Tag Archive for: SeniorsSkiing.com

Jon Weisberg

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Feb. 24)

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Vacation Week Snow In The Sierra and West, Ski Colorado E.D., K2 Pinnacle Review, 99 1/2 Ski Hero, Adieu SKIING Magazine, DIY Boot Horn, Idaho’s Friendly Brundage.

George Jedenoff still shredding at 95 at Alta this February.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

 

It’s been mid-season, vacation week madness everywhere. Snow, snow, snow in the West. Even snow in the East! We have lots of news this week, especially the block-buster item that you may have heard about. VAIL BUYS STOWE.  The Vail Empire keeps growing. A good thing? Not so good? For seniors, we know that Vail is more than parsimonious about senior discounts.  What do you think, Epic Pass holders? Eastern skiers?

Let us know if you think VAIL BUYS STOWE is something senior skiers should care about.

 

But first, an explanation about entering email addresses to access SeniorsSkiing.com.

We are getting some inquiries and complaints from readers about having to re-enter their name and email to get to SeniorsSkiing.com after they already registered as subscribers.  Here are some possibilities about why that might be happening:

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  • You are trying to access our Subscriber-Only Content.  As a subscriber, you have access to some really special content under the Community tab on the top navigation menu.  However, you will have enter your name and email to confirm your subscription.  That is our solution to providing access to subscribers without a password-protected firewall that no one likes or wants.
  • If none of the above applies, we have a problem.  Please let us know at info@seniorsskiing.com, and we’ll get it sorted.

Ready to ride K2 Pinnacles on a firm day at Stevens Pass. Credit: John Nelson

Also this week, we received a dispatch from Bay Area-based Rose Marie Cleese about the monumental snows in the Sierra. The photos are stunning.

Co-publisher Jon Weisberg interviews Melanie Mills, CEO, Colorado Ski Country, about the attraction of the state to senior skiers.

Our man in the Northwest, John Nelson, reviews the K2 Pinnacle 105 version.  He takes those skis out on different terrain, different conditions, and renders his verdict.  Check it out.

We say goodbye to SKIING Magazine, a long-time pillar of ski journalism, a resource, a teaching guide, a source of entertainment and community. It is sad seeing an institution like SKIING go away.  We reminisce here about the days when we actually worked in its venerable hallowed halls.

Susie Z. gives us a DIY boot horn tips, Yvette Cardozo reviews Brundage Mountain Resort in Central Idaho, and  SLC-based Harriet Wallis tells us about George Jedenoff’s return to the slopes at 99 1/2 years old.  He shares his secret to skiing longevity, and it is worth paying attention to.

We’re working on our Spring Survey 2017, and we’ll let you know when that should appear in your mailbox.

Thanks so much for subscribing to SeniorsSkiing.com.  Tell your friends!  And remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Skiing fresh powder at Brundage Mountain. Credit: Brundage Mountain.

 

 

Rose Marie Cleese

Sierra Nevada Blowout Version 2.0

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And The Snow Just Keeps Piling Up!

Credit: Homewood Mountain Resort

A month ago I wrote that, barring a barrage of rainstorms, 2016–17 would be going down as an epic ski season in the Sierra Nevada.

What’s a word that’s greater than “epic”?! Stupendous? Mammoth? Ginormous?

Credit: Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

All apply to the Sierra’s burgeoning snowpack that just keeps growing, thanks to another string of snowstorms in February. This last Wednesday ski resort operators could stick their heads out the window for the first time in weeks and not see snow falling. The respite will last only until the weekend, however, when another storm is forecast to hit the mountain range. In the meantime, resorts will have a couple of days to dig out buried chairlifts and clear the decks before it starts snowing again.

 

Like the snow itself, snowfall records across the Sierra keep falling.

To get an idea of just how, uh, stupendous this season has been, consider the snowfall statistics to date at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. As of Wednesday, the resort has surpassed its annual average snowfall of 450 inches by an additional 115 inches—and this a week before March! Since last Friday, more than seven

Credit: Mammoth Mountain Resort

FEET of snow have fallen on top of the already prodigious snowpack, bringing the season’s total snowfall to the aforementioned 565 inches. As of today, the base clocks in at 138 inches (11.5 feet) and the top of the mountain has 243 inches (20 feet).

The statistics are no less impressive across the Sierra. In the past week, most resorts around the Tahoe basin have received six to seven feet of new snow and have already gone past their snowfall averages for the entire season. Even Homewood Mountain Resort, which sits on the western shore of weather-moderating Lake Tahoe, accumulated five-and-a-half feet of snow in the last week and now has an impressive 95 inches at its base and 201 inches on top. In the central Sierra, Dodge Ridge

Credit: Homewood Mountain Resort

added another five feet of snow to its pack in the last week and now has 83 inches at its base and 132 inches on the summit. Most importantly, temperatures have stayed low, so fluffy light powder is currently ruling the day throughout the Sierra.

Ski and snowboard until the Fourth of July!

Although many Sierra resorts have yet to post a closing date (Easter weekend, this year April 15–16, is usually when most resorts wrap things up), a few have already extended their mountain operations well past that. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, for instance, plans to stay open well into June and then crank up the lifts on July 4th, conditions permitting. Mammoth Mountain, which currently has 200 inches at its base and 350 inches on top, plans to stay open through the 4th of July weekend and beyond, if possible. As of today, Heavenly

Credit: Sugar Bowl Ski Resort

and Northstar plan to extend their operations one week past the Easter weekend. As long as temperatures stay cool through the spring, other resorts will likely join the ranks of resorts remaining open beyond Easter. For Northern California skiers and riders, who have suffered through a five-year string of utterly abysmal ski seasons, this record-breaking season has been a long-overdue gift from the heavens.

Now, if there was only a way to save snow!

Credit: Northstar California

John Nelson

Gear Review: K2 Pinnacle 105

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Big-Mountain Lovers Won’t Find A Better Age-Busting Ski.

The K2 Pinnacle 105 has a big-mountain profile: 137-105-121.
Credit: K2 Skis

By age-busting, I mean the K2 Pinnacle 105. makes everything easier — and it made me feel about 20 years younger.

The Pinnacle 105 is on SeniorSkiing.com’s list of best Big Mountain skis for seniors in the West. If you’d like to receive the list, click on this link and subscribe on the form in the right column or the pop-up which will appear on the page. After confirming your subscription, you can access the list of senior ski recommendations in the Subscriber-Only menu under Community.

Stats on the ski

I tested the Pinnacle 105s in wildly different conditions in Washington state: during a huge powder dump at Crystal Mountain and on a crispy-firm groomer day at Stevens Pass. The skis crushed everything they came up against.

I took them everywhere—on steeps, chutes, bumps, at high speed, in funky avalanche debris—even a nasty rain crust. They offer a level of control I’ve never experienced on any other ski, and at the same time they felt lively, quick and fun.

The author after a day of shredding at Stevens Pass. Credit: John Nelson

The Pinnacle 105 (MSRP: $900) is part of K2’s freeride line for men. The profile for the ski is 137-105-121 with a pronounced rocker tip, and K2 promises this is your “go anywhere, do everything ski.” I’m 5 foot 11 inches, 150 pounds and skied the 177 centimeter length.

Even though this is a wide ski, it’s surprisingly light. K2 keeps the weight down with what it calls Konic Technology. Without getting too gear-nerdy, this involves reducing the weight of the ski where you don’t need it to be strong (the middle and extremities) and reinforcing the areas where you do need strength (the edges). The overall effect is to reduce what’s called “swing weight” from edge-to-edge.

I’ll admit I was dubious. I figured they would be great in powder, but I’d give up power and stability on firm snow. How wrong I was.

In powder

I hit perhaps the best day of the year at Crystal Mountain. Overnight, 12 inches had fallen on top of 40 inches the previous two days.

Talk about epic.

My first turns were amazing. The wide profile gave the ski incredible float and control. No need to stay back—I found myself charging all the time with ease, subtly controlling speed with simple edging and weight shifts.

On steeps, it was truly eye-opening. I could fly when I wanted, slow down to negotiate a chute or a drop, then turn on the gas and start flying again.

