Tag Archive for: Canadian Mountain Holidays

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Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve received numerous emails from ski industry and other leaders supporting Black Lives Matter. Mike and I want to add our voices to this and to other expressions of social justice.

Many of you will remember Bob Dylan’s 1964 song, “The Times They Are A Changin.” His anthem to social change and the consequences of ignoring it takes on new relevance during this time of social, environmental and economic uncertainty and disease.

Each of these issues is evident in skiing, boarding and other winter sports. There should be more people of color on the hill, but for many, the effects of historic social injustice have prevented their participation. 

We are constantly reminded of the unfair treatment of those whose skin color relegates them to economic and educational disadvantage and the lifelong consequences of those disadvantages.

The ski industry has acknowledged the need for change. For years, National Ski Areas Association has reached out to minorities in an attempt to attract them and add diversity to the sport.

It appears that decades after Dylan released “The Times They Are A Changin’,” things, finally, are changing.  It’s about time.

National Brotherhood of Skiers

The National Brotherhood of Skiers the group of African American skiers founded in 1972. Its history is fascinating, and its programs introducing black youth to the sport are encouraging. Learn more about NBS by clicking on the image above an watching a first-rate video produced by REI. 

95-Year-Old Heli-Skier Sets Guinness Record

World’s oldest heliskier Gordon Precious and grandson. Credit: CMH Heli-Skiing

Gordon Precious, 95, of Hamilton, Ontario, recently set a new Guinness World Record for oldest heli-skier. A lifelong skier, he achieved the record last year and shortly before his 95th birthday. The previous record was set by a 91-year-old. 

Liftopia Stiffs Ski Resorts

Liftopia, the biggest online lift ticket seller, owes more than $3MM in ticket sales to Alterra, Mountain Collective, Aspen and other resorts. Sources report Liftopia will seek bankruptcy protection.

Mountain Collective Lowers Price; Adds Resorts

Good News: Mountain Collective is giving 2019-20 passholders $50 off their 2020-2021 passes. And it has added these resorts: Sun Peaks Resort, BC; Grand Targhee, WY; Panorama, BC; Sugarloaf, ME, and Chamonix, France. There are now 23 top-raking destinations on the pass.

Less Than Good News: “No Questions Asked” refund deadline for purchasers is October 16, 2020; slightly early to know about the health of the ski season when COVID’s second wave may be reaching shore.

Portillo Postpones Opening “Indefinitely”

Portillo

A letter this week from Ski Portillo states that the legendary Chilean resort will remain closed indefinitely because COVID-19 is at peak levels in Chile, quarantines, and travel restrictions.

Reliable Source of Reliable COVID Supplies

KN95 Mask                                                                  Type II Surgical Mask

I keep on hearing about people ordering face masks online and getting ripped off. An acquaintance thought she was purchasing COVID masks and was sent tiny, mouth-only coverings, unusable for COVID or any other protection. A recent column mentioned that Masterfit, ski boot footbed manufacturer and SeniorsSkiing.com advertiser, now sells high quality KN95 (comparable to the US’s N95) and Type II surgical face masks.

  • KN95 masks fit securely around the face and provide maximum fluid resistance and filtration efficiency. They’re good for those interacting closely and frequently with the public. 
  • FDA Certified Type II surgical masks are what many surgeons wear. They’re lightweight and provide excellent protection through the triple filtration face barrier. Type IIs comfortably wrap around nose, mouth and under the chin. While not designed to make an air-tight seal, it does provide significantly greater virus filtration protection than a simple dust, particle or homemade mask.

Masterfit also sells reusable face shields and an excellent COVID disinfectant spray. SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers enjoy a 10% discount on masks. Pre-discount prices : $35 per package of 10 KN95 masks and $39.50 per package of 50 Type II surgical masks. Click here to access Masterfit’s PPE products. For the discount, enter  FOMCOVID1910 at checkout.

