Tag Archive for: senior skiers

mikemaginn

This Week in SeniorsSkiing.com (March 9)

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Many of you took advantage of the new Discounts for Seniors page.

New advertisers joined the program in the past week. We encourage you to visit the page and take a look. Jon and I are selecting advertisers we think you’ll like. To participate in the program, they commit to giving a decent discount.

For example, Wild West Jerky is a small, artisanal jerky maker in the tiny town of Levan, Utah. The community is supposed to be in the geographic center of the state. Knowing this, early Mormon pioneers wanted to name their town, Navel, but the more pious among them were reluctant to do so. Their compromise was to spell navel backwards.

According to Jon, who considers himself a jerky junkie, Wild West makes the best product he’s ever tasted. The company uses all organic meats (beef, pork, buffalo, elk, salmon), processes it by hand, and keeps everything purely natural.

Wild West gives SeniorsSkiing.com readers a 20% discount.

CP Visor Helmets, which makes stylish, practical helmets with a built-in visor that eliminates the need for goggles is selling its product to readers for 20% off.

And Tipsy Elves is offering15% off its selection of retro and silly outfits. If you want to stand out at an end of season party, click on the Tipsy Elves ad.

 

 

 

This week, Harriet Wallis profiles the very active 82-year old, Barbara Stewart, whose father founded Sundance, the Utah resort associated with Robert Redford.

Tamsin Venn tells us about Park City’s new silver mining history tour on skis. Included is a short video of the ore train the resort used in its early days to transport skiers to the bottom of a 1,700′ elevator ride after which they’d get on a chairlift!

Marc Liebman explains how High Fives Foundation is helping skiers and other severely injured athletes get through recovery.

Jon gives his picks for Salt Lake City restaurants that many visitors to Ski City USA may not know about. He also reviews Pebble Creek in Southeast Idaho, a good place to visit with wonderful hot springs nearby.

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We want to thank all of you who donatied to help us publish this free magazine. If you have not yet done so, consider making a modest gift. All donors will receive the new LIV2SKI patch, several stickers, and a hand written note.

Someone mentioned more than 10,000 Boomers retire every day. An unkown percentage of them must be skiers. Twenty percent of all US skiers and boarders are 52+. We’re an important force in skiing, and we’re not going away.

Jon Weisberg

Eating Salt Lake City

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Staying in Salt Lake City (or Valley) is an excellent option to explore Alta, Snowbird, Solitude and Brighton. Ski City USA offers good value (many hotels include a Super Pass with the room), public transportation to the resorts, and a broad range of restaurants and entertainment venues.

Here are some favorites. Check websites for hours and addresses.

Breakfast

For a quickie on the way to the mountain, Tulie Bakery or Eva’s Bakery, downtown serve excellent baked goods.

Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade is more leisurely. Egg dishes with house made biscuits and gravy are worth the visit.

Lunch and/or Dinner

Spitz serves fresh and substantial salads and first-rate doner kebab.

Most repeat SLC visitors head for Red Iguana, the venerable and superb Mexican not far from downtown. The downside is no reservations for small parties and long waits. Go around 8:00PM to avoid crowds.

On weekends Dim Sum House serves dim sum that stands up to similar places in San Francisco and New York. It’s large, loud and delicious.

For Vietanmese pho and banh mi sandwiches try one of the Oh Mai locations. One of the better Thai places is Skewered Thai.

Scattered around the valley are numerous local counter-service fast food hamburger places with names like Hires and Astro Burger. A favorite is Crown Burgers.

No one leaves The Copper Onion unhappy, unless they had an overly long wait. Avoid the line with a reservation. The American cuisine is consistently excellent. A block away is Taqueria 27 serving gourmet Latin street food and tequilas.

Several Japanese restaurants are available. My favorite is Kyoto. It has a friendly and fresh sushi bar.

For wonderful Indian or Nepalese food in an attractive location visit Himalayan Kitchen.

Among the pizza places, Settebello is within walking distance of most downtown locations. The Pie near the University of Utah requires a car. It is underground and abuzz with students.

If you’re in the mood for a beer and burger, Lucky 13 is one of several options. It’s a dive bar where you’ll get a glimpse of a colorful segment of locals. The Garage is a set on the edge of the gasworks on the north edge of town. Interesting bar food and live music.

Entertainment

There’s a lot of it in SLC, a stop for most touring groups. When checking listings for downtown venues, don’t overlook free Thursday evening concerts at Gallivan Center. The Excellence in the Community series showcases local talent. I’ve never been disappointed.

Barbara Stewart Anderson
Harriet Wallis

Barbara Stewart Anderson: A Woman Ahead Of Her Time

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At Age 82, She’s Athletic And Adventuresome. And She’s The Legacy Of Her Ski Pioneer Father Founder Of Utah’s Sundance Resort.

Barbara Stewart Anderson keeps going at 83.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Barbara Stewart Anderson is like the pink Duracell bunny. She keeps going and going. She lives by her philosophy: “If I can do it today, then why not? I may not be able to do it tomorrow.”

Her accomplishments prove her philosophy. She scuba dived the Great Barrier Reef, completed seven treks in Nepal, rode a yak in Tibet, heli-hiked in British Columbia, and reached the summit of 13,679 foot high Mona Loa in Hawaii. What makes it remarkable—she did it in her 60s.

Looking back, Barbara grew up in the era of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s when women observed strict gender roles. But she was never strapped by the expectations of society. Instead of feeling suppressed or confined, she picked up speed. She has always been a woman ahead of the time.

Her list of accomplishments keeps growing. Just 5 years ago, she sky dived, and she also summited 19,341 foot high Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest point on the African continent. She was 76.

Growing up loving the outdoors

Her passion for unbridled outdoor adventures began when she was a youngster.

Her family homesteaded in the beautiful North Fork of Provo Canyon. Her dad, Ray Stewart, built a little cabin near the base of Mt. Timpanogos. During the summers, Barbara and her siblings roamed the hills and hiked to the waterfalls. It inspired Barbara to a life of over-the-top outdoor adventures that continues to this day.

WWII changed the course of lives and skiing

During WWII, the little Stewart cabin became headquarters for training the Civilian Defense Ski and Mountain Corps—sort of a civilian version of the military’s 10th Mountain Division. In addition to first aid and other skills, ski pioneer Stewart taught the recruits how to ski. And that fanned their enthusiasm to continue skiing after the war.

Barbara with photo of dad Ray and Robert Redford.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

When the war ended, Stewart, along with legendary skier Junior Bounous and others from the Defense Corps, cobbled together a rope tow. Stewart bought 1,200 feet of new manila rope for $61 and an old truck for $125 to power the tow. Using written instructions, he learned how to splice the rope into a loop — and it worked. It was the first ski tow in the area.

The tow created new challenges for the whole family. As the oldest child, Barbara was often called on for help. The tow was powered by car batteries, and nine-year-old Barbara helped her dad the lug heavy batteries on and off the mountain so they wouldn’t freeze at night and lose their charge. She also learned to run the snack bar, punch ski tickets and help skiers onto the tow. It was all part of growing up in a ski pioneering family.

As skiing quickly became popular, they built a 50-meter ski jump and raced on the Mt. Timpanogos glacier in the summer. In 1948, famed skier and Olympic coach Alf Engen set the Giant Slalom course on the Timpanogos glacier. The event drew notable racers including Jack Reddish, Dev Jennings, Corey Engen, and Olympian Suzy Harris.

Ray Stewart modified skis so young, energetic Barbara could ski on the glacier too. By the time she was 12, she was winning junior ski tournaments in Downhill, Slalom and Cross Country.

The burgeoning little ski area grew, and it was named Timp Haven. Years later Robert Redford bought it, and it became Sundance.

Stewart was inventive and creative with a passion for tackling the difficult and never giving up. Today, ski pioneer Ray Stewart’s name lives on at Sundance. The main lift is named for him: Ray’s Lift.

