Tag Archive for: seniors skiing

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.Com (Dec. 9)

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Subscriber-Only News, Gift Ideas, Season Photo Book, Are SmartPhones Upstaging Ski Talk (?)

A Message To Our Subscribers

It’s been a busy week at SeniorsSkiing.com headquarters. Not only is the ski season ramping up everywhere, the holiday gift rush in acceleration mode.  And we have some great news for our subscribers.

As you may be aware, SeniorsSkiing.com has created a number of free and valuable benefits for our subscribers.  These include:

  • Skis recommended for seniors, developed in collaboration with realskiers.com.
  • Ski resorts in North America where seniors can ski for free, developed with the help and support of the National Ski Areas Association.
  • Discounts and really great deals on top brands from Experticity which has created a special “team” just for our subscribers.
  • A 16-page eBook collection of historic ski posters, compiled with the International Ski History Museum.

Up till now, these were offered as exclusive downloads to new subscribers when they received their welcome email, the final step in the subscription process. We couldn’t put these on the magazine’s site because they were meant for subscribers only, and we didn’t have a “firewall”.

But many subscribers either missed or lost the email, forgot to download the special content offerings or just didn’t know we had these benefits available.  So, we had to respond to many individual requests from existing subscribers to send these offerings well after they subscribed because they were intentionally not on the site.

Over the past months, we’ve worked with our technical consultant—the wonderful Alice Winthrop of Gatehouse Web Design—to develop a way for our special content to reside on the site without the need for a username and password for subscribers. We don’t like passwords, and we bet neither do you.

Here’s the new pop-up to access Subscriber-Only Content. Only your email is necessary to enter.

The answer is simple.  We’ve created a Subscriber-Only Content area.  To access it, go to the top menu bar, click on COMMUNITY.  Under that, click on SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.  Then, click the download you want.  You will see this pop-up appear that asks you to confirm your email address. Enter it, and you will get your download.

Bear in mind, this is brand new and we may have a few wrinkles.  Your patience is appreciated if you run into issues. Nevertheless, it is a huge step forward in getting our special offers and benefits into the hands of our readers.

Let us know what you think.

 

 

 

 

Gift Ideas For Senior Skiers

Also this week, co-publisher Jon Weisberg has an article in the Huffington Post with gift ideas for seniors that we think you’ll find interesting and…different.  Check it out.

Of course, for subscribers-only, you have access to serious discounts from many top brands through Experticity. All you have to do is register as a SeniorsSkiing.com subscriber.  Those instructions can be found in our new Subscriber-Only Content area.

Document Your Season In A Photo Book

Utah-based correspondent Jan Brunvand advises us to start the season with the goal of producing a photo book of each day you head out either on slopes or trails.  He’s been creating a record of his season as a book for years.  Find out how easy it is to do.

Are SmartPhones The Ruination Of “Ski Talk”?

Correspondent Harriet Wallis has clearly drawn a line in the snow.  SmartPhones and skiing don’t mix.  She tells us about an incident where technology came between people, detracting from one of most pleasant aspects of snow sports.

Next Week

Interested in skiing with others?  The results of our Spring Survey 2016 revealed that many of our subscribers are looking for skiing companions.  We’ve been working with the National Ski Council Federation to show you how easy it is to connect with a ski club.

And much more news and interesting ideas.

Stick with us, tell your friends, share our online magazine, please.  And remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Early One Pole Skiers

 

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows announced that five of its skiers were named to the 2017 U.S. Alpine Ski Team. All are part of the area’s development system and have been successful in International Ski Federation (FIS) competition.

COLORADO

Numerous Colorado resorts offer free skiing for young children—a definite benefit for grandparents taking the kids for a ski holiday. Ages, dates, and other details vary by resort, and are worth checking on line or when making reservations. Among the resorts offering this perk: Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Loveland, Purgatory Resort, Steamboat, and Telluride.

MONTANA

Absaroka Dogsled Treks is based out of Chico Hot Springs in Pray, MT, about an hour from Bridger Bowl and two hours from Big Sky. The outfitter offers tours, ranging from $125 for a six mile trip (small kids free) to $450 for the day. Chico Hot Springs has a great natural hot pool where the community gathers to soak and an outstanding kitchen, recognized far beyond this little wonder, 45 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.

NEW ENGLAND 

Open Snow, the very excellent snow forecasting site, has reported that New England is in for “an arctic blast” for the next 10 days.  That means big time snowmaking.  But beware, it’s also going to be windy up there this weekend, so bundle up.

NEW YORK

Internationally renown artist Jeff Koons, 61 and a nascent snowboarder, designed the graphics for 50 boards that will be sold for $5,000 each at a fund raiser in New York City for the Chill Foundation, a charity established by the founders of Burton snowboards. The foundation helps children from underserved communities learn through competitive sport.

UTAH

Salt Lake City is offering the Ski City Super Pass with discounted tickets at Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude, free public transportation to get there, and discounted rentals. Available with lodging packages at participating Salt Lake City hotels. Staying in Salt Lake City and skiing different areas is a great way to experience the Wasatch Front. Many restaurant and entertainment options.

Park City’s KPCW radio interviewed SeniorsSkiing.com co-publisher, Jon Weisberg about (what else?) seniors who ski and why they’re important to skiing. The podcast can be heard by clicking here.  Jon’s comments start at 39:00 if you want to skip ahead.

Utah Olympic Park in Park City will host luge athletes from over 20 countries competing for a chance at a World Cup title, December 16 and 17, 2016.

WYOMING

Moe’s Original Bar B Que opened in Jackson Hole. FeaturingSouthern soul food, the chain resto was named one of the Top 10 Rib Joints in the U.S.

OTHER

Patagonia is offering 50% past-season products. The on-line deal is good for Tuesday, Dec 13, only.

 

seniorsskiing

More Gift Idea Discounts For SeniorsSkiing.com Subscribers Only

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Check Out Serious Pro Discounts For Gear and Clothing From Experticity Our Online Partner.

Just a sample of the brands on Ski Influencers available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.

Here’s just a sample of the brands on Ski Influencers available to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.

SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers enjoy access to discounts on gear and clothing from the Experticity.com website which hosts links to many top brands.

To get these discounts, you have to be a subscriber.

If you are NOT yet a subscriber, just sign up using the pop-up or click here to subscribe. You will get a confirmation email, followed by a welcome email with instructions for accessing our Subscriber-Only content. Subscription is free, and you can also download our list of ski recommended for seniors compiled with another valued partner, realskiers.com.

If you ARE a subscriber and you missed sign up instructions from earlier emails, or you have not yet signed up with Experticity for discounts, please go to the top Navigation Bar>Community>Subscriber-Only Content. You will can download instructions for registering with Experticity.  It’s pretty simple; you just enter your email and access code.

Here are some more brands in the Ski Influencer group.  This is just a sample; there are lots more.

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Jan Brunvand

Creating Your Own Ski Season Photo Book

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Start Now To Produce An Attractive Photo Book with Minimal Camera and Computer Skills.

Many seniors keep track of their ski days, planning (or hoping) to ski their age each season. With a little more effort, and with minimal camera and computer skills, one can create an attractive ski-season photo book.

I think my ski books, compiled for the past ten years, are stunning. At least they should be of interest to future generations, showing them what the old man and lady were up to in their dotage.

