
Where: Gore Mountain North Creek, NY
What Happened: It was a beautiful powder day in the Northeast. The snow was coming down heavily and close to 18 inches of new snow had accumulated overnight. The trails were virtually ungroomed. Exciting for a seasoned skier looking for the feel of western skiing. Unfortunately, the stars did not align for me that day. It was my first day out for the season, and my second run down the mountain when I took a header; a forward twisting fall into deep snow with no release of my right binding.
As a result, I suffered a comminuted fracture of both my tibia and fibula. Fortunately the accident occurred underneath a chairlift so I was able to summon for help immediately. I was reached by a ski ambassador first, who was able to release my binding, as I was in excruciating pain. It was a very long process getting me off the mountain and into medical. The accident ended my 2018/19 ski season, as the surgical repair, with a rod and screws, required me being non-weight bearing for 10 weeks.
Role of the Ski Patrol: The goal of the ski patrol is to attend to the immediate needs of the skier and to keep the skier comfortable until the proper splint and sled arrives. This was my experience, although I spent almost an hour on the mountain in the snow. I would hope that this amount of time is not the norm. Once I was down the mountain and was warmed up, the next ordeal was getting my ski boot off, which they insisted had to take place before I could be transported to a hospital. Lucky for me, there was an MD available at ski patrol who was able to administer ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, so that I would not feel the pain of boot removal.
Lessons Learned: Always be certain that your bindings are in good working order and that you have had a relatively recent Vermont Binding Release test done. Even though I have been skiing for many years at an advanced level, the effects of aging and loss of strength should have prompted me to have my DIN settings checked and lowered.
Advice: Keep your equipment in tip-top shape, have a binding release check done, and keep skiing, even if you have a setback! Follow a strict rehabilitation program, followed by strengthening and conditioning so that you are in the best physical shape possible for the ski season. The benefits of participating in an activity you love, far outweighs giving it up.
“Aren’t Groomed Trails Free?”
There are at least three unfortunate stereotypes that are really important to the cross country ski world:
“If you can walk, you can cross country ski”
“Oh, it looks like so much work!”
“It’s free, right?” Meaning: Well, I heard it was free, so I expect it to be free.
Okay, a lot of cross country skiers and not-yet-skiers take all three for gospel, but here is an xc ski area operator’s view of these stereotypical views:
First, if you can walk, you can ski. But “it takes time – and at least one lesson – to really improve, glide, and enjoy skiing more.”
Second, it’s a lot of work. “Well, it’s a lot of work if you ski a marathon, but what most people do is ski at their own pace for a couple of hours and still have tremendous fun and get some exercise and fitness while they’re doing it.” New cross country ski equipment performs better (glide easier, get better grip on uphills, and have better overall control) and allow skiers to be more efficient and save their energy.
Third, it’s free right? A response to the trail fee question is that there’s no free lunch. This answer is more complex than the others because there are a lot of groomed trails maintained by clubs, communities, states, provinces, federal agencies, etc. where there’s no formal fee. Also, skiers have the option of breaking their own trails.
Appreciating Trail Grooming
Grooming is something that’s not only misunderstood by the public but also sometimes goes unrecognized. Lo! Pristine tracks and corduroy appear in the morning because grooming occurs mostly at night. What you didn’t see happen, you may not appreciate.
First, grooming has huge value, makes skiing—and especially learning— easier than breaking your own path. Grooming is expensive, and running an over-snow vehicle is just the most visible part of the cost. Even “no-fee” groomed trails aren’t free. They cost someone time and money.
Groomed trails typically aren’t just old logging roads through the woods and usually don’t just follow golf course cart paths. Area operators can tell you that it can be expensive to develop the best routes, create trails, and keep them in great shape for the public to enjoy. Selecting the best paths at golf courses without damaging grass isn’t simple either. More than 230 golf courses in North America now have machine-groomed trails.
The cost of trail grooming includes machinery (purchase, maintenance, fuel, storage, payroll, depreciation, replacement), land use fees (purchase, lease, taxes), signage and marking, insurance, parking lot construction and snow clearance, perhaps warming huts or yurts, ski patrol, lighting, snowmaking , etc. Ah yes, and there’s the cost of creating some trails.
Methow Trails Example
According MethowValleyNews.com, grooming at Washington’s Methow Trails—cited as the largest XC ski area in North America—is estimated to cost $6,400 for an average night of work. Think about clearing trails, trimming trees to make a wider canopy to allow snow to land, minimize debris on the trails, and to help skiers to avoid branches, angling the surface to complement the sunshine or avoid the wind and so on. Maintaining trails covered in wet snow is very different from dry snow. Icy conditions present a completely different challenge of grinding the surface and setting tracks.
It takes about a gallon of diesel fuel to groom one mile of trail according to Methow Trails. The snowcat blade allows a skilled operator to harvest snow moving it around so it covers the trail where needed. The operators could also use a bucket on the snowcat to collect snow and deposit it to uncovered spots.
Trail groomers can be responsible for maximizing every inch of snow, provide more consistent conditions and deliver more skiable days. As you can see, it’s not a simple task. But it’s one that is often unrecognized and under appreciated.
So hats off to the trail groomer and their cross country ski trails.It’s certainly worth the cost of the trail pass!
Remember The Right Of Way Rules Please.
[Editor Note: This article by ski journalist Mike Roth originally appeared in the Albany Times Union. It has been edited slightly from the original.]
