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Senioritis, RV and Ski, Flat Light Blues, Mystery Jump II, More Gratitude

Not us.

When we started SeniorsSkiing.com, we struggled with what to call this senior-focused online magazine for snow sport enthusiasts. Geezer Ski Gazette, Elder Skier, Flyin’ Old Folks, Boomer Bombers didn’t pass the silliness test.  We settled on SeniorsSkiing.com and almost immediately got feedback from readers who said they didn’t consider themselves “senior.”  To them, a senior was someone like your grand daddy, but not you. Don’t call me a senior! Our Boomer subscriber base, it seemed, had Senioritis.

Clearly, our readership is defined by their engagement with activity: skiing, snowshoeing, even biking in winter, and all kinds of sports from kayaking, sailing, hiking to fishing, tennis, and even fox-hunting in non-snow months. It’s not about, or maybe in spite of, age. We still rock to and even play the “good” music of the “old” days, participate on teams, raise goats, make pots, paint, volunteer.  No rust on us.

This week, the Boston Globe published a story about the disconnect between the self-image of today’s “seniors” and community senior centers,senior associations, and senior non-profits which are struggling to attract members or customers. What caught our eye, was a comment made by SeniorsSkiing.com reader, Jack Murray, 70. When asked by friends to join them at the local senior center in town, he said, “No interest.” Jack spends his time skiing when he can in Bretton Woods, NH. Other interviewees said when they think of senior groups, they think of old people. Joining them is not an option.

Here’s the point. These various senior-focused organizations realize they have to treat today’s 60+ crowd differently than before. Out with the bingo, in with kick boxing and poetry slams at the Senior Center. And serious book clubs, exercise programs, and yoga.  “We have to refresh ourselves to bring in new talent and energy,” said one director of a senior program in Boston.

Now, shouldn’t management of ski resorts, manufacturers of equipment, travel companies, and other stakeholders in the winter sports business be “refreshing themselves,” too, to better serve a changed senior population? Remember, there are more of us every day, and we aren’t going away.

Alpine Ski History Video

Here’s a kind of okay video about Alpine ski history. Kind of okay because some of the narration doesn’t quite fit the image on the screen, but it is interesting. Worth a look.

This Week

Correspondent Marc Liebman offers some advice on coping with the flat light blues.  We know from personal experience that flat light conditions can cause the day to end after a couple of runs. Marc mentions some techie googles and other tips.  What works for you? Heading back to your car? Gingerly working each trail? Sticking to a single run?

If you RV, chances are you won’t be alone. Credit: Practical Motorhome

When you were younger, you may have thought living in a trailer in a ski resort parking lot was not only cool, but also economical. After all Warren Miller started his snow career as a ski bum gypsy in a tiny trailer. This week, we offer some basic thoughts about how you can RV your way from resort to resort, perhaps a little more comfortably than you did in the 70s or 80s. Thanks to this contribution from Bill Widmer who has an RV podcast worth checking out.

Our Mystery Glimpse picture this week is another ski jump. Last week’s was identified by some very savvy readers who nailed it as the Big Nansen jump in Berlin, NH, built in the late 30s.

Finally, Roger Lohr, publisher of XCSkiResorts.com and SeniorsSkiing.com cross-country editor, offers a book review of Snowboarding In Southern Vermont, From Burton To US Open by Brian Knight.  From his report, those were pretty wild days.

Thanks again for reading SeniorsSkiing.com.  Please tell your friends, and remember, there are more of us every day and we aren’t going away.

Sarah Hendrickson’s jump from a restored Big Nansen in 2017. Credit: Red Bull

 

2 Comments

  1. Enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Normand L Reynolds says:

    The cheap yellow-lens glasses for driving in fog or at night work as well as any goggles I’ve had in flat light, and you can get them at truck stops, Walmart, anywhere. Not sure if the $150++ goggles are better or not. I’m too cheap to find out.

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