Cover of Jan Brunvand's 2015-16 Season Album

Cover of Jan Brunvand’s 2015-16 Season Album

The first step is to keep your ski log current. I update it at the end of each ski day, right after wiping off our skis and putting the boots on the dryer. I keep it simple: One line on a legal pad listing which day of the season it is, the date and place, and who skied.

Second, you need a “picture-of-the-day,” which means having a small camera or a smart phone with you daily. I carry both, and sometimes my Polaroid Cube helmet cam. So, I take several photos every ski day.

The obvious subject—skiers posing against a snowy background—gets old after a while. So do selfies. Look for shots that convey a sense of that particular day: Friends, animals or animal tracks, dramatic vistas, funny license plates or signs, a friendly liftie, patrollers and rescue dogs, and the like.

One page shows several days. Each image represents a separate day.

One page shows several days. Each image represents a separate day.

Action shots are hard to get right, so occasionally I buy photos from the pros. I scan these to add to my trove. Last season at Alta, we got a great shot of us with a granddaughter riding a lift taken by a professional standing on the run below.

After I download the day’s photos to my computer, I select one for that day, and I caption it: “Day #5, Alta, 12/8.” I keep these in a folder on my desktop,, and I add miscellaneous shots to fill out the book, using descriptive titles like “Sugarloaf Summit” or “Porcupine Tracks.” I may also copy some individual frames from my helmet cam.

I assemble my book using the Apple Photo program, the successor to iPhoto. PCs have similar programs, or one can use an online service like My Publisher. Also check Shutterfly and Snapfish. It’s quite simple to create a handsome book, once you get the hang of it.

I start with a page of text summing up the season, then go to pages of one to eight captioned images, each illustrating a day, interspersed with the best of the miscellaneous shots.

The printed book, ordered online, arrives in a week or so, ready to show family and friends. Folks tell me how impressed they are, but maybe they are just being polite. Whatever.  My wife and I love these remembrances of ski seasons past.

Now that the new season has begun here in Utah, I’ve got my legal pad out, and a folder on my desktop labelled “2016-17 Ski Season.” The first shot is already there; the date of our first snow in the city written with my finger on the car window.

First day of the season!

First day of the season!

Harriet Wallis

Have Smartphones Ruined The Ski Experience?

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We Used To Just Ski. And Ski Talk. What Happened?

There we were, making turns in the soft powder as it dumped from the sky. The fluff was mesmerizing. Then my companion-of-the-day announced: “I have to stop.”

Are Smartphones an insidious barrier to socializing on the slopes? Credit: Harriet Wallis

Are Smartphones an insidious barrier to socializing on the slopes?
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Off came the gloves. Out came the phone. She began snapping photos.

My mind said: “Take your photos, then let’s ski.” But the photo session continued.

“I need to send these photos to my friends in Germany right now.”

My thoughts said: “They’re asleep in Germany right now. It’s the middle of the night.”

On the lift, the phone came out, and the thumbs tapped away. They tapped in the lodge, and they tapped as I drove us down the canyon toward home.

I had my fill of this phone-thing and spoke up hoping she’d take a hint. “Would you like me to pull over so you can finish texting?”

“No,” she said. “I can do this while you drive.”

I’d been invisible most of the day, and then I was relegated to being the chauffeur.

What ever happened to ski talk?

In the past, ski friends would exchange news of the family and get caught up on each other’s activities. And in the past, if you got on a lift or sat at a table with someone you didn’t know, the ski talk began. “Are you having a good day?” “Where are you from?” “Do you ski here often?”

By the time the lift reached the summit or when you’d finished your burger, you’d exchanged life stories and probably had a tip for a great restaurant. Socializing was an important part of skiing.

But now, Smartphones have reduced communication to Neanderthal grunts—and tapping thumbs say, “Don’t bother me. I’m busy talking to somebody other than you.”

Has part of the ski experience been lost?

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

 

 

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Dec. 2)

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A Great Book Idea, Museum Visit, Balance Tip, Why Commercial X-C Ski Resorts, And Ski Mojo.

First day of the season!

First day of the season! Credit: Jan Brunvand

There is snow in the air: definitely lots of natural in parts of the West, more like serious making of snow in the East.  Nevertheless, resorts are opening and the season is beginning.  And just in time for the holidays.  That means gifts. Speaking of which we have three sources…

…If you are looking for a snow sports oriented holiday gift, head over the the “Ski Influencers” group at Experticity.com.  You can get major discounts from top brands of gear and clothing. If you are not a subscriber, complete our free subscription form in either the pop-up or the right column and you will get instructions on how to sign up with Experticity If you are already a subscriber, you should have registered with Experticity.  If you need instructions on how to do that, email us at info@seniorsskiing.com with “Experticity” in the subject line.

This week, co-publisher Jon Weisberg shares a book idea either for yourself as a gift.  The connection to snow sports is that is makes a great apres-ski read by the fire.  We haven’t seen him so enthusiastic for a book in a while.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis traveled to the New England Ski Museum at the base of Cannon Mountain for a report on its exhibits as well as its unique gift shop.  More interesting ideas for presents with a snow sports twist, so to speak.

Pat McCloskey, a veteran ski instructor and SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent, offers technique tip on balance.  It’s simple and effective.

You might wonder why you should go to a commercial xc center or resort when you can just go across the road to your local park, forest or golf club to ski all day for free.  XCResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr presents the case for visiting a commercial xc center.

Finally, we have a new advertiser, Ski~mojo, a supportive device that is said to take the pressure off knees and hips. Please check our first Sponsored Content article about the Ski~mojo product and let us know what you think.

Please note: We are working on making some of our special subscriber-only assets available on line to our readers.  This is taking a bit of engineering, but soon, perhaps as soon as next week, you’ll be able to access our recommended Skis for Seniors, Free Skiing for Seniors, Sign Up Instructions for Experticity, and our eBook of historic ski posters from the International Ski History Association. 

And remember there really are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

This photo of Tuckerman's Ravine on Mt Washington occupies an entire wall. Credit: NESM

This photo of Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt Washington occupies an entire wall.
Credit: NESM

 

 

Jon Weisberg

This Season Read One Good Book

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The Orphan Keeper: A Fantastic Apres Ski Read.

orphankeeper_cover_largeAs I approach my 73rd birthday and commence my 63rd consecutive season, I want to declare that from the time I was 10, skiing has been a source of joy.

Not too long ago I was good from when the lifts opened until last ride. In recent years, I’ve been starting a bit later (except on powder days) and leaving the hill earlier, especially when the light begins to flatten. I’ll go back to the lodge or drive home, clean up, pour a glass of something pleasant and, more often than not, open a book.

Recently, I came across a terrific read that deserves to be better known, and probably will be. The Orphan Keeper was written by Camron Wright, an award-winning novelist based in Utah. The book is based on the astonishing true story of Taj Rowland. It begins in India where the seven year old boy is kidnapped and sold to an orphanage. He’s then adopted by unsuspecting parents in the United States who have no idea their new son isn’t really an orphan. By the time the boy can speak enough English to tell them he already has a family, it’s too late. They write letters. They make phone calls, but all roads lead to dead ends.