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Before I get into this week’s topic, I’d like to thank each of you who donated to SeniorsSkiing.com. This is the second week of our second annual fund raiser. The response has been enthusiastic. Your gifts will help us get closer to covering expenses. As important, they are telling us that this effort to form a community of older snowsports enthusiasts is appreciated. If you have not already done so, please consider making a gift. If you already have, you’ll be receiving a personalized thank you. In the meanwhile, THANK YOU!

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This season, I’m visiting areas I haven’t been to before (or haven’t been to in a very long time). Last week, Pam and I completed a tour of five Colorado ski areas and resorts. The difference between a resort and an area is that resorts have onsite lodging. Ski areas don’t.

Like most road trips from my youth, this one required a lot of moving around, a lot of taking suitcases to and from rooms, a lot of unpacking and repacking…you get the picture. We’re both of an age where the schlepp began to wear us down.

Pam would have preferred staying in one place. I don’t disagee.

Even at this age, road trips can be fun. You get to see and ski more places and, if conditions aren’t good in one place, you might be able to find pow someplace else. (As it turns out, conditions were good throughout our 10 day Tour d’ Colorado).

But there’s something delicious about parking yourself at one place, exploring the area’s terrain, restaurants, etc. Before moving to the West, some of my best ski holidays were without cars at Alta and Snowbird. You landed at the airport, collected your gear, took a shuttle to the resort, and every day, got up early, clicked on your skis, and enjoyed the terrain. End of day, you hung out with others who had done the same thing. I’ve had similar experiences elsewhere. You’re there. The car, if you brought one, is in the garage (if there is a garage). You’re not dragging luggage. It’s probably what it’s like when checking into a luxe hotel at a luxe resort. It’s what Pam would prefer. And now that I think about it, me too.

What do you think is the best way to take a ski vacation?  One place? Road trip? Something else? Full disclosure: We leave for another skiing road trip in a few weeks. This time by plane, train, and automobile in the Alps.

SeniorsSkiing in the Dolomites

InspiredItaly conducts Ski Safaris in Italy’s Dolomites. I’ve written about the weeklong experience in the past, and, next month, will experience the adventure for the first time. Two SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers recently completed the tour. This video tells their story. 

Loveland’s Valentine’s Day Mass Wedding

Loveland Ski Area — Valentine’s Day Mountain Matrimonial.

With a name like LOVELAND, getting hitched is a natural. Yesterday, Valentine’s Day, the Colorado area celebrated its 28thAnnual Marry Me and Ski For Free Mountaintop Matrimony event. Couples got married or renew their vows outside Ptarmigan Roost Cabin (elevation12,050’). Participants are encouraged to wear wedding clothes, and the best-dressed get rewarded for their effort. The 30-minute ceremony is followed by run down the hill and a party with wedding cake, music, and prizes.

Winter Hiking Featured in New York Times

The growing cold weather pastime is explored in this short, interesting article.  Let us know where you go winter hiking and if you’d like SeniorsSkiing.com to run some articles on the subject.

Lookout Pass

Deep. Deep. Deep. Lookout Mountain, Idaho

One side of Lookout Pass is in Idaho, the other side in Montana. The area is about a 90-minute drive from Missoula, MT or Spokane, WA. It’s not big, 540 acres; 1,150’ vertical. But does it get snow! Average annual snowfall is 400”. Keep an eye on this place. It’s about to double in acreage and increase its vert. Check photo taken this week!

100″ in Utah Since Feb 1

Yes, you read that correctly.

CMH Virtual Reality Tour

Canadian Mountain Holidays is presenting a 5-minute virtual reality film at ski resorts around the country. Filmed in Canada’s Cariboo range “Lines of Sight” is said to the the first film of its kind in the tech and ski industries. In resort pop-up lounges, viewers don VR goggles to watch the action. As they turn their heads, they are able to explore the full field of vision. You can watch the same film by clicking here. As you watch, place your cursor over any of the four arrows in the upper left corner to extend your vision left, right, up, and down. CMH says it created the film to immerse viewer into the experience and to dispel the myth that Heli-Skiing has to be extreme. Remaining screenings are scheduled for Mont Tremblant, March 7-12, Mammoth Mountain, March 22-24, and Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, March 29-31 and April 5-7.