On Monday the 19th of March, I skied Mount Snow which was fantastic. Since the week before they had received over five feet of snow. The trail conditions were packed powder over the entire mountain and could not have asked for better conditions aside from fresh ungroomed powder.
There was a decent crowd at the Bluebird bubble six pack chair but that was mainly because it was the only main face lift operating. There was no reason to run any of the others due to the lack of people. Even though the lift line took a few minutes to get through there basically was no one on the trails as you skied down to the base.
While I was on the mountain there were various posters with the Skier’s Code of Responsibility so I will repeat them here for the record.
It’s YOUR responsibility
1. Know your ability and always stay in control and be able to stop and avoid other people or objects. It is your responsibility to stay in control on the ground and in the air.
2. Take lessons from qualified professional instructors, to learn and progress.
3. As you proceed downhill or overtake another person, you must avoid the people below and beside you.
4. Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or run, or are not visible from above.
5. When entering a trail or run or starting downhill, look uphill and give way to others.
6. When riding a chairlifts use the restraining devices. Always use suitable restraints to prevent runaway skiing/boarding equipment. Ensure your equipment is in good condition.
7. Observe and obey all signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails or runs and out of closed areas.
8. Before using any lift you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
9. Do not ski, snowboard, ride a lift or undertake any other alpine activity if your ability is impaired by drugs or alcohol.
10. If you are involved in, or witness an accident, alert Ski Patrol, remain at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol.
To me, Item Three above is the most important!
This is my biggest gripe while on the mountain. When people pass you, they just fly by, many very close to you and without notification. How hard would it be to say “on your right or on your left”? Almost no one says that anymore. What a shame. I say no one, but I do and on Monday one other person said it to me. And I thanked him.
Every time I ski, I am increasingly conscious of the fact that I will be passed by someone behind me and almost always without notification. It is a rule on the Skier’s Code, but it should be a law. It is a law to use your directional in a car when you are going to change lanes or turn. It should be illegal to pass someone without notification.
When skiing I cannot tell you how many near misses I have had by individuals passing me without notification. “On your right or on your left” must not be in anyone’s vocabulary. I am not sure how we can instill this in skiers. Maybe these notifications should be taught through repetition. In that way the repetitive knowledge might sink in. It should start in the ski school levels. It should also be conspicuously posted on all the lifts and in the lodges.
Mount Snow has done some of this. On the trail markers there are signs on the mountain that say “Go With The Flow; People Ahead = Right Of Way” also the codes of skiing are posted on the TV next to the menu in the food court. This can’t be missed.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Katie Van Hess, Sun Valley, ID.
Editor Note: Here’s our first contribution from a reader about an incident she was involved with. To submit your story, try to follow the same format. Send to INFO@seniorsskiing.com
Where: Sun Valley
What Happened: Uphill skier heading fast towards a ridge to jump it. I was heading along the ridge towards a congested area to load on the lift. He tried to stop but hit me anyway, sending me into another skier while skidding along, flat on my back with skis still attached. The uphill skier came out of his skis. No one was seriously injured (but no apology from the guy who hit me). I took time off in the lodge to collect myself and did notice a previous meniscus injury was again compromised. This was at my home base of Sun Valley, and this particular run has always needed a slow down sign or better traffic control.
Role of the Ski Patrol: I’ve suggested a slow down sign to a ski patroller, and he did agree its been needed but nothing has been done.
Lessons Learned: I rather “panic” when I hear a skier or boarder behind me. I try to set a definite rhythm to my turns so they can judge where I’m going. I’ve gotten hit by them too many times over the years. One time, I did go to the emergency room with a huge hematoma on my arm (which I stuck up to protect myself as a boarder slammed into me while I was standing still).
Advice: Uphill skiers/boarders need to be reminded of their obligation to be able to safely pass those below them. I do agree that all mountains need more staff or volunteers to slow down the “indestructible” younger skiers. Resorts seem to be hesitant about ruining their good time.
Early Red Parka Person
Who is this guy? Sure looks like he knows the snows. Photo courtesy of the New England Ski Museum and executive director Jeff Leich. Worth visiting their online gift shop by the way if you’re looking for skier/snow sport presents. The New England Ski Museum now has two locations: Franconia and North Conway, NH.
Last Week
Yes, Mount Superior. Here’s a wonderful description from Alan Engen, recent winner of the S.J. Quinney Award from the Utah Ski Archives, honoring his life time achievements in the snow sports world. Thanks to Alan and the Alf Engen Ski Museum for contributing these photos.
“The photo was taken by the legendary early ski pioneer/legend, Dick Durrance in 1940. He was living at Alta at the time with his new wife, Miggs Durrance. Here’s a good photo of both of them on the deck of the old Alta Lodge, which Dick helped to initially build.
“The “Pointy Peak” photo shown is of Mount Superior and was taken not far from the top of Alta Ski Area’s current Wildcat Lift location. It is an impressive shot. Both Dick and his wife, Miggs, were excellent photographers.”
In the book The Man on the Medal, about the life of Dick and Miggs Durrance, written by John Jerome (1995), the following information was provided on their coming to Alta.
Dick and Miggs first came to Alta in the spring of 1940 to attend the wedding of Friedl Pfeiffer and a Salt Lake City girl (name not identified in the book). So recorded, they both “fell in love with the place.” They were married shortly after on June 9, 1940. In the fall of that year, Dick made contact with the Salt Lake Winter Sports Association (who ran the Alta ski area operation) and expressed interest in coming to Alta and helping to build the fledgling area with one chairlift and a lodge which at that time was only half finished. The Alta group welcomed Dick’s proposal with “open arms.”
