JimK
This is a scary topic for us seniors, especially after enjoying a life time love affair with snowsports. I don't mean to be a DebbieDowner, a healthy discussion could provide tips and encouragement.
Where are you on the spectrum of aging out of skiing? Do you have tips for coping with the challenges of skiing as you get older? Have you found alternate activities to fill the void as you phase out? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years with respect to skiing/boarding?
As for myself, I'm north of age 70 and have skied every winter since 1967. The end is much closer than the beginning. I'd love to ski into my '80s, but I'm somewhat fatalistic knowing that one big ski crash, or one serious illness could end it all.
My body is holding up reasonably well. I suppose my eyes and my feet are limiting factors. I don't yet have to wear glasses while skiing, but my vision on low visibility and very cold days is a challenge. My feet have gnarly bunions and funky toes that begin to ache after about five-six hours of skiing. The feet are also a problem after about four straight days of skiing and I rarely ski more consecutive days than that.
I've been averaging 60+ ski days each winter since the pandemic, this is more skiing than I've ever done before in my life, but it's moderated by the fact that the majority of my ski days are just 3-4 hours in length. Also, I have the benefit of living 20 minutes from four excellent ski areas for much of the winter, which greatly simplifies logistics. I've found that connecting with other senior ski friends is VERY helpful. We look out for each other, inspire each other, and often share costs and transportation.
My wife is a "retired skier". She understands my obsession, but also demands consideration from me off the slopes. As my ski-time decreases in old age, I'm sure my wife-time will increase. I've often thought that if I didn't have her to keep me in check and skied more often/daily I'd probably burn out or get injured.
I ski mostly in Utah now, typically from Jan to May. The mid-winter powder days are still a blast, but very demanding, physically and logistically. April may be my favorite month there as a senior; no crowds, deep snowpack, and many sunny/good visibility days.
Who knows where I'll be in five or ten years? I'm at the stage where every ski season is a gift. Every ski day is a gift.
A few photos of senior friends from the winter of 2025:
Snowbird, UT
Lost Trail, MT
Arapahoe Basin, CO
Schweitzer Mtn, ID
Snowbird, UT. That's me with the yellow pants.
joshua_segal
A few years ago, there was a video going around of a 106-year-old man doing a NASTAR at some area on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A few years later, I saw a note indicated that he passed away.
My goal is at least 100. To accomplish that, there will be a point when I will no longer be able to do Double-Diamonds and moguls; I will have to retire from Ski Patrol; and to be able to still appreciate the sport despite a diminished skill set.
JimK
I remember that guy, Lou Batori, lived to 107!
A positive, never-say-die attitude can definitely be helpful, but of course there are other factors including good health care, good genes, and good luck.
I have senior friends, one in particular, who don't seem to know any other way to ski except full speed ahead. Ski hard stuff almost all the time or not ski at all. I am very content to mix in a large percentage of easy groomers with the challenging stuff. When I'm alone on a ski day I'll often ski 75% groomers and maybe do a few harder runs. I know the next time I see certain friends the ratio will be the other way around. Dialing back the difficulty of terrain you ski is certainly one coping method to deal with advancing age that I'm already employing.
justkeepmovingne
I am categorically not in the "old age" end of the spectrum but still have insight on this.
I've been skiing nearly 20 years now. I didn't start at an extremely young age as neither of my parents skied. I began later than all of my friends and only skied 6-7 times a year - mostly during ski lessons at tiny Maple Ski Ridge to begin, and later during ski club nights at West or Jiminy. If I was lucky, my parents would take us one extra day to wherever we'd been doing ski club that winter.
I was always craving more. More vertical, more speed, more days. I eventually got my license, and during the end of high school had my first season or two skiing double digit days; probably around 10 and around 30 each season; skiing Gore and Whiteface. These felt monstrous, and I had my first real skills progressions in years watching more experienced friends ski and trying to mimic them.
I had the same mentality through college and afterward - ski the most days I could, ski the hardest terrain I could, ski the fastest I could. Skiing Bolton, Sugarbush, Jay Peak... I skied the biggest mountains I could find and skied the hardest runs on the mountains.