Taj grows up in the United States, goes to school, plays sports (even learns to ski), and his story may have ended there—except his past isn’t content to let him be. I won’t spoil how the story develops, other than to warn you that after reading a few chapters après ski, you’ll want to read through dinner, and keep on reading. This is a well-crafted page-turner that had me shocked, laughing, at times dabbing my eyes, and eager to learn more. It is terrific story made even better by the fact that is based on Taj Rowland’s real experience.

Years ago one of my teachers gave this advice for summer vacation: Take one good hike. Read one good book. Make one good friend.

My advice for this winter season: Take many great runs. Enjoy your friends. Read The Orphan Keeper.

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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trailmasterimage_CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows announced that the The Audi FIS Women’s Alpine World Cup at Squaw Valley (March 9 – 12, 2017) will be 100% carbon neutral. The area will materially reduce and offset emissions directly related to the event. Activities will include composting, fresh water stations (both areas discontinued sale of single use plastic ater bottles last season — the first in the nation to do so), and a variety of car-pooling and other eco-friendly transportation options.

Mountain High, 90 minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County, is open for the season. It bills itself as   Southern California’s learn to ski and snowboard resort. 70+ are free, every day.

NEW MEXICO

The Town of Taos was selected as the country’s top ski town in a USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice contest. Other cities in the running included Whitefish, Montana and North Conway, New Hampshire.

QUEBEC

The annual Quebec Winter Carnival will take place January 27-29. It is the classic winter event. If you plan to go, dress for the cold!

UTAH

Brighton Resort is open and operating from top to bottom.

Park City Mountain Resort lifts are now running for the season. It is the largest ski resort in the US and has something for every skier and boarder. Like most other Utah resorts, it’s a short ride from the airport.

VERMONT

Okemo announced that opening day featured top to bottom terrain, a feat it has achieved for four opening days in a row. Thank you, snow making crew!  Okemo is also planning demo days on 12/10-11.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Several resorts are planning to open this weekend in New Hampshire.  Black Mountain, Cranmore, Gunstock, and Ragged Mountain are making snow and grooming.  Check conditions before you go with Ski New Hampshire. 

OTHER

Patagonia’s Black Friday sales hit $10 million, 100% of which was donated to grassroots environmental organizations working around this fragile planet of ours. Thank you, Patagonia!

Mountain Collective provides two days of skiing at 14 iconic North American resorts, including Alta/Snowbird; Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Jackson Hole, Revelstoke, Whistler Blackcomb, and Stowe. The pass costs $419. Pass holders get 50% off additional days (no blackouts). It is ski value at its best if travel plans take you to those great locations.

Timber Creek Lodge is a new relaity show on the Bravo network. It’s set in an upscale ski lodge and, based on the trailer, features a selection of curvaceous and hard body youngsters doing what they can to please the patrons and each other. Premiers Monday, December 5th at 10pm ET/PT.

Pat McCloskey

Hands Up For Balance: A Technique Tip

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Keep An Eye On Your Arms.

Note arms elevated and away from the body, a key to stability and balance. That's Ted Ligety, by the way.

Note arms elevated and away from the body, a key to stability and balance. That’s Ted Ligety, by the way.

One of the best tips I ever got was from a guy who was a former Colorado Pro Tour racer.  Frank Anderes had a keen eye for what was happening on the hill and besides telling me that it was important to make a lot of turns on a smaller hill, his tip about balance still resonates with me today.  One day in the lodge, Frank remarked that I skied with my hands too far inside.  He said that I would never guard anyone in basketball with my hands  in tight or hit a tennis ball with hands in too tight.  The  reason to get the hands out wider is primarily for balance.  He then showed me a graphic example of how that works.  He asked me to put my hands in tight to my body and immediately he knocked me off balance with a push to my left side.  He then said, “ Pat – get those hands out to your sides in peripheral vision range and see what happens.  He then tried to knock me over again but I was able to remain stable on my feet.

When I look at the forces that occur in a ski turn, like what is shown here with Ted Ligety, it would be next to impossible to execute a powerful turn like that with your hands in tight to your body.  Unfortunately a lot of skiers get lazy and keep their hands in tight and low and skid through the turns.  In order to make a dynamic turn, one has to put a lot of pressure on the outside ski and bend it. In order to  maintain that balance and fight the centrifugal force, you have to have those hands out just like Ted.  A slightly countered position facing the new turn with the hands out wide, will enable you to create a strong edge angle, be solid on your feet and execute a strong turn.  So, if you have played any sport, you will remember the coaches referring to the “ready” position.  Hands outside, joints flexed, ready for action.  Think Snow!!!

Roger Lohr

The Case For Skiing At Commercial XC Resorts

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XCSkiResorts.Com Publisher Highlights The Benefits.

Groomed trails are only one advantage of skiing at a commercial XC resort or commercial center.

Groomed trails are only one advantage of skiing at a commercial XC resort or commercial center.

Is there a difference between cross country skiing at a commercial center and “in the woods?”

One of the greatest obstacles for xc skiing growth is the common image of a lone xc skier going into a narrow dark trail as if the very isolation in the woods was the goal. But designed trails at commercial xc resorts offer much more than solitude.

Often trails that are built by loggers and by the government in state and federal parks have long straight ascents and descents. Most average skiers are often afraid of the speed of a long downhill. Instead, trail designers such as John Morton of Morton Trails recommend undulating and twisting trails that spark interest on every turn and also help slow down the speed. Destinations, scenic vistas, and accomplishment upon arrival make great sense on xc ski trails, and these are characteristics of what well-designed trails should provide.

Most commercial xc ski resorts charge a fee between $15 and $29. For that fee the patron gets a business operation and trails that:

  • are designed for xc skiing or snowshoeing in harmony with the environment and are skier-friendly;
  • are regularly maintained or groomed, and include tracks and a lane for skaters;
  • can be expected to be free of debris or fallen trees and provide consistent skiable quality;
  • have clear signage with available and understandable maps;
  • have quality rental equipment that enhance the activity (easy to use and provides greater control for the average skier);
  • offer ski instruction in various forms (kids, women, group, private) in an area for learners where they are not embarrassingly on display;
  • include a food and beverage service;
  • offer special organized programs for school kids, older folks, etc;
  • has a facility where people can change clothes, get warm, or socialize;
  • includes a friendly helpful staff, who can share local information;
  • has ski patrollers to help, if necessary.

Yes, admittedly many people can xc ski out their back door in the backyard, on a local golf course, or on a trail in a nearby forest, and it is very convenient to do so. But commercial xc ski resorts offer a different skiing product. New Hampshire’s Jackson Ski Touring Center, emulated by hundreds of xc ski resorts across North America, is a perfect example. In addition to these services, Jackson also has something intangible: the “Culture of XC Skiing.”  History, Expertise, Community, Education. That’s why Jackson can be considered one of the true meccas of xc skiing.

Of course, the major issue with non-commercial cross country ski trails is the condition of the snow. The weather rules the snow and without trail grooming and trail maintenance, the snow can be hard packed, icy, sticky, too deep for non-powder skiers, or too inconsistent to offer a good experience.

The statistics have shown over many years that less than 20 percent of xc ski outings are at commercial resorts. Skiers that experience the other 80 percent of the xc skiing outings are missing out on the benefits, and many are not even aware that those services exist. If you haven’t stayed at a commercial xc resort, give it a try. It’s a great winter experience.