As slopes became skied out, broken snow was easily blasted away by these powder monsters. It was all too fun and easy.

Firm and fast

During a second day of testing at Stevens Pass, things couldn’t have been different. Rain had fallen several days previous, then frozen into a crust. On top of the rain crust, a little new snow had fallen and been skied off.

It was a groomer day for most skiers, but I took the Pinnacles off-piste into bumps and steeps. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous on my first turn over a crusty bump on a double-black diamond drop, but the 105s dug in with surprising power.

But it wasn’t all about the power — they could also be incredibly quick edge-to-edge. Whether I was carving wide-radius or fast, snappy turns, the overall feeling was of incredible control.

Next, I went for speed. Most of the freeride skis I’ve tried don’t track when you turn up the speed, but the 105s were nothing short of amazing. Arcing at high-speed or making short radius turns felt equally stable.

Bottom line: Who will love this ski?

The Pinnacle 105 excels for advanced skiers who spend most of their time off-piste in the west.

Ready to ride on a firm day at Stevens Pass. Credit: John Nelson

Harriet Wallis

George Jedenoff, 99-1/2, Skis Like A Teenager

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Powder Is His Passion, And His Daily Workout Keeps Him Fit. Let’s Grow Up Like Him.

George at Alta this February. He’s an inspiration to us all.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

George is an inspiration. Watch him ski and you’d never know he’s over 99. He skis Alta or Snowbird every day when he’s in Utah, and he has a knack for finding patches of untracked powder days after a storm.

George came to Utah in 1960 to be the general manager of the thriving Geneva Steel Plant. He was athletic, and he thought he should take up skiing. He learned from the best: Alta’s legendary Alf Engen, Snowbird’s iconic Junior Bonous, and Earl Miller, the granddaddy of release bindings.

“While buying my first pair of skis, I met Earl Miller who offered to teach me how to ski. Of course, I used Miller bindings—the only safe bindings available at that time. We used the rope tow at Alta Lodge for my first lesson.”

Miller demonstrated how his bindings released by showing photos of himself making some sensational falls. But George’s falls were even more spectacular, and Miller complimented him saying: “You know, George, you’ve made some falls that I’ve never seen before!”

George grew to love Alta’s powder with and without falls.

When he was transferred to Indiana in 1967, community leaders honored him for his community service and gave him a gift to lure him back.

“They presented me with a Lifetime Season Pass to Alta,” George said. “I have made good use of this wonderful present.”

But how does a 99 year old stay in shape? He has five fitness machines in his home’s basement, and he works out every morning before breakfast. He’s motivated by his love of skiing.

“I know I’ve got to stay in shape, or I won’t be able to ski,” he says.

He calls it his philosophy of powder: Stay strong, never give up, enjoy whatever the snow conditions are, and, above all appreciate, every day to the fullest.

Ski Utah, the state’s ski industry organization, has produced a video of George skiing for each of the last 5 years. Click here to see my favorite video when he was 95.

He’s the oldest skiing member among Alta’s Wild Old Bunch, the group of senior skiers who enjoys skiing and socializing together.

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

George Jedenoff still shredding at 99 1/2 at Alta this February.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Susie Z

Making a Trail Map Boot Horn

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I’d Be Surprised If Someone Else Didn’t Come Up With This Simple Trick Soon After The Printed Trail Map Made Its Debut.

But, necessity being the mother of invention, in a moment of need, I folded the first map I found, tucked it into the shaft, and, with surprising ease, slipped my foot inside.

Here’s how to do it on your own:

Place trail map against the rear boot cuff. and fold so one half is on outside of boot.

Put foot in boot as usual, letting heel slide down the map’s surface, while holding map with free hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voila! Foot enters boot without struggle.

Note: Be sure to fold the map over the cuff. At first, I didn’t and the map went in with my foot. Folding prevents that from happening.

 

mikemaginn

SKIING Magazine Folds: Goodbye, Old Friend.

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After 7o Years Of Chronicling The Sport, The Venerable Publication Closes.

The rumors are true.  SKIING Magazine, like so many other classic magazines, has finally closed down after nearly 70 years of publishing.  This is especially sad for me because I worked for SKIING in the early 1970s as a junior editor.  It was there I found myself catapulted into the whole ecosystem of the ski business where SKIING and its uptown rival, SKI, were the nexus of all that was happening.

Under Doug Pfeiffer, editor-in-chief and already an industry legend, and Al Greenberg, executive editor, the magazine in those days was a creative, innovative and exciting place to work and for readers a valuable and entertaining look at what was emerging as a growing winter sport. Interest in skiing was bursting in the early 70s; celebrities were being recognized and promoted by the press:  Billy The Kid, Jean-Claude Killy, Karl Schranz.  Harry Leonard’s Ski Shows—with a young Bernie Weichsel on his staff—descended on major cities.  The movie, “Downhill Racer”, starring Robert Redford, brought the drama and beauty of racing to the public. There were new boots, new bindings, new skis, new everything from destinations to accessories, and SKIING covered it all with expertise, a touch of irreverence and some really great writing.

I will never forget learning the basics of cross-country skiing in Al Greenberg’s office at One Park Avenue, New York.  Or watching Senior Editor John Henry Auran getting his feet “foamed” for ski boot liners, an outstanding innovation back in the day. “Have you been foamed?” he always asked mischievously. There were also 3:00 AM deadlines, last minute changes, hysterical laughter when coming up with headlines with Managing Editor Dinah Witchel. It was always fun watching Fashion Editor Cathie Judge sort through piles and piles of new clothes for photo shoots.

One month, we were so late in getting final editorial done that I—the junior person— was tasked to personally hand deliver the physical page layouts and copy down to the printing plant in Doraville, GA. I was driven to the airport in New York for an ultra-early flight straight from the office after an all-nighter by John Henry and some other anxious production people. When I landed, I took a cab from Atlanta miles out to Doraville only to find the plant was closed for Confederate Memorial Day.  So I left the whole edition—packaged in a giant cardboard sandwich bigger than two super-sized pizzas—with the security guard at the gate who promised to get it to the right person the next day.  I gulped, left it with him, got back into the cab, and flew back to New York.

And of course, I will never forget the early 70s ski tests with Wayne Wong, Doug and Ginny Pfeiffer and Jim McDill out in Mammoth Mountain after Memorial on spring snow and bright sunshine near the top of the mountain.

Memories, bound volumes, and reunion phone calls from long-ago colleagues are left.  Thanks SKIING for the run.

If you worked at SKIING, what are your stories?  I know that several contributors to SeniorsSkiing.com were on staff back when the magazine was a vibrant center of the skiing community.  Tell us your memories.

 

 

 

 

Yvette Cardozo

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Brundage Cuteness

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Central Idaho Resort Has A “Come As You Are” Vibe.

Skiing fresh powder at Brundage Mountain. Credit: Brundage Mountain.

Brundage Mountain in McCall, ID, is one of those places that truly “skis bigger” than it is.

“You get to the parking lot and say, ‘How cute,’ but when you go up the chair, you start to see just how much terrain there is,” says Communication Director April Whitney.

Okay, 1,500 acres isn’t huge. But there’s plenty to ski including some nice, yummy cruising and great upper intermediate trails with a bit of pitch and challenge that are also often groomed.

The crowd limiting factor here is the parking lot, and even then, a super busy holiday crowd is maybe 3,000 people though the mountain could hold three times that many. As a result, people grouse about “long lines” if the wait hits 10 minutes.

Snow, Terrain and More

Ski patroller helps put finishing touches on snow train in preparation for Winter Carnival in McCall.
Credit: Yvette Cardozo

Location: In McCall, Idaho, 107 miles north of Boise in west central Idaho.

Snowfall: 300 – 350 inches average but it can hit 440 on a good year. Locals claim it’s the best snow in Idaho because it sits where the two main weather cycles, southern and northern, meet. The snow here is a bit colder and drier. In the far west, day old snow becomes concrete as it picks up moisture. “Our powder has the moisture sucked out of it, and it’s actually drier the second day,” said Whitney.