Two seasons ago, I felt burnt out. Tired. Groomers didn't do enough for me - I spent much of the year bored. Didn't enjoy the sport as much. This past year - season 16 - I had a mentality shift. Some friends would still be skiing large mountains, hunting the next big thrill at Sunday River or Killington, but I'd be somewhere different - skiing Dartmouth, or Temple, or wherever happened to have snow. I slowed down. I enjoyed being outside, breathing fresh air. I enjoyed the scrape of blade to snow or ice. I enjoyed the sensation of my hips rotating through wide turns.
I looked up and out at my surroundings and the beautiful views more frequently than I focused on the ground beneath my feet. I spent more time than normal hunting down lift rides with ski patrollers, families and anyone who seemed interesting. If I spent even half an hour outside catching a small lap before work, or a couple hours looping lifts on a Sunday, I was happy. Trees and steep runs still give me thrills, but I know something finally shifted for me - reminding me skiing is meant to be fun. It's not supposed to be a chore, a challenge, a charge. I've began appreciating the fact that I live somewhere where there are mountains nearby, and that these mountains get snow such that I can continue to enjoy the sport I love. I know keeping this mentality will do me some good as the years go on - it doesn't matter the level, just that I'm outside, I'm skiing, and I'm having fun.
rickbolger
I don't have any wise words on this, I'm spinning your thread into what I consider to be a related question...
I'm finding myself in a weird stage in my mid 60s where almost every aspect of going skiing -- aside from the actual skiing -- has increasingly become an enormous pain in the ass.
Pack the stuff, wax the skis (nah, do that next time) try to find the pass, where are my gloves, what about packing lunch the prices at the lodge are terrible, drive in a snowstorm, park out in the boonies and ride a bus or hump my stuff, some places have no cubbies, others have no place to boot up like a normal human, too many people, lines are often too long, some places the trails are too crowded, some places the chair takes an eternity, and on and on.
Many of these problems seem to be a lot lesser on the rare non-holiday weekdays that I ski. Unfortunately I'm too young (or too poor) to retire, so I'm mostly skiing Saturdays in Maine. Half the time it's five below zero when I get out of bed, which is brutal. I don't go to Sunday River because I can't stand the Saturday mob scene, and I don't go to Wildcat because they clearly can't get their act together AND they have a mob scene.
So I drive longer distances to the smaller ski areas with short lines but lifts that, if you shaved at the bottom, you'd need to shave again when you get off at the top. Can't ski in the trees lest I wind up eating through a tube so I'm on groomers and down at the bottom in no time. The idea of another loooong lift ride to ski the same two open trails is mind numbing so I go in the lodge and drink overpriced beer and eat my lukewarm homemade burrito out of tinfoil and wish I were somewhere else.
I wind up with 4 hours of moving stuff around and driving and waiting on lines and riding lifts to obtain 20ish minutes of actually gliding on snow. I realize this is a first world problem but it's making my ski days drop every year.
The rare weekdays at Sunday River or Okemo or Burke or Mad River Glen etc. even Black NH (last year) were terrific. Middlebury on Saturdays is actually fantastic but the drive from my Middlebury related lodging makes it a tough deal. Gore was a wonderful go-to but its become an overpriced, over-complicated situation.
If I didn't absolutely love skiing I wouldn't bother doing all the effort. Somehow I did this for years -- with kids -- and it didn't faze me. I gotta believe that this is why a lot of people just stop skiing after they age out of the family ski trips.
Somebody please tell me that retiring and skiing weekdays will make this better!
I'm hoping I'll make it to my 70s without this being too much work for too little payoff.
JimK
Yes, retiring and skiing weekdays helps immensely. I can imagine this would be a really big deal in New England where weekdays are practically a ghost town at most places compared to weekends.
Also, so far I have eight free or nearly free ski days spread over two seasons for being age 70+. That is a pretty fun development too, which means all your paying for to ski is gas money.
I hear you on the logistics Rick. That's where going skiing with buddies helps, share driving, costs, food, and sometimes equipment.