It was through Dick’s efforts that he made contact with a friend named James “J” Laughlin and invited him to come and see the area he was involved with. Laughlin did come, and quickly fell in love with the beauty of Alta and ended up purchasing the Alta Lodge from the Salt Lake Winter Sports Association. The lodge had been started through a $25,000.00 gift to Salt Lake Winter Sports by the Rio Grande Railroad. The gift had been authorized by one of the trustees of the railroad, Wilson McCarthy. Laughlin agreed to finance completion of the Alta Lodge in return for interest in the lodge and the lift operation which the Salt Lake Winter sports Association agreed to do.
Laughlin, in turn, quickly hired Durrance to oversee the lodge completion and general lodge operations. This was in addition to running the ski school operation (which he had been granted through Forest Service approval). Dick’s ski school staff consisted of his wife, Miggs, Gordy Wren (who would become one of America’s finest Olympic ski jumpers), and Si Brand, a racer from California. The Durrance Ski School at Alta was based on the stem turn, “Which Mathias Zdarsky had advocated shortly before the turn of the century in Lilienfeld, Austria.”
Dick and Miggs first lived at Alta in one of the small mining buildings, below the Alta Lodge, left over from the mining era. Unfortunately, the old mining shack burned down and some of Durrance’s valuable competition awards were lost in the fire.
The Durrances lived at Alta for the first two years of their married life and left Alta after completion of the 1941-42 ski season.
In reflection, Alta has had a number of skiing legends who have, at one time or another, called that place at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, home. For certain, the Durrances fit that category and both contributed in helping to develop Alta into a world class ski resort.
Miggs passed away at the age of 83 on November 11, 2002. Dick passed away at age 89 on June 13, 2004.
Test Your Ski Knowledge
Don’t Peek Yet. Answers Below.
Alta Icon Alan Engen and Wasatch Mountain Club Earn Top Honors At Ski History gala
Every year, the country’s largest ski history research organization, the Utah Ski Archives, awards honors to movers and shakers in the ski industry.
This year the Wasatch Mountain Club earns the History Maker award for offering outdoor recreation for 100 years. It was founded with just 13 enthusiasts who enjoyed hiking, ski touring, and snowshoeing. A few years later it played a key role in the growth of skiing by offering “ski trains.”
Today it has about 1,000 members, and outdoor activities have changed with the times. The club’s non-competitive, muscle-powered offerings now include river running, mountain biking, back packing, and more. It also focuses on conservation and education.
The coveted S. J. Quinney award goes to Alta’s iconic Alan Engen for his life-long influence on skiing. Engen began as an award winning national and international ski champion, and his dedication to the sport continues to evolve today. He became the Director of Skiing at Alta, he’s in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, he’s a ski historian, and he’s authored several in-depth books about skiing. Then he found the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City, UT. It’s an interactive, must-see for everyone who visits here.
About the Utah Ski Archives
The Archives collection currently contains 500,000 images, 250 manuscripts and 6,000 audio, video and films. The collection is open to the public and is located in the University of Utah campus library in Salt Lake City. Every year, it holds a gala fundraiser to help support its mission of preserving ski history. And the gala honors individuals and organizations that are a major influence on ski industry.
Jet Stream Changes Bring In the Chills.
Last week I wrote about the “haves and have nots” in terms of favorable early season winter weather. The East was very cold with occasional snow while the West was warm and dry. For the most part, that is still the case, as the eastern Great Lakes and Northeast are in line for a reinforcing shot of arctic air this weekend. Temperatures will be suitable for significant snowmaking Saturday and Sunday. About a half dozen resorts are open in the Northeast, and several more are planning on turning lifts for the first time on Saturday.
The Great Lakes region has had the most consistently cold weather the past couple of weeks. At least a couple of Michigan resorts, Crystal Mountain and Boyne Highlands, will be in operation.
The push of arctic air will be the last for a while, due to some changes in the jet stream configuration over the continent later next week, over the western U.S. in particular. It’s not necessarily bad news in the East, but it certainly is good news for the West. Here is a jet stream forecast map for next Tuesday that helps illustrates the change.
While a deep trough covers the eastern half of the country. I will get to that feature shortly. Notice a shorter wavelength trough along the Washington/Oregon coast. That system will bring snow to the mountains of Alberta and British Columbia, but it looks as though snow levels will be very high in the Cascades of Oregon and Washington. Remember, the waters of the northeast Pacific are quite a bit warmer than normal. That will help the eastern half of the country as we work through winter, but that warm water will tend to elevate snow levels in the Northwest. Now, the other trough along the west coast—west of Baja—will play a role in snow production later next week as the northern and southern branch jet stream features consolidate into a larger trough by next Thursday. Take a look.
The more organized trough will have both the strength and the moisture to bring a meaningful snowfall to the mountains of the Southwest and the southern and perhaps central Rockies late next week into next weekend.
This map also shows us the subtle changes that will cause the extreme November cold that we have seen in the Lakes and Northeast to back down somewhat as we head toward Thanksgiving. If you recall, last week’s discussion made note of the direct discharge of arctic air from the high latitudes, the product of the combined circulation around a Gulf of Alaska ridge and an eastern trough. That couplet combined for a straight shot from the arctic to the mid latitudes. Look at that flow now on the second map. Start in New York and head west along one of the lines. You will see several changes in direction and eventually you will end up over those temperate waters of the northeast Pacific. Yes, there is still some very cold air involved in the pattern, but Pacific air is blended in, cutting back on the intensity of the cold.
