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This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (April 13)

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Looking Back, Mystery Glimpse, Spring XC Skiing, Riding With The Cats.

Spring in Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA. Credit: Mike Maginn

It’s hard not to get a bit philosophical at the end of a season. And yes, we know that there are those who are still finding newly fallen snow out there, but we are done. Highlights for us: We re-discovered our interest in ski history, launching the Mystery Glimpse series this year with the cooperation and contributions of many fantastic ski museums around the country. And re-publishing Ray Conrad’s collection of ski songs from the 60s, a technical challenge, but we hope it is worth it for our readers.

We managed to become comfortable with our emerging carved turn, not yet there, but closer than before. We also realized that skiing on broad, green trails was perfect for us, even skiing the same damn trail all day long was okay.  Such is the lesson from listening to your body. We have new-found Alpine skiing enjoyment by approaching the hills with a whole new mindset. In a nutshell: Slow, poised and in control.

We also revived much appreciation for the joys of cross country skiing and the pleasure it brings on a beautiful, blue-sky, brilliantly cold day with new fallen snow. Nothing can beat the silence of the woods with the only sound your breath and perhaps your heart beating in your ears. Stopping and listening. Even better in your knickers and on your wooden skis. Perhaps a can of beer in your knapsack. Good for what ails you.

We loved mid-week discounts for seniors are major resorts, we loved the empty lift lines, the pleasant cashiers in the cafeteria, the pretzels in the bar apres-ski, the hot tubs at hotels.  And of course, the snow that finally showed up in earnest here in New England just a month or so ago.

As we said, there is still skiing out there, some of the best we are told. But now, we find ourselves heading to the boat store for bottom paint and sandpaper. Weekends have suddenly become nautically oriented. Happy Spring.

Please BOLO For Our Spring Survey. COMING SOON.

Our survey will be heading your way very shortly. We’ve had impressive response rates in our past surveys, and we really hope our readers respond like that again.  This time, we’re trying to pin down the role grandparents have in introducing snow sports to their grandkids. We’re also trying to find this year’s collection of Trail Master, those skiers who have skied the equivalent of their age in days. We know you are out there.

PLEASE RESPOND TO OUR SURVEY WHEN YOU SEE IT IN YOUR INBOX.

 

 

Mysterious Pics

In February, we found a curious set of pictures on the walls at the Mittersill Mountain Inn in Franconia, NH, an iconic, venerable hotel with roots going back the the 40s. The staff did not know the provenance, but these are so idiosyncratic and distinctive, we thought one of our readers might know where these came from.  Of the dozen or so, here is a sample:

Exquisite, aren’t they?  Anyone know the story behind these?

This Week

We reveal the identity of the Mystery Glimpse ski train, its history, and its recent fate.  And we introduce another ski hero we bet very few people will know but should.  Check it out there.

We hear from our cross-country ski editor Roger Lohr, who also publishes XCSkiResorts.com, on spring XC skiing.  It’s out there, and it is glorious. Yvette Cardozo, our correspondent in the Northwest, managed to get herself booked on a ride in a grooming cat at Sun Peaks Resort, BC. She has a really interesting report on how they do it and what it’s like to be on a massive steep in a boxed-in machine.

Onwards

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

Enjoy Spring Skiing when you can.

 

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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IKON changed its Mammoth Mountain benefits package. Purchasers of the $599 Ikon Base Pass now have full access with the exception of certain blackout dates.

When originally offered, full access (no blackouts) was available only with the $899 Ikon Pass. Purchasers of the $599 Base Pass were entitled to 5 days at Mammoth. Alterra, the resort company offering the IKON pass, did not respond to our question asking why the policy changed. Not explaining the policy change, Alterra leaves the door open for speculation. Was it in response to pressure from vocal older skiers who were unhappy with the elimination of Mammoth’s season pass and it’s senior discounts? We don’t know. But if that were the case, seniors at other Ikon resorts which have eliminated local season passes might want to take note and express their dissatisfaction. Personally, I think Ikon, like Epic and Mountain Collective, offers excellent value, IF you travel to ski and are not committed or confined to a single area. For those who are, let’s say grandparents who like to ski with family during holidays, Ikon forces them to buy in at a steeper price than in the past.

Vail’s Acquisition of Whistler “Has Canadians Seething”

An article this week in Bloomberg News reports on Canadian dissatisfaction with Vail Resorts’ $1 billion acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb. Among the reasons: the resort’s tickets are priced with a base rate in US dollars. “The exchange rate for the two currencies is published above the ticket prices, which fluctuate daily.” Vail eliminated Whistler’s one and three day prepaid lift tickets, discounted for Canadians and State of Washington residents. Locals and others fear that these and other changes are benefitting “…jetsetters at the expense of locals,” who have established the hashtag: #FailVail.

Springtime in the Rockies

As I write this, the northern Utah mountains are expecting 6″-12″ with the Cottonwood Canyons receiving 12″-24″. Here’s the realistic rub: Powder snow is ephemeral and requires being there when the lifts open. Typically, the snow is trashed within an hour or so, and, if the spring temps rise, powder quickly turns to cement.

Springtime in Massachusetts

Wachusett Mountain will be skiing through Sunday, April 15, one of it’s latest closings ever.

Delicious, Self-Heating Meals in a Pouch

At first I was skeptical of a self-heating “homestyle meal” in a pouch. Then I tasted a few OMEALS dishes. They could rightfully be called OH! MEALS. A game-changer for campers, hikers, boaters, or anyone who wants a nutritious, good tasting hot dish with zero prep. I bought some for the car and my pack. Inside the pouch are sealed bags with food, heating element (similar to a hand warmer), and utensil with napkin. The heating element and sealed food bag are placed in the pouch, a few ounces of H2O added and the pouch sealed. In a few minutes the pouch becomes a steam-spouting mini-Vesuvius. When the seam subsides, open the bag and enjoy! OMEAL products are available at REI and other retailers. A free sample is available by clicking on the OMEALS ad on the SeniorsSkiing.com’s Discounts for Seniors page. The company is offering 20% off first orders. Strong recommendation: stock up for the summer while the discount is available.

 

Watch for SeniorsSkiing.com Reader Survey

In a few days you’ll receive a short online reader survey about how often you ski/board/snowshoe, how much you spend on winter sports, and, if you’re a grandparent, your role introducing grandkids to winter sports. People who skied their age will have the opportunity to be listed as Trail Masters. The survey has 13 questions and should take 2-3 minutes to complete.

Please LIKE us on the SeniorsSkiing.com Facebook Page!

mikemaginn

Mystery Glimpse: He Was The First

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This Well-Dressed Athlete Was The First Of Many.

Thanks to the Colorado Ski And Snowboard Museum for sending this picture along. We’re reaching deep here, dear readers, and if you can get this one, we will be really impressed.  Who is he and what did he do that gave him a place in ski history?

Last Week

This is a glimpse of the famous Winter Park ski train that has recently shut down after 69 years of service.  Ski trains were very popular with skiers from metropolitan areas on both coasts and the Rockies during the 30s and 40s.  But, with roads and interstates, the trains became unprofitable. According to the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum, the ski train that brought Denver citizens to the mountains was one of the few that survived.

You can only now imagine how convenient and almost luxurious it must have been to take a train to a station near a ski area and get picked up by a bus or horse-drawn sleigh to be taken to a mountain hotel or base lodge. Must have been some fun times on those trains going back and forth.

Anyone remember taking a ski train to and from the mountains?  What was it like?

To read more about the history of the Winter Park ski train, click here.

Visit A Ski Museum

SeniorsSkiing.com salutes the many ski museums who have contributed to the Mystery Glimpse series this season. Our readers should be aware that these often very small museum carry the stories and pictures of the past years of snow sports, going back to the early renderings of hunters and warriors on skis and ski-like gear. If you have a ski history museum near you, visit and support their efforts.

Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum

Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum

Ski Museum of Maine

New England Ski Museum

National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

Alf Engen Ski Museum

Museum of Sierra Ski History

We very much appreciate the contributions these ski museums made to SeniorsSkiing.com’s Mystery Glimpse.  It was our way of keeping ski history and heroes alive and in front of an audience who appreciates the value of nostalgia. Next season, we hope to expand our list of contributors.

 

 

Roger Lohr

XC Skiing In The Spring Is The BEST!

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Even In Mid-April You Can XC Ski; You Just Have To Find The Snow.

Spring cross country skiing can be found in high country and xc resorts. Credit: Mike Maginn

As the cross country (XC) ski season winds down, most XC ski areas close because of lack of skiers rather than lack of snow on the trails. The sun comes out, the temperature rises, and the XC skiers quit. Why? Are we infected with winter fatigue? Is the lure of spring time recreation too strong to ignore?

XCSkiResorts.com spoke with some ski area operators around the nation to get their take on spring skiing. Many areas host springtime season pass holder parties and offer big discounts for purchasers of season passes for next year. Lapland Lake in Northville, NY, commented that their trails are compacted on a daily basis so the snow does not disappear like in the city or open areas in suburbia. Lapland’s Kathy Zahray encourages skiers and snowshoers to “get out and enjoy this weather and these great spring conditions!”

Zahray admits that “the reality is that in the spring it costs more for grooming and staffing than the amount of income earned from the diminishing number of skiing patrons, however this is one of the most fun times of the year to enjoy the outdoors. The milder temperatures and discounted rates are terrific for everyone, and it is fun to ski in shorts and t-shirts.” Lapland Lake is offering special lodging prices through March.

Carters XC Ski Centers  in Bethel and Orford, ME, have been very busy this spring renting cabins and selling equipment. Carter’s hosted the Burger, Beer & Bike Festival for their patrons to try fat bikes and enjoy the area.

In Minnesota at Maplelag Resort, proprietor Jay Richards concurs “that people want to get on the snow early but get tired of winter and ready for warm spring days.” He feels that “skiers in the Midwest are conditioned to colder and drier snow compared to skiers in other regions who are more accustomed to a wider variety of snow conditions.”

At Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, MI, they run spring events on machine-made snow such as the Hawaiian Barbecue where they have locally raised pork hocks, along with island style veggies and of course fresh grilled pineapple. Proprietor Lynne Frye invites everyone to celebrate all that is great about spring: long, sunny days of great cross country skiing in MI!

Skier Brenda Winkler, who is a regular at Izaak Walton Inn said, “There is nothing like skiing on Piston Bully groomed trails at Izaak Walton Inn. I skied yesterday and then enjoyed the best Buffalo burger in the restaurant. Izaak Walton Inn has had great grooming all season and there is a lot of winter left at the Inn!”

The Breckenridge Nordic Center  in CO has skiers who are enjoying the patio and lounging around with a glass of beer or wine. They’ve held some well-attended fundraising events this spring and expect to remain open through April 22. Owner Josh Dayton said “We’re having really warm days but our snow holds up very well.”

The folks at Methow Trails in Winthrop, WA, stated, “This season has been another fantastic snow year!   We have no shortage of snow but people stop skiing in the spring which is really too bad because we often find the best skiing of the season comes in the spring. The trails are well packed, and the days are lighter and warmer making it much more comfortable to ski. We’re seeing that in the Methow right now there’s some of the best ski conditions we’ve had all year!

Yvette Cardozo

Ridin’ With The Cats

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What’s It Like To Groom Trails At Night?

Snow cat groomer making the ski run smooth for skiers the next day. Sun Peaks Resort, BC.

They come out at night and do their job. You can see their lights progressing across the ski slope and occasionally hear their roar. And the next morning, they’ve left this delicious set of corduroy tracks across the ski hill.

I’d always wanted to go on-slope with a snowcat groomer. And so, at Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, Canada, I did. And it’s a tour anyone can sign up for.

Snow cat groomer makes its way down a ski slope at Sun Peaks Resort, BC.

It’s astonishing how much damage skiers can do to a run in a single day. If the snow is soft, bumps form, and the middle gets dug out because that’s where folks prefer to ski.

Enter the snowcat groomers. These are powerful cabs—Piston Bully 400s with 320 hp diesel engines— atop tank treads with a blade on front and a tiller on the back. The blade knocks down bumps and that nasty looking tiller, which rotates at over 1,000 rpm, can turn even ice into something resembling powder, which is then smoothed flat into that hero corduroy.

Of Sun Peaks’ 24 operators, two are women.

“Honestly, the women do a better job. They are more detail oriented,” admitted my guide for the night, Leo.

It takes three years for a groomer to really learn how to do this well, he added.

It was one of the women running the winch cat that night. Picture eight tons of growling machine attached by a line to a tree to keep from sliding downslope uncontrollably. This is how the really steep runs get groomed. Back in the day, these runs got so bumped and carved out, they were barely skiable.

It takes three years to become an expert groomer. Sun Peaks, BC.

Rob Gayman, grooming manager at Mt. Hood Meadows resort in Oregon, once described operating a winch cat this way: “It’s somewhat like dropping off a cliff. At the top break-over as the machine teeters above the brink, your heart starts to palpitate, and your natural survival instinct pushes you back into your seat.

“As the machine creeps forward and the operator adjusts the winch tension, the cat tilts forward into the darkness. The cat’s lights don’t shine down low enough; you can’t see what lies below. It tilts more and more. You start to fall forward out of your seat. Now you’re standing on the floor; surely this can’t be right? But then the cat finishes its forward tilt and the ground below you comes back into sight. It wasn’t a cliff after all. Snow rolls and tumbles down in front of the cat as the operator blades and tills his way downhill.”

For me, as dusk fell, the whole scene took on a surreal feel. Our headlights shining on the ridges of snow, leaving them glowing with weird shadows, along with the blinding headlights of an oncoming behemoth.

On an average night, more than a third of Sun Peaks Resort’s ski runs will be groomed. But among those, will be every green (beginner) trail.

And if you are lucky, your favorite black run will have been groomed early, then covered with ankle deep powder overnight, making for a run that feels, well, like skiing a glacier.

There are two women groomers at Sun Peak, BC, said to be more detail-oriented than the men.

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (April 6)

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Season Hangs On, Cross-Country Lessons, Apex Boot Highlights, Bob Beattie, Fun & Games, Mystery Train.

Where it snowed in 2017-18 and how much. Snow accumulation data from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center. NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery via the University of Chicago Research Computing Center

Click Here To See Where Snow Fell Day By Day From Oct 5th to March 26th. 

A glance at the map shows where the season’s snow accumulated and where it didn’t. Clearly, the Far West, Upper Rockies, (and Canadian Rockies not shown), parts of the Wasatch, and the Northeast received more than enough snow this season. Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Arizona resorts not so much.

The incredible graphic produced by the NOAA Goes-16 satellite of daily snowfall accumulation reveals most of heavy snow came sometime in March. So now we have spring skiing breaking out and ski resorts extending their seasons to make up for the phlegmatic January and February.

We have friends who have skied in the rain at Stowe this weekend and others who are planning to keep it up until Memorial Day and beyond out in Mammoth Mountain. This might be dubbed the “shifted season” where winter was re-set a month into the year. In any case, the challenge for resorts is to keep customers coming when most folks are taking boat covers off, spending Spring Break in the sun, or otherwise moving on from snow sports. Owning a ski resort is not for the faint of heart.