As I mentioned in my opening post, I really like skiing in April in Utah. You have to make time for those sunny, uncrowded, friendly ski days in New England springtime.
Two years ago I skied with an 84 year old guy at Diamond Peak, NV. He was a long time skier and still quite skilled, but what really impressed me was that he drove himself from the other side of Lake Tahoe, parked in the lot with the rest of us, and schlepped his gear to the lodge like the rest of us. Just booting up at that age has got to involve considerable exertion. He had a great attitude and I enjoyed making turns with him. His dad had served in WWI :*
Schweig_1
I’m in my 50’s. My strategy to mitigate old age is to ski more. It seams as though skiing enthusiasts live longer lives, for example Warren Miller (93). I rationalize it by the theory that skiing improves balance and strengthens bones. Astronauts who have spent a lot of time in space actually lose bone density because of the lack of gravity, so I’m guessing that skiing has the opposite effect. I get into shape every season by using a Skier’s Edge exercise machine.
To prevent boredom, I add a few ski places to my season that are new to me, or ones that I haven’t skied in a long time. Two years ago I skied Saddleback for the first time. Last season I skied Kitzbühel. My parents are in their mid 80’s, and they encourage me to ski while I am still young.
hazlntskier
While I am not really 'senior' I am rapidly getting there. I am still able to ski most of the terrain in New England. Skiing weekdays helps a lot especially with the slopes being less crowded and not skied off as much. Probably the biggest thing I do now that I did not do when I was younger is "assume" gaining a lot of speed it is "going to work out" when going down a steeper slope or trail. Today I approach things slower because I find that if you build up too much speed I don't have the stamina or strength to manage the speed for any length of time. Also as mentioned one wrong fall and that can be the end. So far my reaction time etc. is good enough to not hold me back too much. The other thing I do is rest for 45 plus minutes for lunch, even taking a short nap in the lodge.
Bkroon9175
I am 66 and I enjoy every minute that I ski. My goal each day on the hill is to just have fun. Whether it is WV, Jay or Blue Hills - the goal is the same = “enjoyment”. I listen to my body. Some days it is cruisers and some days it is full bore. A good day is to be out early, have a mid morning coffee and ski until I feel done. Some days it is 4 hours and some days is open to close. I have grown to truly appreciate the smaller mountains and fewer crowds. Skiing with younger people establishes a barometer of my performance. Skiing with grandkids and seeing their improvement brings joy.
ciscokid
Boy Jim this thread topic hits me to the core. I am 66.5, overweight, and don’t have a close geographic ski buddy. My mind is sharp, my body is meh. Big gut,( not beer) just plain lazy. Thank God I quit smoking a couple years back. I have the general Midwest blues. Been everywhere, skied everything and bought the Blackjack sweat shirt.
I skied the west 7 yrs in a row in my late 30s when I moved halfway there from jersey to Mich. My wife doesn’t ski, An hour and a half drive to Caberfae is a hassle and I can ski tues or thurs silver streak for $30. My good friend Ted(Miskier) stopped inviting me to meet up and I don’t blame him. My middle grandson is now 18, a great athletic snowboarder, can drive gramps but would rather park rat w his buds or hang with his girlfriend. Discouraged.
But… there could be a comeback. Currently free skiing at Nubs Nob over 70( 3 yrs from Jan) and my oldest grandson is a permanent resident married man living in the Twin Falls Idaho vicinity. So lodging and use of a vehicle is a great incentive for this cheap Dutchman. If and when great grandchild # 1 arrives all the more incentive to do Idaho with a Indy. The great greed demon is slow to devour the smaller areas there. I’m sure 18 yr old Brenny would accompany gramps to visit his bro in Idaho.
Mentally I live off the past ski life, enjoyed a 9 day upper peninsula, Lutsen, Whitecap trip 3 yrs ago but never did Bohemia. My skis are like 20 yrs old and a new pair would probably reinvigorate the old leg bones, Day by day and with each passing hour.
Old Sun Valley looked sweet, too bad my pocketbook isn’t. After 43 yrs of married bliss the wife still wears the pants but will spend bucu bucks golfing. So there you have it.