Now at 82, Barbara is an icon of taking on challenges and achieving results much like her dad did. She skis regularly with the Sundance Seniors, walks three miles a day, works out at the gym, took first place in a 5K race, and is active in her church and community. Nothing stops her. Many would be exhausted trying to keep up with her.

Over the years, Barbara built a collection of more than 600 miniature skier figurines that are on a rotating exhibit at the Alf Engen Ski Museum at the Olympic Park in Park City. Visitors can also learn about avalanches, sit in a real bobsled, try their knack at interactive ski jumping, and more.

The $10.5 million museum was funded entirely by private donations, including donations from Utah’s famed and philanthropic Quinney and Eccles families. There is no admission charge. Visit and enjoy the museum.

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah. 

Barbara sky diving. Quite a selfie.
Credit: Barbara Anderson

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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My Ski/Family Balance

It dumped in Utah a few days ago, and I decided not to go skiing.

It was a choice between playing in the snow with pre-school/pre-ski grandkids and deep powder. Being with grandkids won out. Granted, the weekend’s revelry left me a bit under the weather, and the wind and flat light were convenient excuses. In the past, fresh powder trumped (almost) every other draw for my attention. It was gravitational, pulling me to its seductive pleasures. But grandchildren are a more powerful force, and sledding with them on a small hill in a city park was a special joy. I’ve had many great powder days in my skiing career and hope to have many more. Being in the snow with grandchildren I only see from time to time is more precious than powder. Both experiences are ephemeral. Despite climate trends, the snow should continue to come. Small children, on the other hand, grow. Maybe, one day, if health continues and all is well, we’ll be able to ski powder together.

The Bleak Future of Winter Sports

Watching the Olympic Games is a peek into the future of winter sports. According to an article in the January 27 issue of The Economist, the popularity of skiing — declining in Western countries — is shifting to Asia. In China, the number of skiers and boarders is increasing 20% a year and 500 new resorts are expected to be built ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Accompanying the article is an excellent video explaining the history of modern skiing and projecting the future of the sport. Climate change is having a big effect. 

Odd But (Apparently) True

The disappearance February 7 of a skier at Whiteface Mountain at Lake Placid in New York’s Adirondack Mountains resulted in a massive but unproductive search involving multiple government agencies and ski patrols. Constantinos “Danny” Filippidis surfaced in Sacramento almost a week later wearing his ski outfit, helmet and goggles. It was reported that he was returning to Lake Placid to meet with the police.

New Hampshire

Cranmore Mountain will host its annual Hannes Schneider Meister Cup Weekend, March 9-11. Races on

Hannes Schneider

intermediate terrain will be held for several age categories. Past racers have ranged in age from 4 to 95. Hannes Schneider was an Austrian mountain soldier in WWI; his son, Herbert, was a member of the 10th Mountain Division in World War II. The Meister Cup pays tribute to American mountain soldiers with a special military race, in which active duty soldiers of the 10th and the Army Mountain Warfare School participate. The weekend features a welcome reception and buffet, opening ceremony, ice carving contest, silent auction, a wear-your-own vintage skiwear show, awards ceremony, and ski history presentation. A Torchlight Parade is scheduled that Friday.

Quebec

Mont Tremblant‘s Super Demo Days, Saturday March 3 is its final of the season. Next season’s skis, boards and accessories will be available. The resort’s SnowSchool hosts a variety of family-friendly programs March 3- 11. Click on SnowSchool (above) for details.

Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham Mountain Resort will offer numerous on-mountain activities during Quebec Spring Break. Notably, Mont-Sainte-Anne’s Fulllmoon Descent, March 2, when participants of all ages don headlamps and ski. Stoneham’s activities include a playground, make-up  stand, arts and crafts, campfires, BBQs, winter survival workshops, and, March 6–9, pony rides for the kiddies.

Visit Happy Parents Package for special lodging deals with free tickets for kids as old as 17.

Utah

Presidents’ Day Weekend delivered the goods in Utah. 48 hour totals range from 23″ at Snowbird to 22″ at Brian Head, the state’s most southern resort.

Vermont 

Bromley will hold its Vertical Challenge, March 11. Skiers and boarders compete for medals. The Vertical Challenge is a northeast ski area favorite with participating resorts creating a festival atmosphere.

 

Salt Lake City
Jon Weisberg

Salt Lake City: Ideal Base for Skiing the Wasatch

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For many Western resorts this is the season when it’s best to stay on the groomed. There just hasn’t been enough natural snow to enter the woods with confidence.

The trail skiing I’ve done at the four resorts closest to Salt Lake City — Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon — have more than enough snow coverage to keep most skiers well-entertained, especially those who decide to stay downtown or somewhere in Salt Lake Valley.

Staying at a single resort when conditions confine you to the groomed and semi-groomed can get redundant. Being centrally located and visiting different resorts each day can be a more interesting option. Downtown has a lot going on. For those not wanting to deal with a car, there’s inexpensive public transportation to each of the areas.

Salt Lake City markets itself as Ski City U.S.A. Other municipalities use “ski city” when promoting themselves as Winter destinations. Salt Lake City is the real deal. A Delta hub. At the base of the mountains. Thirty, forty minutes from downtown hotels to 36 lifts serving almost 7000 highly skiable acres. Not to mention the state’s license plate slogan, “Greatest Snow on Earth.” This season being the rare exception to that P.T. Barnum knockoff.

Since I lived in Salt Lake City for the past decade and frequented the four areas, I thought that readers considering a Salt Lake City-based ski trip would benefit from some local guidance, which I’ll dole out in this and another article next week.

Super Pass and Alternatives

If you plan to stay in town or in the valley and ski Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude, consider purchasing a Super Pass or staying in a hotel participating in the Super Pass promotion. The Super Pass provides good savings on lift tickets and is flexible as far as number of days you choose to ski. The Ski City U.S.A. website shows numerous hotels that include a Super Pass in the price of lodging. Residence Inn Downtown, for example, charges $129.50 per person for a suite with kitchen and living room. The price includes two Super Passes.

You’ll need to do the math, but If you’re 80, you’ll ski free at Alta and enjoy deep discounts at each of the other areas.

What to expect if visiting at the right time. Photo: Steve Griffin

If you’re 70, you’ll pay $104 at Alta ($88-$99, if purchased in advance online) and $59 at Snowbird (mid-week). Brighton and Solitude discount their tickets starting at age 65. Brighton costs $52 – $57, and Solitude costs $61. Go online a day in advance and you may find better bargains.

Every Super Pass comes with free public transportation to the resorts. Depending on where you’re located it may be by bus alone or bus in combination with light rail. These are good options if you’re on a budget or don’t want to be hassled with a rental car.

Waterfall House in Salt Lake City

And there’s always airbnb. A search for arrival on Saturday and departure on Wednesday for two people produced results starting under $50 a night. If you have a smallish group, one of the city’s most remarkable rental homes is Waterfall House, which sleeps 7 and averages about $330 a night. It’s filled with entertaining and beautiful features.

 

 

 

 

Next article will give food and entertainment choices.

Jon Weisberg

That Old Ski Poster on the Wall

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Vintage ski posters are a fixture in many ski chalets and lodges.

Since the late 1990s, their values at auction have increased. To learn more about their history and their values, we interviewed Nicholas D. Lowry, President and Principal Auctioneer of Swann Auction Galleries, and Director of its Vintage Posters Department . Swann is the world’s largest auctioneer of Works on Paper and New York’s oldest specialty auction house.

JW: Please provide a short overview of the ski poster’s origins, when they were in commercial use, and in which countries.

NL: By all accounts the earliest ski posters were printed in the 1890s. They were printed to drive tourism by train to the French mountains. They began to appear with some regularity in the first decade of the 20th century. Two of the most famous—and therefore most valuable— were Francisco Tamagno‘s image of a couple ski jumping, and Jules Abel Faivre‘s image of a female skier using a single pole. Posters promoting the new sport also began appearing in Switzerland. Some promoted competitions and purveyors of outdoor equipment and clothing.

The first American ski poster featured an image of a female skier. It was produced in1896 to advertise the Christmas issue of Truth magazine.