[Editor Note: To find out more about XC commercial resorts, check out XCResorts.com for details. You’ll also find Top 10 lists for scenery, trails, lifts, romance and more.]

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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historic7_

Congratulations!!  Two SeniorsSkiing.com Advisory Council members have been named to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame:

Gretchen Besser “…for her unprecedented career as a ski patroller and first aid instructor… and her impact as an historian, international liaison and visionary in the world of skiing…”

Bernie Weichsel “As an advocate and creator of an organized freestyle competition circuit. His innovative SKI USA worldwide promotions continue to bring thousands of international skiers to U.S. slopes and his consumer ski and snowboard expos attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.”

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows got 15 inches and was planning to open this week. Last season delivered 41 feet. The resort has a new lift-accessed guided backcountry skiing/boarding operation.

Sequoia National Park hosts its annual Trek to the Tree event on December 11. Visitors walk to The General Grant Tree, designated as the Nation’s Christmas Tree. Since 1925, Trek to the Tree has honored the Armed Forces.

CANADA

Whistler Blackcomb opened this week with almost three feet of coverage. More expected over coming days.

COLORADO

Purgatory opened last week, just got 17″.

Wolf Creek opened Thanksgiving Day, with 16″ of new.

Telluride received 11″.

Copper Mountain opened with two feet of base and fresh.

Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are open. Each just received 7″.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bretton Woods has opened for its 43rd season.

UTAH

Ski Utah reports that high elevation Brian Head, in the south of the state, received 15” this week. Any Utah resort receiving a foot or more is designated as a Monster Dump on Ski Utah’s outstanding website.

Deer Valley Resort was named United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Award. The resort has received the title for four consecutive years.

Other

VinniBag
 protects and insulates anything that might break or leak, including wine & spirit bottles. The reusable travel bag uses inflatable air chambers and stores flat, rolled or folded when not in use. A terrific and unusual gift at $28 ($25@ for two or more).

Gripforce is a dual-purpose boot that, with the flip of a switch, transforms a boot into an ice cleat in less than a second. Developers say It is as safe to wear on glistening ice as it is on hardwood floor.

Patagonia is donating 100% of its Black Friday store and online sales to grassroots environmental groups.

 

 

 

Harriet Wallis

Can Alternative Medicine Help You?

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A Tragic Accident Turns A Ski Racer Into A Believer And A Healer.

Siri says alternative medicine returned her to real life. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Siri says alternative medicine returned her to real life.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Siri Wieringa was born into a skiing family. It’s in her genes. By college she was an accomplished ski racer. But a horrific on-course accident tossed her down the hill, flipping her over and over, breaking up one side of her body and terrorizing her brain. When she regained consciousness, life as she knew it was gone.

Doctors fixed her broken bones. But they were baffled about her brain which, even though she wore a helmet, was slammed again and again against her skull. Perhaps she should drop out of college, they said. Perhaps she should just rest.

Cancelling life did not suit Siri.

“I needed Western medicine,” she said. For example, “they Life Flighted me to the hospital.” But rather than letting her just rest and stagnate, her mom sought alternative healing methods.

Siri believes alternative healing returned her to real life. “I was in a fog,” she said. “I had to learn to walk and talk and then learn to ski again.”

She finished college with a masters degree, coaches a freestyle ski team, and is so passionate about alternative healing she has studied several healing arts and is a practicing healer.

I met the vivacious, energetic 26-year-old when I went to Alta to get my season pass. She’s the daughter of Alta’s revered, long-time General Manager Onno Wieringa.

Trauma, illness, emotions and the rigors of every day life can stress the body and cause bottlenecks that derail the body’s energy and its ability to heal itself. The body is a closed eco system designed to nurture itself, Siri said. You just have to give it a chance.

Most alternative healing methods were developed by ancient cultures centuries ago. Several are modern combinations. Some you might recognize, such as: acupuncture, crystals, quantum, cupping, Reiki, Accunect, Tibetan cranial and chiropractic. And there are others—all geared to heal the body, mind and spirit.

Siri is now a Reiki and a Accunect healer. Both methods use a light touch and are non-invasive. The effectiveness cannot be measured by traditional techniques. Non-believers call such healing methods nonsense. Others believe that alternative healing saved their lives. Alternative healing worked for Siri.

Might alternative healing be right for you?

To read more from Harriet go to  https://www.skiutah.com

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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historic7_

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Introduces “Women of Ski Patrol” Calendar. Proceeds from the $25 item help fund avalanche safety education scholarships. The calendar showcases 13 female patrollers from last season’e Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol Teams. Calendars can be pre-ordered online now for $25 and will be available at retailers throughout the Village at Squaw Valley®.

CANADA

Whistler Blackcomb has a 30″ base. More on the way.

COLORADO

Crested Butte has a four night Christmas family deal at The Grand Lodge. Two adults and two kids get lodging and three days of passes for $1099 (+ tax and fees): http://www.skicb.com/deals.

On December 10, Crested Butte plans to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of skiers in full Santa suits (top, bottom, hat, and beard). Arrive in costume and get at $23 lift ticket. www.cbsantacrawl.com. Memo to Santa: Please bring snow!

Eldora’s Annual Ugly Sweater or Elf Costume Contest, is schedued for December 24. Prizes for the ugliest; www.eldora.com.

Purgatory  acquired Coloado’s largest snowcat skiing operation. Purgatory Snowcat Adventures  has guided cat skiing for skiers/boarders with access to 35,000 acres. Snowcat tours for non-skiers also available.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Loon Mountain Resort celebrates 50 years with a special anniversary weekend scheduled for January 28-29.

Ragged Mountain Resort‘s MISSION: AFFORDABLE program offers season passes for $449. Rossingol’s Learn to Ski & Ride program offers three free lessons to newbies.

Cranmore Mountain’s $79 Value Card provides a one-day lift ticket plus $20 off all subsequent lift ticket purchases (no restrictions). Card holders get a free lift ticket after every 7th visit.

Mount Sunapee offers half-price mid-week lift tickets when purchased four days in advance, online (holiday blackouts apply).

Waterville Valley Resort‘s new Frequent Skier Card gives the first lift ticket free and a $15 discount on future tickets.

UTAH

Alta postponed opening day scheduled for November 18 due to warm weather and lack of snow. The resort also announced that Lucy, a puppy, has joined its patrol. As an Alta passholder, I can report that watching a patrol dog working its way down the mountain in deep pow is a source of pleasure. Best wishes in your new job, Lucy!

Brighton has free skiing for anyone dressed as Santa on Christmas Day.

Numerous Utah areas have torchlight parades on skis during the holidays. They’re memorable. Dates/locations: Deer Valley (Dec 30); Park City (Dec 24); Snowbird (Dec 24); Solitude (Dec 31); Snowbasin (Dec 24).

OTHER

Ted Heck, longtime snow sports writer with a quick wit, passed away. He was 94.

Year-end gift giving: Consider a gift to a ski museum. Some accept tax-deductible donations of vintage gear. All welcome financial support. Two of our favorites are:

  • The Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City, UT. It’s a must-visit facility with superb displays, including interactive exhibits utilizing the best of digital technology
  • The New England Ski Museum in Franconia, NH. It has a comprehensive exhibit of skiing history with an emphasis on New England. On display through mid-April 2017 is a wonderful exhibit on the 10th Mountain Division.