JimK
Schweig: use it or lose it.
Haz: pace yourself.
BK: every day is a gift.
Cisco: first, there is more to life than skiing and it sounds like you have a wonderful extended family. Bravo. Secondly, if it's in your future, use a few of those $30 days to train for Ted, then meet him when you're ready. He'll inspire you. Piggybacking on kids/grandkids is something I'm very familiar with to access skiing! Go for it. It's good for them and you. No doubt, new ski gear would fire you up. Is there a place nearby where you could buy used, five-year-old skis for cheap?
Beast Patroller
I turned 65 last Oct. and just retired back in mid Feb. I have a retired friend who skis at my level and my wife who is a solid intermediate skier to go out with. Between mid Feb. and early April I got in 15 days on top of the pre-retirement days (around 8-10 days).
Currently, I'm going to the gym at least 3 days a week and I'm planning to get a bike. My goal is 40-50 days this coming season and try to ski into May. Outside of needing to lose some weight, I'm in good shape & health so I'm still skiing pretty hard like I did in my younger days. Unfortunately I don't ski moguls much anymore because my knees won't tolerate it but I still try some.
I'm not sure how many more years I can ski but I will "adjust" my skiing & terrain as needed so I can continue a sport I've enjoyed since 1967 (age 8). Hopefully I can continue skiing well into my 80s but time will tell.
pagamony
Ski as long as I can. TBH, that is only about 10 days per year. I'm now 61, naturally plan to retire in a few years, then test my mettle. One looming problem is my angry swollen arthritic torn-miniscus left knee. I've come to accept I'll never be a Jim K or anyone else on this board, but man I do love to get out in the winter mountains and slide around.
Kayaker
I have found that it is very imporant to keep up with off season conditioning. You can't just jump on the skis and go like you used to do. I'm just south of 70 and consider conditioning a year round effort. While it can be boring, you should be thinking not that you are doing squats (for example), but you are insuring that you will be able to ski at a high level next winter.
joshua_segal
At 79, I think I'm the oldest who has checked in on this thread. I spoke to a gerontologist, then in his 80s when I was still in my 50s. I asked him what the secret to skiing into one's 80s and 90s.
He replied, "Two things. First, you can't get injured. If you do, you will heal very slowly, if at all. And second, if you work hard, you can keep what you've got. If you lose it, you can't get it back." I've lived by that choosing control over speed every run.
I will add: good eating, good luck on health issues and probably some good genetics.
JimK
joshua_segal;c-69398 wroteAt 79, I think I'm the oldest who has checked in on this thread. I spoke to a gerontologist, then in his 80s when I was still in my 50s. I asked him what the secret to skiing into one's 80s and 90s.
He replied, "Two things. First, you can't get injured. If you do, you will heal very slowly, if at all. And second, if you work hard, you can keep what you've got. If you lose it, you can't get it back." I've lived by that choosing control over speed every run.
I will add: good eating, good luck on health issues and probably some good genetics.
Yes, staying as active as possible is key.
About injuries in old age, I always thought Klaus Obermeyer's recovery from a broken femur at age 91 and subsequent return to skiing at 92 was pretty amazing!
{Obermeyer was skiing down Racer’s Edge at Buttermilk-Tiehack during his lunch break on March 2, 2011 when he ran into a rope erected for a special event. He didn’t see the rope, he joked, because he had his eyes closed.
He spent the spring and summer of 2011 recovering from his broken leg. Obermeyer said lots of exercise and physical therapy brought his muscles back.
“Now they’re so good, I forgot which leg it was,” Obermeyer quipped at his birthday party. He punctuated the point by lifting his left and standing only on the repaired right leg.