What is considered when determining their value?

The main factors in determining ski poster value are location advertised; artist; image; date; and condition. A poster from the early days of a prominent Swiss resort such as Gstaad or St. Moritz will command more than one touting a lesser known village. The image also is important. Many people are drawn to depictions of early ski equipment and ski wear.

Among the most famous artist’s names that aficionados and collectors appreciate are Roger Broders, a masterful French Art Deco poster designer; Sascha Maurer, who did a lot of work for the New Haven Railway, and prominent Swiss poster designers, Emil Cardinaux and Martin Peikert.

How would you characterize price trends of vintage ski posters?

The market for ski posters took off in the late 1990s and early 2000s when collectors, including Mason Beekley, recognizing this undervalued segment of the poster market, began to acquire them at auction. Prices attracted attention to the genre; they haven’t subsided.

What should people look for if interested in collecting vintage ski posters? How can readers determine if they have a valuable ski poster?

Our experience at Swann is that most collectors buy works to hang in their chalets or mountain homes. They focus on geographic location. For example, it’s unlikely that someone in Zermatt will be collecting posters advertising Sun Valley.

I would caution potential buyers to consider their source when acquiring a vintage ski poster. Many resorts offer decorative reproductions of famous images. The best bet is to find an accredited poster dealer, so you can have confidence in the authenticity of your purchase.

How can readers learn about upcoming Swann ski poster auctions?

Swann Galleries has been offering a selection of ski posters from around the world in our annual Winter Poster Auction since 1998. We hold at least four auctions of vintage posters each year. Our catalogues are online at www.swanngalleries.com.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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We are seeking your financial support for SeniorsSkiing.com.

Currently, a handful of advertisers help us fund the project. What their fees don’t cover, our bank accounts do.

There are many expenses including technicians, designers, and other expenses associated with delivering SeniorsSkiing.com free each week and developing and publishing Subscriber-Only content. Next month, you will see a new section devoted to discounts on products related to your outdoor lifestyle. We plan to expand that over time.

Also, we’d like to start paying contributors and fund research that would inform resorts about ways to better cater to older skiers.

You can help by making a modest donation. We have considered charging an annual subscription fee, but prefer not to.

Some of you will ask if a donation to SeniorsSkiing.com is tax deductible. While we do not make a profit, we are not a non-profit, so (in the U.S., at least) gifts are not tax deductible.

We’ve tried to make it easy to give. Click here to reach a page with credit card options (or click Community on menu bar, wait for dropdown box to appear, and click Support SeniorsSkiing.com). Readers giving $15 or more will receive the new LIV2SKI patch and stickers, as well as the Old Man in the Mountain stickers.

For the next few weeks, a short request will be posted with each article.

We enjoy bringing you SeniorsSkiing.com weekly and, based on comments and other feedback, know that you enjoy receiving it.

Thank you!

Alpine Racing Suits

Spyder Wind Tunnel Test

The US Alpine Team in PyeongChang is wearing highly technical suits designed and made by Spyder. Each utilizes a combination of materials, placed and fitted for the specific needs of each racer. Apparently, no two suits are the same. Used for one race only, they then become hand-me-downs for junior development programs.

 

 

Paralympics

The 2018 Paralympics will happen March 9-18. Recently I met Nick Manley, an exceptional individual with multiple neurological issues. He told me that not too long ago he could get around only with a walker — an advancement from his time confined to a wheelchair. When we met at Copper Mountain, it was impossible to tell that he had experienced limited movement. He told me that his recovery was due largely to skiing. “Skiing saved my life,” is what I recall him saying. He sent this video summary of the 2017 Huntsman Cup event at Park City Mountain Resort. It gave me a new level of understanding about the grit and joyful will of adaptive ski racers. Thank you, Nick!

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Noticing more Tesla autos in ski area parking lots? Some areas are installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Here are a few I know about: Brighton and Snowbird in Utah; Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie Pass, and Stevens Pass in Washington, Heavenly and Squaw in California/Nevada; Sunday River in Maine, and Jay Peak in Vermont. Know of others? Please include in Comments, and we’ll keep the list growing.

Colorado

Southwest Colorado got a 24 hour dump. Silverton received 24″, Wolf Creek, 22″, and Purgatory, 15″.  I-70 areas including Aspen and Vail reported a foot.

Montana

Montana’s resorts are getting lots of snow. Top gainer is Whitefish with a 10’+ base. Direct flights to Whitefish and Bozeman are available from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, Minneapolis, and Las Vegas. Visit the state’s tourism website for up to the minute snow reports.

Utah

Brian Head, in Southern Utah received 10″ and is expecting more. Eagle Point also benefited from the storm. Its web site indicates the area is thinking about reopening for President’s Weekend.

Skiing History Magazine

The newest issue has several articles about past Olympic greats. SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers are entitled to a free digital subscription to this gem of a publication. For details click Community/Subscriber Only Content/Skiing History Magazine. While there, you also can sign up for a free subscription to the paper edition of Ski Magazine.

How to Carve Video

This video addresses three common mistakes when carving on skis. It is well presented and may help you make better, more controlled turns in a variety of conditions.

 Spirited Gift Item

G.Griffin Wine & Spirits in Rye, N.Y.  custom engraves liquor and wine bottles like the bourbon bottle pictured. Check with proprietor Doug Kooluris (914-967-4980) regarding pricing, quantities and shipping.

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Feb. 9)

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Northeast Snow, Editorial On Senior Empowerment, A Senior Skier Person Zero, More Stuff For Car Safety, Discovering Beaver Mountain.

The blue is snow. Pretty significant coverage for the Northeast at last.
Credit: NECN

As we write this, the anticipation is mounting for a significant mid-week snowfall in the Northeast. From Maryland to Maine, it appears the region is going to get—to finally get—a nice covering that will add to the meh base and draw crowds for the coming weekend, President’s Day and beyond. The season has been up and down here with occasional rain mixing with dustings since Christmas. How’s your season going?  Please let us know where you are and what kind of conditions you’ve seen this winter so far.

This Week

This week we have an important editorial for our readers that indirectly stems from last week’s visit to the OR show in Denver.  Please read Tools For Empowerment. We outline our rationale for publishing the boot and ski for senior recommendations and all the other valuable assets we have created for our readers like the Where Seniors Can Ski Free directory. Basically, it is all about raising the profile of seniors in the whole snow sports—and outdoor recreation—industry and arming them with knowledge they can use to guide buying decisions of different kinds.  It also puts the onus on the industry to be aware of what needs seniors have and what kinds of gear fits those needs.  Let us know what you think.

 

We have a new Mystery Glimpse for you. Many respondents spotted the “hot hill” as Tuckerman Ravine, but the specific event and the date varied from reader to reader.  Curiously, some respondents noted that they were actually present at the event where the photo was taken. Find out the whole story.

Who is he? Why is he smiling? Credit: John Nelson

Correspondent John Nelson has skied with a 74-year old ski host at Big White in British Columbia who may fit the profile of the perfect senior skier.  Fit, retired, skis 120 days a season, works on a glorious ski hill, lives in snow country. Carlan Silha, the lucky guy, is the kind of all-year active senior that we admire and aspire to be. Meet him here.

Marc Liebman adds to his list of what to keep in your car for safety backup when you head to the snowy mountains. Does your car have any of this equipment? Consider the unexpected happens with unexpected regularity. Be prepared.

Finally, Utah’s Harriet Wallace discovers another hidden gem of a ski resort right in her back yard. Beaver Mountain, the “Beav”, lies in the opposite direction of the bigger Wasatch resorts.  As a result, she finds a charming area, comfy lodge, great terrain, and no crowds.  Virtual visit here.

We’re off to take advantage of some of that new snow up country.  We’ll report on what will be our first trip out this season.  Seriously.  Boot bag ready, skis sharpened, clothes about to be packed. Stay tuned.  New Hampshire here we come.