Terrain, lifts: 46 named runs – 20 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate, 30 percent expert across 1500 skiable acres. One high speed quad, four triple chairs. Best cruising is to the far right looking up the mountain. The gnarly stuff is more to the far, far left including another 420 acres of lift accessed back country. Locals who can ski well say the real magic is what’s between the named runs—”wild” powder with unofficial names like Mexico, Switzerland, Naughty Girl. The season typically runs early December to mid April though after that, Brundage is open weekends until the snow is gone.

Vertical: Vertical drop of 1,921 feet from a top at 7,803 feet to the base at 5882 feet.

Lot to lift access: What you see from the base is what there is. It’s an easy walk to the lodge and lift. There are, however, stairs—four levels worth and no elevator for handicap access. However, if the mountain is called in advance, there is a way to get handicapped people to the lodge upper level and the ski slope.

Public transportation: Brundage Mountain Resort has partnered with Mountain Community Transit to provide a free shuttle service to Brundage Mountain Ski Area. The shuttle will start at the Brundage Adventure Center (BAC) with a stop at Lardo’s Restaurant ten minutes after the BAC stop. Transportation to and from the mountain is FREE for everyone.

Accommodations: Nothing on mountain. Plenty of lodging in nearby McCall.

Culture

The vibe: This is definitely a “come as you are” mountain. The important thing is folks here LOVE skiing. And you can find anything in the way of duds, from hunting bibs and camo rain gear to, um, Carhart. It’s not exactly a Sun Valley, Bogner kind of place. You won’t get a sideways glance at your gear as long as you can link your turns. Preferably well. And there’s a good kids’ center for the grandkids.

Dining: An assortment of simple eateries from sit down Smoky’s Bar and Grill to the Main Street Market & Eatery cafeteria to an adults-only bar plus the weekend-only mid-mountain Bear’s Den.

Mountain life: People come to live and play in McCall for its outdoor activities. In winter, it’s snow, snow and more snow. As someone elsewhere once said, “We do not come to look, we come to SKI!” Or snowshoe, or cross country, or snow hike, or fat tire bike or downhill tube or whatever else you can think of outdoors in winter.

Trail Map click here

Webcam click here

View from the top of Brundage Mountain. Credit: Yvette Cardozo

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Feb. 17)

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Looking Through Turns, Tricks You Can’t Do, Ski Industry Leader, Lifts For XC, Fairy Tale Cottage, Schweitzer’s Hidden Secret.

The upper-mountain Lakeview Triple delivers skiers to mostly advanced terrain at Schweitzer Mountain.
Credit: John Nelson

High season in ski country everywhere.  Seems everyone, everwhere has enough snow to last well into Springtime. Glory. What a difference a year makes. Thanks, La Nina or El Nino. Whatever.

We also have a video clip of a chap who has managed to take off and put on one ski while skiing along.  It has to be seen to be appreciated.  Fact: If you want to do this, you are going to need to practice for about 100 years.  Good luck.

We profile a ski industry builder in our SnowSports Leaders series.  Dave Scott is a long-time industry veteran who was recently inducted into the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.

Roger Lohr, publisher of XCSkiResorts.com, reminds us that there are resorts where cross-country skiers can get a lift uphill for a ride down, hitching onto gravity.  He says this may becoming a trend in some areas.

Tucked in the woods, this is a cozy cabin. No bears, too!
Credit: Homeaway

Outdoorsman Steve Hines reports on his stay in the Goldilocks Cottage, Stowe, VT.  No bears, however.  It looks like the ultimate cozy spot for a get-a-way weekend or week.  In this secluded cabin, you can really unplug in more ways than one.

Finally, John Nelson brings us a profile of Schweitzer Mountain Resort in northern Idaho.  John has a knack for finding these under-the-radar resorts that offer so much for seniors.

Reminder:  If you have a video you’d like to share, send us a link or post it on our Facebook page. We will publish it on our online magazine for all to see.

And be on the look out for our Spring Survey 2017. Coming up soon.  We will be asking different questions that help us understand you, our wonderful readers.

Also, don’t forget to tell your friends about SeniorsSkiing.com. That’s how we grow.  And there are more of us everyday, and we aren’t going away.

 

mikemaginn

Need Some New Tricks?

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From Mammut Deutschland.  Take Off Ski And Replace While Skiing?  Hold My Beer.

Toni Heinle is the skier.  That’s all we know.

 

mikemaginn

Snow Sport Leaders: Dave Scott

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“I Don’t Believe In Slowing Down.”

[Editor Note: Dave Scott spent most of his adult life working in multiple facets of the ski and sport industry both in the United States and in Europe. In 2009, David Scott was honored as a Sport Builder by the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Beginning his ski-racing career in Pennsylvania, David first came to Colorado to ski for the University of Colorado. During the 1960’s David served on numerous race committees on the East Coast including Junior Alpine Committee, USSA National Alpine Committee and the USSA Coaches Association. In 1971, David returned to Colorado as the Director of Racing for AMF/HEAD in Boulder. This marked a different direction for David’s involvement in skiing working on the import and retail side of the industry. Importing European brands like Blizzard Skis, Koflach Boots, and LaCroix Skis, David introduced many of these companies to American audiences.]

Dave Scott, racer, entrepreneur, ski industry builder.

When did you start, where, why.  How did you get into ski racing?

I started skiing in Pennsylvania in 1948 at age six.  My first experience was at Split Rock Lodge and soon followed by skiing at Big Boulder.  My father and I started skiing at the same time.  We both found the challenge of skiing something that was very addictive.  Our first trip skiing outside Pennsylvania was in 1952 to North Conway, NH and two weeks later we followed that with a trip to Stowe.  After that we were really hooked.  My father was a competitive person and when I expressed an interest in ski racing, he supported me.  I think that my first competition was in 1953 and I had modest success locally.  In 1955, I went to Proctor Academy, NH, because of their reputation for having a good ski team.  After that I competed throughout New England and in Colorado.  I was a good racer, but not good enough to be completive for the US Ski Team.

Why has skiing/outdoor winter sports kept your interest over the years? 

It is a great family sport that can be done together by many different generations.  I regularly ski with my grandchildren and my daughters.  When you are skiing, all of your worries and concerns go away.  Skiing requires all of your physical skills as well as concentration.  There is no time to be concerned about you daily problems.  I enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air.  I like the feeling of the wind in my face and I enjoy the challenge of trying to make better carved turns on each run.

What concerns do you have about skis and related equipment these days? 

There certainly have been a lot of changes with the equipment.  When I started there were non-release bindings and skis without steel edges.  Of course the boots were leather and much softer than what we use today.  The new wider skis with much more side-cut have made skiing easier to learn and enjoy deep powder skiing.  That’s good for the sport, but it means that good powder days don’t last very long.  All of the new equipment, skis, boots and bindings create a lot of new leverage on the body.  We certainly have more knee injuries than 40 years go, but the ankle injuries and broken ankles are almost nonexistent.

Dave has the same smile!

What advice do you have for seniors who are  thinking about “slowing down” their skiing experience? 

I do not believe in slowing down.   Stay in the best shape you can and continue to challenge yourself.  Prior to last year I had not skied more than five days in any of the previous five years.  I was skiing slower and becoming concerned about being hit.  Last year with the help of some friends I stepped it up.  I skied 20 plus days.  I felt stronger and I started skiing faster again.  I went from being concerned about being hit by skiers and snowboarders to taking charge.  My fear of being hit was reduced to almost nothing.  I rediscovered the love of the challenge of trying to make better and better turns on steep hills.  I continue to challenge my grandchildren and we have a lot of fun together on the slopes.  I don’t have any alternatives.  You either continue skiing and trying to improve or perhaps it is time to stop!

What changes have you seen in the Ski Hall of Fame over the years?  What are you most proud of in being involved with that organization? 

The various ski hall of fames help tell the story of skiing.  It is an important way to honor the competitors and the sport builders.  I was always someone that believed that the HOF was for the very top racers, but I have come to realize that without the sport builders we would not have what we have today.  I feel that it is important to help newer skiers understand what it took to make all the equipment and great resorts possible.  I would not have happened without the determination and risk taking that the pioneers brought to the sport.

