A few bizarre developments from ski country: Source: American Museum of Natural History Did you see the recent article about the frozen fish blizzard in the Altai Mountain region of China? It’s the same region where for thousands of years, indigenous people have been navigating winter on homemade skis. Apparently, a tornado-like waterspout touched down in Kanas Lake, picked up[Read More…]
We live in what some call an attention economy. Those who attract attention – regardless of how they go about it – appear to be the victors in our narcissistic new world. The companies making skis and related gear are no exception. One of their primary ways of competing for attention is producing short videos of pro skiers using their[Read More…]
Every industry benefits from a mix of offerings. The ski area industry is no exception. I find it enjoyable to ski big corporate resorts as well as independently-owned areas. Some, like Alta, Big Sky, and Jackson Hole offer both big terrain and an attractive level of smaller resort intimacy. It may surprise you that, according to the National Ski[Read More…]
This is our final issue of 2020. We’re not saddened to see the year go. Whatever your holiday of choice, please enjoy it safely. And celebrate the arrival of the New Year. It’s time to turn the page on so many things. Here’s wishing you a great season and many bright and promising days ahead! What Do Vaccines and[Read More…]
Over the past few weeks, we’ve received numerous emails from ski industry and other leaders supporting Black Lives Matter. Mike and I want to add our voices to this and to other expressions of social justice. Many of you will remember Bob Dylan’s 1964 song, “The Times They Are A Changin.” His anthem to social change and the consequences of[Read More…]
Boris and Ivan have been skiing across the frozen steppe for many days. After too long on the front, they’re finally going home. Boris spent hours telling his colleague what he intends to do when, finally, he arrives home: hug his family, down a hearty meal, paint the dacha, tend the garden. “Ivan, what is your plan?,” he asks. “My[Read More…]
Valentino and I had an interesting conversation a few months ago. He’s my seven-year-old grandson, and we were walking back from his weekly skating lesson. He didn’t like his new skates. He was making nice progress on the ice, but something happened during the lesson that left him frustrated. He blamed the skates. As we walked, I explained that[Read More…]
Here’s A Ski Team From The Past. Can you name when? Who’s who? Thanks to the Colorado Snowsports Museum for this one. Last Week Well, last week’s photo was a challenge. Not one guess. Thanks again to Dana Mathios of the Colorado Snowsports Museum for this description. This photo was taken at The Hotel Jerome in Aspen. The photo is[Read More…]
Arapahoe is running its guns. Big Sky, Alta, and Lake Tahoe are among the Western ski destinations that have received natural snow. A few areas in the Austrian and Italian Alps are already operating. It’s all about to happen again. Farmer’s Almanac predicts a “Polar Coaster” with wildly swinging temps. NOAA is expected to give its prediction sometime in October. [Read More…]
Earlier this week a request to support SeniorsSkiing.com showed up in your email. We really need your donations. This is our fifth publishing year and only the second time we’ve made the request. When we started, Mike and I decided that this labor of love should be free. What we’ve learned is that publishing weekly throughout the season requires a[Read More…]
Klaus Obermeyer, the legendary skier and innovator, whose eponymous ski clothing brand is found almost everywhere, recently has his 99th birthday. The following interview with Klaus appeared in SeniorsSkiing.com, January 27, 2017: “It’s Easier To Ski Than To Walk.” Klaus Obermeyer is a skiing legend and innovator. The 97 year old founded Sport Obermeyer Ltdbased on insights about ski wear[Read More…]
Free skiing is available for older skiers at 145 resorts in 26 states and five Canadian provinces this season. Each resort requires a specific age for free skiing. The youngest is 55; the oldest, 90. Those 70 years and older have a choice of 69 ski areas. This is the first time Canadian resorts are included in the directory.[Read More…]
We are seeking your financial support for SeniorsSkiing.com. Currently, a handful of advertisers help us fund the project. What their fees don’t cover, our bank accounts do. There are many expenses including technicians, designers, and other expenses associated with delivering SeniorsSkiing.com free each week and developing and publishing Subscriber-Only content. Next month, you will see a new section devoted to[Read More…]
Many Readers Have Requested A Fabric Patch. It’s a good idea, and we’d like to make it available. The question is what to put on the patch. We’ve explored the vintage image of the skier that appears on the SeniorsSkiing.com sticker. Unfortunately, patch production technology makes him indecipherable. Whatever we do, we plan to include the SeniorsSkiing.com logo. You may[Read More…]
An Urban Legend From The World Of Skiing. Editor’s Note: Jan Harold Brunvand is a frequent contributor to SeniorsSkiing.com. An avid skier, he is a retired American folklorist, researcher, writer, public speaker, and professor emeritus of English at the University of Utah. Jan is best known for popularizing the concept of the urban legend, a form of modern folklore or story telling. Urban Legends[Read More…]
SeniorsSkiing.com Needs You! …especially if you’re willing to write articles that would be of interest to our readers. Articles can cover prepping for the season (exercising, nutrition, personal accounts, etc.); thoughts on equipment, gear, clothing; technique; profiles of older skiers (well-known or not), destinations, planned trips, nostalgia, ski/board/snowshoe history, skiing with kids and grandkids, etc. We prefer articles no longer[Read More…]
Something Old. Something New. I just read two books about trails. The old one is American Skiing, published in 1939. It’s author, Otto Schniebs, was one of the Arlberg Technique pioneers in New England and contributed to the development of several areas. He founded the American Ski School of Boston and coached at Dartmouth College and later at St. Lawrence University.[Read More…]
A forced march may be my most effective pre-season training. While it wasn’t really forced, our hilly, eight day walk in the Dordogne region of France was a delightful, though at times strenuous, way to get in better shape. After a few days in the 90s, temps dropped to the 60s; perfect for our daily 6-8 hours on narrow roads and[Read More…]
Bigger Better? With the Aspen KSL Capital Partners acquisition of Stratton VT and Mt. Tremblant, PQ, and Vail buying the iconic Stowe VT resort, it appears the ski industry has passed a tipping point. The trend is now toward nation-wide reach, corporate management and marketing, multi-resort passes that can be used from coast to coast, and certainly more choices. These[Read More…]
Contributor Harriet Wallis snapped this pic on her way down one of the Cottonwood Canyons connecting Salt Lake City with several resorts. Mountain goats are visible from the road this time of year. They maneuver the narrowest ledges like they’re strolling Main Street. Thanks for the picture, Harriet! CALIFORNIA Dennis Quaid’s band, The Sharks, will kick off Squaw Valley’s Toyota[Read More…]
“It’s Easier To Ski Than To Walk.” Klaus Obermeyer is a skiing legend and innovator. The 97 year old founded Sport Obermeyer Ltd based on insights about ski wear while working in the late 40’s as an instructor in Aspen. One of his many innovations was the down ski parka, stitched together from a goose down comforter. Other product innovations[Read More…]