Thanks for reading SeniorsSkiing.com and please tell your friends.  Remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Beaver Mountain, Utah. This is uncrowded. Nice.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

 

 

seniorsskiing

Editorial: Tools Of Empowerment

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Why We Publish Skis And Boots For Seniors Recommendations.

We don’t know the numbers in other countries, but in the U.S. one-fifth of all skiers and boarders are 52 or older.

Based on reader surveys, we, as individuals, have more time, ski more often, and make more frequent equipment purchases than the kids.

Four years ago, when we started SeniorsSkiing.com, we set about to create a community of similarly aged people with a shared passion for playing in the snow. Then, as now, our goal was to provide you with information about the sport through the lens of the older participant.

Part of realizing that goal includes publishing the annual SeniorsSkiing.com Best Skis and Best Boots guides for older skiers. We like to think of these guides as—excuse the phrase—tools of empowerment: information you can use to assess the advice from sales personnel when shopping for your next pair.

Top equipment reviewers at realskiers.com and at America’s Best Bootfitters make the recommendations based on criteria relevant to older skiers.

In our experience, professional boot fitters are great at identifying the best product for your feet and your ability. But finding store personnel who can recommend the best skis for older skiers is a rarity.

During the recent SIA/OR show in Denver, we visited a ski company with more than one product on this season’s Best Skis for Senior Skiers list. Everything about the company’s products and personnel is oriented to youth. Yet, testers at realskiers.com determined some of its products would be good for the older set. The marketing people we met with were unaware their product had made the list and had difficulty envisioning their product being used by older skiers.

It made us realize that we seniors need to guide the conversation about what is best for us. It’s not coming from manufacturers, and, with the exception of professional boot fitters, it’s not coming from retail personnel. But armed with the knowledge that we at SeniorsSkiing.com are providing about the best skis and the best boots for seniors, it can come from you.

Jon Weisberg, Mike Maginn

Co-Publishers

seniorsskiing

Mystery Glimpse: Stuffed Animals Are…What?

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Okay, Here’s A Tougher One.

Clearly there are some knowledgable snow sports enthusiasts out there.  Based on your responses from the last few Mystery Glimpse photos, you not only knew the right answers, you added details about the people and the pictures. So this week, we’re posing a little more difficult puzzle.

Who are these stuffed creatures and what do they represent? If you know, respond in COMMENTS below the picture.

Credit: Alf Engen Ski Museum, Park City, UT

Last Week

This is the infamous Jet Turn or Avalement which made a brief flash in the early 70s. We learned it is also called the Slow Dog Noodle by at least a few responders.

Former SKI Magazine editor, founder of Snow Country and creator of NASTAR John Fry commented on this maneuver:

“Avalement is not a turn, and Killy despised it. It was a technique term invented by Georges Joubert, derived from the French ‘avaler’ to swallow. The skier swallows bumps and irregularities in the terrain by collapsing and extending legs. At one point in the process, the skier looks like he or she is sitting back. It was more suited to hotdogging than to effective technique in slalom or gs.

For more on Joubert and Killy, read my book, The Story of Modern Skiing.”

We believe the skier is Tom Leroy, a forerunner of freestyle and the first person to do a double forward somersault back in the 6os.

 

 

 

Don Burch

12 Tips And Tricks For Skiing And SnowSports

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Clever Hacks For A Better Winter Experience.

Nevertheless, she’s having fun by using Don Burch’s tips and tricks.

  1. When skiing wet and slushy snow, spray the top of your skis and even your ski boots with silicone (wipe it off after spraying). The faster heavy snow slides off skis, the easier it’ll be to make turns.
  2. Toe warmers work better in gloves than hand warmers. Use the sticky back on toe warmers and attach them to the backhand side of your gloves. If you’ve used hand warmers, you know they have a tendency to fall out when you take your gloves off.
  3. When skiing groomers, especially hardpack, wider skis put more stress on knees because they require more angulation to get them on edge.
  4. Skis with softer tips puts less stress on skiers’ knees.
  5. When purchasing used skis, make sure the bindings aren’t so old that ski shops won’t service them. A Google search with the words “Binding Indemnification List” will provide you with an up-to-date list of acceptable bindings. Better yet, ask your local ski shop if they’ll service them.
  6. Don’t use lens wipes on the inside of your goggles. Most goggles have anti-fog on the inside and wiping it may cause damage.
  7. On crowded days, the single line will almost always be faster even when skiing in groups. Lifts that don’t start at the main lodge are also good bets on crowded days.
  8. Always stop on the side of trails where you can be seen by uphill skiers. Look up hill before starting. Wear a helmet and make sure it is strapped.
  9. Thoroughly dry your boots each day after skiing especially if skiing back-to-back days. If your boots are the least bit damp, your feet will be cold. I use a dedicated boot dryer.
  10. If you want to demo skis, do it at a mountain where you can try several during the day. On less crowded days, you’ll get a much better selection and won’t have to wait for the model or size you want to try. Select a day that will have varied conditions on the mountain; this way you can try the skis on both hard pack and softer snow. Within a specified time period, many shops will apply the cost of the demo to a pair of new skis; ask about their policy.
  11. If you plan on sharing skis, consider getting demo bindings. These bindings can be adjusted to fit about any size ski boot without needing to remount the binding.
  12. In a pinch, you can use a plastic card from your wallet to clear sleet from goggles.

If you have any tips that work for you please share them with other readers in the comments section.

 

 

Ray Conrad Cover
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Coming Soon: Ski Songs From The 60s

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Stay Tuned.

We’re close to announcing a fantastic opportunity to download Ray Conrad’s classic ski songs.  You asked for them; we got them.

COMING SOON! Ski Songs From Ray Conrad.

 

Harriet Wallis

Four Stupid Things You’ll Hear Skiers Say

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Make A New Year’s Resolution To Avoid Saying These Things. Here Are Tips To Help.

Don’t be a scare crow skier.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

The Scare Crow Skier. I know a skier who is so stiff he looks like a scarecrow with a pole up his back. Nothing moves. Nothing flexes. His ski poles hang down and drag behind.

“I’m practicing,” he says. “I’ll take a lesson when I get good enough.”

Vince Lombardi had it right: “Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”

Even good skiers get stuck in a rut, says Tim Wolfgram, director of Snowsports Services at Solitude Snowsports Academy. Take a lesson, brush up skills, and you’ll have more fun.

The Vintage Equipment Skier. “My skis are 20 years old,” says another skier. “I’d try new equipment if I enjoyed skiing more.”

Technology marches on. Current skis have so much nifty technology built into them that updated skis make skiing much easier.

Many resorts have demo days throughout the season, and you can try skis right there at no cost. All you have to do is show some identification. It’s a great way to try what’s new. You might find skis you really like. Check on when demo days are scheduled at your favorite resort.

The Willy-Nilly Skier. This man grew up in a European village where skiing was a way of life. Then gave it up for many years. Recently, he got back into the sport, and he bought skis willy-nilly off a used equipment rack.

Now he whines: “These skis are terrible. I wasted my money. They won’t go straight.”

His expert, old school technique is incompatible with the ultra-shaped, learner-type skis he grabbed and bought.

There’s nothing wrong with buying used equipment. Most reputable ski shops will give honest advice about what skis you might like—whether new or used—even if you don’t buy there.

The Tuneless Skier. “Don’t wax my skis. I don’t want to go fast,” say many skiers, especially women. But it’s a misconception that taking care of your skis will turn you into an Olympic racer.

“Tuned and waxed skis slide and turn more easily. And you won’t get as tired because they won’t use as much energy,” said Brayden Morgan, head of rentals at Alta Ski Shop.

Many shops will inspect skis and give a no-cost assessment of what needs to be done. Often, skis just need to be waxed. Or, if they haven’t been tuned or waxed for a long time, they might need more work, said Brett Pergrossi, rental manager at Snowbird. “It’s all about safety and the quality of turns.”

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

 

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 5)

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Undergoing Bombogenesis, Next Mystery Glimpse, Cold Wx Tips, X-C Apparel, Jon’s Midget Memory.