Roger Lohr

Lifts And Shuttles For Cross-Country Skiers

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Getting Uphill Is Easier With A Lift Or A Ride. Then Gravity Takes Over.

[Editor Note: XCSkiResorts.com Publisher Roger Lohr provided this article from his publication on where you can get a lift or shuttle ride to cross-country ski.]  

Great Glen Snowcoach shuttle drops skiers at the trail head.
Credit: XCSKiResorts.com

When it comes to cross country (XC) skiing, the theory of what goes up must come down may be going out of style. Nowadays, many people really enjoy the fun of just going downhill on XC skis, but they’d prefer avoiding the need to laboriously trudge uphill to earn that fun. Ski areas that provide lifts and shuttles can help older cross country skiers go further, stay outdoors longer, and save their energy.

Lifts

At Bretton Woods in New Hampshire’s White Mountains there is a $31 High Country lift ticket that gets you up near the summit to the Mountain Road by way of a chair lift, for a seven kilometer ski back down. The trail is easy enough and skiers can ski in the groomed tracks or on the flat skate lane.

New for 2013-14 season: 3-5km Nordic Terrain on Mt. Stickney

The Bretton Woods lift ticket provides one ride on the high speed detachable quad (which slows down upon egress) and unlimited use of a T-bar, just down the trail. The T-bar provides access to upper elevations of Mount Stickney and the Stickney Cabin, which has snacks, beverages and a place to hang out with indoor seating or outside by a stone fireplace. Skiing back to the Mountain Road offers some choices including a groomed trail or skiing through the glades (trees) with options for different levels of difficulty. The Mountain Road is one of the most fun trails to be had on XC skis in New England!

At 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, WA,  there is a lift-served XC ski trail that is accessed near the top of Chewelah Peak. It descends and winds around the mountain for 12 km. On a clear day one can see all the way to Montana.

Other XC ski trails that are accessed by chair lifts can be found at Giants Ridge ,MN, with a free lift ride when you purchase a trail pass. Boyne Mountain, MI, has the Cold Springs Downhill trail. Royal Gorge, CA, has two surface ski lifts for practicing downhill turns and also having accelerated fun.

Shuttles

At Garnet Hill Lodge, North River, NY, there’s a shuttle ride from the bottom of a long downhill back to the lodge that has been offered since the early eighties. It originated when the lodge owner picked up skiers in his car and was then upgraded to a van and now it’s a mini-bus.  Shuttles are offered daily and three to five times a day on weekends and holidays.

The Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center, Gorham, NH, is adjacent to the Mt. Washington Auto Road and offers an uphill ride to achieve “treeline status” in the SnowCoach, a tracked van. The comfortable heated tour takes folks to the 4,000 foot elevation up Mount Washington where the views are breathtaking. Intermediate and advanced skiers can handle skiing down this road, a thrilling four mile decent back to the base lodge. There are various price options for the SnowCoach.

Craftsbury Outdoor Center, VT, has a free shuttle on the weekends that delivers skiers to the Highland Lodge for a 20 km return trek. There’s a net drop of about 300 meters on the groomed trail, which traverses hill top pastures, farmsteads, and quaint Vermont villages. A shorter five km shuttled ride brings skiers back to the lodge from Craftsbury Village at the general store and deli.

At Lone Mountain Ranch, Big Sky, MT, there’s the Upper Trail Shuttle that takes you a couple of miles away from the facility and leaves you with a mostly downhill ski back to the lodge for about 10 km.

Steve Hines

Rustic Elegance with Fairy Tale Flair In Stowe

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It’s More Than “Just Right” Just One Mile From Stowe Resort.

Tucked in the woods, this is a cozy cabin. No bears, too!
Credit: Homeaway

In Stowe, Vermont, a stone’s throw from world class downhill and cross country skiing sits quintessentially rustic Goldilock’s Cottage, welcoming overnight guests. When Jill Evarts purchased the cabin and four acres of land about twelve years ago, she didn’t need to do a lot of work on it. She had helped the previous owner, a friend and colleague, decorate it with fine fabrics and purchases from flea markets and antique shops all over the northeast. The cottage is clean and tidy with many amenities that appeal to eye and requirement for comfort.

I found the cottage warm and inviting far beyond the “just right” of the fairy tale. The kitchen is well equipped, and I was able to easily prepare a pasta primavera for dinner. It has the right pots and pans and cooking implements for cooking lots of delicious meals. There is even a small spice rack above the stove. The kitchen/dining area was immaculate and comfortable.

The kitchen has everything you need, bring our own porridge.
Credit: Booking.com

The living area of the open concept cottage was equally welcoming with a wood burning stove in the center. Plenty of seasoned firewood makes using the wood stove quick and easy. The cottage has one bathroom which is also decorated in the theme of the rest of the cottage and I found it clean and complete with all the towels you’ll need.

The Master bedroom, complete with a sitting area and sleep sofa, also have an interior decorator’s touch. . The cottage has a spacious deck off the bedroom and a deck accessible from the dining room complete with Adirondack chairs and a gas grill. Those details make the cottage appealing year round.

A large sleeping loft lies above the kitchen/dining area is decorated in lighter colors to take advantage of the skylights. Jill’s remarks from her cottage fact sheet demonstrate the features that makes Goldilock’s so attractive;

Bears can’t climb ladders to the loft.
Credit: Steve Hines

“For those staying in the loft: open the skylight before you go to bed, and be sure to let the fire burn down so. You won’t be hot. Some guests like to turn the heat down at night and use the space heater to supplement in the bedroom to keep the temperature in the loft cool”

Everything you may want or need seems to be taken care of. Jill agrees that this attention to detail makes her place perfect for active seniors who want a winter (or any other season) getaway. The area does come alive in winter however because of the outdoor sports, great restaurants and shopping.

The cottage is close to Stowe and the location makes it easy to get to the Alpine and Nordic skiing. The rest of the year the Mount Mansfield locale has great hiking, cycling, mountain biking. The many fine restaurants in and near Stowe make dining out a pleasure as well.

While I’m not a fan of grading accommodations, you might like to know I give Goldilocks’s cottage an A+. For more details about dates, rates, and availability, visit the cottage’s web site here.   Ski season rates start at $250 per night (March) and $270 (Feb). Holidays are more.  The cabin can accommodate up to five folks in one bedroom, a sleeping loft and a pull-out couch.

Here’s the Master Bedroom, ultimate cozy.
Credit: Steve Hines

 

 

John Nelson

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Schweitzer Mountain Resort

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Northern Idaho’s “Little Secret” Steps Up Dining Amenities.

Much of the skiing at Schweitzer Mountain has great views of Lake Pend Oreille and the surrounding mountains.
Credit: John Nelson

Pat Rotchford, 76, sat in The Nest, the new top-of-the-mountain restaurant at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, looking very happy.

He was drinking red wine by the fireplace with his friend, Debbie Stanley, eating prime rib sliders and Vietnamese spring rolls—not your typical mountain fare.

Pat Rotchford and Debbie Stanley enjoy a glass of wine in The Nest inside the new Sky House lodge at Schweitzer.
Credit: John Nelson

“Everything we’ve had here has been excellent,” said Rotchford, who has been skiing for 70 years, many of those at Schweitzer.

Sufficiently refreshed, Rotchford and Stanley geared up and hit the slopes for more afternoon skiing at this exceptional mountain in North Idaho.

Schweitzer has always been a mountain with great terrain and few skiers (“It’s our little secret,” Stanley says). Now, with the just-opened Sky House lodge on Schweitzer’s summit, the resort has taken a step up to match the amenities of great resorts around the country.

The beautiful $3.8 million, 9,000-square-foot facility houses two restaurants with 360 degree views of the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. Besides the upscale bar-restaurant Nest, the Red Hawk Cafe offers hearty, cafeteria-style mountain fare.

Executive chef Pete Tobin designed the menu at the Sky House lodge at Schweitzer Mountain.
Credit: John Nelson

The Nest has a creative menu of small plates, none more expensive than $13, designed by executive chef Pete Tobin.