Fear not. The pattern is not going to turn noticeably warmer over the eastern half of the country, but it will turn “less cold”. Temps will still be favorable for nighttime snowmaking, and a storm that works its way up the coast on Tuesday/Wednesday will likely produce some snow in the mountains of New York and northern New England. Meanwhile, after a mild start to November, parts of the West will see some bonafide winter weather in the next week.
Where? Significance To Skiing?
Thanks to the Alf Engen Ski Museum for sharing this dramatic photograph.
Last Week
Early days at Steamboat Springs. Each of two sleds held ten skiers. This unusual lift served Howelsen Hill in the mid 1940s. If anyone knows the back story of this “lift”, please let us know.
Thanks to the Tread of Pioneers Museum at Steamboat Springs for contributing this picture.
More doctors may be prescribing outdoor recreational therapy instead of Xanax if the proposed Federal legislation entitled the Outdoor Recreation Therapy for Veterans Act (HR 2435) passes. Studies are showing evidence that outdoor recreational activities can be therapeutic. I met Veterans Ray Gilmore and David Binford recently at a ski industry meeting, and they were engaging anyone who would talk with them about the Azimuth Check Foundation, which provides injured veterans and first responders challenging year-round athletic activities to create wellness in an atmosphere of camaraderie.
“Whether these vets have seen or unseen injuries, they can find peace in the outdoors,” they said. They feel that participation in activities such as alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, fishing, cycling, indoor rock climbing, wood carving and art, aquatics, golf, water skiing, stand up paddle-boarding, archery, and even bowling will build self-esteem and accomplishment.
Some veterans and first responders who have experienced visual impairments, amputations, and other physical and mental challenges have discovered organizations that orchestrate recreational activities, which can positively impact their well-being through adaptive recreation programs. Azimuth partners with other organizations such as the Veterans Adaptive Sports and Training, Adaptive Sports of the North Country, Ability Plus Adaptive Sports, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, and Northeast Passage.
Misha Pemble-Belkin of Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports’ Veterans Ventures program commented, “I’ve taken anti-depressants and done talk therapy but nothing I tried has worked. It was like my brain was still at war.” Different than working with healthcare providers in an office setting, this real world/real time approach to creating solutions for active and engaged living takes the guess work out of what happens when you go home or are discharged from care.
Gilmore talked about difficulty “shutting the motor off whereby the adrenaline remains and has become toxic.” The recreational activities help to create new memories and meaningful relationships. Beside physical challenges, many vets are faced with post traumatic stress (PTSD). While a stigma may remain about this condition, more veterans are now acknowledging it and seeking help.
Some of these program participants express that they’ve have had enough of meds and therapy Recreational programs can stimulate problem solving, collaboration, camaraderie, relevant and meaningful goals, as well as develop sustainable healthy behavior.
One vet referred to taking “meds” which made him feel like a “zombie” and took away the passion and joy of life. That vet commented that participating in recreational programs and outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, rock climbing has helped to re-instill periods of passion and joy in his life.
At Northeast Passage, a recreation therapist (RT) meets with an individual to complete an initial assessment. The RT talks about health conditions, interests, personal strengths, and local resources. They will also use standardized assessment tools as part of a collaborative process to identify goals, and a plan for achieving them, while working together.
In follow up appointments, the vet and RT are in the community actively engaged in recreation. At the same time, they’ll likely be creating community connections, learning about equipment, developing skills, and aspects of themselves that support continued active participation and a healthier experience.
Kristina Sabasteansk,i an Army Veteran, runs programs at Pineland Farms’ Veterans Adaptive Sports & Training in southern Maine, which offers year-round programming for vets with disabilities. She said, “Last year we took veterans and volunteers to Maine Huts and Trails in Kingsfield, ME. It was -9 F the day we left to go home, and there wasn’t a single complaint among the group. Sometimes the vets crave challenges similar to what they experienced in the military such as harsh winter conditions and strenuous activities.
Pineland Farm’s yearly Biathlon Camp had 16 Veterans with disabilities – ranging from SCI, amputations, TBI, blindness, PTSD and TBI, and other orthopedic issues. “Many had never even seen snow before the camp and by the last day they cross country skied and competed in a biathlon race against each other. These trips and activities with fellow Vets allow them to share their experiences in the military and they realize they are not alone in their struggles.”
Retired SSG Misha Pemble-Belkin of Vermont Adaptive Veteran had 170 vet participants for more than a thousand activities including winter sports such as skiing, XC skiing, and snowboarding. “It’s vets helping vets to learn these sports.” According to Pemble-Belkin, “There was a study of 1,200 Vets who were split into a group taking three of the major meds and a group taking a placebo, and it showed similar results. While the war experience was stored in your brain, outdoor recreation can provide some joy and passion that is a relief to the miserable times being home alone or unengaged.”
For more info:
Azimuth Check Foundation: acfne@azimuthcheckfoundation.org
Pineland Farms VAST Program in southern Maine with Kristina Sabasteanski Kristina@pinelandfarms.org
Northeast Passage in NH with David Lee david.lee@unh.edu
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports Veterans Ventures with Misha Pemble-Belkin veterans@vermontadaptive.org
What’s This?
This Strange Device Held 10 Skiers. Hint: Western resort. Many thanks to the Tread Of Pioneers Museum for this contribution.