Another terrific choice is the International Skiing History Association (ISHA), which is dedicated to preserving and advancing knowledge of ski history. It’s bimonthly magazine, Skiing History, covers topics from early resorts and prominent skiers to the presence of the sport in our material and advertising culture. Members and donors receive Skiing History as a benefit. Membership in ISHA is a great stocking stuffer!

Craving fresh veggies and herbs this winter but living in a mountain town? OPCOM Farm indoor hydroponic gardening systems are worth exploring. Cost is about that of a season pass ($499 – $599.) www.opcomfarm.com

 

seniorsskiing

What New La Nina May Bring To Snow Forecast

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The Latest Update Shows Impact Might Good for Some, Uncertain For Others.

La Nina impact how the jet stream bends over the Pacific. Here's NOAA's prediction as of end of Oct. Credit: NOAA NWS

La Nina impact how the jet stream bends over the Pacific. Here’s NOAA’s prediction as of end of Oct.
Credit: NOAA NWS

NOAA’s National Climate Predication Center announced that La Nina has returned. She’s weak but still might pack a sting for our winter weather.

La Nina means cooling of water in the eastern Pacific.  As remote as that may seem to North America, that coolness effects how weather masses form and move around the globe.  As we reported earlier, the Climate Prediction Center said that La Nina hadn’t developed as expected after a record El Nino (warming water) in 2015-16.  But just last month, a weak La Nina was detected.

What does that mean for snow forecast? Weather forecasting is about probabilities. A look at the temperature map below (right) reveals that temps are expected to be generally warmer across the lower US and cooler in the Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest and Ontario.  The precipitation map says below normal precip across the southern US, continuing the drought situation there, and above average precip in the upper band across the US-Canada border.  This is pretty consistent with the snow forecast we reported on last month.  Confirming an La Nina just ups the odds.

So, good news for the Pacific NW and BC, Montana, Wyoming.  Uncertainty for just about everyone else.

Remember, these are probabilities and not definitive.  Variance will happen.  NOAA will update their forecast in a few days.  We’ll let you know.

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seniorsskiing

Here Comes Winter: From Mt. Washington, NH

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Home Of Big Time Extreme Weather Looks Over Dramatic Moving Clouds.

screen-shot-2016-11-16-at-1-08-30-pm

Mt. Washington is the Northeast’s highest summit.  At 6,288 feet above sea level, the mountain is a mecca for campers, hikers, and fast-changing weather conditions.  This video was taken from the Observatory on the summit in late October this year.  It reveals an “undercast”—opposite to overcast—as the dawn sun warms it up and it begins to move.

Watch while meditating. Or just watch.  We love mountains.

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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historic7_

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows made a $150,000 donation to the High Fives Foundation as part of its Military to the Mountains program, which hosts and trains injured US Armed Forces vets on its slopes. The resort offers active duty US military personnel a Silver Tahoe Super Pass for a $25 donation. Last season, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows provided 13,800 complimentary lift tickets to active duty military.

CANADA

Western Canada has the biggest accumulations of early snow. Snowpack at Whistler is 252% of average for early November and Lake Louise is 169% of average.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Jackson Ski Touring Center in Jackson, N.H., has added four new trails totaling six km (3.75 miles); and eight new trail bridges. It is the largest x-country ski center in the Northeast.

PENNSYLVANIA

Bear Creek Mountain is offering mid-week (Tue/Wed/Thurs) passes for $22 with a Loyal Ski Club membership. Holiday blackouts apply.

Shawnee Mountain is stocking a large inventory of top-notch rental equipment, making it easy to arrive at the mountain unburdened by outdated gear.

JACK FROST and BIG BOULDER season pass holders can add Hunter Mountain to their skiing options. Pass holder also have skiing privileges at Mount Snow, Attitash, Crotched Mountain and Wildcat.

UTAH

Powder Mountain day passes for 75+ are free. For 75+ not wanting to go to the ticket window, a season pass is $20!

Sundance Resort day passes are $30 for 65 and older; season pass (available anytime throughout the season) is $150. Thank you, Robert Redford, for great prices on a terrific mountain!

OTHER

Best deals on Vail Resorts’ Epic Season Passes (including Whistler/Blackcomb) end November 19.

Clean Trails is the non-profit committed to keeping wild places and the trails that access them free of litter. Studies show the highest indicator that someone will pick up litter is if they Sugarloaf Mountain witness someone else picking up litter.

CNL Lifestyle Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT), sold 15 ski North American ski resorts, including Brighton (UT), Crested Butte (CO), Jiminy Peak (MA), Loon and Mount Sunapee NH), Okemo (VT), Sierra-at-Tahoe (CA), Stevens Pass and Summit-at-Snoqualmie (WA), Northstar-at-Tahoe (CA), and Sunday River (ME). Operations of each resort are expected to be unaffected by the sale.

Patagonia gave all of its employees Election Day off , and encouraged them to vote.

 

Jon Weisberg

Snow Sports Leaders: Jackson Hogen, Publisher of realskiers.com

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Jackson Hogen’s career encompasses many roles in the world of skiing: from freestyle competitor, instructor and extreme camp coach to ski designer, product manager, and marketing director. He has been testing skis and boots for decades. His list of best 2016-17 skis for older skiers is available free to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.

Jackson Hogan of realskiers.com

Jackson Hogan of realskiers.com offers in-depth reviews of ski equipment.

Your realskier.com bio indicates you’re a skiing everyman. You’ve taught, tested, written, and coached and created the site for in-depth equipment reviews. Are there other Yale grads who have devoted themselves so fully to the sport?

I believe there is an erstwhile K2 rep who is a Yale grad, Brent Mohr. As far as I know, he “only” served as a sales rep. I can’t think of anyone else with my range of background from Yale (or anywhere else).

What are your views on the role of big corporate destination entities vs independently-owned ski areas?

Corporate ownership of ski areas has helped to accelerate the flight of the middle class from the sport. I’m not a fan. No skier I’ve ever met asked for the homogenization of the ski experience. When run by families, ski areas tried to serve the public at large. As run by mega-corporations, they serve their stockholders and richest customers. The same reason why insurance-run health care in this country is an abject failure.

What more should the ski industry be doing to preserve winters?

Other than support initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change, there’s not much they can do. They don’t mine or burn coal, and they tend to be very conscientious about water use. We should be cautious using the term, “ski industry.” There is no “ski industry,” just individual companies striving to serve their stockholders.

You are now in your 60s. What advice do you have for older skiers who want to continue in the sport as long as they can?

Don’t retreat into a shell of “I can’t do XYZ.” You certainly can’t if you start out by thinking you can’t. Like a lot of older skiers, I’m a hot mess of prior injuries, but one has to put such thoughts aside and just ski. I realize this sounds vain at best, but I’m still one of the better skiers on the hill no matter what hill I’m on. Take two Aleve, go ski as hard as you can and stop whining about your age. Here’s what you lose: explosive power. Big deal. You can ski very well without it.

We all know that the ski industry directs dollars and attention to the younger part of the market. Should executives be directing some of their budgets to older skiers, and, if so, why?