“It gives people a chance to have a quick bite and then head back to the slopes,” Tobin said.

Snow, terrain and more

  • Location: Schweitzer is about 15 miles from the resort town of Sandpoint on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is about 45 minutes away, and Spokane, Wash., with its international airport, is about 90 minutes drive. For those traveling by train, Amtrak stops in Sandpoint.
  • Snowfall: 300 inches fall annually, keeping the slopes covered from December to April most years.
  • Terrain, lifts: With 2,900 acres of terrain on its front and back sides, Schweitzer is the biggest resort in North Idaho and the state of Washington next door. One high-speed six-pack and two high-speed quads do most of the people-moving, along with one triple and three double chairlifts. About 50 percent of the terrain is rated beginning or intermediate; 50 percent is advanced or expert. Outside the resort’s boundaries, advanced side-country skiing abounds.
  • Vertical: 2,400 feet from a summit (6,400 feet) to the back-side base. The main village is at 4,700 feet.

Lot to lift access

  • Parking: Schweitzer has two large parking lots on the mountain with unloading zones and also has a large parking lot on the valley floor served by a shuttle bus.
  • Public transportation: Several companies offer service from Sandpoint to the resort.
  • Accommodations: The Selkirk Lodge and White Pine Lodge are excellent choices at the village base; on-mountain condominiums also are available, as well as lodging in all price-ranges in nearby Sandpoint.

Culture

  • The vibe: With its empty slopes on the weekdays, Schweitzer feels like a well-kept secret; friendly locals from Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene and Spokane are happy to show you the ropes.
  • Dining: Besides the Sky House restaurants, the resort offers a back-side lodge called The Outback Inn and a large base lodge restaurant. In the village, there are several restaurants, including Pucci’s Pub, the place to go for a post-shred beer.
  • Mountain life: Beyond the lift-skiing, Schweitzer has cat skiing, snowmobiling, tubing and excellent Nordic trails.

Bottom line

  • The new Sky House summit lodge, which will remain open this summer for weddings and special events, helps elevate Schweitzer to a top-tier resort.
  • Affordable package deals, ample snowfall and empty midweek skiing make Schweitzer an enticing destination for a multiday vacation. Single day senior tickets are $69.30 online.
  • Vast terrain gives skiers a lot to explore at one of the Northwest’s best resorts.

Webcam Click Here

Trail Maps Click Here

The upper-mountain Lakeview Triple delivers skiers to mostly advanced terrain.
Credit: John Nelson

 

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Feb. 10)

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Fab Parka Deal, Pleasant Lake Placid Inn, DIY Teaching Part 3, Sundance Senior Group, How To Do Demos, And Industry News.

We finally have a blockbuster storm hitting the Northeast with big dimensions. Expecting 14+ from this one. This weekend will have fantastic skiing throughout the region.  Meanwhile, the West is getting yet more snow, but heavy and wet “cream cheese”-style, we are told.

This week we have something special for readers.  Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg reviews a “disruptive” ski parka from Orsden, a clothing manufacturer that sells its products exclusively online.  He loves Orsden’s Performance Ski Jacket. SeniorsSkiing.com readers can get a $50 discount on this one.  Read on.

Correspondent Joan Wallen spent a couple of tranquil days at Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, NY.  If you ever want to unplug, decelerate, and chill out, this could be your base.  Find out how winter relaxation looks in the heart of the Adirondacks.

Some resorts have a collection of senior skiers who bond, create a community and form lasting, welcoming friendships that last for years.  Correspondent Harriet Wallis tells us how the Sundance Senior Group share a passion for this beautiful resort where seniors can ski for $20!

Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, has been recognized
Credit: Joan Wallen

Finally, you’ve seen or heard about Demo Days at ski areas; the pop-up tents, the work benches, the logos on the vans, racks of skis, etc. But have you figured out how to participate?  Correspondent Val E. provides some excellent advice on how to step up and take part.  It’s really simple to borrow some new sticks for a couple of runs.

If you haven’t taken advantage of our Subscriber-Only Content, please take a look.  Skis For Seniors, Ski Younger Now tips, instructions for getting subscriber discounts from Experticity, and our classy Historic Ski Poster book.  All free, all for Subscribers-Only.  Look under COMMUNITY in the top navigation bar. You will be asked to confirm your email.

Thanks so much for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Please tell your friends, it’s the best way for us to grow. And, remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Gorgeous view of Mt. Timpanogous, Sundance.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

 

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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POV

Ski lifts are public places and, in my experience, an opportunity to exchange pleasantries with friends and strangers. Over the years, I’ve rarely encountered hostility on chair, gondola or tram. Last season a person on a quad at Alta launched into aggressive hate speech with his friend. At one point I voiced that the chair was an inappropriate place to spew venom. He paused before resuming with even more hateful comments. A few days ago, on another quad, the age peers on my right were discussing the new administration. The younger man to my left introduced a contrarian point of view. As the chair reached higher on the mountain, the younger man became increasingly agitated and his facts more alternative. The fellow to my right turned to him and said, “You look like a nice fellow, but what you’re saying is really far off. Since we’re not going to be able to agree, let’s just talk skiing.” The chair had reached the top.

CALIFORNIA

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows sent a delegation to Genting Secret Garden, the resort’s sister mountain in China. They are generating interest in skiing boarding in China in advance of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. They also hope to spur ski tourism from China to the U.S.

MONTANA

Heads Up! — Sauce is a Montana-based company making wonderful hats and other products. Their Chill Toque is a fleece-lined stretchy head covering with a unique pleated opening that vents the scalp when you need to cool down. During February — National Cancer Prevention Month — for every purchase, Sauce will send, free, a hat to someone designated by the purchaser. As stated on their website: Help someone feel supported, warm and covered while they are in the throes of a cancer battle or during their road to recovery. Sauce hats: https://www.sauceactive.com

PENNSYLVANIA

Here are a few Pennsylvania areas with Valentine’s specials: Blue Knob and Blue Mountain are offering $14 lift tickets, and Ski Sawmill has free skiing for girls of all ages on Feb 13. Numerous areas have special Valentine’s dinners. Visit SkiPA.com for more info and for a $5 off midweek coupon.

UTAH

A few weeks ago we reported on the growing opinion that the massive Outdoor Retailers trade show which convenes twice annually in Salt Lake City should relocate. The reason? Utah’s legislators are committed to anti-environmental and anti-public lands policies. This week, after the state took measures to encourage the new Washington administration to reverse the recently established Bear’s Ears National Monument in southern Utah, Outdoor Retailer announced it is seeking proposals for new venue locations after its current contract in Utah ends in 2018. That was followed by Patagonia’s announcement that it is pulling from the OR show in response to Utah’s actions against the national monument. The trade show has had major economic impact on Utah, something likely to be downplayed by state and federal politicians intent on commercially exploiting everything they can.

 

 

 

Jon Weisberg

A Terrific $600+ Ski Jacket For $280!

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Orsden is a New OnLine Manufacturer of Quality Ski Wear.

For much of my life the word “disruptive” was associated with toddlers and teenagers. More recently, it has been associated with the introduction of radically new and better ways of doing things. It’s the impact of the cell phone on the traditional telephone; digital photography vs. film; Wikipedia vs. shelf-bound volumes of Britannica.

Now it’s happening in how we purchase skiwear. I recently stumbled upon Orsden, a manufacturer of  ski parkas that sells its product exclusively online. This is one very nice ski jacket. It lists for $330. SeniorsSkiers.com readers get a $50 discount on their first purchase by entering SNRSKI50 during check out. In other words, you can purchase this terrific ski jacket for $280!

I’ve checked a few local high-end shops where comparable product would be about twice the price.

Men’s ski jacket

Orsden’s parkas are new this season. The one I’ve been wearing looks great and has some very nice features. Like all of their parkas, it uses a comfortable 4-way stretch fabric that moves as you move.

Women’s Ski Jacket

The detachable hood is sized to cover a helmet.All zippers are sealed. All pockets are well positioned and easily opened and closed. The left arm pocket for electronic lift tickets is near the bicep, where most card readers are located.