Klaus Obermeyer vowed when he broke his right femur in a ski accident in March that he would be back on the slopes at the start of the 2011-12 season. He is a man of his word. Obermeyer took eight runs at Aspen Mountain on Thanksgiving Day 2011 , and as of early December he has been out on the slopes every day since except one.}
Klaus Obermeyer celebrated his 105th Birthday on Dec 2, 2024, see video
here
LaurelHillCrazie
I don't think about aging out. I mean I do think about mortality but that's another subject. I just figure I'm going to continue doing what I'm doing until I can't. I know my thrill meter is dialed back. I still ski stupid fast, for my age (71). I ski local, mostly on the same three trails that have snowmaking. One of those trails averages about 30* or 60% grade, not super steep but that keeps me focused. On those rare weeks we get good coverage on the rest of the mountain, I'm skiing the natural and seldom on the snowmaking. I live about an hour and a half from Laurel so I dislike schlepping the gear to the lodge every other day and the drive to and from is a drag. I'm retired so midweek skiing is for me and my wife who is 6 years younger than me and two adult children, who are very, good join us for day trips and vacations. So that's a big plus. Being a "local" helps with a ready made social life. I'll hit the other Laurel Highland resorts on the Epic Pass and I'll drive to Timberline to mix up my day trips but T-line is almost a 4 hour drive. The last few years we've been skiing a dozen days at NE Epic resorts with the majority at Stowe then about 4 days at Sunapee and a a few more at other Epic Pass resorts. We'll get back out west as soon as we stop getting unexpected life expenses that limit our budget for travel.
So my recipe for senior skiing (I hate the term) is get out as often as possible, Ski with family and friends, ski as much or as little as the day dictates. Don't get too hung up on goals that my lead to disappointment but keep a healthy attitude towards improvement. Accept where you are in the moment, be it skill wise or terrain challenge. Go for it if confident and in the zone. Cruise and take it easy if you have an "off" day. Always set a goal for fun.
I'm now recovering from the first major internal organ surgery to repair a lifetime of diverticulosis. It's a different animal from the various ortho surgeries I've had so, my off season is to rehab, regain muscle mass, and stamina and continue to keep the old man out. Then hit the slopes and enjoy once again that exquisite sensation of gliding upright on snow.
trackbiker
I turned 65 this past February and semi retired at the end of March. I work two weekdays a week and hope to get in a lot of weekday skiing next season on my three midweek days off.
I think staying active is very important. I walk every day at lunch when I work unless it is pouring rain and have for years when I was working full time, no matter how hot or cold it is. I sit at a desk all day except for taking a stroll through the shop once in a while. When people would ask me if I was going to walk today on very hot or cold days my reply was, " There's always an excuse not to." I ride my bike as much as I can. I have a ten mile loop I do on the trail closest to my house on weekdays. I think bike riding really helps to keep your legs in shape for skiing. I have a fishing kayak and while I kayak mainly to fish, I get a lot of paddling in when fishing. When I was working full time I would try to get one midweek night of night skiing per week at one of the bumps not too far from where I work and live.
I'm sure everyone who has commented here has been asked when skiing comes up in conversation, "You still ski???!". It's very easy to fall into a sedentary lifestyle in this country. The farthest a lot of people walk every day is from the front door to their car. You see them riding scooters in amusement parks because they can't walk from one end of the park to the other. (Yes, some people have true ailments through no fault of their own. But many because they haven't exercised in 40 years.)
I've always skied many times by myself. This past year was the first time I thought about what would happen if I got seriously injured. I started skiing slower on the sides of trails because it seems that those trees jumping out at you are the main cause of serious injury or death.
I have a friend who just turned 83 who was a farmer most of his life and still dabbles a bit in it. He heats his house with wood and can cut and stack wood better than most 20 year olds. Part of it is likely genetics but I think most of it is because he stayed active his whole life.
Even if it gets to the point where I can't ski some trails, I've always enjoyed being outside and can't think of a time that I regretted going skiing.
pagamony
I often have an encounter like one this year where I met a guy at Steamboat who is 70+ and rents the same condo every year for Jan, Feb, and March. His goal is to ski every day. Said he generally gets 90+. Lives in Minneapolis. He had such a great attitude. I think skiing is a more the secret to staying young than the other way around.
JimK
Junior Bounous, one of the legendary founders of Snowbird and a fantastic skier, has turned age 100 today. He still skis at Snowbird periodically.
Here's a great video/interview with him covering some of his extensive ski history.