We write this in haste, lest the power snap off before we can file before SeniorsSkiing.com’s deadline.

New England and most of the East Coast, are in the midst of a monster “Cyclone Bomb”, as the meteorologists are calling it, or “Bombogenesis”, an even scarier name. Fast-moving, majorly deep atmospheric pressure, big winds and snow.  You might say, well, that’s great for snow sports.  True, but the minus-zero degree cold and wind chill that has been stalling outdoor activity of all sorts in the region for the past week will go on at least for another week.

That dramatic cold has actually kept skiers off the slopes in many eastern resorts, despite excellent conditions. Looking ahead, there is more extreme cold in the forecast.  The good news is it cold, not marginal or even mild temps being experienced in other snow country places.  We hear that some California resorts are doing well, others still waiting.  The Rockies has had winds, fluctuating temps. Utah would like more snow. On the other hand, the Northwest has snow, thanks to some monster storms before New Years. By the way, this pattern is what was predicted by forecasters as a result of the La Nina, seasoned with an awesome dip in the jet stream.

This Week

This week, we have our next Mystery Glimpse.  See if you can recognize the frowning fellow in the picture, and offer your guess in the COMMENTS below.  We’ll tell you who it is next week.  By the way, last week’s Mystery was Picabo Street, the gold medalist at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Correspondent Tamsin Venn ventured very bravely up to Stowe Mountain Resort over the holidays. She returned with some advice for seniors in dealing with very cold conditions. Recommended reading.

Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg offers a personal anecdote about what happened to him when his MG Midget was disabled, and he had to get a ride from two pretty girls. That wasn’t yesterday, by the way.  It was way back when.

Finally, Roger Lohr, who publishes XCSkiResorts.com, gives some advice on choosing Nordic ski apparel, based on his personal preferences.

Coming Soon: Ski Songs From Ray Conrad

In the past, we’ve published a couple of articles about ski songs of the 70s and from Ray Conrad in particular. Click here and here to check them out.  He wrote an album’s worth of satirical, funny, witty, and remarkably observant songs about what the ski culture was like back in the early-mid-60s.

Over the past few months, we’ve worked with Ray to offer his music through SeniorsSkiing.com.  Pretty soon, you will be able to download Ray’s entire album,  The Cotton Pickin’ Lift Tower and Other Skiing Songs. It includes favorites like A Skier’s Daydream, The Ski Instructor, Two Cubes and a Slug of VO, and more.

We’ll let you know when the download will be ready. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Happy New Year and remember folks, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away!

COMING SOON! Ski Songs From Ray Conrad.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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And Then, I’ll Take Off My Skis.

That’s the punch line of a joke I heard in college. Many of you will know it.

Two Russian soldiers are called home from their post in Siberia. They pack their belongings and start their long ski trek across the snowy steppe.

They talk about what they’ll do when they arrive home.

Boris says, “First I’ll embrace my wife at the door.”

And Ivan asks, “And then?”

“I’ll drink a tall glass of vodka.”

“And then?”

“My wife and I will make passionate love.”

Once more, Ivan asks the question.

Enter punch line above.

Even as I write this, the joke makes me smile. Not a bad feat for something I’ve known for a half-century or more.

I tried to find other jokes about skiing. The stuff online takes aim at snowboarders, instructors, beginners, etc. (e.g. What do you call a ski instructor without a girlfriend/boyfriend? Homeless.). Amusing but not funny.

I’m confident that members of our rapidly growing community know some good ski jokes. If you do, please write them up. We’ll publish the best as a collection and post it in the Subscriber Only Content section. Contributors will be named, and if we can find some interesting swag, there will be rewards.

Even though Jan Brunvand reported he’s on his 14th day of the season, many of us have yet to even see snow. I hope to change that this weekend at Solitude, an outstanding area in Big Cottonwood Canyon, adjacent to Brighton, another good place to play in the snow. For those not familiar with BCC, it’s just outside of Salt Lake City, a few miles north of Little Cottonwood Canyon, home to Snowbird and Alta. Snow patterns often favor Brighton and Solitude.

One of the reader surveys indicated interest in learning more about lesser known resorts. Weather-permitting, I have January plans in to visit three in Idaho (Soldier Mountain, Pomerelle, and Pebble Creek) and two in Montana (Maverick Mountain and Discovery Mountain). I’ll review each from the perspective of the older skier including things such as lot to lift access, terrain, ambiance, toilet facilities, food, lodging, etc. Several contributors have written about the places they ski. All area reviews can be found by going to the menu bar at the top of the page, click “Destinations,” and then clicking “Resort Reviews.”  Let us know if you’d like to submit an area review.

Here’s a brief non-ski report from last weekend in Bluff, Utah. Bluff is a pretty flyspeck near the Four Corners. It is an entry point for Bears Ears, the national monument with recently changed status. Three things from Bluff:

  • The one and only restaurant that’s open this time of year is better than good. Twin Rocks Cafe took on a new chef, and she is producing some nice selections. If you’re there for breakfast order the blue corn flour pancakes. Wonderful.

Dancing Bears—pre-conflagration—in tiny Bluff, UT.

  • Each year, Joe Pachak, a local artist, constructs a giant wooden sculpture in the middle of town. It’s set ablaze on the Winter Solstice. This year, in recognition of Bears Ears and the Navajo culture, he created two dancing bears covered in willow twigs.
  • This is perfect hiking weather and just a few miles from town there are hikes to Anasazi ruins and rock art. High on Comb Ridge up a fairly steep incline is Procession Panel, discovered in 1989 and considered one of the most interesting in the entire Southwest. It was not easy to find, but once we did, WOW. It depicts processions of small human figures, some carrying crooks, walking toward a circle. One line extends for 60 or 70 feet. Sandstone Spine (David Roberts, The Mountaineers Books, 2006), an interesting account of the first traverse of 125 mile Comb Ridge, suggests that the panel was created in the first millennium BCE. If you take the hike and find the panel, the experience will be a keeper.

Not enough new information arrived on screen to do my weekly report of ski activity. A few standouts are snow pix submitted by Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Lookout Pass, and Big Sky Resort. BSR’s deep pow video shot within the past week shows nice depths and terrific turns.

We’re taking next week off. I wish you good heath, warm reunions , and wonderful skiing.

 

 

This Week
seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (Dec. 15)

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Unusual Snow Stat, Happy Holidays, Celebrating Retro Togs, 10 Reasons To Be A Senior Skier, Urban Wilderness.

Here’s a strange stat from the National Weather Service:  There has been snow cover in every state this fall, and we are days away from the start of winter. That includes Hawaii and Florida. Remember, the La Nina forecast for winter includes colder and wetter in northern latitudes and warmer and average precip to the south.  Clearly, there are some anomalies in the weather pattern, an ongoing theme reflecting odd weather around the globe. Thanks again, to Snowbrains.com for bringing this up.

Holiday Gift Corner: Still Time!

Holidays are around the corner, and if you look back on the past couple of months of SeniorsSkiing.com, you will find some unusual gift suggestions for your snow-loving family and friends.  There is still time for last minute stocking stuffers. For your convenience, here are some links to those gift ideas:

We love our Buffalo socks; warm, thick, soft.  Nice to sleep in on cold nights.

Retro Togs

Even retro ski poles…

Moriarty hats, knickers, pegged ski pants, onesie ski suits, it’s all hiding out there somewhere.

We hope to have a bit of fun publishing our readers wearing some retro snow clothing.  We have some examples of old stuff found in the bottoms of trunks and storage bins that are still useful and, amazingly, still fit.  Check out out collection, get inspired, and reach for that wool sweater.  Take a pic and send to us!

Send to info@seniorsskiing.com (.jpeg, .png) with a short blurb. We’ll collect a bunch and publish them from time to time.

Stories This Week

Correspondent Jan Brunvand offers 10 good reasons for being a senior skier. Fun ideas.  What are your reasons?