Mammoth Mountain extended the season after 16 FEET of snow in March. Credit: Unofficial Networks

This Week

This week’s Mystery Glimpse may be tough, showing a train somewhere out in the mountains. See if you can guess what’s going on.  On the other hand, we’ve been surprised by the depth of knowledge and history that comes out of our reader base. Last week’s handsome, California-stylin’ ski instructor’s identity is revealed along with a video clip of this charming gentleman.

We also have some advice on taking Cross-Country lessons from correspondent Jonathan Wiesel, insights into the growingly popular and “disruptive” Apex boot by Marc Liebman, a new game to play this spring with skiing friends by Harriet Wallis, and industry news and comments by co-publisher Jon in Short Swings. And there’s an interesting piece about the patron saint of skiers, mountaineers, and climbers. Do you know who that might be? Hint: Big dog.

This week’s was also marked by the passing of Bob Beattie, a popular, creative, entrepreneurial competitor, and television commentator. You can link to his obituary here.

The SeniorsSkiing.com Spring Survey Is Coming Soon

Please be on the look out for our Spring Survey. You will receive it as an email, and we promise it will take very few moments to complete. The purpose of these surveys is to understand your needs and to get to know who you are. We have had extraordinarily high response rates in the past which makes us think our readers are engaged and interested in supporting the our mission of boosting the profile of the senior snow sport enthusiast to the outdoor recreation community. So, BOLO.

Ski Songs Available

The response from our readers to Ray Conrad’s album of ski songs from the 60s has been remarkable.  It’s easy to download from CDBaby. If in doubt, ask your grandchild. You can go here to listen to some song snippets. Wonder why no one writes ski songs these days?  Or do they?  Know any “modern” ski songs?

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sa;das

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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Sunday at Snowbasin was the last day of my season.

The end-of-season emergence of earth shedding its winter coat is bittersweet. The joy of Winter is being replaced by the joy of Spring. Every year on my last run, I say a prayer of thanks for having completed another season and a prayer of hope for the next. Having reached that certain age, who knows what awaits between now and the next time my skis touch snow? About midway down, there was a long stretch of perfect corn. I made slow arcs, dancing; snow and gravity my partners. The last run of this season; a hopeful memory of what waits for the next.

Tuckerman’s Ravine

Skiing the New Hampshire bowl on Mt Washington is a Spring ritual for Eastern college kids. Many of you have climbed the Fire Trail on Memorial Day weekend to camp, ski, and party. This video from April 1 shows two skiers falling down the Headwall. Apparently, they walked away.

Most Decorated Male Winter Olympic Athlete Retires at 44

Norwegian biathlete, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, 44, is retiring. He won 13 medals (eight gold, four silver, one bronze) over the course of six Winter Olympics.

Epic Water Filters

Epic Water Filters are essential gear for anyone seeking peace of mind about the water they drink. The company makes lightweight, portable products that are perfect for hiking, traveling, taking you places where the quality of water may be questionable. It also makes easy-to-install under-the-sink units. As a participant in the discount code program, Epic is providing SeniorsSkiing.com readers with a 25% discount off its already reasonable prices. For more information or to order, visit https://www.epicwaterfilters.com and enter promo code SKI25 at checkout.

 

 

 

Mountain Collective

The $409 pass gives you 2 days each at 16 major resorts. Twelve are in the US and Canadian West, one in Vermont, two in New Zealand, and one in Australia. Subsequent days are 50% off. Passes for kids 12 and under are $1. Visit https://mountaincollective.com.

Experticity is Now Expert Voice

For subscribers who registered to participate in the Experticity product discount program, the company has changed the name to Expert Voice. The program is not open to recent SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.

“Like” SeniorsSkiing.com on Facebook

Each week we post articles on Facebook. If you use Facebook, please “Like” us. If you know others who you think would like SeniorsSkiing.com, please let them know.

mikemaginn

Mystery Glimpse: Choo-Choo!

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Where Are We And What’s Happening?

Thanks to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum for providing this picture from ski history.  The CS&SM is in the process of undergoing a $2.4 million renovation. The first of several exhibits, “Climb To Glory”, featuring the story of the 10th Mountain Division is now open. Other exhibits will be open at the end of April this year.  The museum is located in Vail Village, CO.

Last Week

This is another ski history legend.  Nic Fiore was an influential ski instructor and director of the ski school at Yosemite’s Badger Pass for 50 years. His friendly smile and charming French-Canadian accent attracted skiers who came to Badger Pass every year to learn from and ski with Nic.

He was an early member of the California Ski Instructors Association in the late 40s. At the time, he was concerned about the quality and consistency of ski instruction, becoming a voice for a national ski instruction organization. When the Professional Ski Instructors of America was founded in 1961, Nic remained committed to high standards for instructor certification.

Nic Fiore was an active skier well into his 80s. He continued to hit the slopes nearly every day and teach an occasional ski lesson into the 2003-04 season. Nic passed away at 88 in 2009.

Here’s Nic on the lift at Badger Pass. Note his enthusiasm and magnetic personality.

https://vimeo.com/3111117

Thanks again to the Museum of  Sierra Ski History for sending Nic’s photo.  The MSSH is located at the Gateway Museum at Lake Tahoe, CA.

Jon Weisberg

Grand Targhee: Deep Powder and a Friendly Vibe

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It had been snowing three days when I arrived at Grand Targhee. By morning the new snow total was 55″.

A guy from Denver suggested signing up for Early Tracks. For $89 members of the ski school guide you at 8AM, an hour head start on the public.

Next morning, I skied 1 1/2 hours on untracked terrain, guided by B-Rad, Wall Street derivatives trader turned ski instructor. The snow was mid-thigh. Grand Targhee is known for its deep, natural snow, and the day I was there, the resort lived up to its reputation.

Like many other skiers, my previous experience with the area was taking a day trip from Jackson Hole, the mega resort about 25 miles away. Grand Targhee’s 2,600 acres sit in the Teton mountain range, its 2270′ of vertical served by five chairs.

Parking lot at Grand Targhee

At 7851′, the base can present a breathing challenge to flatlanders. But it’s worth the short time to acclimate. On clear days, you can almost reach across the valley and touch Grand Teton Mountain in its 13,770′ glory.

Lodges, restaurants, retail, pool and hot tub cluster at the base; each a short walk from the other. The lot is an easy walk to the lifts and decent restrooms are located at the top of each chair.

From past visits, I know that super-steep is not part of Grand Targhee’s DNA. This time, two hours of early morning super-deep left me wiped out. The rest of my day was at the bottom.

There are three places to eat and a small general store. The first evening I ate at Branding Iron Grill, the resort’s fine dining option. A nice space, with good food, and a generous pour. Powder morning I chose something light and delicious at Snorkels, the breakfast and lunch eatery. That afternoon I sat in the very full Trap Bar and Grill, sipping a beer and enjoying friendly conversation against a background of live bluegrass.

Grand Targhee’s senior pass pricing starts at age 65 and is humane. Lodging at the resort also is reasonable: a slope-side room, midweek next February is less than $200 per night. Other options are available in nearby Alta, Wyoming and in Driggs and Victor, Idaho.

Grand Targhee is located high above Idaho potato country

The vibe is friendly, with friends and strangers of all ages in easy conversation. Older locals refer to themselves as Targeezers.

The mountain, reliable snow, and reasonable prices keep people returning season after season. One couple I met was visiting from Hawaii for the second time in a few months. The guy from Denver was on his second trip of the year. A couple from Australia had driven over from Jackson for the day. Next time they plan to spend to use Targhee as their base.

Leaving Grand Targhee, Teton Range in background

At one point the clouds lifted and Idaho’s flat potato fields came into view. Access to this area of Wyoming is through Idaho. B-Rad pointed out some of the distant ranges while I caught my breath. Then our attention focused on what was in our immediate future: a long expanse of light, untouched deep powder waiting quietly for us to leave our lines.