Last Week
Of course, Killington. We took advantage of a picture of the resort a day or two after a major pair of Nor’Easters in New England taken by a pilot friend of ours. The snow dusting bodes well for Killington. The resort is hosting the 2019 Audi Women’s World Cup on Nov. 29th, that’s just four weeks away!
How Can Seniors Advance Their Skiing Skills?
The hardest challenge for me is convincing older skiers that you can change your skiing dramatically for the better no matter your age or gender. Not everyone wants to, but if you do, you can.
That’s the key to advancing your skiing as a senior skier.
Lesson One: The Key Is Belief In Change.
My most recent pupil—a man of 80—has powerful imagery skill, considerable confidence, and knows how to relax and reduce anxiety. He’s fit for his age. He also has years of skiing behind him: but not quality skiing, just “getting down things”.
But he didn’t know what to DO. In our first session he found two small actions that reaped big changes. In all those years no instructor had ever told him how to hold his hands for best results! From that moment on his self-belief, his hopes for the future, took off. He ain’t done yet!
Lesson Two: You Will Improve Faster If You Ski Slower.
Provided you know what you intend to do—what movement you will make and you know how you will know what you actually do, do. Don’t try to “ski”. Decide to make one movement only.
If you ski fast, you’ll have too much to think about. You won’t be able to focus, and you’ll be back to “getting down things”. Ski slower, improve faster.
Lesson Three: Patience Pays.
Be non-judgmental. The more patient you are, the sooner you’ll reach your goal. Being in a hurry slows you down. So does cussing yourself. Even older skiers with years of life experience still call themselves names.
Lesson Four: Your Learning Curve Will Be Steeper When The Slope Isn’t.
Once I have convinced my older skier that it isn’t “baby-ish” to work on changes on beginner slopes, we make faster progress. It’s an intelligent approach to do so; it’s not smart to work on new things on steep ones.
Learn your new techniques and become skillful with them on the easy slopes, where you have less to think about and “survival” is not an issue, and only then head up the hill.
Lesson Five: Work On The “Intention/Attention Feedback Loop”.
What has worked best in every instance for over 25 years has been what we ski coaches call the “Intention/Attention Feedback Loop”.
It works for everyone, but for my older skiers who for the most part are higher educated, mature, and thoughtful, it has worked even better. It has been a revelation for them.
It goes like this.
Decide before you set off precisely what movement you will practice. Decide which of your senses will give you the best feedback. Will you feel it, see it, smell it, etc.? When you stop, after only say 50 yards, mentally review it. Ski only very short distances at a time when you’re training.
The results all my older skiers get is the sheer satisfaction of finding they’re not washed up, and they are becoming more controlled skillful skiers than they ever believed they could. It pays huge dividends.
[Editor Note: You can read more in Bob Trueman’s books. Search Amazon here. And even more explanation on his new, free Youtube Channel “Ski In Control With Bobski” where you’ll also find some the movements to make.]
Get Thee To The Ski/Snowboard Shows!
The consumer ski shows are on! The Denver Ski and Snowboard Expo is on today!
The ski shows are a special time for all stakeholders. The resort industry gets a chance to strut its stuff, announcing new trails, lifts, amenities, and bargain price passes. Resort staff are there to answer questions, convivalize with familiar customers, gossip, and generally accentuate the positive about new and old features at the resort.
Some shows have clothing and gear retailers on site, lots of discounts in a bargain basement atmosphere. And clothing and gear manufacturers are showing their latest.
And then there’s the hodge-podge of other exhibitors who have miscellaneous products related to snow sports. Easy chair made of old skis? Check. Ski club? Check. Artisanal ski manufacturer? Yes. And publications and media companies, non-profits (museums, adaptive skiing groups), tour companies, discount ticket vendors, and many others.
For the consumer, it’s a time not unlike the coming of Labor Day is to a high school student. There’s a shift that’s been coming for a while, away from the remnants of summer activities, and toward winter, which is just around the calendar corner. Or which has already arrived in many places.
Get excited, pick up those Hersey Kisses, lollipops and free pens, trail maps, and ski magazines; every exhibitor has something to hand out. Put those in that big plastic bag and spend your evenings checking out and anticipating.
The shows are part of the rhythm of snow sports. Enjoy the official start of the season.
You can get a $3 discount if you get tickets through SeniorsSkiing.com by clicking on the banner ad in the top right of the home screen.
For a schedule of consumer ski/snowboard shows around the country, click here. Thanks to Mary Jo Tarallo of SunAndSnowAdventures.com for sharing her article.
This Week
The role of ski patrolman on monitoring out-of-control skiers and boarders has been an open question since SeniorsSkiing.com and readers have started questioning who is responsible for lifting tickets.
So, we asked Meegan Moszynski, Executive Director of the National Ski Patrol, for clarity. Click here for her response. Your thoughts?
How does a typhoon in the western Pacific ocean impact weather in the US and Canada? As with most things related to the weather, all phenomena are connected. The Skiing Weatherman Herb Stevens explains “The Typhoon Rule” which is one of the few reliable long range (two weeks) predictors of weather. Interesting stuff. Click here.
Correspondent Pat McCloskey explains how familiarity with terrain and trails can lead to confidence. Even gnarly, challenging terrain. If you could do it before, you can most likely do it again. Here’s his story.