Steve Hines discovers Urban Wildernesses, wild areas often in the middle of cities, or very close to urban centers.  Depending on where these are located, they can be excellent spots for cross-country skiing, snow-shoeing, fat-biking.  More about fat-biking in winter in a later story.  It’s actually a growing sport that we will be exploring.

Welcome New AARP Subscribers, Boot Recommendations ARE IN

And a hearty welcome to our many new subscribers who found us through AARP. Look through our archives; we have more than 750 stories to peruse.  Check out our Subscriber-Only Content.  If you have any questions, write to us at info@seniorsskiing.com.  Comment on our stories, send us story ideas.  And tell your friends about us.

Check the hot-off-the-press Boot Recommendations for Seniors under the Subscriber-Only Content menu.

There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away!

FIND OUR SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT HERE:

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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I’ve always believed in working with a competent car mechanic.

The same applies to a well-trained bootfitter. Many older skiers experience boot issues, and a good fitter can help overcome them. Masterfit is in the business of training people to fit ski boots. Their instructors include pedorthists, professionals with specialized training to modify footwear and employ supportive devices to address conditions which affect the feet and lower limbs. Graduates of Masterfit University populate ski shops around the nation and abroad. They can be located at bootfitters.com, which lists elite ski shops specializing in bootfitting.

Recently, in Masterfit’s typically low-key manner, the organization trained 275 REI employees in the skill of fitting ski boots. Most of them work in REI stores throughout the West, but employees from REI’s Soho (NYC), Framingham (Mass.) and Minneapolis stores also participated. Clearly, REI is upping its game when it comes to professional boot fitting. It will help them provide more complete service to REI members (Is there anyone reading this who is not an REI member?).

I remember being in a chain sporting goods store in midtown Manhattan several years ago where a salesperson with ZERO experience fitting boots was “helping” a customer with ZERO ski experience purchase ski boots. My tongue still hurts from biting so hard.

With this new development, boot shoppers can go to REI, seek out one of the people who went through Masterfit training, and proceed to get fitted with confidence.

Southern Utah Redux

Bear’s Ears. Courtesy: Chicago Tribune

Reader Alan Cort commented on last week’s piece about Patagonia‘s position against the administration’s reduction of Bear’s Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments:

In regards to Bear’s Ears, also a shout out to Black Diamond, maker of a lot of really good outdoor equipment.  The following is from their latest customer email: Nearly 60% of our country’s climbing areas lie on federal public lands. We repeat, over HALF of our nation’s beautiful, wild crags are on public lands. That’s just one reason why we, at Black Diamond, believe that public lands should stay in public hands, and also why we strongly support the designation of Bears Ears as a National Monument.  Think how many ski areas, especially in the West, operate on federal public lands; ones that I’m sure every SeniorSkiing reader has a special attachment to.

Thanks for making that point, Alan.

One of the issues in southern Utah, where these monuments are located, is that county commissioners and state officials are opposed to Federal land ownership. They think they can manage these vast areas more effectively. Among other goals, they want to create a handful of jobs by opening these beautiful wilderness resources to the extraction industries (A uranium mining company is reported to have pressured the White House to reduce Bears Ears.) Last weekend, we visited Goblin Valley State Park, a wonderful area filled with human scale hoodoos. The State of Utah manages the park. Trails are ill-defined, people can walk wherever they choose, signage is virtually non-existent. By comparison, we hiked Arches National Park the day before, where all systems and operations were efficient and well run. The Utah locals seeking control of Federal lands are amateurs who don’t accept the idea that their backyards belong to all citizens.

CALIFORNIA

Santa-costumed skiers and boarders will participate in Mountain High’s annual Santa Sunday this weekend. The event raises funds for Protect Our Winters (POW), the climate change advocacy group for the snow sports community. Registration requires minimum $20 donation to POW. Receipt can be exchanged for a day ticket. Visit Santa Sunday for details.

COLORADO

Aspen Highlands opens Saturday with limited terrain. Pray for snow!!!!

MAINE

Maine resorts received 21″ of natural. Time to head north!

New York

Many upgrades at Whiteface and Gore (lodge expansions, upgraded snowmaking/grooming, etc.).

Lake Placid hosts World Cup Luge this weekend, FIS 2018 Freestyle World Cup aerials competition (Jan. 19-20), Empire State Winter Games (Feb. 1-4), USCSA Ski & Snowboard Championships (March 4-10), Lake Placid Nordic Festival and Loppet (March 18), and ECAC Hockey Men’s D1 Championships (March 16-17).

If you’re in the neighborhood the weekends of Jan 19 and 26, drop by The Sagamore Resort‘s (Bolton Landing) and hoist one at its Glacier Ice Bar & Lounge, featuring nine tons of carved ice.

The Saranac Lake Winter Carnival is Feb. 2-11 and features a massive Ice Palace. The palace tradition dates to 1898. They feature tunnels and mazes and are decorated with flags, ice furniture and sculpture.

New this year is the Adirondack Snowshoe Fest ,Feb. 24 -25 in Saranac Lake. Races are scheduled for all levels. Lots of surrounding entertainment to take off the chill.

QUEBEC

Mt Tremblant reports recent snowfall and perfect snowmaking temps resulting in opening of all 4 sides of the mountain by end of weekend. 60 runs to be available! If you’re planning to visit over the holidays, don’t miss La Famille Grelot (December 23 -31), a feisty family of singing, dancing and acrobatic elves in the pedestrian village.

UTAH

Salt Lake City is promoting itself as an “apres cultural mecca” while skiing the state’s nearby iconic resorts. There’s theater, dance, classical music, jazz, professional sports, and art and natural history museums. More at Ski City USA.

VERMONT

Some resorts received as much as 24″ of fresh this week. Current trail conditions and weather alerts at SkiVermont.com; resort information, deals and events at Resort Finder.

OTHER

 

R.I.P. Bruce Brown, the documentarian who brought us The Endless Summer and On Any Sunday died earlier this week in Santa Barbara. He was 80. For many of our generation, his surfing films and motorcycle films stirred a fantasy of the possible.

 

 

Free, Last Minute, Online Gifts for Senior Skiers

These magazine subscriptions are available free to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers:

  • One year (six issues) subscription to SKI Magazine (U.S. residents only).
  • One-year (six issues) digital subscription to SKIING HISTORY Magazine.

To register, click the Subscriber-Only Content at the top of the SeniorsSkiing.com Home Page.

  • For SKI Magazine, go to bottom of form and click on: Click Here For Free One Year Subscription to SKI Magazine and follow directions.
  • For SKIING HISTORY go to bottom of form and click on Click Here for Your Free Subscription to SKIING HISTORY Magazine, scroll to Digital Membership, select 1 Year-Digital Only, add to cart, enter coupon code SENIORSKI17, checkout, then set up your account.

 

Jan Brunvand

Top Ten Reasons I Enjoy Being A Senior Skier

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#10. I have nothing to prove.

            I don’t need to ski bumps, steeps or crud. It’s challenging enough just skiing blues at age 84.

A guy with the right attitude that I met at Deer Valley a couple of years ago. He told me he wanted to add to the message on his helmet, “ . . . but not today.” Credit: Jan Brunvand

#9. Skiing impresses my non-skiing peers.

When folks ask “Are you still skiing,” they mean “still” as in “At your age?” not “still” as in “Is there still any snow up there?” I try to be a ski missionary and convince some old friends to return to skiing or to try it for the first time.

#8. Everything works better than when I was a kid.

Skis turn more easily, bindings release when they’re supposed to, and boots are actually comfortable. Ski clothes are lighter, warmer, and drier than in the good old days of wool and windbreakers.

#7. I have a built-in excuse for just about anything . . .

. . . like taking green runs, skiing half days, having extra coffee breaks, asking the liftie to slow it down, and forgetting where I parked.

#6. Skiing half days.

Did I mention this? I forget. Anyway, my wife and I ski what we call the “middle half”—start about 10:00 and quit about 3:00. We take at least five runs to count it as a ski day.

#5. Skiing with grandkids.