 

Jonathan Wiesel

Cross-Country: Lessons Are The Best Way To Out-Think Your Feet

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To Make The Switch To Cross-Country, Please Start With A Lesson And These Tips.

In the early 1970s, in a visionary but totally wrong-headed move, the fledgling Nordic ski industry declared that, “If you can walk, you can cross-country ski.”

It would have been a lot more helpful to say, “If you can walk, you can learn to cross-country ski. And it takes only one lesson from a professional to learn how to glide.”

Those were times when an alpine resort manager pigeonholed skinny skiers as, “Guys who head into the woods Friday night, and come out Sunday without having changed either their underwear or their $5 bill.” We were on the defensive—and dang, it’s tough to fight clever stereotypes!

Those were also the days that New Englander John Frado, who designed a lot of the best trails in North America, coined the hilarious phrase that’s the title of this article. And boy, was he right, because you’re going to become a better skier, use less energy, go further faster, and have more fun sooner if you start the sport with instruction. (And by that I mean ideally not just a single lesson, but one, followed by practice, then another lesson. And so on.)

Cross-country can be filled with grace—not just the dynamism, self-discipline, and athleticism you see at the Olympics, but true beauty. Or it can be an awkward downer.

So here are half-a-dozen tips to make skiing euphoric, quickly.

Credit: Ski Museum Of Maine

First, please do something the Nordic business has never been able to and come up with more endearing descriptions than “lesson,” “instruction,” “teaching,” and “ski school.” Who wants to go back to studies when you’re out to have winter fun?

Next, don’t even think of learning from a loved one—instead, learn from a ski professional. There’s always an uncomfortable level of stress and self-consciousness if your instructor is also a relative, or your sweetie. Too distracting; and incidentally, your kids or grandkids are likely to absorb everything depressingly faster than us oldies. But once you can glide, that’s the moment you discover that cross-country is incredibly social, skiing side by side with friends and family.

Third, learn to ski at a cross-country area or club with machine–groomed trails, where the compressed tracks will guide your skis. (More on this in a future article—promise!) A good resource on places to go is www.xcski.org and  www.xcskiresorts.com.

Fourth, your ski pro needs to explain, early-on, how and why to hold your poles properly (my cliché: reach for the sky along the shaft, then shake hands through the grip). Grabbing the poles tightly means you’ll be upright, stiff, walking rather than gliding, and a lot more fall-prone.

Fifth, if you’re renting equipment, check to see if your instructor uses the same skis you do. It kinda levels the playing field.

And finally, think about a second lesson—or a private lesson—that concentrates on the whole range of descent techniques on these narrow skis that don’t have metal edges or heels held down, while you’re using footwear akin to sneakers. Wedge turns, step and skate turns, parallels, telemarking, traversing with kick turns, side stepping—they’ll all get you down that hill.

And as I found even in my prideful youth, sometimes you just have to take your skis off and walk down. It’s all legit!

Marc Liebman

APEX Ski Boot System: Rethinking Ski Boot Design

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History Suggests That Designing A New Boot Is A Multi-Million Dollar Gamble.

Just the molds for a plastic shell boot cost a million dollars, and that doesn’t include engineering costs and other expenses. Then there is the need to make it profitable when annual manufacturing runs are in the thousands, not hundreds of thousands or millions.

APEX Ski Boot combines a removable Open Chassis with a walkable boot.

These and other factors make starting with a clean sheet a risky proposition unless the new boot idea doesn’t require huge investment in molds and boot making equipment. When Apex began designing its new boot, it had two goals: 1) optimize the boot for the modern shaped ski; 2) minimize the investment needed to bring the boot to market.

According to Roger Neiley, Co-Founder and VP of Product for Apex, the company created a chassis optimized for lateral stiffness. When buckled, it provides enough forward resistance (stiffness) to help control the tips of the ski. Laterally (edge to edge), the material is much stiffer than conventional boots.

Apex’s second innovation is a separate inner ‘walking boot’ designed to fit snugly into the chassis. The advantage is that the wearer can unbuckle the walking boot from the chassis while it is still in the binding. The bottom of the walking boot has a Vibram sole that allows sure-footed walking. As a senior skier, think about how much easier it will be to walk up and down the stairs to the restroom that is inevitably on a different floor!

From a manufacturing standpoint, Apex has three advantages. First, it can easily upgrade or redesign the walking boot. Second, the chassis can be modified separately from the walking boot. Third, only one element (a structural ‘bridge’) has to be molded in each size.

Net net, the chassis and the walking boot are two different designs that become integrated when the boot is in the chassis and the buckles tightened.

I haven’t skied the Apex boot, but from reading reviews, those who like the premium priced boot, like it a lot. If you want to know more about the Apex Ski Boot, visit the company website – www.apexskiboots.com. You’ll find that  the boot is widely available at ski shops around the country.

APEX SKI BOOT SYSTEM DEMO CENTERS

 

Better yet, if you’re near one of the company’s fourteen demo centers stop in and tell them you’re a SeniorsSkiing.com subscriber. They’ll waive the $25 per day demo fee. For a list of demo centers, click on this link https://www.apexskiboots.com/where-to-try-buy/demo-centers.

seniorsskiing

Bob Beattie, Legendary US Ski Team Coach, Dies At 85

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Beattie, Who Coached The US Team For Nine Seasons, Was A Ski Competition Innovator.

Bob Beattie, the coach who put the US Ski Team on the world stage in the 60s, has died on Easter Sunday in Aspen, according to his son, Zeno. For details, click here for the news story from The Aspen Times. 

Bob Beattie, 85, was a colorful leader, coach, and sports commentator.

Harriet Wallis

Spring Is The Time To Play Games

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Try This New Game: It’s A Cross Between Where’s Waldo And A Scavenger Hunt.

Find the Bear. Credit: Harriet Wallis

I was skiing at Deer Valley, and I was taking photos. I’m always taking photos. It’s what I do. I never know when I’ll need a certain shot to illustrate a story.

Find the flamingo (?!) Credit: Harriet Wallis

The next time I skied Deer Valley, I was with a friend. I showed her eight photos including the carved bear skiing on a roof, a flamingo wearing a white cross outside one of the ski patrol buildings, and a bronze Native American sculpture. I challenged her to find the real things as we skied around the mountain.

We covered a lot of trails that day. Deer Valley has more than 2,000 acres of skiing, six bowls and 101 ski runs. The hunt forced us to ski a trail once, so she could look for an item, and then move on rather than sticking to one trail over and over. It was a whole new angle on having fun.

Bingo! She found everything shown in my photos. And we were thoroughly tuckered out.

Find the mountain goat. Credit: Harriet Wallis

How To Play

If you are used to taking photos only at scenic spots, try snapping photos of things you see around your favorite mountain, such as a certain trail sign or an unusual weathered tree. Then show the photos to your friends (if they’re whacky enough) or to your grandkids. Challenge them to find those things. You can even offer rewards.

If the springtime slopes start to become ho hum, silliness will add new zest.

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

 

 

Find the warrior. Credit: Harriet Wallis

seniorsskiing

Senior Skiers: St. Bernard Is Watching O’er

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St. Bernard, The Doggie’s Namesake, Is An Actual Saint.

St. B points the way to an Alpine mountain hut. Credit: Bri-Tri.

[Editor Note: This tidbit was submitted by LuAnn Snyder, a freelance writer from Maryland.]

Here’s a bit of trivia about the Patron Saint and Protector of Skiers: St. Bernard of Montjoux.

Little is known for certain about St. Bernard of Montjoux who was probably born in Italy, c. 996 and died at Novara, Lombardy, Italy in 1081 at the age of 85.

