You’re Invited! SeniorsSkiing.com’s Fifth Anniversary Party
Additional Raffle Prizes: Safe Descents ski and snowboard insurance.
Tag Archive for: Apex Boot Systems
Short Swings!
World War II produced many heroes. One of Norway’s best known died earlier this week. Joachim Ronneberg led the ski-assisted raid that destroyed the facility where Nazis were producing “heavy water,” a component they would have used to produce an atomic bomb.
He was 23 when, according to his obituary in the The New York Times, he and eight other “…Norwegian saboteurs skied across the Telemark pine forest in winter whites, phantom apparitions gliding across moonlit snow. . They halted at a steep river gorge and gazed down at a humming hydroelectric power plant where Nazi scientists had developed a mysterious, top-secret project… Hours later, in one of the most celebrated commando raids of World War II, Lieutenant Ronneberg and his demolition team sneaked past guards and a barracks full of German troops, stole into the plant, set explosive charges and blew up Hitler’s hopes for a critical ingredient to create the first atomic bomb.” Ronneberg was 99. The complete Times obituary provides a brief history lesson on the epic event.
Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris starred in “The Heroes of Telemark,” a 1965 British film based on the raid. The most definitive book on the raid, “The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb” (2016) was written by Neal Bascomb. Click here for “X-C Skiing Saves the World,” SeniorsSkiing.com’s 2016 book review.
RSVP for SeniorsSkiing.com’s 5th Birthday Party!
Help celebrate our Fifth Anniversary, 5:30 – 8:00 PM, Wednesday, November 14, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Meet other metro area senior skiers. Win Apex Ski Boots, a trip to Okemo in Vermont, Orsden ski parkas, a season of ski insurance from Safe Descents, The Bootster device to help get boots on, the DeBooter device to get them off, discounts on Masterfit boot products, etc. Lots of SWAG from areas all over the country. Meet a representative of Alpskitours based in Italy’s Aosta Valley. All free except for cash bar. RSVP, jon@seniorsskiing.com.
Buying Boots? Use a Professional Bootfitter.
If you’re considering buying boots, PLEASE, use a professional bootfitter. It is one way to assure the positive outcome of your 
purchase. We highly recommend using the services of bootfitters who have gone through training with Masterfit’s America’s Best Bootfitter (ABB) program. To find one near you visit: https://www.bootfitters.com/find-shop.
New England Areas Get a Head Start
Sunday River, Maine, opened last weekend. Mt Snow will open this weekend, the resort’s earliest opening in its 64- year history.
Mind-Boggling Ski Videos
These feats are not to practiced on your home hill.
Skiing East Face of Matterhorn: The six-minute video starts with the climb up Mt Cervin (aka Matterhorn). The skiers unrope themselves from bolts in a rock face and ski — ever so cautiously — a steep, rocky face, until they let loose on saner terrain.
Line of Winter: This three-minute selfie from GoPro shows Nicholas Falquet skiing what appear to be high elevation vertical walls covered in deep powder. Can’t tell if he has a cable attached to his back. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
Caught in a Crevasse: This one is 17 minutes and shows a skier falling into and being rescued from a deep crevasse. Lesson here is to avoid crevasses and if you’re in those conditions, to ski with others with rescue skills and equipment.
Park City’s BIG SHOT!
Sunrise Rotary Club in Park City (I was a member during my Park City years) set a world record on Saturday, October 13 with its 3rd annual Shot Ski Event. If you’re not familiar with shot skis, they’re skis affixed with shot glasses. For competitions — or just for fun — the glasses are filled with booze (in this case from Park City’s High West Distillery). The entire ski is hoisted and the contents guzzled by the participants. To reclaim the record from Breckenridge, 1275 Parkites showed up to lift 508 skis (2570 feet long) off Main Street. Congratulations, Sunrise Rotary for raising almost $30,000 from the event!
Axe Throwing and New Pod Hotel at Whistler
Among other new developments at Whistler this year are the Pangea Pod Hotel and 
apres ski axe-throwing. Two more reasons to visit Whistler Blackcomb, one of North America’s largest and most fascinating resorts. It has an added benefit for seniors — its relatively low elevation (long vertical, nonetheless) makes it easier on the lungs.
Short Swings!
I heard a massive avalanche one time. Chamonix in the late 60s. Several minutes later a fine dust covered everything. When it stopped, it was an inch or two deep.
When you ski in the West, you often hear the early morning thuds of dynamite and bombs dislodging unstable slopes. It’s impressive.
I like to seek silence, pausing in the trees, away from the sound of cable and the chatter of other skiers. When its fresh, snow muffles its surroundings. Maybe you’ll hear a bird, a squirrel in a tree, or nothing.
Quietude can be part of the experience. But like other life wonders, we need to slow down to hear it. Being aware of our surroundings, wherever we are — but especially on mountains in winter — is part of the richness of our experience.
It doesn’t matter if you’re skiing Hunter Mountain, Jackson Hole’s Hobacks, or Catherine’s in Alta. Simply enter the woods and listen.
November 14 Party in Manhattan
RSVPs are being emailed in. We’re looking forward to meeting you in person. If you’re in the New York area and want to attend, please send me a short note at jon@seniorsskiing.com.