Until they’re about ten, the grandkids ski at about the same pace as us, and afterwards they’ll fetch us a coffee while we sit out a couple of their runs on the steeper stuff. If you ski with the kids you may be able to keep them from going to the dark side—SNOWBOARDING!

#4. Skiing midweek.

We avoid Saturdays, but sometimes ski Sundays, starting early, if that’s the only other time the grandkids are free. (If brought up properly, they can sometimes be convinced to skip school.) If you must ski weekends or holidays, split with your partner and use the singles line. You might meet someone interesting, hopefully not more interesting than your partner.

#3. Meeting other active seniors.

The 60+,70+, 80+ occasionally even 90+ jacket patches give your fellow oldsters away. Thin and graying hair under the helmets IDs them in the lodge. I always chat with peers asking where they learned to ski, and moving on to other important topics like how many grandkids do they have, are they fly fishers, and do they remember Studebakers. (I have a ’53 Commander, a good conversation starter with older people.)

#2. It’s a good kind of tired.

After a nice half day of skiing, by the time I get the boards off the car and myself out of my long underwear, I’m very sleepy and mellow, ready for a nap, a shower, and a drink before dinner. Ah, bliss!

And the #1 reason I enjoy being a senior skier. Senior discounts.

At my age in my area, season passes are free at Alta, $49 at Snowbasin, $20 at Powder Mountain, with other discounts and deals elsewhere. Check out the Senior discounts where you live.

Harriet Wallis

Three Holiday Gifts Senior Skiers Wish For

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When It Comes To Holiday Gifts, Sometimes Our Adult Children Don’t Have A Clue What We Would Like To Have. Here Are Some Hints To Pass Along. Or, Just Send A Link To This Story!

A surprise awaits and it’s not fruitcake. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Idea #1. A private lesson: A gift of confidence and fun.

You know you’d love to have the undivided, one-on-one attention of a skilled instructor to refresh your skills or move the needle a little bit further on your skiing. Ask for a private coaching session.

“Private lessons help build confidence,” said Leslie Blank, snowsports school director at Brighton. “Private lessons will let you move at your own pace. Or, you can get a little out of the comfort zone and try something new.”

Even good skiers get stuck in ruts, said Tim Wolfgram, director of Snowsports Services at Solitude. A private lesson can help you try new movements so you can have more fun.

Idea #2. A professional photo: Ski action or family portrait.

Ask your adult kids to put down their selfie sticks. Instead, ask for a professional photo of you skiing. Or, get the whole clan together for an on-slope family portrait.

Let a pro capture the photo memory.
Credit: Dobber Price, Peak Photo at Alta

Many resorts have on-mountain photographers who will take great photos of you with no fee and no obligation. But it’s a good idea to call ahead and coordinate the location and time with the photographer.

Here’s a tip. “Wear bright colors. It’s better than dark colors,” said Dobber Price, owner of Peak Photo at Alta, which is now in its 28th year of ski photography. And ski action photos, whether on a gentle slope or steep terrain, will capture your inner pro.

Idea #3. Ski tuning: So you can slide and turn more easily.

Ask to have your skis tuned. Many shops will inspect your skis and give a no-cost assessment of what needs to be done. Often, they just need to be waxed. Sometimes, if they haven’t been tuned or waxed for a long time, they might need more work. “It’s all about safety and the quality of turns,” said Brett Pergrossi, rental manager at Snowbird.

Tuned and waxed skis will slide and turn more easily. “You might slide right past your buddies on the flats,” said Brayden Morgan, head of rentals at Alta Ski Shop. “And, you won’t be as tired because you won’t use as much energy,” he said.

Many resorts offer gift certificates. But tell your kids to be sure the certificate can be used for the service they choose for you. They can buy it, wrap it, and give it. The holiday is solved. And you’ll have a treat coming.

P.S. Now aren’t these gifts better than fruitcake?

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.

Jon Weisberg

The Best 2018 Skis For Senior Skiers

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One Might Say You Can Never Have Enough Skis.

My wife disagrees. She skis on a relatively old pair that she loves. They’re relatively soft in shovel and heel. For her, one pair is enough.

Mine is a completely different story; too long to get into at the moment.

Jackson Hogen, publisher of the ski review site realskiers.com, has been testing skis for decades. He works with testers from around the country, gathering their observations and consolidating them into pre-season evaluations of the upcoming season’s crop.

The complete list of the recommended 2018 skis for senior skiers is available free to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers. Click on COMMUNITY (home page menu bar), then click on SUBSCRIBERS ONLY CONTENT in the drop down box.

(Free short reviews can be found at realskiers.com. The more complete evaluations require a subscription. Details on how SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers can subscribe to realskiers.com for 50% of the normal rate are at the end of this article.)

Recognizing that certain ski characteristics are more suitable for older skiers than others, last year, realskiers.com identified the best ones for older skiers. These skis generally have a soft flex, which allows the sidecut to engage with minimal exertion. When they’re used, the skier doesn’t work as hard. They’re easier to turn. They’re forgiving. You don’t have to be in peak shape to ski better or longer. The entire experience is more enjoyable.

Recommended skis are grouped into six categories, each based on skiing preference, location, and snow conditions. They follow:

Frontside (aka “Carving” skis)

  • These skis encompass the broadest range of skier abilities from entry-level to experienced and are for general use on groomed terrain. Wider models are usable off-trail.

All-Mountain East

  • Skis that are extremely versatile and for general use on groomed terrain. They also work off-trail.
  • This category is suitable for those who have not skied in a few years. 

All-Mountain West

  • These are good for use in the West by high performance skiers and are good both for groomed trails and for powder. 

Big Mountain

  • Skis for use on big mountains with selections for strong and for less strong skiers.

Powder

  • Specialty skis for use in deep powder.

Technical

  • These have high performance race ski characteristics and are suitable for carving turns on hard-snow.

While many consider skis to be unisex, some women prefer skis with weight and flex more suitable to their size and physique. The list also identifies preferred women’s skis.

Jackson advises approaching your next ski purchase by taking these three important steps:

  1. Identify the most suitable category.
  2. Work with a quality ski shop.
  3. If possible, demo selections to compare before purchasing.

To subscribe to realskiers.com: Visit site. Scroll down to/click on “Subscribe Today!” Click “Sign Up” in the “Annual Membership” box. Complete the form and enter SS17 in the field under “Coupon Code.”

 

 

 

Brad Noren

XC Skiing: Older, Wiser, And Cheaper

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A Veteran Ski Instructor Finds Nordic Matches His Senior Skiing Philosophy.

A seasoned Alpine skier (left) compared to a pro Nordic skier. XC is easy to do wrong.
(Credit: Brad Noren_

Older, wiser, cheaper, what is this about? It reflects on what happens with age for most, but let’s put it into a skiing context. Having taught skiing since 1971, I’ve discovered these are the three adjectives that seem to reflect on one’s skiing philosophy with the passing of time.

Most of us in this age group probably skied a lot in the 70s and 80s, maybe even the 60s. I’m sure those memories are rich with fun, challenge and thrill. But as we move into the present, the love of the sport is struggling against those three words in many ways, and, for some, as the song says, “The Thrill is Gone”.

Over my many years of skiing and teaching skiing, I watched aging skiers make changes that were hard to accept (me included). This often resulted in some quitting the sport (not me included). Back to the “older” adjective; in brief, “the body doesn’t do that anymore”. The “wiser” adjective points to personal safety issues, and the “cheaper,” well, you know what that means.

Being “older, wiser, and cheaper,” I have found cross country skiing to be an excellent sport for seniors but often not understood or accepted by the once serious downhill skiing fanatic of decades past.

XC skiing will give you the opportunity to circumvent most of the “older” issues by building muscular strength, adaptive fitness, respiratory health, and the thrill of learning will return. A new challenge is in your future. XC skiing will make you much “wiser” on how your body parts really work, because you will be focusing on efficient movement, good diet, refined balance and more. XC skiing can also be “cheaper” than the downhill sport.