For starters, no one controls more assets in the U.S. than the population over 55. Seniors have money and are willing to spend it for a good return on investment, like a great ski experience. The focus on youth backfires in many significant ways, most importantly in diminishing on-slope safety for all. Also, catering to the youth market entails assigning a good chunk of the mountain to terrain parks (absurd on most big mountains, which ARE terrain parks) which works out fine on mountains like Mammoth that can accommodate the needed space and remove it from the basic traffic pattern. At other areas they can be at once obtrusive and largely unoccupied.

I don’t think I’m revealing any secrets when I observe that seniors are influenced by their past. They came of age when skiing was more accessible and less expensive. While they can’t continue to live in that world, they are still grounded in it. Point being, they’re committed to the sport, not just peripherally associated with it, as is often the case with America’s youth.

Any other closing nuggets of wisdom?

If you’re skiing in boots that hurt, stop. If you struggle to put your boots on, stop. If your skis seem to make every run a battle, stop.

Don’t stop skiing, for heaven’s sake, but stop putting up with the handicaps that come with lousy boot fits, cold boots and poorly maintained equipment. Yes, it will cost something to address these issues, but wouldn’t it be worth a few shillings to ski free from pain and in better control?

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Nov. 4)

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Exotic, Remote Places To Ski, 50 Years Of Ski Racing, 85-Year-Old Skier On A Mission And More.

Challenging the famous "Corrugated Spines" of Alaska's Tsirku Glacier. From North Face's Big Mountain Adventure video series.

Challenging the famous “Corrugated Spines” of Alaska’s Tsirku Glacier. From North Face’s Big Mountain Adventure video series.

This has been an extraordinary week in the world of sports.  Ski resorts are opening up all over the country, even in New England! Snow is here. Check Short Swings! for more industry news. And, amazingly and gloriously, the Chicago Cubs managed to come back from a three to one game deficit to win three straight and the World Series after a 108 year drought.  Curses are erased, and history is made.  Now if the Boston Red Sox could just regroup…

A reminder to our readers.  The Ski and Snowboard Expos are here, starting today in Denver and in Boston from November 10-13.  Our readers can get a discount if you order through the SeniorsSkiing.com site.  Just click the link at the top of the page.  Going to the ski show is a sure-fire way to get motivated and take advantage of deals on equipment and resort discounts.

Co-publisher Jon Weisberg brings us two sets of exciting videos featuring skiing and boarding in really exotic places.  Check out these videos as the scenery is extraordinary.

Thanks to the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance, we found a compilation of ski racing, starting with the 1960s and going up to present day. The scenes from different decades are more or less taken from similar perspective, so you can easily see how equipment and styles change over the years.

Finally, we learn about John Andrews, an 85-year-old, Washington-state, retired Boeing executive who is determined to ski at every ski resort in North America.  This is a monumental goal that has taken John from Newfoundland to the tiniest hills of Tennessee. Find out how many he’s already crossed off the list.

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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historic7_CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows received seven inches of new snow earlier this week; more is forecast. The resort plans to open early between November 11 and 18, weather and conditions permitting.

Bear Valley Resort and Backcountry Pictures presents “A Walk in the Park with David Vassar” featuring the Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning writer, director, producer, and documentarian, David Vassar on Friday, November 25, 2016.

COLORADO

Arapahoe Basin‘s 70th season gift to skiers is its Elevation 4-Pass, good for any four days. Cost: $169 for adults.

Colorado Cross Country Ski Association Nordic Skiing Punch Pass is available for $99. The transferable pass includes 12 trail access passes at six Colorado resorts. Holders also enjoy discounts on rentals, tours and lodging. Visit http://www.coloradocrosscountry.com/Punch-Pass.

Onus iV Hydration in Denver is offering intravenous vitamin boosts to help visitors acclimate to altitude. According to the company, the 45-minute treatments provide maximum hydration. They have a mobile van that will deliver treatment at resorts across the Front Range. Costs from $65 to $145. Click here for more.

QUEBEC

Mont-Tremblant has fired up its snow guns. The resort can bury the equivalent of 76 football fields under one foot of snow in 24 hours.

MONTANA

Montana Office of Tourism has issue a brief video titled Alpen Glow. It’s based on skier/painter Rachel Pohl as she skis gorgeous scenery, records it in her sketchbook, and returns to her studio to preserve it on canvas. Less than 5 minutes and well worth watching: Click here.

UTAH

Alta Lodge, Alta Peruvian, Goldminer’s Daughter, Rustler, and Snowpine Lodge are each offering a variety of early season specials. Alta’s positioning and elevation attract early season snow. There are years when Thanksgiving has delivered 3′ of fresh, and by early December the mountain is well covered.

Powder Mountain Resort announced that for 2016-17, two new lifts will access 1,000+ acres of new terrain. Additionally, the resort will limit tickets to 2000 per day, giving it the lowest skier density of any major area on the continent. Powder Mountain now has 8464 skiable acres. For skiers in the know, it is a required destination when visiting Utah!!!!

ALBERTA

Whistler Blackcomb’s official opening day is set for November 24, 2016 but with favorable early season conditions, the resort can always be counted on to open early. Check out opening day events here.

OTHER

GetSkiTickets.com, the online ticket-seller, is offering $10 discount on gift certificates purchased through the site. A great stocking stuffer!! Visit GetSkiTickets, choose certificates, enter “ilovemountains” when checking out. Offer ends November 15.

Jon Weisberg

Videos Show Skiing in Alaska, China, Iran, Central Asia

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Arc’teryx And The North Face on YouTube With Top Cinematography And Music That Doesn’t Blow Your Eardrums.

From the North Face-produced series on skiing the Tsirku Glacier in Alaska. Amazing shots.

From the North Face-produced series on skiing the Tsirku Glacier in Alaska. Amazing shots.

In 1990 China had zero ski resorts. Today there are 568, including Jackson Hole, a residential and ski community a few hours north of Beijing.

Iran is a land where, for many, skiing offers escape from state control.

Skiing in China, Iran, Japan and Iceland is featured in a series of short videos produced by Arc’teryx, the Canadian outdoor clothing and sporting goods company.

Each video is thoughtful in its look at the country visited. China: A Skier’s Journey contrasts the rapid development of resorts reliant on snow guns with the indigenous people of the remote Altai Mountains, banned from cutting living trees to make skis used to navigate their snow-laden landscape, as their ancestors have for millenia. We watch the ski making process using stumpage and see images of ancient pictographs depicting hunters on skis.

The videos use artistic cinematography and background music, that unlike many other ski films, is gentle on the ears.

 

Another outdoor clothing and gear company, The North Face, also has a selection of interesting ski videos. The company’s three-part Tsirku series takes us to the exceptional terrain where Alaska, British Colombia, and the Yukon meet.

We’re introduced to this extreme backcountry first from the air and then through a series of exceptional powder shots. By Episode 3, we’re at a steep corrugated ridge, cornice topped and deep with powder. The descent is beautifully shot and well worth the visit to YouTube. Like the Arc’teryx series, The North Face has opted for mercifully pleasant musical accompaniment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPYwCgOHsbk

 

seniorsskiing

Fifty Years Of Ski Racing In Two Minutes

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Check Out The Change In Equipment, Styles, Spectators Through The Years.