He was proclaimed the Patron Saint and protector of skiers, alpinists, and mountain climbers by Pope Innocent XI in 1681 and confirmed by Pope Pius XI (himself a mountaineer) in 1923 because Bernard spent more than four decades conducting missionary work in the Alps by ministering to the welfare of the scattered inhabitants. His Feast day is celebrated on May 28.

St. B has his own flag.

He is said to have been ordained a priest, made vicar general of Aosta and built schools and churches in the diocese. He is especially remembered for two hostels he built to aid and save the lives of pilgrims on their way to Rome who were lost in the mountain passes or who had fallen victims to avalanche, exposure, and other mountain hazards. The mountaintop on which he’d build his monastery in the Alps, between Switzerland and Italy, is named for him: Great and Little Bernard.

He was further honored in the late 1800’s when European dog breeders renamed the Alpine Mastiff, the St. Bernard. The St. Bernard dogs were formerly used by the heroic monks who were accompanied by their well-trained dogs to go out in search of victims who may have succumbed to the severity of the weather. The Saint Bernard dog was especially breed to assist travelers in this mountainous region.

His image appears in the flag of some detachments of the Tyrolean Alpine Guard. He is also the patron saint of skiing, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering.

You may want to keep St. Bernard in mind if you unexpectedly find yourself on top of a double-black diamond.  You never know..

If you’re stuck, St. Bernard will send his pups.

mikemaginn

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (March 30)

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Easter/Passover/Spring Arrives, Song Sample, Stumped-The-Crowd Mystery Glimpse, New XC Editor, Ski Boot History, Season Pass Quandary Redux, Big Sky Report, Big Party At Alta For 94-Year-Old Skiin’ Guy.

Credit: FamilySkiNews

This week is a milestone pivot point for the 2017-18 ski season; it’s Springtime in full glory, and ordinarily parkas come off, t-shirts abound, zaniness ensues, and the snow sport world looks like the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with bunnies galore.

This year, snow will still be falling in the Northwest and Upper Rocky Mountains.  According to OpenCountry’s Joel Gratz, snow showers will continue this week with a big storm in the possible future for all the mountains out there at the end of next week.  Clearly, this season is hanging on, and if you’ve put your skis away for the season, time to rethink.

The Sierras have a huge base, and corn snow seems to be growing out there. In the East, several New England resorts are extending their season for a couple of weeks, deep into April. See Jon’s Short Swings column for more information.  If you haven’t tried spring skiing, you have a perfect chance this year. Wear sun screen. Bring a t-shirt with a relevant message. There’s plenty of snow in the mountains.

Ray Conrad Ski Songs Of The 60s Available Now.

Last week, we announced that you can now download a collection of ski songs recorded by Ray Conrad back in the 60s. The response from our readers has been quite impressive. Nostalgia rules, we think. Here’s a sample of one of Ray’s songs, one of our favorites, “Two Cubes And A Slug Of VO”.  Click below to play and listen. Fun stuff.  TO ORDER AND DOWNLOAD ALL 16 SONGS, CLICK HERE.

This Week

Mystery Glimpse Unsolved. No one guessed who that rugged looking skier was from last week’s Mystery Glimpse. Click here to find out who he was.  Quite a personality, and, had he survived, he clearly would have made a much more lasting impression on the world of snow sports. This week’s Mystery Glimpse is also a real puzzler, thank to the Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Olympics.

You will also see that Roger Lohr, publisher of XCSkiResorts.com and a frequent contributor to SeniorsSkiing.com has now joined as Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoe editor.  XC skiing is a terrific sport for seniors; it’s safe, accessible, inexpensive, and brings many benefits of movement, achievement, and the joy of being outdoors. Snowshoeing is also terrific for older former skiers. We love to cross-country ski right across the street in Appleton Farms. It’s something you can do basically all your life and never get tired of it. Roger brings his expertise to our pages, and we welcome him.

And here’s Roger’s story on spring cross-country skiing.

Marc Liebman, another frequent SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent, weighs in on why ski boot design has lagged in innovation. Basically, the fundamental concept of your current ski boot is the same as those old Rosemounts you had in college.  Check out his story.

The season pass uproar surrounding the IKON versus M.A.X. pass doesn’t seem to be fading away.  Here’s another opinion from correspondent Don Burch who focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of each for Eastern skiers.

Co-publisher Jon Weisberg reports on another stop on his now-famous ski trip through Idaho and Montana.  He skied Big Sky and found it, well, big.  Check out his story.

Correspondent Harriet Wallis honors 94 year old Bob Murdoch, who is the second oldest member of Alta famous Wild Old Bunch. Here’s her report on his birthday party and how he started skiing at Alta before there were lifts.  Think about that for a second. Congratulations Bob.  Keep on keepin’ on.

Discounts For Seniors

Please visit our Discounts For Seniors page.  There are some unusual and useful products that you purchase for yourself or as gifts.  Just click on the ad you like to go the vendor’s site.

This week, we are highlighting Parakito Essential Oil Mosquito Repellent.  “What?” you say, “Mosquito repellant?” Yes, think about it. Summer is coming, and some people just don’t get along with DEET and other potions found in commercial products.  Parakito is different with natural ingredients and can be used with wristbands and various clip-on devices and roll on dispensers.  Check out their comments section to see what users have to say. Yes, it is definitely different, and it might just keep those nasty skeeters away from you this summer.

Remember mosquitoes can carry some nasties that result more than an itch.

 

 

Thanks again so much for reading SeniorsSkiing.com.  Please tell your friends, and remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Snow in the Sierra last week. Credit: Nathan Kushian

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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“Finding Meaning and Happiness in Old Age” is the title of Jane Brody’s March 19 Personal Health column in The New York Times. The article is about developing a healthy perspective on the aging process.

It gathers information from two recent volumes on aging. She describes them as “inspired and inspiring.” One is The End of Old Age; the other, Happiness is a Choice You Make. Brody writes, “After reading the books, I have a new way of looking at myself: as a “good-enough” aging adult who continues to pursue and enjoy a variety of activities commensurate with the limitations imposed by inevitable changes in body and mind that accrue with advancing years.” One of the authors writes about the late concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein. He “…dealt with age-induced declines in his skills by selecting a more limited repertoire, optimizing his performance through extra practice, and compensating by altering his tempo during certain sections to highlight the dynamics of a piece.” Are there lessons here for senior skiers? Readers who follow Short Swings! know that I advocate slowing down and adjusting technique so we ski as we currently are, not as we were when we were younger. I take my time getting down the hill. Lodge breaks are a bit longer. Reaching a certain amount of vertical is no longer a priority. Staying on the hill for more years and enjoying the experience are what matter. To read Jane Brody’s full column, click here.

ROAM Robotics is a new SeniorsSkiing.com advertiser. The young company is seeking skiers to help it develop its soft robotic exoskeletons. The devices, which strengthen knees, quadriceps, and backs, are being developed in San Francisco where ROAM has an indoor ski deck. Volunteers don the devices and ski while company technicians document a variety of data points that will be used to fine-tune the product’s performance. The company also is scheduling on-hill sessions in Park City and Tahoe resorts. If interested in being a test subject, click on the advertisement with the headline “Robotic Exoskeleton: Looking for Test Pilots,” view the brief video, and answer a short questionnaire.

Several New England areas plan to remain open. Killington expects to be skiing until June 3. Bromley and Jiminy Peak will continue through April 8, Cranmore through Sunday, April 1. In Quebec, Mont-Sainte-Anne will end it’s season April 22.

Visit the Discounts for Seniors page to receive 25% off Brilliant Reflective Strips kits. Each kit has an abundance of durable press-on or sew-on reflective material. This is a fundamental safety item for seniors and their families. The strips turn any garment into the equivalent of a reflective safety vest.