Being both an alpine and Nordic ski instructor, there’s a problem I’ve seen with the move from alpine to Nordic. Alpine skiers sometimes feel that since they are a seasoned, 40-year plus alpine skier, black diamonds, powder, NASTAR gold and all that they can put on a pair of XC skis and master the Nordic/XC sport.

Yes, you can try that but you will surely miss the fun, challenge, and the thrill. You must learn to XC correctly. XC skiing is easy to do BUT even easier to do wrong. I have seen this happen over and over again with close ski friends who are expert alpine skiers in their day. Ditch the ego and take a Nordic/XC ski lesson, you will not regret it. Yes, you will bring many skills in from your downhill resume, but you will also learn things you never even thought of. Your health will likely improve; you are going to be wiser learning a new skill, and you might—probably will—spend less cash.

And don’t give up your love for downhill because I also know your downhill skiing skills are going to be strengthened, and you will find a new thrill there as well.

For more information on properly learning XC skills, check out my web site, Nordic Fusion. As I tell all I ski with “Glide Long and Prosper”.

mikemaginn

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Nov. 10)

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Veterans Salute, Free Skiing For Seniors Announced, Rush To Prep For Season, Funny Mammoth Memories, Ditch The SmartPhone.

A platoon of the 10th Mountain Division training at Camp Hale, CO. They were one tough bunch; many went on to become ski industry pioneers.

We’re heading off to Boston’s Ski and Snowboard Expo at the World Trade Center this morning, armed with lots of SeniorsSkiing.com stickers and many copies of a hot-off-the-press news release announcing a list of resorts where seniors can ski for free.

When we started SeniorsSkiing.com, we were told by many industry veterans that, in the past, many resorts offered free skiing for seniors.  Over the decades, that benefit eroded away until it became noticeably absent at major and mid-sized resorts. Nevertheless, with the help of baseline information provided by the International Skiing History Association, SeniorsSkiing.com has ferreted out where seniors can still ski for free. Most of the 111 ski resorts we identified are on the small to medium size, but some are bigger, almost destination resort sized.  It is clear from this research that there is a sizable segment of the ski resort industry which values the contributions of and business from senior skiers, many of whom have been skiing for multiple decades.

The list of resorts offering free skiing is available to our subscribers under the COMMUNITY menu pick on the top blue menu.  If you’re not a subscriber, sign up, it’s free, and, hey, we’re fun city.

Veterans Day is a time to remember those who served.  This year, we salute the 10th Mountain Division, the iconic and hardy group of hunters, climbers, skiers, and outdoorsmen who transformed themselves into a potent military force. You can click through to an article on the 10th Mountain from Snow Magazine.

There’s an interesting development in the Blandford Ski saga.  This venerable area was almost in the hands of real estate developers when it was purchased in early September and saved for a skiing future.  Blandford is the type of area families and seniors love: friendly, accommodating, pleasantly challenging and convenient.  We are ecstatic the resort will continue.  Now the challenge is to get ready for the upcoming season.  Thanks to correspondent Harriet Wallis for this report.

And, here’s a funny story contributed by Roger Monty, a subscriber who responded to our call for reader submissions.  It’s an example of how age can prevail over youth.

If you have an anecdote to share, send it along to us at info@seniorsskiing.com.

Finally, correspondent Don Burch reminds us to be mindful when we head out to mountains and trails.  Basically, enough with the Smartphones already.

Thanks for reading SeniorsSkiing.com.  We are on your side.  Please tell your friends about us, and, remember: There Are More Of Us Every Day, And We Are Not Going Away.

If you’d like a couple of SeniorsSkiing.com stickers, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to SeniorsSkiing.com, Box 416, Hamilton, MA 01936.

seniorsskiing

SeniorsSkiing.Com Salutes Our Veterans

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Thank You For Your Service.

For a history of the 10th Mountain Division from Snow magazine, click here.

Jon Weisberg

Now Available: 2017-18 List of 112 US Resorts Where Seniors Ski Free

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This Season, Free Skiing Will Be Available To Senior Skiers At 112 Resorts Across 26 States.

The list of resorts is available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers. The annual SeniorsSkiing.com report was first issued for the 2015-16 season.

The number of resorts reporting free skiing privileges for seniors increased slightly from last season. Most provide free skiing at age 70.

According to recent National Ski Areas Association statistics, 20% of the nation’s total skiing/boarding population are 52 and older (1,843,000). Those 52-62 total 1,220,000 participants; 62-71 total 510,000, and 72+ total 113,000.

Each resort establishes its own age threshold for free skiing. People in their 60s ski free at nine resorts in six states. Those 70-79 have a choice of 62 resorts in 22 states, and those 80 and older ski free in 40 resorts in15 states.

The three states with the most areas offering free skiing are New Hampshire with 11 and California and Michigan, each with 10. New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania each have 8 resorts with free skiing. Maine has 7, Vermont has 6, and Washington has 5.

Three resorts, Alta Sierra (California), Welch Village (Minnesota), and Sugarbush (Vermont), have a minimum age of 90 to ski free.

Many resorts have a range of discounts for older skiers purchasing lift tickets and other products and services. The editors of SeniorsSkiing.com advise looking online or asking before making purchases.

The free list is available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers. Existing subscribers have immediate access to the list by clicking Community in the menu bar and then Subscriber Only Content in the dropdown box. New visitors to the site must enter their email address to have access.

Harriet Wallis

Butternut Buys Blandford Ski Area; Rushes To Upgrade For New Season

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Family-friendly Blandford in southern Massachusetts was poised for extinction or development, but Ski Butternut and its owner Jeffrey Murdock bought it Sept. 1 and saved it.

Here comes the snow making. Blandford’s lodges get facelifts and the slopes get upgrades in grooming and snow making.

It’s a rescue mission of historic proportions. Right now, crews are working furiously to renovate Blandford’s base lodges, upgrade the grooming equipment, and install new snowmaking to help smooth out fickle weather cycles that have troubled the family-style ski area in the Berkshire Mountains.

The timing is tight. Renovations couldn’t start until Sept. 1 when the purchase was finalized.

“We’re putting a lot of resources into Blandford,” said Dick McCann, general manager of Ski Butternut. “We want to build the skier base back up. And we care very much about making skiing affordable.”

“We think the ski industry is better for having these small ski areas,” McCann said.

In reality, no one needs a mega resort to learn to ski and have family fun. Yet mega resorts across the country are gobbling up smaller areas.

Historically, Blandford Ski Area was founded in 1936 by members of the Springfield Ski Club, and it was owned by the members. At that time, hardy skiers drove to the end of the road and then hiked to ski the rolling hills.

It’s surmised that Blandford might be the oldest member-owned ski area in North America. It’s located about 20 miles west of Springfield, Mass.

By the 1970s, the popular day ski area had many rope tows and one double chair lift. Families loved the area and spent many volunteer hours doing maintenance and especially picking up stones from the slopes and tossing them into the woods. That made the slopes skiable even if natural snowfall was skimpy.

That’s where I learned to ski and I loved the place. The snow was often thin, but it was groomed to perfection with no stones poking through.

Today, it has 25 trails, three double chairlifts and two base lodges. But snowfall became erratic during recent years and families drifted off to do other things in winter. Blandford was on the brink of extinction.

Ski Butternut’s owner Jeffrey Murdock now owns three ski areas in the Berkshires: Ski Butternut, Otis Ridge, and now Blandford Ski Area.

Ski area management runs in his family, and it started with Butternut. Its first trails were cut by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in the late 1930s, but that was followed by many rocky years. Finally in 1962, Channing and Jane Murdock, Jeffrey Murdock’s parents, bought the state-of-the-art chairlift and the ski area that went with it.

Ski Butternut now has one of the largest uphill capacities in Southern New England.

As to Blandford Ski Area, Murdock is breathing new life into it. Massive renovations are underway and they’ll be ready for this winter. A season pass is $199 for adults, $169 for kids 7 to 13, and $79 for kids 6 and under.

To read more from Harriet click here for her stories on SkiUtah.