Our Mystery Glimpse this week shows us an aerial view taken just this week of a notable resort dusted with beautiful covering of October snow. Tell us where it is. You’ll also learn where that apres-ski disco from last week is located. Here’s the picture.
Thanks again for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Tell your friends! Remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.
A Reply From Meegan Moszynski, Executive Director, National Ski Patrol
[Editor Note: On Oct 1, SeniorsSkiing.com published an article by correspondent Roger Lohr recounting his hit-and-run collision that left him with a nagging back problem. Many readers responded to that article by citing their own on-hill incidents with speeding or out-of-control skiers/boards. The question emerged: Who is actually responsible for lifting ski tickets from people who are discourteous, unsafe, or just acting dangerously? The ski patrol, right? No, said some; yes, said others. So, SeniorsSkiing.com asked Meegan Mosynskyi, the executive director of the National Ski Patrol, to clarify what the NSP’s role is in controlling dangerous skiers/boarders. Here is her response:]
Thank you for reaching out and inviting NSP to provide some input to this important topic.
The Responsibility Code is a courtesy code that all areas and guests are encouraged to follow. The Code was developed by NSAA and is supported by many other leading organizations in the ski industry, including NSP. As an education and training organization, NSP provides the standard of training. The standard of care and the actual roles and responsibilities of patrollers who work or volunteer on the hill is up to area management. Some areas ask patrollers to regulate and react to skiing speeds and other on-hill behavior to the best of their ability, and some do not.
We are always interested in working to promote safety in skiing. We work closely with NSAA and others to do this, and to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the skiing public and the areas that host them. Any communication that can be shared with the skiing public via your channels would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all you do. Let’s hope it’s another great winter!
The Typhoon Rule Can Predict Chilly Wet Air In North America.
In an age where computer models are believed to be the only viable long range weather forecasting tool, there remains a very effective technique for looking ahead a couple of weeks that had its roots in World War Two.
It is called the “Typhoon Rule”. When the far western Pacific is active in terms of tropical disturbances, it is a great way to determine what the jet stream pattern will look like over the US with a lead time of one to two weeks.
Military forecasters in the Pacific theatre dealt with typhoons pretty much year round, due to the persistence of water warm enough to form and sustain such storms in that part of the ocean. One of the meteorologists noted that after a typhoon either re-curved over or east of Japan or tracked straight west into mainland Asia, a change in the weather would result in a week or two in Washington, D.C. and thus the correlations were born. Here is how the Typhoon Rule works:
All tropical disturbances across the globe act like a cork in a stream. They are warm systems without the warm and cold fronts that drive mid-latitude low pressure systems, and are therefore more influenced by jet stream level winds in terms of where they will move. When a typhoon in the southwest Pacific encounters an upper ridge to the north—centered over Korea and Japan—the clockwise circulation around the ridge directs the storm westward, often through the Philippines and into Asia.
A ridge in that position correlates with an upper level ridge and tranquil weather over central and eastern North America with a lead time of one to two weeks. However, when the axis of the Pacific ridge is set up further east by several hundred miles or more, over the waters well east of Japan, the typhoons tend to run around the perimeter of the circulation, leading to a track that heads for Japan before turning north and then northeastward.
This happens in a fashion similar to Atlantic storms threatening the east coast before turning around the perimeter of the Bermuda high as they head for New England and the Maritimes—when the ridge is far enough to the east, the storms miss the U.S. A re-curving Pacific typhoon around a ridge well east of Japan correlates with a central/eastern North American trough, often leading to colder and stormy weather.
As we wait anxiously for the new season to start, the Typhoon Rule can give us a hint as to when colder air masses will be available for early season snowmaking or natural snow. As I write this on Oct. 22, the Typhoon Rule is set up for a cold air mass to dive into the center of the country later in the week of the 28th. The cold will also spread into the East, though in modified form. Take a look:
There are nuances to the rule, and one of them comes into play here. This strong October 22 storm will not make a dramatic turn to the northeast toward the Aleutians, but it will turn north of east. This track suggests that the trough/cold shot will be centered in the middle of the country with the chilly air eventually spreading east.
The Killington Women’s World Cup is about five weeks away, and it looks as though the snowmakers will be able to get started there around Halloween. The Typhoon Rule that an observant WWII forecaster discovered says so.
You Can Do It If You’ve Done It Before.
You know, as you age, little things creep into your mind like, “Can I still ski that?” “Am I too old to keep trying this pitch?” But, one of the things that keeps our minds in check is the familiarity with the terrain after years of experience.
For instance, every year, I travel to Mammoth Mountain, CA. with my posse of friends All of us have skied that mountain for years. After exiting the gondola at the top , we ski off the famous pitches and faces up there with confidence. Why? Because we know the terrain.
This last year was no exception. I made several runs down the cat track off the tram relaxed and tucking to the top of Paranoid Flats and skied right off the top with no trepidation. I have become very familiar with that terrain and know that I can ski it. Now there are pitches and couloirs there that I have not skied and for me, the consequence factor is too high with the surrounding rock walls that will suck in unsuspecting skiers who have made the error of skiing above their ability.
I take Coumadin and my doc always says, “Pat, you are the only patient I have who skis and mountain bikes on Coumadin.” But I have done those sports for years and know my limitations. And, I know how to ski safely over a familiar cornice, even though I am now 65 years old.
We all do this one way or another. Confidence occurs because of repetition over certain terrain. I have a friend who I ski with, who not only skis the same runs all the time at our local area, but he skis the same lines. He becomes so familiar with the lines that he is confident and tries to make the perfect turn over and over. I ride my local trails a lot on my mountain bike and am so familiar with the layout of our trail system that I can confidently ride them with speed.
