More Resort Reviews, Stein Honored In Deer Valley, Using Old Equipment, XC History Lesson, Boot Wisdom from the Master of MasterFit.
Credit: Joe Durzo
This week has seen some extraordinary snowfalls in the west, from the Canadian Rockies and Cascades to the Wasatch, measured in feet and meters these days. Wow. Clearly, the snow dances have worked there. In the East, we had a perfect storm in the middle of the holiday vacation week which laid down a base that should last for the rest of the season. And cold will continue for snowmaking. So we’re having a better start than last year. But, from what we hear, European Alps are still snow-starved.
SeniorsSkiing Readers: Do you have a video of some extraordinary runs you’ve made? Some graceful runs? Some funny events? Please send them along, or contact us and we’ll figure out how to share them. We’d like to create a readers’ video section with clips you provide. Okay?
Co-Publisher Jon Weisberg and correspondent John Nelson visit two really extraordinary areas: Solitude in Utah and Mt. Hood Meadows in OR. Both are high, with magnificent views and varied terrain where seniors can ski comfortably. And both are the recipients of mucho snow this season, so worth a look if you are planning vacations or visits.
Credit: Park City
Correspondent Tamsin Venn visited Deer Valley over the holidays and was an eyewitness to the Stein Eriksen Memorial ceremony. Stein’s son and grandson were there to unveil a plaque to one of skiing’s greatest innovators. Did you know Stein was a gymnast by training growing up in Norway? We’ll be posting Tamsin’s resort review of Deer Valley next week.
MasterFit’s CEO, Steve Cohen, talks about boots and what to do to make them fit and perform correctly.
Should you continue to use your old skis? Occasionally, we see an old pair of 360s and such on the lift line and wonder why. Some folks just like retro-skiing, we guess. Correspondent Val E. suggest some caveats re: using old stuff. Be careful, but it could be okay. Read Part 1 of his article here.
Finally, XCSkiResorts.com publisher Roger Lohr offers an inventory of the big milestones in the evolution of XC skiing. We remember the days when XC was a niche sport practiced by only a few athletes and outdoor types. Wooden skis, leather boots, four-pin bindings, exotic ski waxes (skivox), pine tar, and bamboo poles were the style. Then came fish-scales and plastic skis. Today, XC equipment is high-tech and much more user friendly.
So off we go to the heart of the season. Let us know how it’s going out there. Reminders to our subscribers about our FREE content:
You have access to Skis For Seniors recommendations developed with realskiers.com, a guide to 108 areas in North America where seniors can ski for free, access to Experticity’s Snow Influencers Group where you can get discounts on top gear and clothing from major manufacturers, and you can download a 16-page booklet of historic ski posters developed with the International Ski History Association.
GO TO THE TOP NAVIGATION BAR, CLICK ON COMMUNITY, THEN CLICK ON SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT.
See you next week. There are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.
I live in Asheville NC and I am looking for a beginning senior skiing group
Check out local ski clubs by going to the link to the National Ski Council Federation. Find ski clubs near you.
From Pennsylvania: ‘Senior’ discounts disappeared at Blue Mountain, Jack Frost/Big Boulder and many others – free and reduced cost (was $ 10.00 at JFBB) for 70 years + last year. Looks like years of being a good customer is not worth much to the ‘new owners’ (JFBB)
Solace in the surprise and absolutely courteous reception at Camelback – where 70+ and still skiing is worth consideration – my season pass has already resulted in spending over $ 400 on lift tickets for my wife, food in the lodge and purchases in the on mountain ski shop.