Snowsports Industries of America, the winter sporting goods trade group, predicts that new government tariffs on international trading partners “…would lead to higher costs for outdoor products produced domestically that utilize steel and aluminum imports, like…skis and snowboards.”

Patagonia has a website that matches volunteers with environmental organizations in the volunteers’ locales. Click on Volunteer Your Skills.

Outside Magazine‘s article, “The Boy Who Lived on Edges,” tells the story of extreme skier, Adam Roberts. Roberts was a brilliant back country skier whose mental illness drove him to ski ever riskier slopes. It is well written and worth reading. Roberts was killed by an avalanche in 2016.

Best wishes for a good Easter, Passover, Spring.

mikemaginn

Mystery Glimpse: Who, Where, And What?

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Here’s A Classic-Looking Skier In A Classic Pose.

Looks like an instructor demonstrating to a kids’ class. Check the straps around his boots, and you will get a hint about the era depicted here. Don’t you love that turtleneck? No, parka, hmmm. Looks a little like California-stylin’.  That’s enough of a hint for this one. Who is he, where did he hang out, and what’s his claim to fame?

Thanks to the Museum Of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics for contributing this.

Last Week

Mystery Glimpse has stumped the collective hive mind for the first time.  No, not Stein Eriksen’s older brother, but good guess.

The handsome, young skier is Dick Buek, an extreme skier before there was extreme skiing.  Here’s John Jerome, the noted ski writer, talking about Dick back in the January, 1970 issue of SKIING magazine.

“To Dick Buek, the human body was a device with a certain potential, and the only sensible course for the intelligence which guided that body was to find out what that potential was….Collecting Dick Buek stories is an exercise in the suppression of disbelief.  Shussing Exhibition the first time he saw it. Winning a ski jump the first time—maybe the only time—he ever went down an in-run. Sky-diving with a parachute he found in a scrap heap. Diving off cliffs in Acapulco to win a bet for gas money. Piloting a light plane over a slalom course around lift towers at Squaw Valley, beneath  the cables. And so on. The stories are legend.”

He won the 1952 National Downhill Championship. Then, severe injuries from a near fatal motorcycle accident left him in really tough shape. Despite his knee and shoulder being held together by pins and plates, his leg only able to extend to 60 degrees, he entered and managed to win the Downhill at the 1954 Nationals at Aspen. He was passed over for the 1954 FIS World Championships because he was “a basket case.”

Dick Buek, 1929-1957

There are other stories, like watching Stein Eriksen do his famous flip at Sun Valley and immediately trying it himself, crashing spectacularly, catching a ski in the face, getting up, skiing down the rest of the run on one ski, handing the broken one to Ed Scott (Scott Poles) and telling him to fix it. Reports were he was trying a double flip.

Dick was a daredevil stunt pilot and managed to crash twice into Lake Tahoe, the first time when he was towing water skiers. In the second crash, he was actually giving a flying lesson to a friend, the wings froze up, and the plane went straight down.  He was just short of his 28th birthday.

He was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1974.

You can read more about Dick Buek here.

 

 

 

 

Roger Lohr

XC Skiing In Spring Is The Best

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XC Ski In Shorts And T-Shirts This Spring: A Peak Experience!

Appleton Farms, Ipswich, MA

As the cross country (XC) ski season winds down most XC ski areas close because of lack of skiers rather than lack of snow on the trails. The sun comes out, the temperature rises, and the XC skiers quit. Why? Are we infected with winter fatigue? Is the lure of spring time recreation too strong to ignore?

Lapland Lake, NY, has plenty of snow

XCSkiResorts.com spoke with some xc ski area operators around the nation to get their take on spring skiing. Many areas host springtime season pass holder parties and offer big discounts for purchasers of season passes for next year. Lapland Lake in Northville, NY, commented that their trails are compacted on a daily basis so the snow does not disappear like in the city or open areas in suburbia. Lapland’s Kathy Zahray encourages skiers and snowshoers to “get out and enjoy this weather and these great spring conditions!”

Zahray admits, “The reality is that in the spring it costs more for grooming and staffing than the amount of income earned from the diminishing number of skiing patrons. However, this is one of the most fun times of the year to enjoy the outdoors. The milder temperatures and discounted rates are terrific for everyone, and it is fun to ski in shorts and t-shirts.” Lapland Lake is offering special lodging prices through March.

Carters XC Ski Centers  in Bethel and Orford, ME have been very busy this spring renting cabins and selling equipment. Carter’s hosted the Burger, Beer & Bike Festival for their patrons to try fat bikes and enjoy the area.

In Minnesota at Maplelag Resort, proprietor Jay Richards concurs, “People want to get on the snow early but get tired of winter and ready for warm spring days.” He feels that “skiers in the Midwest are conditioned to colder and drier snow compared to skiers in other regions who are more accustomed to a wider variety of snow conditions.”

At Cross Country Ski Headquarters in Roscommon, MI, they run spring events on machine-made snow such as the Hawaiian Barbecue where they have locally raised pork hocks, along with island style veggies, and, of course, fresh grilled pineapple. Proprietor Lynne Frye invites everyone to celebrate all that is great about spring: long, sunny days of great cross country skiing in MI!

Skier Brenda Winkler, who is a regular at Izaak Walton Inn said, “There is nothing like skiing on Piston Bully groomed trails at Izaak Walton Inn. I skied yesterday and then enjoyed the best Buffalo burger in the restaurant. Izaak Walton Inn has had great grooming all season and there is a lot of winter left at the Inn!”

Breckenridge Nordic Center

The Breckenridge Nordic Center, CO, has skiers who are enjoying the patio and lounging around with a glass of beer or wine. They’ve held some well-attended fundraising events this spring and expect to remain open through April 22. Owner Josh Dayton said “We’re having really warm days but our snow holds up very well.”

The folks at Methow Trails, Winthrop, WA, stated, “This season has been another fantastic snow year!  We have no shortage of snow but people stop skiing in the spring which is really too bad because we often find the best skiing of the season comes in the spring. The trails are well packed, and the days are lighter and warmer making it much more comfortable to ski. We’re seeing that in the Methow right now there’s some of the best ski conditions we’ve had all year!

brief history
Marc Liebman

A Brief History of Why There Aren’t More Innovative Ski Boots

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As a SeniorsSkiing.com reader, you may remember how much plastic inserts increased the lateral stiffness of your boots. Back in those days, if you were really cool, your boots were further stiffened when wrapped with a six-foot long thong.

Photo: Dick Barrymore

Then the plastic boot shell arrived, along with innovative designs from Rosemount, Scott and Hanson.

Hanson

Rosemount

Scott

 

 

 

 

 

The plastic boot made long skis easier to control and turn but hasn’t evolved much over the past fifty years. Liners made from foam, air, cork and other materials, coupled with adjustments for cant and forward lean, made them more comfortable. Standardized soles improved binding function.

What has changed the sport are shaped skis. They are lighter, easier to turn, and just as, if not more stable, than the 200+ centimeter skis of yesteryear.

The molded plastic boot was designed to optimize the amount of leverage a skier could apply to a long ski. Initiating a turn required unweighting the ski, rolling the knees and pressing forward to pressure the ski tips. A job for a stiff boot.

To turn a shaped ski, the skier rolls his knees back and forth across the fall line. The technique requires less forward pressure because of the skis’ greater side cut.

 

Back to boot design.

Most, if not all the boots on the market today are based on designs so old they’d qualify for a subscribsciption to SeniorsSkiing.com. Each boot size requires a separate mold and most boots come in nine sizes making a set of molds a million dollar investment. With manufacturing runs in the thousands, the amount the maker can recoup per boot is limited. ROI is one holdback to new boot design.

