Older skiers have older eyes, and all skiers eventually experience decrease in snow contrast sensitivity. The most common culprit is cataracts, the cloudiness that forms on our lenses, causing the eyes to lose clarity and decreasing the quality of light focused on the retina. Cataracts can start forming when we’re in our 40s and 50s, though they’re more commonplace[Read More…]
I’m in the desert with my skis. There’s snow in the higher elevations but the nearest lifts are a few hundred miles away. It’s nice to be enjoying a respite from winter. But I feel like a city dweller, removed from my favorite pastime. It’s not permanent. I have the good fortune of being able to get in the car[Read More…]
Pricing of the new IKON Pass has raised concerns among older skiers, especially people living close to Mammoth and Squaw Valley. Those and some other IKON resorts are eliminating local season passes, most of which had senior discounts. Like EPIC, Mountain Collective, and other bundled packages, IKON generally offers good value. Ski pass pricing is complicated and making a decision[Read More…]
Unless you’re riding with people you know, ski lifts are public places, and conversational topics should reflect that. At least, that’s how I view the 8 – 12 minute ride with people who, if nothing else, have the sport in common. But experience shows that others may not share that sensitivity. How else to explain the ride on a triple[Read More…]
I hope you’ve been following the new weekly Mystery Glimpse feature. It’s our way of drawing attention to ski museums. The idea is to ask readers to identify old photos or pictures of objects from museum collections. Mike writes copy explaining where the item comes from and links it to the institution’s website. We figure the more you know about[Read More…]
Wednesday, I skied Alta. It was my second day out. Snow was blowing. Light was flat. I felt the chill. After a few runs, it was time for something warm. I headed for Alf’s and looked around for a familiar face. No one even remotely familiar. So I took my bowl of mushroom bisque (consistently good at Alf’s), walked up[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…]
Snow Has Arrived Around The West. Half-Price Subscription to realskiers.com: Jackson Hogen, publisher of realskiers.com, publishes short essays related to the the sport. The current one, about older skiers, is titled “Not Dead Yet.” You can sign up for the essays and receive them free. I recommend getting a paid subscription where, among other things, you’ll find intelligent and comprehensive ski[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…]