Last week, I mentioned that APEX Boot Systems is providing an $800 pair of its ultimately adjustable and superbly comfortable boots. 70+ Ski Club is giving a free 4-day trip to Okemo in Vermont. Richard Lambert, who heads 70+, will be on hand to answer questions about upcoming trips. Orsden, which makes incredibly comfortable and good looking parkas, is giving two parkas for the event. Sara Segall, the company founder expects to attend. There will be Bootsters to help you get your boots on and DeBooters to help get them off. The Buffalo Wool Company, which makes remarkable socks from bison and silk is sending a selection of products. And GearBeast, which makes the perfect cell phone carrier for skiing and other activities, will have numerous pieces to give away. Different resorts and state ski associations are sending lots of SWAG. And if you want to learn about fantastic skiing packages based in Italy’s Aosta Valley, where you ski in Italy, Switzerland and France, Mauro Cevolo of advertiser, Alpskitour will be there. For more on the party, click here.
Trail Masters
We sent 100+ patches, stickers, etc. to last season’s Trail Masters. The only one returned was addressed to Thomas Bolstad. If we receive your correct address, we’ll resend.
The Art of Fear Ski Camp
I know several older skiers who are unable to realize their potential on the slopes because they’re afraid. A few are afraid of injuring or reinjuring themselves. Others limit themselves to the same terrain because they fear taking it to another level. My wife, an athletic person with excellent skiing form, gets concerned when we approach the steeps. Kristen Ulmer is an author and life coach who helps people overcome their miscellaneous fears. She will host The Art if Fear Ski Camp, March 9-10, 2019 at Alta. The cost is $579. For more information visit The Art of Fear 2-Day Ski Camp.
Short Swings!
Living up to its reputation, at least across the West and Northeast, March is entering like a wild snow lion.
SeniorsSkiing.com is heralding the arrival of March with a new discount service. It provides significant discounts on products Mike and I think will interest you. Some are specifically ski-oriented, others fit with the older, active, outdoors lifestyle.
Each offering is presented at Discounts for Seniors. Once there, simply click on any ad, and it will take you the company’s website. If you decide to make a purchase, enter the code on the ad, and you’ll receive the specified discount.
A few examples:
- Apex Boot Systems is waiving the $25 demo fee at its 11 demo centers.
- Stabil slip-prevention shoe attachments are 20% off. Every senior should carry a pair in the car.
- CP Visor Helmets (I’ve skied with it. Comfortable, stylish, VERY nice!!), also 20% off.
- Brilliant Reflective stick on/iron on reflective tapes (essential for nighttime safety) 25% off.
We’ll be adding to the discounted product list over time. If you have suggestions for products or services that you’d like to see on the list, send them to jon@seniorsskiing.com and/or mike@seniorsskiing.com.
100 Year Old Skier Explains His Passion
George Jedenoff is 100+ and still skiing!
Many of you commented a few weeks ago on Harriet Wallis’ excellent articles about George Jedenoff, the 100+ year old who still skis. Ski Utah just issued this video of George discussing skiing. It is uplifting!!!
Paralympics and the Rest of Us
With the PyeongChang Paralympics (March 9-18) about to get under way, Mike and I have been thinking about skiers we’ve met who ski despite serious health issues. Many have used their love of the sport as motivation to return to the hill. We’re learning of programs utilizing winter sport as a form of rehabilitation. If you or someone you know has recovered or improved though skiing, boarding, X-C. snowshoe, etc. and want to share that story with our readers, please let us know.
2018-19 Season Passes
Mountain Collective just added Big Sky to its offerings. The early price is $409 which gives two days at each of 16 resorts plus 50% off all additional days. For each adult pass purchased, a pass for children 12 or under cost $1. That includes grandchildren!
Ikon Pass goes on sale March 6. It comes in two flavors, both giving access to 25 destination resorts. 
- The $899 version gives unlimited to 12 resorts and up to seven days at each of the others.
- The $599 version gives unlimited access to 10 destinations and up to five days at each of the others.
Vail Resorts introduced the $99 Military Epic Pass in recognition of the Vail founders who served in the 10th Mountain Division. All active and retired US, Canadian and Australian military personnel and their dependents are eligible for the pass which provides unlimited 2018-19 access to Vail’s 14 owned and operated resorts. A separate Military Epic Pass will be available for all other US, Canadian and Australian veterans and their dependents ($499 for adults; $269 for children). Vail also will donate $1 the Wounded Warrior Project for each 2018-19 Epic pass sold. Based on this season’s sales that should total $750,000.
Massachusetts
Jiminy Peak will host a Cardboard Box Derby and pond skimming contest March 17-18. The mountain’s STRIDE Great Race is the same weekend. It recognizes accomplishments of skiers/riders with physical or developmental disabilities (stride.org).
Montana
Fifty-year-old, Rob Leipheimer recently seta new record for laps on Big Sky’s Lone Peak Tram. He completed 35, breaking the previous record of 31 set in 1998.
New Hampshire
Cranmore Mountain will introduce its Flannel Festival March 24. Show up in your best flannel, enter your beard in a contest, music, etc. Details at Cranmore.com.
Quebec
Quebec Spring Break is March 3 – 11. Many of the province’s resorts will be celebrating with festivals, races, live music, etc.
Saturday, March 3 is Super Demo Day at Mont Tremblant. Next season’s gear will be available to try.
Vermont
Bromley will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a Scavenger Hunt and other festivities. Find the pot of gold at the top of the mountain and trade it for a 2018-19 season pass. Follow the resort on Instagram for location hints.
Ski for MS, Sunday March 11, is a one-day Pico fundraiser benefiting people with multiple sclerosis. People from around the country — including Olympian Donna Weinbrecht — will gather to benefit people with MS and their families.
The private Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain is on the brink of foreclosure. Three notes for $17.1 million went into default. Club members may take over ownership.