Tag Archive for: Catalochee

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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OK Boomer

If you haven’t already heard about it, the term “OK Boomer” has gone viral. It’s the Millenial and Generation Z way of giving the older generation the middle finger for complaining about younger people’s behavior and commenting on issues such as the environmental crisis that will be left for them to solve. It’s a term that smacks of  ageism.

Source: elleinadart.com

My characterization of the term’s usage is probably not entirely accurate. But “OK Boomer” is the phrase de jour headlining youth frustration with status quo. Look for it on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and social media platforms.

It reminds me of a recent New Yorker cartoon showing a young lion-tamer with his head in the jaws of the animal. The caption reads: “If this goes wrong, I can always blame my parents.”

Aging and Skiing Trends

I was born a few years before the Boomer generation. That started in 1946. Boomers are not going away soon. Ten thousand a day turn 65, a trend that will continue into the 2030s. Obviously, not all of them play in the snow. But it’s interesting to note the parallel between the 20% of the US population who are Boomers and the 20% of all US skiers who are 52 or older.

Remember the Sixties when we were advised not to trust anyone over 30? Currently, there are more people 65+ populating Earth than those under the age of 5. 

Youth-Oriented Ski Industry

Skiing and the industry behind it are youth-focused. That’s fine from my perspective, but I’d like to see greater acknowledgement of older participants who’ve supported the sport for decades and continue to do so.

We ski more frequently, spend more on skiing, and encourage our grown kids and grandkids to get into the sport. That last one, about the grandkids, is especially important for a sport struggling to attract newcomers. The number of skiers and boarders in the US has been flat for 35 years. 

And This is Our Reward…

Our rewards for staying in the game? Big Ski removes our discounts. Slope safety places many of us at risk. And Millenials and their younger Gen Z kin, get adrenaline kicks speeding through the video game maze of crowded slopes, often knocking their older opponents (us) out of the game.

Cataloochee in NC Is First in the East!

The North Carolina area debuted the season on Nov 3, becoming the first Eastern resort to open. A few hours later, Killington ‘s lifts started rolling. Terrain at both is limited, so check before heading out.

Also in the East…

Sunday River plans to open November 9. Stowe and Okemo will open November 22.

Okemo’s annual Ski and Snowboard Swap is scheduled November 22 through 24 at the Jackson Gore Round House. Proceeds benefit Okemo Mountain School in Ludlow, Vt. Check Okemo’s website for hours and other details.

And in the West…

Copper and Breckenridge will be running November 8; Steamboat, November 15 (it’s earliest date, ever).

Mountain Capital Partners acquired Brian Head, the southern Utah resort with the highest base elevation in the state. MCP’s other ski properties include Purgatory (CO), Arizona Snow Bowl (AZ), Sipapu (NM), Pajarito (NM), Hesperus (CO), and Nordic Valley (UT).

Mt. Bachelor (OR) is the site of the third annual Winter PrideFest, an LGBTQ+ celebration of winter sports. The event, to be held January 30 – February 2, is expected to draw about 700.  More info at www.outcentraloregon.com/winter-pridefest/ or the Winter PrideFest Facebook Event page.

Spineless Youth?

Rossignol surveys a panel for opinions about a variety of brand-related subjects. Based on the English used, I assume the people in charge are in France. This is from a recent report on a survey about back protectors: In a previous study, we asked you if your children had a backbone: this is the case of 40% of you! Not clear if this is a translation or orthopedic issue.

Build Your Own Rope Tow

In 1941, Popular Mechanics published detailed instructions for ski clubs to construct their own rope tows. That article is followed by another one with plans to build your own cartop ski rack. Click here.

Lindsey Vonn HBO Special

Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season looks back on the four-time Olympian’s career and presents a look at the final chapter of her skiing journey. Premiers November 26 on HBO. 

10th Mountain Division Training Film

This 10 minute video is the last segment of a 1941 training film for USA mountain troops. Click here.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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If you’re accustomed to US prices, Canada offers great skiing value. The current exchange rate guarantees it.

Skiing in Japan also is reasonable, but there’s the cost of getting there. Some clubs have reasonably priced all-inclusive packages. This one to Japan organized by the Baltimore Ski Club looks like it will be a lot of fun.

And skiing the Italian Alps is a great bargain. I just checked non-stops from NY and Boston for mid February. The prices are under $500. Chicago, Philadelphia and Salt Lake cost more, but they’re still reasonable.

When you book with Alpskitour, the rest of your trip – transfers, hotel, skiing, guides, some meals, equipment, lifts, transportation to different resorts – will be around $3500 per person. My wife and I went with them last season. It was one of the two best ski experiences we ever had. 