The flip side of the coin is that if you keep yourself in shape and have the confidence that you can ski or ride most anything within reason, you are not adverse to challenging yourself on new terrain. The more familiar you become, the more confident you are. This is especially important as a senior skier.
There is nothing wrong with using a little caution, but for the most part, years of experience on the slopes will give you confidence. You know how to ski ice, you know how to ski powder and have that centered position and not sit back. You have seen rain soaked snow before and know that it is consistent. Why? Because you have been there before. When the young dudes see an older guy confidently ski a sketchy line, they are amazed. But really, we know that confidence and experience rule the day.
One day, a few years ago, my friend Eric and I saw a guy rocketing GS turns down Strawberry Express at Snowbasin, UT. His effortless turns goaded us on to stay with him and when we got to the Strawberry Gondola, he took off his helmet and exposed a gray beard with a grizzled, leathery face, and a full shock of gray hair. I politely asked him how old he was and he said he was 75 years old. We asked his secret and he stated that he skied or hiked every day, and he is confident in his turns because he keeps himself in shape. He knows every trail intimately.
So, the lesson for all of us is stay in shape, keep skiing, and there is nothing wrong with picking lines and sticking to them. The more confident you are, the more fun you will have.
It Was A Famous Apres Ski Hangout Back In The Day.
Hint: Think Colorado. What place? What year? Thanks to the Colorado Snowsports Museum for this blast from the past.
Last Week: Bang, Bang
As we said last week, it’s not what you think. It sure looks like the 10th Mountain in training at Camp Hale, as several readers have guessed.
Here’s the story of the photo, taken from the library archives of the Alf Engen Museum, Park City, as explained by Jon Green, the museum’s operations manager.
Taken around 1942, this image shows paratroopers from Fort Benning, GA, who were sent to Alta to learn how to ski and fight in the snow.
From the book, Dick Durrance: The Man On The Medal, The Life And Times Of America’s First Great Ski Racer, as told by the inimitable John Jerome:
“In the fall of 1941, a few months before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, [the 17-time national championship ski racer] Dick Durrance got a call from a Jack Tappan, an army colonel, who asked if he was interested in training paratroopers for ski warfare. Washington had determined that the U.S. would probably soon be involved in a war in Europe, and part of it might be fought in the Alps in the winter.” At the end of that winter, Dick and his fellow instructors determined that “maybe a third of the troopers would become pretty good skiers, the middle third could get by, but the other third had better stay in the paratroopers and forget it.”
Just after Pearl Harbor, early elements of what became the 10th Mountain were activated. The planners decided to recruit active skiers and outdoorsmen who actually knew mountain sports, rather than convert standing regiments of troops, even highly trained paratroopers. Perhaps the lessons learned by Dick Durrance at Alta led to that wise decision.
Free Skiing For Seniors: Early Observations.
One of the most popular features on SeniorsSkiing.com is our annual listing of resorts that offer free or almost free skiing for seniors. “Almost” free means a lift ticket or a season pass that can be had for a token amount, usually a processing fee or relatively small cost.
For the past several weeks, the lights have been burning late at SeniorsSkiing.com Headquarters. We’ve been waiting for resorts to post their 2019-20 rates, and many started appearing in September and late August. In a couple of weeks, after we’ve verified the final outliers and settled on a new format, we’ll publish our 2019-20 listing of free or almost free skiing in the US and Canada as Subscriber-Only Content. [Subscriptions to SeniorsSkiing.com are free, by the way.)
The process of finding and verifying senior rates is time-consuming. We have to go to each resort’s website, find the lift ticket and season pass rates, search for the senior eligibility age, and note it all on our spreadsheet. Some resorts have clear and easy to navigate sites, others have sites that are clearly amateurish. Others have one website for combined winter and summer activities, adding another layer or two of clicking.
But in going through the process of finding each resort’s pricing plan, we’ve noticed something of a trend. Call these observations rather than findings.
Many of the destination or big, brand name resorts offer free or almost free skiing for seniors beginning at 80 years of age. Those same resorts may or may not offer a discount for 65-79, varying from 10 percent off a regular adult pass to 40 percent, mid-week being the most cost-effective offering.
And many of those big resorts do not make it easy to find the offer of free skiing for 80+ on their websites. In fact, when we saw a separate price for, say, 65-79 year olds, that was a tip that there was something going on for 80+. We had to confirm many of those with an email to the resort. In other words, the free skiing for seniors 80+ option is not clearly obvious on many big resorts’ websites.
On the other hand, when we went to small and mid-sized resorts, the rates for seniors was more likely to be upfront and clearly displayed. These rates were usually found on a table where prices for kids, adults, military, college students, and seniors were immediately accessible. And there are great deals,
For example, Michigan’s Mt. Holiday has free skiing starting at 65. Monarch Mountain in Colorado has free lift tickets for 69 year olds and a $20 fee for a season pass. McIntyre Ski Area in New Hampshire offers a free lift ticket for 65 + and a $30 season pass. For many small or mid-sized resorts, the discounts or free skiing start to kick in at 70.
A couple of observations to share;
Update: Unsafe Skiers
Last week, we published an article by SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent and XCSkiResorts publisher Roger Lohr, recounting his hit-and-run collision with another skier. That story plus our survey question about “What Pisses You Off?” got a lot of comments from readers. So, we are pursuing some of the questions raised about whose responsibility it is to monitor and control on-slope speeding. We have some inquiries being made to the National Ski Patrol, and we’ll let you know what we hear.
