In the winter, the snow-covered hills and mountains in New Hampshire beckon cross country (XC) skiing families, couples, and individuals aged five to 95. Each year thousands of recreational XC skiers make the sojourn to the Granite State for the beauty and serenity of winter outdoor recreation and rewarding wellness associated with cross country skiing. New Hampshire’s XC ski areas[Read More…]
After an early start to the ski season here in the East that I would describe as less than stellar, I went west, to Reno, Nevada to seek better conditions. My goal was the smaller ski areas within a short drive from Reno, not the larger and well-known ones on the side of Lake Tahoe in California. Our the first[Read More…]
This year marks the first-ever induction of female snowboarder athletes to the US Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. The honors go to to Shannon Dunn-Downing and Tina Basich, both icons and pioneers of women’s snowboarding. The induction is at the annual awards event at Big Sky in April. Both SeniorsSkiing Publisher Richard Lambert and Editor Evelyn Kanter are attending. Few athletes have had as[Read More…]
I am often asked how Alta has changed in the past 40 or 50 years. This question always excites me, as my career began at Alta in 1974, so my personal journey weaves into the larger tapestry of the Alta story. That includes several decades as the resort’s public relations manager, working with the media. In a November 1970 article[Read More…]
Congratulations, your passion for skiing/riding has rewarded you. If you are reading this, you are a quinquagenarian, sexagenarian, septuagenarian, octogenarian, nonagenarian, or even a centenarian. That’s a lot of “-genarians”, and a question we all face is how long we want to or intend to ski or ride. A few seasons ago, I met a 91-year-old man who skis 120-130 days per season. He told[Read More…]
The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, is not the biggest ski area in the South, but it’s the oldest. When snowmaking was installed on new slopes in 1959, the historic hotel appended the words “ski” and “spa” to its self-description. The hotel has been hosting guests “taking the waters” at local hot springs since 1766, a decade before the American[Read More…]
Add Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Southern California to the growing list of Ikon Pass members. Alterra Mountain Company has closed on the purchase of the iconic destination, which has been in operation since 1924, making it one of the oldest ski resorts in the USA. Snow Valley joins the operations of Big Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear Lake, including Bear[Read More…]
One of the easiest ways to enjoy fresh mountain snow is by snowshoeing. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. It’s a great activity for an off-slope rest day, or any day, along established, well-groomed trails or making your own tracks through the woods. Here’s how and where to snowshoe in the Adirondacks: Adirondack Park comprises 6.2 million protected acres[Read More…]
In spite of last weekend’s dramatic cold outbreak over the Northeast, one that was muted at resorts further south in the mid-Atlantic states, milder than normal temperatures continue to dominate the pattern. Not to the extent that they did in a very mild January, but enough to make every disturbance, big or small, that comes along a real nail biter[Read More…]
There’s so much happening at ski/snowboard/XC resorts this season, so we are alerting you to these special events to put on your calendar in February. The list includes world-class racing and a mountaintop art exhibit. ICYMI (in case you missed it): Kings and Queens of Corbet’s Competition at Jackson Hole This impressive competition debuted in 2018, featuring equal prize money[Read More…]
In this installment I am going to hit three topics for the price of one. First, I had a day on the snow last week that I don’t think I will ever forget. I was in Salt Lake City for a trade show and snuck away to Park City for a day. It is the first time I have been[Read More…]
It’s a known fact that the great, late skier Stein Eriksen bought a new Studebaker in April 1953 from the dealership owned by Everett Kircher, founder of Michigan’s Boyne Mountain ski resort, where Stein was working at the time. The unknown is which model he owned, and what happened to Stein’s Studebaker. I’m interested because my wife Judy and I[Read More…]