Other features include a detachable powder skirt, an attached goggle wipe in the chest pocket, and ample pit zips.

The fabric is water repellant and the fill is warm.

Orsden’s website has specific measuring instructions to help get the best fit. If it’s not right, the company will replace it with a better size.

Colors are terrific (I got Redwood).

Mine came with a handwritten thank you note from the head of the company.

I’ve worn it around town where it’s as appropriate as on the slopes.

I understand that the company has plans to introduce other skiwear next season.

Bottom line is this: Orsden is offering beautifully crafted, high quality ski parkas for men and women at a fraction of what they would cost in a retail outlet. The logic is the same as that of some other online purchases, eliminate the middleman and deliver higher quality at lower cost.

 

 

Joan Wallen

Mirror Lake Inn: A Peaceful Haven In Lake Placid

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Activities, Elegance, Extraordinary Service In The Heart Of The Adirondacks.

Mirror Lake Inn has been recognized with AAA Four Diamond Award of Excellence for 32 years in  a row.
Credit: Joan Wallen

I entered the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid through a back door, walked right past the front desk without noticing it, and down the wide staircase. When I ended up at the entrance to the spa, looking somewhat confused, an employee asked if he could help. When I told him I was looking for the registration desk he didn’t just point me in the right direction (which would have been easy to do), he walked me there. This “taking the extra step” set the tone for my stay and proved to be typical of all the Inn employees I encountered. Everyone from the front desk staff, to the bartenders, dining and housekeeping staff had a friendly smile, helpful attitude and genuine interest in my comfort and well-being during my stay. The Inn itself exudes ambiance with its spacious common areas, fireplaces, comfortable furniture and numerous more intimate spaces for reading, relaxing or quiet conversation, all with an Adirondack décor. Tea, coffee and homemade cookies are served daily from 3:30 to 4:30 in the living room so guests can mingle and relax after a day on the slopes, trails, lake or visiting the many Olympic venues throughout the area.

After a $4-million renovation, rooms are looking fantastic.
Credit: Joan Wallen

The Main building houses guest rooms, the spa, fitness center and indoor pool as well as two of the resort’s restaurants – Taste Bistro, casual yet upscale, and The View, Lake Placid’s only four diamond AAA rated restaurant. The Terrace and Mountainview buildings, also housing guest rooms, as well as the Adirondack Conference Center are all connected to the Main building by indoor walkways. The guest rooms are spacious and comfortable with seating areas facing the lake. Their décor reflects the Adirondack theme of the public spaces. The Colonial House and the Lake Cottage are across the road on the water and have more elaborate rooms as well as one and two bedroom suites. Though in general the clientele may be more mature, the suites are well suited for families. One of the unique features of the resort is that all guest rooms face Mirror Lake and therefore offer fantastic views through floor to ceiling windows and sliders. The Cottage Café, also on the lake, serves casual fare for lunch and supper and is a gathering spot for the apres ski crowd.

The Inn has recently completed a $1 million makeover of its renowned spa. With rooms for massage, facial and body treatments, the women’s and men’s sanctuaries include spaces for relaxing and revitalizing, a eucalyptus steam room, sauna, whirlpool, indoor pool, fitness facility and a full service salon. Its reputation as the number one spa in Lake Placid is well deserved.

Mirror Lake itself, only steps from the Inn, offers activities just outside your front door. A groomed ice skating lane follows the perimeter of the lake, a three mile smooth pathway for relaxed skating or vigorous exercise. The Inn maintains a couple of small rinks just in front of the Café while the town has cleared a much larger area across the lake for hockey tournaments and free skating. I encountered cross country skiers and other snowshoers on my trek across the lake, as well as folks just out walking their dogs. A couple of concessionaires offer dogsled rides and a toboggan chute is nearing completion and will open soon. Snowshoes are available for Inn guests use if you don’t have your own.

A short walk brings you to the main street of Lake Placid where you’ll find many shops, from jewelry to outdoor fashion to Adirondack furniture and gourmet goodies. The bar scene is lively and the restaurants in town offer a wide variety of menus. Also located downtown at the Olympic Center are the Olympic Museum and the speed skating oval where you might watch hopefuls practicing or do some skating yourself during public skating hours. And of course, there’s world class alpine and cross country skiing just minutes away at the Olympic venues of Whiteface and Mt. Van Hoevenberg.

Last June the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa accepted the AAA Four Diamond Award of Excellence in lodging for the 32nd year in a row. The View received the same award for fine dining for the ninth consecutive year. The resort’s owners, Ed and Lisa Weibrecht, parents of Olympian Andrew Weibrecht, credit their exceptional staff for these honors. “We have a secret weapon. The secret weapon is all of you, our staff”, Weibrecht told the group assembled at the presentation. I certainly found this to be true. A cheery “hello”, a smiling “how are you this morning”, a helpful “do you need anything”, a warm “what can I get you” greeted me in the parking lot, in the lobby, hallways and restaurants throughout the property. In sum, the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa offers casual elegance in a relaxing atmosphere with enough to do on and off the property to entertain both the most athletic guests and those looking for just a tranquil retreat.

Mirror Lake Inn has an assortment of room choices and package pricing starting at $186 (December 10-March 19) and $137 (March 20-End of Season).  Check the website for the accommodation options.

Mirror Lake Inn is a tasteful and modest spot to relax and enjoy winter sports activities.
Credit: Joan Wallen

 

Harriet Wallis

Sundance Seniors Rock

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Camaraderie and coaching with spectacular views. You might even catch a glimpse of owner and super star Robert Redford.

Gorgeous view of Mt. Timpanogous.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Several times a month the Sundance Seniors meet and ski the mountain together. They’re ski buddies. They’re bonded by their love of skiing and their passion for Sundance.

What’s more, Sundance Seniors get VIP care. Some ski days include a complimentary coaching session with Snowsports Director Jerry Warren or one of his top staff.

“We always want to keep everyone safe and enjoying skiing at this stage of their life, and we realize they aren’t trying out for the world cup anymore,” Warren said.

The scheduled ski days are published on the Senior Group on the Sundance website. When you’re in town, you’re invited join them for a day of ski fun and camaraderie.

Newcomers are always welcome, like avid fly fisherman Spencer Nishimoto who joined the group last winter after many seasons off from skiing. “These are really nice people to ski with. We develop friendships and rip up some runs. And the coaching makes it fun to keep learning.”

Unofficial senior leader Ralph Childs usually leads the way and sets the pace. But then he stops so the group can cluster again. All are strong skiers. Some are former ski instructors. But like most seniors, some have cranky knees and old injuries so they ski a tad slower. No problem. They ski, gather, chat, ski. Repeat.

Sundance grande dame Barbara Stewart Anderson and friends.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

And you never know who you’ll meet. Barbara Stewart Anderson skied there as a child because her father, Ray Stewart, founded the resort in 1944, built a 500 hundred foot rope tow, and named it Timp Haven. Today the main lift, Ray’s lift, memorializes his name.

A $150 senior season pass or a $20 day lift ticket gets you ski camaraderie and coaching with stunning views of Mt. Timpanogos.

In addition, it has elegant dining, a massive wooden bar where Butch Cassidy hung out, and a country store. Sundance is located in the Wasatch Mountains less than an hour south of Salt Lake City, but it’s often overlooked by destination skiers.

Antique farm implements decorate the Foundry Grill.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

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

Val E

Demo Day: How To Participate And Enjoy

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Here Are Some Tips For Taking Part. Don’t Be Shy.

Demo staff are knowledgable, helpful and welcoming to first-timers.
Credit: Val E.

Every season ski shops, ski manufacturers, and ski resorts organize events when anybody could try new ski equipment. Demos range from a local mom-and-pop ski shop get-together to major on-snow events run by SIA (Snowsports Industry America).

Why do you need to take part in it? Technical progress never stops, try new things; you may like them. At least you will have your own opinion. Picking a pair of skis or boots is as personal and as tricky as picking a life partner. Well, kind of.