BRR! Skincare Winter Balm

BRR! is an all natural face-protecting balm for skiers and boarders. Winter Balm was crafted with a unique blend of botanicals to protect skin against the effects of cold and wind. No nasty, toxic ingredients.  Can be applied to the face (cheeks, nose, and lips) prior to outdoor activity to protect or after exposure to soothe. First rate. Click here.

 
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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A forced march may be my most effective pre-season training.

While it wasn’t really forced, our hilly, eight day walk in the Dordogne region of France was a delightful, though at times strenuous, way to get in better shape.

After a few days in the 90s, temps dropped to the 60s; perfect for our daily 6-8 hours on narrow roads and even narrower farm lanes. We purchased the trip from Utracks, which arranged for our bags to be moved to the small hotels they had booked along the way. Their maps and directions were okay, not wonderful, and they neglected to inform us of an app that tracks your movement along the trails, helping to prevent numerous wrong turns from following the directions they supplied. That said, every hotel was spotless and the meals (included in the package), outstanding.

This is the land of ducks, geese, truffles, and cheese. Every place we stayed served it fresh from the area and beautifully prepared. No caloric guilt after all that walking. The last day, we took a car part way, walked seven miles, then canoed the final leg down the Dordogne River to another tiny town and our hotel. We had zig-zagged about 70 miles; the ride back to where we left the car was about 20 minutes.

Next time I trek will be closer to the season.

The Dordogne also contains the Vézère Valley, one of the world centers of prehistory. Among the 147 sites is Lascaux, the cave network whose walls are lined with glorious depictions of animals. These masterpieces were created 20,000 years ago. The original cave is off limits, but, in typical French fashion, it is beautifully exhibited in a precise underground copy; the centerpiece of a large, modern museum dedicated to this exceptional discovery. Other sites, including the comprehensive National Museum of Prehistory are scattered throughout the valley. If contemplating a visit to Vézère Valley, it’s best to decide an itinerary and purchase tickets in advance, especially for the more highly visited sites.

Aspen/KSL/Intrawest/Mammoth

A new 800-pound gorilla is about to enter the room. Last week, Aspen Skiing Co., KSL Capital Partners, Intrawest, and Mammoth Resorts closed on the deal announced in April. The new entity has 12 resorts including Aspen, Mammoth, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Steamboat, Winter Park, Stratton, and Mt. Tremblant. It also includes heli operator, Canadian Mountain Holidays. Total terrain (CMH excluded) is 20,000 acres. Total annual skier visits: 6 million. Vail Resorts is the other 800-pound gorilla. What does this consolidation mean for senior skiers? Stay tuned.

Ski Younger Now

Ski Younger Now is a retraining program for older skiers, and skiers returning to the sport after recovering from injury. It teaches low-impact, low-torque techniques to enable efficient skiing in all kinds of terrain. Created by SeniorsSkiing.com advisor, Seth Masia, SNY is entering its third season as a Signature Program in the Vail Village Ski School. Six 3-day sessions are scheduled for 2017-18. To sign up, download the registration form and return it to the Vail Ski and Snowboard School, call (800) 475-4543, or email Ingie Franberg, Adult Specialty Programs Manager, at ifranberg@vailresorts.com.

Climate Change Ends Summer Snow Camp

Camp of Champions, which for 28 years has been held on Whistler Blackcomb‘s Horstman Glacier has ceased operations. In a letter posted on the camp’s website, founder Ken Achenbach writes, “The predicament I find myself in is nature’s fault, not Whistler Blackcomb’s. In 2015 alone, the glacier lost 35 vertical feet of ice.” The camp required big terrain park features which could not be built due to drier snowpack. Other camps continue to use the glacier.

Outdoor Industry’s Political Activism

The outdoor industry is politically involved in saving public lands from private development as reported July 27 in The New York Times.