Leather, buckle boots. No helmet, skidding turns. Snow was still snow, though. Credit: Pathe

Leather, buckle boots. No helmet, skidding turns. Snow was still snow, though.
Credit: Pathe

Many thanks to the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance for posting this really interesting clip.  The CSIA got it from Skitourowe Zakopane.pl., a Polish ski travel group enticing visits to the Tatra Mountains, the highest mountains in Poland and part of the Carpathian chain in Eastern Europe.  In any case, it’s an interesting perspective on how ski racing has changed.

John Nelson

Skiing North America: Every Resort, Everywhere

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An 85-Year Old Believes Someone Has To Do It; It Might As Well Be Him.

John Andrew points out ski areas he's skiied on a the wall-sized map in his Renton, Wash., home. Credit: John Nelson

John Andrew points out ski areas he’s skiied on a the wall-sized map in his Renton, Wash., home.
Credit: John Nelson

So many ski areas, so little time.

Yet at age 85, John Andrew is still busily crossing them off his list. Over the past 20 years, Andrew has been on a mission to ski all 700 alpine resorts in North America. He’s currently at 528, and he has several new targets in sight for this winter.

“I’m going to die trying to finish my quest,” says Andrew, a retired Boeing executive from Renton, Wash. “I won’t get it done, but I’m going to keep trying.”

It’s a big project, one that has consumed Andrew’s life since he retired at age 65.

It began innocently enough with a book. Andrew and his wife Jewel were shopping for a vacation home in the mountains using a guidebook of every ski resort in North America. Instead of narrowing the choices, the book opened up possibilities in Andrew’s mind.

“If we were going to buy a ski condo, I didn’t know where I wanted to buy it,” he remembers. Then, leafing through the resort guide, he wondered, “Why don’t we ski them all and find out?”

John Andrew and his wife Jewel on the slopes of Pine Creek Ski Area in Wyoming last February. Photo courtesy of the Andrews

John Andrew and his wife Jewel on the slopes of Pine Creek Ski Area in Wyoming last February. Photo courtesy of the Andrews

Over the following years, the Andrews embarked on their quest with gusto, sometimes with friends, sometimes with family, always keeping detailed records, grabbing trail maps, souvenirs and taking pictures. Jewel skied with John until 2007, when she quit the slopes after a knee replacement surgery. She still comes along on most trips.

“We are still skiing North America as a team,” he says.

“I think it’s fun,” Jewel says. “It gets you to all these places that you’d never go to—in the dead of winter.”

Their longest road trip covered 13,000 miles across the northern U.S. and Canada, when they hit 45 resorts in 16 states and provinces, including White Hills, the easternmost ski area in North America near St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Other trips took them to California, to New Mexico, to the mid-Atlantic, to the Deep South. They skied Cloudmont in Alabama, Ober Gatlinburg in Tennessee, Hidden Valley in Missouri. It’s all there, detailed on the spreadsheet and on the wall-sized map where Andrew places blue dots for the completed ski areas, red dots for those he has left to do.

Andrew gets the biggest thrill out of skiing places like Sawkill Family Ski Center, N.Y., with its 70 vertical feet, the smallest hill in North America.

When he stopped in at Sawkill, the lifts were closed. Andrew asked at the resort office if he could hike up and ski down, but the friendly general manager offered to drive him to the top in a pickup truck instead.

They roared up, Andrew hopped out, clicked into his skis and another resort bit the dust.

As he ages, Andrew has slowed down a little. Expert runs are a thing of the past—now it’s mostly greens and blues.

“It’s easy to get hurt and I don’t take foolish chances,” he says. “I look at the slope and if I don’t think I can do it, I won’t do it.”

“There’s a lot more to do,” he says as he gazes at his ski map on his living room wall . “But I like a job that’s tough. Even if I don’t get there, it’s something to do.”

John Andrew, 85, skis at Crystal Mountain, Wash., last March, checking another resort off his list. Credit: Emilio Trampuz

John Andrew, 85, skis at Crystal Mountain, Wash., last March, checking another resort off his list.
Credit: Emilio Trampuz

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Oct. 28)

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Congratulating The Ski Diva, Warren Miller’s Latest, Exercise Tips Part 1, Retail Drop Ins.

Warren Miller and

Warren Miller and Ward Baker as original ski bums in a scene from Warren’s newest, “Here, There & Everywhere.” Credit: Warren Miller Personal Archive.

What a flurry of activity we’ve had around SeniorsSkiing.com since the publication of our ski recommendations for senior skiers!  We welcome the many new subscribers who found their way to our online magazine through Facebook and Huffington post.  We hope you like our editorial content, now approaching 450 stories and articles, and please visit our advertisers.  Come back often.

If you are already a subscriber, note that we sent you an email containing a link to our ski recommendations for seniors on Oct 14th.  Check your inbox if you want to download this terrific asset, all free of course.

In this week’s Short Swings!, our new industry news feed, we salute our friend and colleague The Ski Diva whose women’s online forum and blog won a prestigious award from the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.  Other news includes which ski area opened first in New England and selected industry tidbits.

Co-publisher Jon Weisberg was lucky to have a chance to review Warren Miller’s newest movie, Here, There & Everywhere, which goes from awesome ski cinematography to nostalgic reminisces from Warren himself, who, at 92, is an inspiration to us all.

With the snow sports season happening in some places and looming in others, it is definitely time to spend some time toning up.  Whether you’ve been hiking, cycling or golfing this summer, you might want to consider doing some exercises for legs and hips. When you try them, you’ll soon see how ready you are for slopes or trails.  We worked with Rick Silverman, a physical therapist, to guide us through the first of a series of basic, relatively easy exercises that focus on legs and hips.  In future editions, Rick will ratchet up the intensity of these exercises.  Please, don’t go out for your first run or trail loop without getting physically ready.  Big mistake.

Finally, we asked three SeniorsSkiing.com correspondents to visit three ski shops in three different parts of the country to find out what’s hot for seniors this year.  Our retail round-up has an array of interesting product recommendations and gift suggestions. Bluetooth-controlled heated socks, anyone?

Take advantage of the discounts being offered by our advertisers.  Click through to their sites.  That’s helps all of us and shows everyone the influence that senior snow sports enthusiasts have.

And remember, everyone, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away!

Jon Weisberg

Review: Warren Miller’s Latest Is A Winner!

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“Here, There, & Every Where” Brings Out Pre-Season Inner Child.

As he did with so many things, Warren finds his own way to wax. Credit: Warren Miller Personal Archive

As he did with so many things, Warren finds his own way to wax. Credit: Warren Miller Personal Archive

Warren Miller has been bringing out my pre-season Inner Child since I was a kid in Troy, NY. Every Fall he presented and narrated his latest film to a full house. For me he conveyed an impossibly aspirational message: Make a life choice that will allow you to ski, whenever and where ever you choose.

Like others, my choices were different, and it wasn’t until later in life that I was able to follow his advice. Over the years I’ve met many people who decided early to spend their lives in the mountains. They chose to work where they lived. Until 57, I chose to live where I worked.

Which brings me to the latest edition in the annual procession of Miller films.

“Here, There, & Every Where,” coincides with the release of Miller’s autobiography, Freedom Found, My Life Story (reviewed a few weeks ago on SeniorsSkiing.com). The book provides a loose plot line for the film, with two young guys reliving Warren and Ward Baker’s very early experience bumming around in a small teardrop trailer and enjoying the mountains.