Never think you are not qualified for a ski demo. The idea is to let “volks” try the “wagen” and to give them a clear reason to buy it later.

Setting bindings based on your experience and size has to be done accurately. Don’t exaggerate your skill level!
Credit: Val E.

  • Check the list of demos at your local resort, or before you go to a ski trip. State ski associations are good resources for finding resort events. (SkiNH, SkiUtah, etc.)
  • Come early, bring your boots, poles, ID, and a credit card. Bring your own skis to “calibrate a zero level” by taking a run or two before the demo.
  • Before starting the demo, you must fill in a form with your weight, height, skier type, age, and gender. Be honest with this info; it is used for adjusting your bindings.  A higher setting than needed may lead to non-release of a binding which is dangerous.
  • Prepare a list of announced brands and potential models to try on. Know before you go so your search can be focused. Have an objective for your try-outs.
  • Read some magazines or blogs about different ski types before you go. Think about types of skis you like and dislike, what you want to demo considering the snow conditions. For example, if you ski mostly in hard pack or ice, don’t spend much time on skis for powder/soft snow.
  • If time permits, talk to the staff working at the demo booths; they are knowledgeable about ski features and benefits.
  • It’s pretty obvious but don’t ruin the edges and bases of the demo skis. These aren’t your rock skis.
  • Unwritten rule is that a skier makes a couple of runs on one pair of demos and returns it. Someone else will be waiting for your demos.
  • Use your smart phone to take photos of ski reviews and demo skis. Record your audio and video comments about them while staying in line or riding a ski lift. A partner can record a video of you going down the hill on different skis to compare. You can share your recorded impressions with your less fortunate friends on Facebook or in real life.

Even if you are not really interested in purchasing a new pair of skis, you learn a lot about gear and the sport, and it’s fun!

 

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Feb. 3)

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Park City Review, Self-Teaching Tips, Industry Insider Book Review, Changes With Ages, Hand Warmer Frugality.

There’s an old New England axiom that says half your wood pile should be left on Ground Hog day, the official mid-point of winter. However, this year, we have a feeling “winter” is going to stretch well into spring thanks to the amazing quantities of snow west of the Mississippi. And the weather people are predicting a cold, cold February for the east. Cold is what is needed around New England for more snow and snow making. It’s been an up and down season here.

Park City is lower in altitude than other Wasatch resorts, making it easier to adapt for low-landers.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

This week, correspondent Tamsin Venn shows us how seniors can rock and roll at Park City, a huge Utah resort that is, in fact, the largest ski resort in North America.  By linking with The Canyons under the banner of Vail Resorts, one can ski for miles. Interesting, Park City is relatively low altitude (7,000-ft), making adjustment for flat-landers a little easier.

Karen Lorentz has sent in an interesting review of SKI, INC., the biography of Chris Diamond, a ski resort developer and manager who has seen enormous changes in the business.  He’s very clear, however, that some resorts have not changed enough and are at risk of becoming outdated.  Check out her review.

Marc Liebman, a new SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent, tells us about how his skiing style has changed over his 40-plus years on skis. Clearly, it is important to adjust as capabilities change.  What do you think?  Still ripping at 75?  Tell us.

Finally, veteran SeniorsSkiing.com correspondent Harriet Wallis shows us how to save those little hand warmers for another day. Harriet also writes regularly for the SkiUtah blog.

Please don’t forget to check out our Subscriber-Only Content, under the COMMUNITY tab in the top navigation menu.  Our latest offering for Subscribers is a free eBook by Seth Masia on how you can Ski Younger Now.

We depend on our readers to pass along our online magazine to friends.  That’s how we keep growing.  So please tell your pals about SeniorsSkiing.com.  There are more if us every day, and we aren’t going away.

 

Tamsin Venn

SeniorsSkiing Guide: Rocking And Rolling For Seniors At Park City

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The Largest Ski Area In The US Has Something For Everyone.

Park City Mountain Resort connects to The Canyons, making the largest ski area in US.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

The choice of skiing at Park City, UT, just got more mind boggling. Last year, Vail Ski Resorts linked Park City and The Canyons via the Quicksilver gondola on Pine Cone Ridge. Voila: a ski area of 7,300 acres with 41 lifts, and 324 runs, currently the largest ski area in the U.S.—six miles across as the raven flies. That means a lot of choice for us seniors on the endless white folds of the Wasatch Range.

Plus, at only 7,000 feet at the base, the altitude is easier to adjust to than some higher Western ski resorts.

Park City is lower in altitude than other Wasatch resorts, making it easier to adapt for low-landers.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

Park City trends toward broad slopes while The Canyons to narrower tree-lined trails. Many trails present drops off into tree skiing at various pitches. Big bowls with double black diamond labels offer fabulous powder skiing. Gulches and gulleys lead to further adventure. Currently Park City is having the snowiest January in about nine years, eight feet and counting.

The new eight-passenger Quicksilver Gondola has changed the game here. Adventurers can start at the Orange Bubble Express at The Canyons, say, ride the Red Pine Gondola to Timberline to Iron Mountain Express to Quicksilver Gondola. By the time they’ve skied over to Park City, they may want to take the free bus back.

By contrast, Park City skiers take the Crescent Express to reach The Canyons, and so have access via one lift to entertaining steep pitches they once had to hike to.

In 2015, Vail Resorts invested $50 million in upgrades at Park City. It transformed the sluggish Motherlode Express (good on a powder day) to a high-speed quad. It turned King Con, popular for rip groomers, into a six-pack. It also created two new trails at the Quicksilver Gondola mid-station, built Miner’s Camp Restaurant there, added seating to on-mountain restaurants, and invested in snowmaking.

In Park City, the sports vibe is strong. Park City and Deer Valley hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and the resorts have been drawing the youthful and ambitious ever since. Visit Utah Olympic Park to catch more Olympic fever, and visit the Alf Engen Ski History Museum. Admission is free.

Skiing does get crowded, and some say the best time to ski is during the Sundance Film Festival in January when everyone is indoors watching movies or on Sundays when many are in church. A new app, EpicMix Time, lets you track lift line wait times.  At key lift junctures, an LED board gives you that same traffic information.

The best way to ski Park City is to buy the Epic Pass, which lets you ski all Vail resorts. But the early season savings end in the fall. The best bet is to buy senior (65-plus) tickets online seven days in advance.

The White Pine Touring Nordic Center with 20 km of groomed XC track at the Pro Shop in the Hotel Park City is well worth the visit to stretch your limbs. On community appreciation day, many older fit speed demons constantly lapped us on skate skis. This center truly appreciates their seniors and offers free passes for those 65 and older.

The Facts

7, 300 acres

Base elevation 6,800 feet; summit 10,026 feet

330 trails, 41 lifts

Average annual snowfall: 355 inches

8 percent beginner, 48 percent intermediate, 44 percent expert

Web Cam Click Here

Trail Map Click Here

Night time is for dining, shopping, visiting and relaxing.
Credit: Park City Mountain Resort

 

 

Karen Lorentz

Book Review: Chris Diamond’s Journey In The Ski Resort Business

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SKI, INC.—Chasing The Dream All Career Long.

For anyone who came up through skiing in the 1960s and 1970s, a new book chronicling the career of Chris Diamond, a ski resort management legend, SKI INC. provides the quintessential insider’s look at what chasing the dream of working in the ski business was really like.

From being an assistant to the president of Killington in 1972, Chris Diamond went on to Mount Snow, which Killington had acquired in 1977, as VP and GM, then president. From 1994 to 1996 he served as the vice president for business development and president of the Vermont resorts for S-K-I Ltd., Killington and Mount Snow’s corporate parent.

He became president of Steamboat under Les Otten’s American Skiing Company (ASC) in 1999, where he continued under owner Intrawest until retiring in June 2015.

Having worked for the first three largest ski conglomerates — S-K-I Ltd, ASC, and Intrawest — it occurred to Diamond that he had had an unusual experience, which caused him to write SKI INC. My journey through four decades in the ski-resort business, from the founding entrepreneurs to mega companies.