This Week
An inspiration to us all, George Jedenoff is the senior-most senior skier. At 102, he still enjoys the outdoor winter at Alta. Harriet Wallis has alerted us to his autobiography which is available and accessible by download for free. Check out his story here.
We are launching our first Mystery Glimpse of the season.
Thanks to the many wonderful ski museums around the US and Canada, each week, we publish an historic photo of a person, place, or thing that they contribute, and you have to guess what it represents. As for this week’s pictures, it’s really not what you think.
Also, co-publisher Jon Weisberg adds an appreciation of Doug Coombs, daredevil, risk-taker, celebrated skier of the steep and deep. Jon found Tracking The Wild Coomba, a biography of an extraordinary outdoors man and adventurer, in a book store on Cape Cod this summer. Click here to read his tribute.
SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Don Burch offers another fun puzzle about skiing, this time a word puzzle. Give it a try.
Finally, we are posting an interesting article by Ben White, who, as a teenager, managed to ski New Hampshire’s famous 48 peaks over 4,000 feet in one season. He is sharing what he learned about skiing off-piste, lessons he learned the hard way. If you’re a backcountry skier, see what you can learn from his experience.
Thanks for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Please tell your friends. Remember, folks, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.
It’s A Thriller, A History, A Love Story And More. Read It Free On Your Computer.
George skis with enthusiasm. He cruises steep trails and shouts with glee when he jumps into powder. That’s George!
Skiers at Alta flock to him for inspiration. “Age is just a number,” he says. “Don’t let it be a barrier.” His motto is: “Never give up.” His positive outlook is a cornerstone of his life.
George’s autobiography, My Centenarian Odyssey, chronicles his life and adventures starting with his family’s flight from the Russian Revolution when he was just a toddler, coming to America, and later working as a young man in a California magnesite mine for 50 cents an hour. He graduated with honors from Stanford, served in World War II then worked his way up in the steel industry to become president of Kaiser Steel, a premier supplier of shipbuilding steel.
Along the way he learned to ski, and he’s passionate about snow and the beauty of the world around him.
Read his autobiography free on Apple Books. Or you can download it free onto your computer. Be patient as downloading takes several minutes. Click to Download
What Pisses You Off.
Last spring, we asked a provocative question in our annual SeniorsSkiing.com Subscriber Survey. We asked, “Thinking back on the 2018-19 season, tell us what pissed you off the most about the following…” Then we listed “On the slopes”, “In the lodge”, “Tickets and passes,” “Restaurant”, “Other skiers”. We also asked what delighted skiers the most, but let’s look at the opposite first. Based on the language in the responses, it is certainly where the passion lies.
We were surprised that so many respondents made comments like the following sample of many more:
Rude and dangerous skiers and boarders
Inconsiderate skiers and snowboarders
Lack of ski etiquette
Out of control skiers
Dangerous skiers
Beginners on advanced trails
Careless riding and skiing
Skiing too fast and too close to other skiers
Not skiing in control
Some are dangerously fast and reckless
Skiing and riding too fast
A few jerks skiing dangerously
Not following safe skiing rules
Risk takers who don’t turn on groomers
Straight-lining on easy slopes
Complete disregard for slower skiers
Respondents also mentioned high lift and pass prices, lousy cafeteria food, long walks from parking lots, and other grievances. However, the out-of-control skier situation is the most disturbing. Why? Because you probably thought that the Ski Patrol would be enforcing the Skier’s Code of Responsibility. Or that the resort’s Ski Ambassadors would be chiding characters acting dangerously. As we have learned from your comments, that apparently isn’t happening much.
Let’s be clear. There is a difference between skiing fast in control and skiing fast out of control. We know many of our readers like the former, but, as we have seen, many are intimidated by the latter.
As a result, SeniorsSkiing.com believes we have shone a light on a key area of ski resort management that needs improvement. The chain of consequences that dangerous, out-of-control skiers brings is significant: the risk of injury from collisions, turning off beginners, seniors returning to skiing, or the occasional skier who spends several hundred dollars for a once-a-season ski weekend, and creating anxiety in grandparents who fear for their grandchildren.
This week, we hear from SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Roger Lohr about his own close encounter with an out-of-control skier and his thoughts about what to do about the situation.
Let’s hear from you. What can be done to slow down the jerks who can potentially ruin a senior skier’s season? What can we do to influence the industry?
Also This Week
SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Don Burch offers a clever “Analogy Test”, that challenges your skiing knowledge and your ability to figure out analogies. Be advised, this is not a creme puff test; pay attention.
Herb “The Skiing Weatherman” Stevens follows up last week’s debut article as a SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent with a clear explanation of how the Northwest got whammed with a mega storm at the end of September.
Finally, we are reprising the third in a series of articles on shaping up for the season. This final set of exercises raises the challenge level. Remember, the key to fitness is a consistent routine. Dashing around the gym once a week, pumping as much iron as you can ain’t gonna do it.
Next week look for our first Mystery Glimpse feature of the new season. If you have story ideas or would like to comment, please scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your thoughts in the comment box.
We hope you’re getting ready to go to the ski shows. We know we are. See the discount for SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers at the top banner ad or click below.
Remember to please tell your friends about SeniorsSkiing.com. As usual, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.