The film starts with Warren, now 92, reminiscing on camera and over footage of his early days. He explains how, in 1946, after leaving the Navy, he and Ward met surfing in California. That summer he shot surfers with a wind-up 8mm camera. That winter they parked in Sun Valley’s lot and shot people on skis.

It “jump-started what I wanted to do with my life,” he explains. “It’s crazy how the whole thing happened. I couldn’t have orchestrated it.” These lines have typical Warren Miller delivery: after all these years, he seems genuinely surprised with his own life story.

For me and the 2000-plus people at the film’s premier in Salt Lake City, it all rang true. We sang Happy Birthday to this 92 year old ski film pioneer, which was streamed live.

We then entered a world of stunning beauty and of great ski and boarding scenes across the globe. Like all Miller films, this one presents a host of amusing mishaps and crazy stunts by those too young to drive.

Freestyler Jonny Moseley is the superb narrator with a style surprisingly similar to Warren’s classic delivery.

The enthusiastic Salt Lake audience was not as young as I anticipated. A company representative said audiences generally are in the 25-50 range. That said, I saw teenagers, entire families, and very generous representation of those in their 60s and 70s.

Here, There, & Every Where is touring the country and should not be missed. Link here for trailer and schedule.

This is a Warren Miller production at its best. If you ski or board, see it. If you’ve retired from snow, it may be enough to get you out there again.

Warren Miller and

Warren Miller and Ward Baker living the ski bum life. They went from surfing in the summer to Sun Valley’s parking lot in the winter, shooting movies along the way.  Credit: Warren Miller Personal Archive

seniorsskiing

Retail Drop In: Three Shops Make Recommendations For Seniors

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[Editor Note: It’s buying season, and we know from our reader surveys that many senior snow enthusiasts are looking for new gear and clothing.  We decided to do an experiment and drop into three different ski shops in three different parts of the country to ask, “What’s hot for seniors?”  That means, what stands out this year for seniors that’s comfortable, safe, and convenient?  Here’s what we found shop owners recommending. Thanks to our participating shops for talking with our correspondents Harriet Wallis, Yvette Cardozo, and Mike Maginn.]

FROM THE ROCKIES: Two Innovative Boots Rock The Scene With Features Seniors Want.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis visited Lift House Ski Shop near Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake City.

Head's Easy On boot. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Head’s Easy On Boot. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Look ma, no hands!

Head made a slight change in the inner cuff of the Head Vector 110. Skiers can easily slip into the boot—no contortions or yanking needed. You can even push your foot in while standing.

“I skied the boot and had good control even though it’s softer than a race boot,” said Luke Larsen, a ski racer and owner of SLC’s Lift House. Price: about $499.

 

 

 

 

Salomon Boot With Heat. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Salomon Boot With Heat. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Toast your tootsies.

At last, integrated boot heaters make their debut in Salomon Custom Heat. Until now, boot heaters had to be retrofitted into boots, and the bulky battery packs clipped onto the shell.

“This makes the heated boot less expensive than buying boot and buying heaters separately,” said Larsen.

Price: Boot with integrated heat about $749.

 

 

 

FROM NEW ENGLAND: Bindings, Heaters And Snowshoe Bindings

Correspondent and co-publisher Mike Maginn spoke with shop owner Matt Thibeault and manager Chris Woods at Sports Stop Wenham on Boston’s North Shore.

The Knee binding releases at the heel as well as the toe. Credit: Mike Maginn

The Knee binding releases at the heel as well as the toe. Credit: Mike Maginn

“Seniors Are Searching Out This Binding.”

Matt said the Knee binding is being sought by seniors. “It is designed to release laterally at the toe and the heel,” an important safety feature for many seniors. “The binding doesn’t sacrifice performance either,” said Matt, “but you do have to designate a right and left ski.” The Knee binding retails for about $379.

 

 

 

The world needs a Bluetooth-controlled heated ski sock. No? Credit: Mike Maginn

The world needs a Bluetooth-controlled heated ski sock. No? Credit: Mike Maginn

Heated Socks Are Getting Smart.

We know that heated socks are, mmm, cool, but when Matt and Chris showed us two different approaches to keeping toesies warm, we were impressed.  Lenz has a battery-powered, heated sock that, get this, is Bluetooth-controlled by a Smartphone app.  Turn the temp up or down by flicking the screen. Knee high, these socks are $300.

Therm-Ic Supermax Set has a different approach with an thin insert that slips into your boot sole and a connection to a battery pack with three heat settings.  It’s a real plus for seniors with circulation issues.  Retail price is about $220.

 

 

 

 

Boa closure system: Turn the dial, tighten up. Credit: Mike Maginn

Boa closure system: Turn the dial, tighten up. Credit: Mike Maginn

Finally, An Easy On-Off Snowshoe Binding.

We are so happy that snowshoe binding designers have come up with this one.  The new Boa system binding is much easier to use than the old tug-the-ties models.  You just put your foot in the toe and turn the Boa binding knob. To get out, you twist it the other way.  This example is on a Tubbs snowshoe model.  At last. Various models, starting at $189.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: Pin Tail Skis For Seniors And More Heat

Correspondent Yvette Cardozo talked to Kevin Dreher, ski shop manager at Gerk’s, a ski chain in western Washington.

Examples of tapered tail skis. Wide shovels, slightly narrow waists but tails that don't flare out as much as classic shaped skis do. Credit: Yvette Cardozo

Examples of tapered tail skis. Wide shovels, slightly narrow waists but tails that don’t flare out as much as classic shaped skis do. Credit: Yvette Cardozo

Compromise Ski Shape

A lot of older skiers grew up skiing on skinny skis with their feet close together (picture Stein Erickson), Dreher said.

For some, learning to break that habit has been hard.  Still, modern tech in the form of shaped skis has made the sport so much easier.

So enter the compromise, the pin tail shape ski.

It still has a wide shovel and a more narrow waist but the tail tapers, so it’s not quite so wide, not so much an hourglass shape.

This, said Dreher, does two things: allows a skier to keep his/her feet closer together and also, if they are tired, to slightly skid the turn. But it also has all the easy skiing benefits of shaped ski tech.

It’s not brand new technology but seems to be getting more popular lately, perhaps as a segment of the ski population has gotten older.

Dreher mentioned two brands in his shop that have tapered tails, Salomon and Atomic. Salomon’s QST 85 and 92 run $400 and $500 respectively. The more expensive ski is aimed at a more aggressive skier.

Atomic’s Vantage also has two models, the 85 and 95, again $400 and $500 retail.

[Editor Note: These skis are on SeniorsSkiing.com /realskiers.com’s list of ski recommended for seniors.]

 

Better shop now for this. They sell out pretty quickly.

Better shop now for this. They sell out pretty quickly.

And More Heaters

Then, we get to my favorite: the heated (yes, heated) boot bag.

Don’t you just love driving hours to the hill and then trying to wrench stone cold boots on?  Now, there’s a boot bag with a cord that works on either AC (house) current or DC (your car).

One version of this bag is made by “Hot Gear,” but appears to be sold as Zip Fit through Amazon.com for about $200. Another version, Transpack, is sold for about $180 through Amazon and REI.

But honestly, you can also get those disposable foot warmer packs and do as the patrollers do, put them ON TOP of your toes instead of under them. Take it from one with chronically cold toes, that works.