Snow was falling when we arrived in the small Italian town of Cervinia, for 3 1/2 days of skiing to celebrate my 80th birthday. Arriving from Israel, my two daughters, son and I drove the 180 km. (112 miles) from the Milan airport to Cervinia on an overcast December afternoon. Cervinia is the Italian side of the Matterhorn. I first skied[Read More…]
Purity Spring Resort in Madison, NH has partnered with Tin Mountain Conservation Center (TMCC) to bring snowshoe guided naturalist tour programs at the NH Audubon “Gertrude Keith Hoyt & Edward Eaton Hoyt, Jr. Wildlife Sanctuary” and trails located at the resort. These guided tours, led by naturalist and TMCC Outreach Coordinator Heather McKendry, will be offered to guests staying at[Read More…]
“Stop! Don’t do that. Don’t move him”, I screamed. My husband had misjudged the slope, crashed, and landed in a heap in the middle of the trail. He was also out cold. We were skiing with his good buddy Lars when it happened. Lars skied to him and dragged him by his right arm until his body flattened out. Meanwhile,[Read More…]
Prospective cross country skiers often make a decision opting for either classic skiing or skate skiing. These two forms of cross country skiing are very different regarding where they can happen, what type of gear is used, the techniques employed, how fast the skiing is, and how much energy is necessary on an outing. For a first time or inexperienced[Read More…]
Happy New Year to one and all! I hope you got some packed powder turns in during the holiday week because dry surfaces have been hard to come by during the first half of this month. The January thaw typically comes along in the late 10’s/20’s of this month, which you can actually see in the historical data as a[Read More…]
Collectively, Idaho’s ski areas boast 29,000 feet of vertical spanning more than 21,000 acres, short lift lines, and extremely affordable passes. Plus, most offer skiing seniors significant discounts on lift tickets (and season passes). Here’s a comprehensive list of the deals available to seniors looking to ski Idaho: Bald Mountain Ski Area (Pierce) — Seniors ages 70 and older ski[Read More…]
Are you a senior skier or rider who has struggled to find a suitable solution for prescription eyewear on the slopes? Are you still looking for a solution to seeing the trees or reading the trail map while skiing without having to worry about lens fogging up? Traditional Over-the-glasses (OTG) goggles can be prone to fogging, requiring frequent wiping and[Read More…]
If you aren’t too tired after a day or more on the slopes of Lake Louise, Sunshine and Mt. Norquay, there are plenty of options, including ice skating and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Events at SkiBig3 and in the towns of Banff and Lake Louise are back and better than before the so-called “pandemic pause”. Here’s what to put on your[Read More…]
There’s so much happening at ski/snowboard/X-C resorts this season. So, in addition to regular posts, we also offer this monthly calendar of this and that tidbits ICYMI (in case you missed it). Here’s what’s happening in January. 22nd X Games at Aspen Competitors from across the globe – as well as local Olympians Hanna Faulhaber and Alex Ferreira – gear up to[Read More…]
As I get older, skiing is still a thrill I look forward to every chance I get to go. My major concern these days is skiing safety and skiing with courtesy, which go hand in hand. As a senior, I worry about falling (which doesn’t happen very often, I might add), but even more about being “taken out” by a reckless[Read More…]
The pandemic caused ski area management teams to change how they run their resorts. Covid affected every business function from technology to marketing and communications to day-to-day operations. As a group, ski areas were forced to learn how to react quickly to an ever-changing set of guidelines emanating from the Federal government as well as those from state governments that[Read More…]
Statewide Programs for Kids Good news for parents and grandparents – The SKI NY Passport Program-Kids Ski Free is back for the 2022-23 Season. Kids in 3rd and 4th grade can ski free with parents at mountains including Belleayre, Gore, Greek Peak, Holiday Valley, Snow Ridge, Swain and Whiteface Ski Areas. Ski Mountain Updates – Alphabetically Belleayre Mountain has added more than 50,000 feet of[Read More…]
There’s so much news this new ski season, which is why we are launching this monthly ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) collection of this and that at our favorite resorts. Reservations Required Your IKON Pass gives you five free days at a participating resort. But don’t just show up anywhere, since some IKON resorts now require advance reservations. Not all, just[Read More…]