The second is flex. In the mid-70s, when I was running the ski equipment test programs for SKI Magazine, we thought measuring boot flex patterns and creating an objective way to measure ski boot performance would be relatively simple. It wasn’t.

Boot flex is determined by the:

  1. Mold design;
  2. Material from which the boot is made;
  3. Air temperature;
  4. Tightness of buckles;
  5. Fit;
  6. Foot volume; and
  7. Co-efficient of friction between the skier’s socks and the liner!

In an attempt to fill the “metrics void,” boot makers created flex indexes and measurements. Each boot maker has its own formula, so comparing one index to another is an apples-oranges affair. The only real way to test/compare ski boots is to ski on them. Even then, “normalizing” the test is difficult because each skier:

  1. Has a different foot;
  2. Doesn’t weigh the same;
  3. Skis differently;
  4. Has different leg strengths;
  5. Buckles them differently; and
  6. On and on, ad infinitum.

So now you know why new boot designs are few and far between.

Next week: How Apex is Rethinking Ski Boot Design

Don Burch

Reader Opinion: The IKON vs M.A.X. Pass For Northeast Skiers

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Compare Ikon and M.A.X. And Major Differences Are Revealed.

To evaluate the Ikon Pass I’ll compare it to what it replaces, the M.A.X. Pass, and look at what it offers in and of itself. Because they are at similar price points I’ll be comparing the M.A.X. Pass with the Ikon Base Pass. While both passes include a variety of resorts across the US and Canada, this discussion is based solely on Northeast resort offerings.

Apologies in advance to fellow skiers in other parts of the country for I’m writing about what I know about, the Northeast—New York and New England, I’ve skied at 12 of the 13 resorts mentioned in this article. In recent posts to SeniorsSkiing Torry Hack (3/15/18) and Jon Weisberg (3/20/18) also discuss the Ikon Pass.

The early purchase price of the Ikon Base Pass for 2018 -19 is $599 while the early purchase price of M.A.X. Pass for 2017-18 was $630. The Ikon Base Pass offers skiing at six  resorts in the Northeast compared to 13 with the M.A.X. Pass. The Ikon pass adds Sugarbush but eliminates Belleayre, Pico, Gore, Mount Sunapee, Okemo, Wachusett, Windham and Whiteface. There are no special price categories for seniors for either pass.

With the Ikon Base Pass, we’re offered five days at three of the resorts and a total of five days combined at Loon, Sugarloaf and Sunday River. That’s a total of 20 days, and there are 10 blackout days.

The M.A.X. Pass had five days at 13 Northeast resorts for a total of 65 days and no blackout dates.

When I contacted Ikon pass with my concerns about their new product, they responded quickly which was appreciated. However, this is the response I received:

“We feel this new product will replace former existing products by adding more opportunity, benefits, and appeal to skiers and riders. As this new product grows, there is always potential for more resorts to be added.”

I struggled a bit on how to comment on the first sentence. There were many responses I considered but after reflection I’ll just say it’s akin to fake news.

The second sentence is encouraging. It would be wonderful for additional resorts to be added to the Ikon Pass and all the better if there were more privately and publically owned resorts included.

Though the Ikon Base Pass is disappointingly inferior to what it replaces, it will still offer value and variety for some Northeast skiers. Like any pass, if you use them enough they are a terrific deal. Multi-resort passes such as the Ikon Base Pass offer variety, and each of the Northeastern resorts included in the Ikon Pass is top-notch. If you plan a trip to any of the Ikon resorts out west, buying the pass is a no-brainer.

The full Ikon Pass at $899 offers unlimited skiing at Stratton and seven days at the other Northeast resorts mentioned. For those interested in a lot of Stratton, this may be a very attractive option.

Whether the Ikon Base Pass is right for you obviously depends on your individual preference and circumstances.

For me and my three ski buddies who also have the M.A.X. pass, we’re going to pass on the Ikon Base Pass for next season.

 

Jon Weisberg

Big Sky: Unpretentious. Uncrowded. Unbelievably Great Skiing.

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Big Sky is not ritzy. It is not pretentious. It is not crowded.

And, as one of country’s greatest ski destinations, it is not to be missed.

Big Sky is big…really BIG!

With 4350′ of vertical and 5,800 acres, Big Sky justifiably calls itself “The Biggest Skiing in America.”

The last time I skied there was before the acquisition of Moonlight Basin, a smaller adjacent area I always assumed was for beginners.

That assumption was wrong.

A tour of what had been Moonlight revealed a world of interesting black diamonds off Lookout Ridge. I explored a few of them before heading toward Mountain Village, the resort’s commercial heart and onto the blue and black terrain on Andesite and Flatiron Mountains.

At day’s end, gear stashed with ski valet, I walked to Huntley Lodge, one of four hotels a short distance from the lifts.

Named for NBC news anchor Chet Huntley, it was bustling with people there for conferences and skiing. My room was clean and pleasant, and, like me, showing some age. The night before, following check-in, I had walked across the plaza to a well-populated bar and enjoyed a few beers and a surprisingly good meal. This night, I drove six miles to Town Center, where the Lotus Pad‘s curry was excellent and its vibe, big city.

Big Sky is attracting a lot of visitors and permanent residents. The place is booming. In Town Center, construction cranes and hard hats are everywhere. Winter is part of the equation. Other times of year fishing, golfing, mountain biking, hiking, and nearby Yellowstone National Park contribute to the draw. There’s a beautiful new high school and, especially important for seniors, the new Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center.

Next morning, following the Huntley’s substantial breakfast buffet, I returned to the lifts with the goal of reaching 11,166′ Lone Peak before the clouds rolled in. On the way I took Powder Seeker, the resort’s high-speed six-pack with blue bubble and heated seats. It’s then a short run to the base of Lone Peak Tram, the canister transporting 15 at a time. Depending on what awaits you at the top, the wait at the bottom may or may not be worth it.

By the time I reached the peak, it was socked-in, and I felt my way down a black bowl until visibility improved. Entering Bavarian Forest, an area of beautiful glades on manageable black terrain, I saw no one until reaching the bottom of the Dakota triple chair.

Big Sky has few on-hill amenities. There’s one permanent upscale restaurant recommending reservations, an over-sized yurt serving brats, burgers, and beers, and two limited-menu food trucks.

Toilets are equally scarce. PortaPotties next to the yurt, required an overly high step onto a slippery floor. They need to take care of that for skiers of any age. The trail map is a good one and will help you know before you need to go.

In the near distance, contiguous to Big Sky but not accessible to the rest of us, is Yellowstone Club, the famed, private resort. An instructor I met pointed out Bill and Melinda Gates’ home.

Seniors (70+) get a break on day passes (5-day advance purchase is best). Season pass options vary and have two senior categories, one 65-79, the other 80+. Big Sky participates in IKON and Mountain Collective.

Numerous direct flights to Bozeman, an hour from Big Sky.

There are a surprising number of non-stop flights from most major cities to Bozeman, about an hour away.

Depending on your skiing preferences, Big Sky is either a very good place to visit or a must place to visit. Its size, scope, and reliable snowfall make it a resort where senior skiers simply can’t go wrong.

 

Harriet Wallis

It’s Birthday Party Time at Alta.

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Hip, Hip, Hooray! Skier Bob Turns 94!

Bob Murdoch celebrates his 94th on skis at Alta. Credit: Harriet Wallis

You might say that 94-year-old Bob Murdoch is a “senior’s senior” skier. He represents many skiers across the country who are skiing into their 90s and enjoying their mountain friendships as much as the slopes.

Ski friends matter. Skiers gave Bob a birthday card that said: Count your age in how many friends you have, not in years.