His comments as to the challenges, mistakes, and bright spots provide a fascinating backstory for those of us who experienced skiing’s amazing history — like Mount Snow’s “clickety clack” chairlifts dripping grease — while his look at some of skiing’s key personalities, resorts, and organizations is as enlightening as it is entertaining.

This is the first book of its kind and is notable for Diamond’s insights as to what has and has not worked as well as his prognostications for the future.

Mt Snow 1950s scene with pool and sundeck above, a clever innovation for a ski resort.

Regarding his Vermont years, Diamond writes: “Looking back at these early experiences at Killington and Mount Snow, there is one clear regret I have relative to their status today as regional resorts versus ‘what might have been.’ While the outside perception of the ski business insists that the core financial driver is real estate, nothing could be further from the truth. Well-run resorts make money on operations. That said, real estate is very important for destination ski resorts in that it can support or enable the strategic vision.”

Explaining that skier demands have changed since the 1970s, Diamond bemoans the lack of modern base villages at Mount Snow and Killington, opining the resorts are at a competitive disadvantage that has caused their skier visits to be off former records. “No other major area in the country has seen that happen,” he said in an interview, expressing regret that “windows of opportunity to reset the base areas” at the resorts were missed.

Chris Diamond has some clear opinions about where the ski business is going.

While Diamond praises ASC founder Les Otten for his many contributions to skiing, he laments the spending spree that cost Otten his company and made Diamond’s job at Steamboat a nightmare of sorts. He explains Steamboat’s revival under new owner Intrawest, providing a look at what was then North America’s largest ski conglomerate until the bottom fell out of real estate.

Having known the players at Vail Resorts, Diamond also offers an analysis of their success, including ramifications of the Epic Pass and his view “it’s just a matter of time” before Vail enters the Northeastern market.

SKI INC. is great reading for anyone interested in how the ski industry has gotten to where it is today and its future; available through skidiamondconsulting.com and at Amazon.com.

Harriet Wallis

How To Get Several Days From Your Shake-Em-Up Hand Warmers

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Use These Two Sneaky Tips.

The air-activated hand warmers keep your fingers toasty while you ski. Even when your legs fall off, your hand warmers keep going.

Then what do you do with them? They have a lot of heat left.

I used to give them away in the locker room. People would snap them up for themselves or their kids.

Tip #1. Here’s how to save them.

Mummified hand warmers can be revived for another day.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

I discovered I can keep them until the next day and sometimes several days by wrapping them tightly in Saran wrap or other generic plastic wrap.

Mummy them up tightly in about 2 feet of plastic wrap until you can no longer feel the heat coming through.

The wrap cuts off the air, and they go dormant. Reactivate them by unwrapping them and shaking as usual. Roll the plastic wrap onto a tube and reuse it another day.

The up side is you can save and reuse hand warmers for several days. The down side is that sometimes it just doesn’t work.

Experiments 101

Plastic baggies don’t work. Even if you squish really well, there’s still too much air left inside. Aluminum foil doesn’t seem to work, but I don’t know why. Use plastic wrap.

Tip #2. Before you buy.

Check that expiration date. It should be several years out, not soon.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Before you buy a stockpile of hand warmers, check the expiration date. It should be several years into the future—not next year. Hand warmers close to their expiration date often have less oomph.

On the other hand, you might discover hand warmers long past their expiration date that have been buried in your ski bag for years. And they might work very well. Just don’t count on it on a sub-zero day.

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

 

seniorsskiing

This Week In SeniorsSkiing.com (Jan. 27)

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Mountains Of Snow, Ski Fashion Legend Obermeyer, Resort Reviews From BC, PA, NH, DIY Instruction Part 1, Old Style Freestyle Video.

Mt. Rose lodge buried.
Credit: Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

The meteorological world and just about everyone else is in awe of what is happening in the West.  Snowfalls are breaking records, and Bay Area-based correspondent Rose Marie Cleese reports on what’s going on out there.  We have some simply amazing pics of big resorts just buried in mountains of snow. Terrific snow packs will go a long way in relieving California’s multi-year drought, too.

Klaus Obermeyer

Co-publisher Jon Weisberg was lucky to catch up with Klaus Obermeyer, an outdoor fashionista and innovative entrepreneur who has left an indelible mark on ski clothing and gear starting in the way back days of the early 60s. His advice to senior skiers, “Never give up skiing as it keeps the legs in good shape and improves your walking.”  Klaus is 97.

We have resort reviews of widely different areas from the Canadian West, Western PA and New Hampshire.  John Nelson tells us about senior-easy Sun Peaks, BC, Pat McCloskey reports on an elegant, historic, cozy and number-one-rated resort in PA, a great hide-away for cross-country or snowshoeing, and Tamsin Venn shows us historic Bretton Woods with its magnificent views and the fantastic Omni Mt. Washington Hotel.

DIY very carefully. But it can be done.

And thanks to our readers who contributed last month to Snowsports Industries America’s online survey on ski boots.  We heard from SIA head of research Kelly Davis that she collected enough data from you guys to make senior-specific conclusions, based on your responses.  We’ll report her findings as soon as they are published.

On to mid-season.  Good luck out there.  Eastern snowsports enthusiasts, the snow is up there; go and find out. Western folks, have fun.

Thank you so much for reading SeniorsSkiing.com. Tell your friends, please. And remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.

And here’s another reader submitted video.  Steve Simons sent us this 1973 video showing a Freestyle event at Whistler.  Old Style Freestyle.  Thanks, Steve.

 

seniorsskiing

Short Swings!

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CALIFORNIA

According to online ticket vendor GetSkiTickets.com, Mammoth Mountain has the deepest snow pack in the country. They’re currently at 20+ feet and more is on the way.

Ms. Nature has dumped 52″ on Mountain High. It’s the resort’s largest snowstorm in the last five years.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Jackson Ski Touring Center, the largest in the northeast, features free, supervised 90-minute ski tours for kids 11-17 every Sunday. They run 10:00 AM – Noon and follow trails in wooded areas. A nice Sunday excursion for the grandkids.

NEW YORK

Reader Ellen Stone reports there is another ski area where seniors ski for free.  It’s Mt. Peter, a small, seven-trail area in Warwick, NY.  70+ free all the time.

PENNSYLVANNIA

Grandparents take note: PA Ski offers free lift tickets to 4th and 5th Graders You don’t have to live in PA! Discounts for adults; free stuff for kids. Visit http://www.skipa.com

UTAH

Enjoy midweek skiing and snowboarding for free at Snowbasin Resort when you Fly Alaska Airlines into Salt Lake International Airport this season and get free midweek skiing at spectacular Snowbasin Resort. Go there even if you’re not flying Alaska. The place is BIG and beautiful and the facilities are about as luxe as they get. Seniors get a good deal there. 65-74 costs $79; 75+ costs $35.

VERMONT

For the fourth year in a row, Okemo Mountain Resort was named one of the 2017 Best Places to Work in Vermont. The resort was the first ski resort to make the list. The 2017 Best Places to Work in Vermont lists 45 companies.

The U.S. Ski Team selected Burke Mountain as an official U.S. Ski Team development site where members will train and hold elite skiing competitions while preparing for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. Burke Mountain has 178 skiable acres. Over 40 years, Burke Mountain Academy has produced 33 Olympians, 138 national team athletes and 117 U.S. Ski Team members, including 2014 Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin.

OTHER

ZEAL Optics has introduced a nifty way to change goggle lenses without hassle. Its Rail Lock System (RLs) uses a dual sliding rail system to guide and lock the lens in place. We’ve tried it, and it works. It’s especially good for seniors because of the very wide peripheral vision.

For those into needlepoint and skiing, Tuckernuck has kits for wallets, belts and coasters. Their “ski tricks” designs are delightful.

One Warm Coat is a San Francisco-based non-profit committed to providing anyone in need with a free warm coat. The group accomplishes this by helping people and groups in local communities organize coat drives. We know what it feels like to be cold when playing. There are many who don’t have the means to stay warm. One Warm Coat. One worthy initiative.

Contemplating a retirement move? WalletHub, an online provider of financial guidance, published the best and worst states to retire in 2017.