We stayed in a nice hotel in the center of Saint Vincent, a small, scenic city in the Aosta Valley. From there we took a scenic ride each day to different resorts in Italy, France, and Switzerland. 

Alpskitour puts together small groups of intermediate and advanced skiers and takes them for five days of skiing in the best resorts in the Aosta Valley. Mauro Cevolo and Andrea Jory, who run Alpskitour, guide you in Breuiel-Cervinia, Zermatt, Monterosa, and Courmayer, among others. 

They choose the best conditions and most empty slopes for each day.  If it’s foggy at one end of this spectacularly scenic valley, they’ll take you to a resort where it just snowed. Ditto if one is too crowded. There are so many areas to choose from that every day offers fantastic conditions.

And they know all the right places to stop for a snack or for lunch and all the right people to assure a warm welcome wherever you’re skiing.

The other best experience was a few hours east in the Dolomites. There, we joined an Inspired Italy Ski Safari. Inspired Italy is run by a small crew headed by Tim Hudson. He and his team are intimately familiar with Dolomiti SuperSki, the vast, interconnected ski circuit with hundreds of miles of runs, served by every conceivable uphill lift and dotted with restaurants and refugios, the small mountain hotels known for their cuisine and wine cellars. Inspired Italy also specializes in small groups. The cost of a seven day trip, not counting airport transfers and lunches, is about $2500. I just visited the Inspired Italy website to check availability. One slot is left for 2020. If you’re interested in this fantastic skiing experience, book soon for 2021.

Reasonably priced trips to Europe, Canada, US resorts and, next summer, New Zealand, are available through 70+ Ski Club. Groups tend to be larger — a great way to meet and ski with other older skiers. 70+ was started in the Seventies by Lloyd Lambert, the famed Northeast ski journalist. At one point, his son joined the operation. Now, Richard Lambert, Lloyd’s grandson heads 70+ Ski Club. There’s a modest membership fee, which provides access to many well-organized and equally well-priced trips throughout the season.

The 5 Habits of Smart (Adventure) Travelers

Global+Rescue, which provides medical evacuation insurance and other services, recently issued this guidance for “smart adventure travelers.” 1) Know Your Limits: This includes a link to the (humiliating for me) interactive Mont Blanc Guides Fitness Checker. 2) Willingness to Adjust plans, itineraries, etc. 3) Collecting Information from Multiple Sources (i.e. not relying on one expert’s advice). 4) Selecting Guides Carefully. (I’ve had good and pretty bad guide experiences). 5) Practicing Non-Stop Awareness. This applies wherever we roam. For the complete report, click here.

Highest Eastern Areas

I always assumed that the highest Eastern ski areas were in the Northeast. Of the ten highest areas on the East Coast, the top four are in North Carolina. They are Beech Mountain (5506’), Cataloochee(5400’), Wolf Ridge (4600’), and Sugar Mountain (4432’), The next highest area is Whiteface in Lake Placid, NY, topping out at 4396’.

NW Sales Connection

Unfortunately, we neglected to link the NW Sales Connection ad to its website. That’s now corrected. The company is a terrific resource for reasonably priced women’s skiwear from XS to 6X. The site also features men’s big and tall ski pants and parkas and many options for children’s skiwear. Click on the ad or here to visit the website.

 

Perfect Gift For Senior Skiers

As we approach the season, keep The Bootster in mind for yourself and older skiers on your gift list. It’s a $25 device that effortlessly helps foot enter ski boot. Nicely designed and handmade, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Haunted Ski Resorts

Charlie Leocha’s work was brought to my attention by Jocelyn Curtis of the Baltimore Ski Club. He spoke to the group about “haunted ski resorts.” Given that Halloween has just passed I’m sharing this article Charlie wrote some years back. It’s less about the areas themselves than the spirits occupying their lodges.

Silly Skiers Toy

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brunvand/videos/10221155652463660/

A few weeks ago after reading a piece here on the Silly Skiers toy from the Seventies, Jan Brunvand, retired University of Utah professor and frequent SeniorsSkiing.com contributor , found one in his basement. He fixed it up and sent this video. Note his SeniorsSkiing.com hat. Thanks, Jan!!!

Nice Video From Salomon

Almost everything Salomon does is done well. The company’s skis are generally terrific. It’s clothing is nicely styled and lasts forever. And its promotional videos are interesting. This one, featuring skier Cody Townsend, takes us to a mountain in the La Sal range east of Moab, Utah. He goes with a few Native Americans, who explain their intimate and ancestral relationship to the mountains. Watch here.

Dave Barry on Skiing

Humorist Dave Barry wrote about his first skiing experience in 2004.  An updated version was published by The Miami Herald in 2012. Like much of his material, it presents an amusing point of view. Click here.