Bob’s pal, Nick Looser, baked two special cakes
for the party at Alta. Credit: Harriet Wallis

At Alta, Bob is following in the footsteps—in the ski tracks—of 100 year old George Jedenoff who celebrated his milestone birthday on skis in July. Alta’s snow had melted by July, but its neighbor, Snowbird, gathered enough snow to groom a long swath so George could ski on his 100th birthday.

Next to George, Bob is the oldest skiing member of Alta’s senior group, the Wild Old Bunch—and the Wild Old Bunch threw an on-mountain party to honor him. And what a party it was!

Age has its rewards.

Bob, a retired hydro engineer, skis with his good friend Nick Looser, a retired culinary artist, who baked two specialty cakes for the event. He knew there would be a big crowd to celebrate Bob’s 94th birthday.

Bob currently skis three days every week, and his love affair with Alta goes back a long way. He skied the mountain in the 1930s before it was a resort and before it had lifts. He hiked up to ski down.

Skiing has changed a lot since the days of ungroomed snow and long uphill hikes, but we’re lucky we can celebrate with those hardy, early skiers, and we hope we can grow up to be like them.

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

Kingdom-Trails-Fatbike
seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (March 23)

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60s Ski Songs Available Now, More Pass Wars Comments, Ski New Zealand Soon, Fat Bikes, And More.

Back in the early 60s, folk music was just beginning to become popular. Colleges, concert halls, and coffee houses were hosting a wide variety bands like The Kingston Trio and The Weavers with stringed instruments singing old time music as well as newly written tunes. One sub-genre soon emerged in parallel to the growth of the fast-growing sport of skiing. Oscar Brand, Bob Gibson, and a Navy vet named Ray Conrad created their own skiing songs which spread like an avalanche through the growing, ardent band of skiers.

Ray had a knack for composing clever, funny songs about the new world of the skier and skier wanna-bes. His tunes contain a full cast of caricatures like egotistical ski instructors, skiing cowboys, skiing Casanovas, skiing drinkers, you get the idea.  For years, these songs were out of print and only available to those who had saved their decades-old vinyl albums. Now, SeniorsSkiing.com has worked with Ray to make these songs available again.

You can download Ray’s 16-song album, The Cotton-Lickin’ Lift Tower and Other Songs, for $20 from CDBaby. This is a download only. You can listen to short clips on the CDBaby site. Seniorsskiing.com is sharing the proceeds with Ray, who, at 95 years old, is ecstatic people are still interested in his music.

For an earlier article on famous skiing songs of the 60s, click here.

More Season Pass War Puzzlements

Yes, the new editions of season passes and their features are confusing. We are hearing complaints from SeniorsSkiing.com readers about feeling left out by these passes. In this week’s edition, Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg opines on who wins and who loses in the season pass lottery.

And here’s a link to The Ski Diva, our friend and colleague, who writes a somewhat tongue-in-cheek advice column on how to choose between Mountain Collective, IKON, Epic and the rest.

Please let us know how you are navigating these choices.  Are you happy? Unhappy? If unhappy, have you complained to the pass vendors to let them know how you feel?  Remember, there are lots and lots of senior skiers affected by these pass changes. When we shout together, it’s pretty loud.

Think More Skiing In New Zealand

March has brought extraordinary, mind-bending, other-worldly snow conditions to the Sierras, the Northwest, parts of the northern Rockiers, and, thankfully, New England. Spring snow sports should be over the top. If, however, that isn’t enough for you, and you have the time and curiosity, you can always go to New Zealand, where the ski season will soon be “cooling up.”  Here’s a promo video from The Remarkables near the recreation city of Queenstown.  You should recognize The Remarkables from Lord of The Rings.

For another review of En Zed skiing, check out last September’s report from SeniorsSkiing.com advisory council member Bernie Weichsel here.

Ski The Remarkables, Queenstown, NZ

This Week

Check out our new Mystery Glimpse. It’s a dashing ski personality who left us too early.  Do you know who he is and what he was known for?

Correspondent Tamsin Venn reports on the first annual Ski Museum of Maine Senior Legends Race. This looks like a lot of fun, and congratulations to the competitors, most of whom were north of 70.

Correspondent Jonathan Wiesel has an interesting question: Better to cross-country ski on groomed trails or au naturel? Each has its unique qualities.  Your thoughts?

Fat biking is a new-to-us snow country activity although we hear its been around since 2007, starting in Alaska and working into the western US. XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr introduces us to fat biking on snow with a visit to Kingdom Trails in northern Vermont.  For course, people also fat bike on beaches and mountain trails in the summer, but snow country is an interesting idea.

Discounts For Seniors

Two interesting vendors on our Discounts For Seniors page for this week’s highlight:

FitterFirst, exercise equipment emphasizing balance and coordination, and Injinji, compression socks that also accommodate individual toes.

Please visit all our Discounts For Seniors vendors. There are some interesting deals in gear, clothing, and gifts you should check out.

Thanks for reading SeniorsSkiing.com.  Tell your friends about us and remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Short Swings
Jon Weisberg

Short Swings!

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I’m in the desert with my skis. There’s snow in the higher elevations but the nearest lifts are a few hundred miles away.

It’s nice to be enjoying a respite from winter. But I feel like a city dweller, removed from my favorite pastime. It’s not permanent. I have the good fortune of being able to get in the car and drive to a mountain. One ski friend just had shoulder surgery. Another is recovering from a spine operation. A few have new hips or knees. They’ve been sidelined for the season. Mine is self-imposed R&R. Resting for a few weeks before returning for a few final days on the hill. I need the hill. I need the snow. I yearn to be back on skis.

Discounts For Subscribers

Ear buds are difficult for me. I feel like using Crazy Glue or nails to get them to stay in my ears. Conventional headphones work but can be bulky; they tend to block out other sounds. Aftershokz headphones use bone conduction to deliver sound to the inner ear. Instead of covering your ears, AfterShokz rest against the bone in front of your ears. They deliver superb sound, but they don’t interfer with other sounds around you, like that snowboarder coming in fast or the the approaching car when you’re road biking. The company is selling them to SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers for 15% less than they can be purchased elsewhere. The wireless version costs as little as $110; wired as little as $42.00. Visit the Discounts for Seniors page and click on the Aftershokz ad.

Late Snow

Don’t give up on the season quite yet. Late March and early April generally produce excellent snowfall. I just visited SnowForecast.com, a site reporting on snowfall around the globe. Each area receiving snow in the past seven days is represented with a red dot. The U.S. map looks like it has measles!

Alpskitour

Alpskitour is our newest advertiser. The Italian company organizes 5-day ski tours limited to groups of seven, each accompanied by a professional guide/instructor who knows the best routes and dining locations. General areas covered include Aosta Valley, Breuil-Cervinia, Zermatt, Cormayeur Mt Blanc, and Pila. Unless requested otherwise, the terrain explored is intermediate to advanced. My wife and I plan to try it out next March. If interested in joining us, please drop me a line: jon@seniorsskiing.com.

Other

News from the resorts is slowing down. Most of the announcement have to do with season pass offerings, new snow, and the occasional fund raiser. This week, the most interesting items are from Colorado and Killington.

On March 19, Colorado Ski Country USA reported that resorts across the state received up to a foot of overnight snow, the first wave of several expected by month’s end. Telluride led the state with 12″, Winter Park got 10″, Steamboat and Powderhorn got 9″. The least amount was 6″ at Eldora.

Killington‘s year round season pass, with access to everything at any time, is available to 65+ for $79 a month ($948 for the year) until June 14. The Unlimited Season Pass is on sale through June 14 for $629 (65 – 79). The Mid-Week (M-F) pass (all ages) is $519. 80+ skiers pay a nominal processing fee for free season passes.

If you, your ski area, ski club, or others have information to be shared with the SeniorsSkiing.com community, please email  jon@seniorsskiing.com.