When I hear that people don’t ski in their local areas because they’re spoiled by skiing out West, I believe they’re missing something. A lot of world class ski racers cut their teeth on areas that have less than 1000’ vertical. Lindsey Vonn and Kristina Koznick both were raised on Buck Hill in Minnesota, under the watchful eye of Erich[Read More…]
There are many similarities between mountain biking and skiing aside from the fact that both sports engage the same type of people. I love to mountain bike, but I use it primarily as an exercise to keep me in shape for skiing. I don’t take any chances. I ride to ride another day. But it is good exercise and keeps[Read More…]
A Wide Lens View Of How Large And Small Resorts Managed To Deal With Restrictions And Constraints. [Editor Note: Pat McCloskey is a regular contributor to SeniorsSkiing.com. This article first appeared in Chronicles of McCloskey.] First, let me say I was glad that we HAD a ski season. From changing my boots in the lot at Laurel Mountain to the[Read More…]
A Network Of Trails Run By Community Foundation Offers Multi-Use Recreational Activities. The motto above is the moniker of one of the most interesting trail systems I have seen to date. Round Valley, near Park City, UT, is a paradise for cross country skiers, fat bikers, hikers, and dog walkers. The well groomed trails encourage multi- use and 25 kilometres[Read More…]
Visitors To These Destination Resorts Send First Hand Report. [Editor Note: This article first appeared in The Chronicles of McCloskey, March 1, 2021.] How is the skiing experience in different areas around the country you might ask? We all have heard about the long lines in Colorado and Tahoe and even locally the lines have been robust. I am thinking[Read More…]
Half-Way Through The Season, Pat McCloskey Takes Stock. [Please consider supporting SeniorsSkiing.com with a donation. We appreciate your help. Click here.] We are halfway through winter, and the groundhog has come out to let us know what he thinks about the rest of the winter. I wonder if he will be masked? In any event, this has been a different[Read More…]
Easy Does It And Find The Rhythm. If you look at Henrik Kristoffersen here in the blue Norwegian National Team uniform doing slow turns, you will see the value of mechanics at a basic level. The important thing that I realized in watching Kristoffersen executing basic turn maneuvers at a very slow pace is that we all can work[Read More…]
Master Making Those Modern Arcs. Ski instructor Paul Lorenz has a great instructional series on You Tube showing how to carve on skis. To properly execute this type of turn, it is important to consider the basics of balance. Those of us who have skied for a while know that it is most important to stand on the new downhill[Read More…]
A Lot Of Us Are In The Best Shape We’ve Been In For Many A Year. Gasping for breath up a steep climb recently on the mountain bike with my riding friends, I thought to myself, “Where is the race? Nobody’s going to the Olympics, why are we racing on this ride?” Then it occurred to me that my group[Read More…]
“Start Slow And Taper Off.” The ski season came to a screeching halt as most of us are now staying inside with some socially distanced outings. As I look back on this shortened season, I can take heart in the fact that I made the most of it before cancelling my last trip. Skied a lot in the rain locally,[Read More…]
[Editor Note: SeniorsSkiing.com is asking our readers to contribute to support our online magazine. Yes, we have grown in the number of subscribers and advertisers. But our expenses have also grown. You can help us defray some of these expenses by helping us out with a donation.] Support SeniorsSkiing.com by clicking here. ______________________________________________________ Want Steep? Chute 4 Has Steep. Deer[Read More…]
Instructor Pat McCloskey Recommends An Approach To Early Days. I had an interesting discussion with my lift mate this weekend at our local ski area. I asked the fellow beside me how his day was going. He remarked, “Well, the hill is fighting me back a little today.” I chuckled because the guy was a certified PSIA instructor but was[Read More…]
You Can Do It If You’ve Done It Before. You know, as you age, little things creep into your mind like, “Can I still ski that?” “Am I too old to keep trying this pitch?” But, one of the things that keeps our minds in check is the familiarity with the terrain after years of experience. For instance, every year,[Read More…]
Riding mountain bikes in the “Mountain State” of West Virginia is nothing short of challenging. My wife asked me, after my recent trip, how it went and I said, “tougher every year, dear.” Riding in Davis, WV, is always fun but you better bring your “A” game because currently there are mostly expert black diamond and double black diamond trails[Read More…]
The Cochran Family Makes Maple Syrup And Ski Racers. There are a lot of Vermonters and others in the ski racing world who could tell you a lot more about the famous Cochran Family of Richmond, VT. I have friends who know them personally and tell the tales of the first rope tow that Mickey Cochran built in his back[Read More…]
Both Require Looking Down The Trail, Pressurizing To The Outside Of The Turn. I was out the other night riding with my pals and noticed that I was starting to look at the front of my wheel in sketchy terrain, and my balance was starting to be compromised. I thought to myself, “Pat, keep your eyes focused down the trail[Read More…]
First Fat Bikes, Now E-Bikes. The Cycling World Is Spinning Up Innovation. An interesting phenomena has started to surface in the cycling industry. From July of 2016 to July of 2017, there was a 95% jump in sales of E-Bikes in what industry regulars say is currently a $65 million segment of the cycling business. Sales have been booming and[Read More…]
In The Shadow Of Mammoth, June Mt. Features Dramatic Views. One of the most beautiful drives in ski country is from Carson City, NV down Rt 395 to Mammoth Lakes, CA. Passing Mono Lake and making your way through the passes that are open in the winter yields some of the most breathtaking views in the country. As we made[Read More…]
[Editor Note: As the new year begins, SeniorsSkiing.com is again asking our readers to contribute to support our online magazine. Yes, we have grown in the number of subscribers and advertisers. But our expenses have also grown. You can help us defray some of these expenses by helping us out with a donation. This year, we have a mix of[Read More…]
[Editor Note: As the new year begins, SeniorsSkiing.com is again asking our readers to contribute to support our online magazine. Yes, we have grown in the number of subscribers and advertisers. But our expenses have also grown. You can help us defray some of these expenses by helping us out with a donation. This year, we have a mix of[Read More…]
Wear What Works In The Wet. I usually take most of my vacation time in the winter because I like to ski out West and in the Adirondacks. And more often than not, the trips are something to look forward to when you live in the Mid-Atlantic and have to deal with the rain and sleet events that plague our[Read More…]
No Matter What You Are Sliding On, Basic Athletic Principles Apply. When I was a boy, my dad knew a woman who was a former USGA Senior Amateur Champion from South Carolina named Carol Cudone. She constantly reminded my dad to finish his golf swing with his “belly button to the ball.” Ultimately she was trying to get my dad[Read More…]
Skiing Binds Friends Together; Don’t Skip A Trip. One of the great things about the sport of skiing is that it is a conduit for friendships. There is nothing like the anticipation of the weekly get together with friends or the ski trip with pals that you have skied with for over 40 years. There’s a buzz: the excitement, the[Read More…]
Do You Know What Underfoot Measurement Is Best For Your Kind Of Skiing? One of the hardest questions a seasoned skier has to answer is when someone new to skiing or maybe even a friend says, “So what kind of ski should I be on this year?” Really a tough question to answer without delving into particulars like, athleticism, age,[Read More…]
