Issue 01 - Train to Gain for Skiing and Riding
Issue 02 - New Olympic Fever: See World Cup Races
Issue 03 - 10 Age-Old Secrets For Skiing Forever
Issue 04 - Sweetest Ride: Try Custom Boards
Issue 05 - Rockies Family Fun: Make a Great Escape
Issue 06 - Skiing the Rockies: Experts' Top Tips
Issue 07 - Best Snow in 19 Years: Ski Banff National Park



 
Issue. 03
 
10 Age-Old Secrets For Skiing Forever

 

Here are 10 age-old secrets of success with skiing tips that don’t get old, from an inspiring downhill ski club whose members are aged into their 90s.

If you ever thought that growing older or being injured was a hurdle to skiing or snowboarding well, think again. I did, after riding up on the chair this season at Nakiska, the mountain resort where the 1988 winter Olympics were held near Calgary.

When the woman turned to me on the chair as we rode up toward another black diamond run, I thought: “Man, she looks kind of old. I hope she’s got someone skiing with her.”

A few minutes later, Eva Wagner, 82, and others older in her downhill ski group would blow past me on that black diamond run. At a spry 52, I had some lessons to learn.

Never Too Old to Learn

In the next few rides up on the chair, I sat with members of the Calgary-based Seniors Alpine Ski Club (motto: Fitness, Fellowship and Fun for 55+) who had knees replaced, shoulders operated upon, ribs broken and mended, and they were still skiing -- as hard, or harder, than I was, even on double black runs.

One of the club members had his arm in a sling and was laying down perfect tracks. Yet another guy was skiing with an oxygen tank.

So I interviewed club president Tom Swaddle (see below) to get the lowdown on how his members keep on keeping on with such success. From our discussion I culled 10 secrets of success – my suggested rules, in Tom’s words.

1. Don’t Give Up

The first thing to do it is don’t give up on skiing. Rather, increase the time you spend skiing, especially as you retire.

2. Get Attitude

You need to develop a mindset that you are going to make it a lifetime activity.

3. Keep Fit

As one gets older, of course there are more risks of illness or injury, so you do need to condition accordingly.

Back problems are fairly common as you get older. The club does run fitness training just before the season begins and it encourages people to go as a group.

4. Gain Strength With Others

Some of our members gain strength from people’s participation, especially for fitness. Many of them do swear by that and it gives them a good start on the season.

5.  Try and Adapt

One of our members gives professional lessons and prefers to do so at the advanced level, as many of our people can ski quite well. But they have made adaptations so they can ski even better.

6. Be Open to New Challenges

I skied mostly backcountry here in Alberta. I actually didn’t get into regular downhill skiing until recently, because it’s harder to find people to go with into the backcountry as you get older. People find excuses not to go.  I joined the seniors alpine ski club when I turned 65 and I am 72 this year.

So you do learn with new challenges. The knees give out in most people and this means you have to take it easy on moguls. I was never very happy on icy hard pack and in the backcountry you don’t normally encounter moguls. So I have had to learn to ski moguls and hard pack, which is a new challenge.

7. Shape Up with Shaped Skis

Take advantage of the advent of shaped skis. Several of our members will tell you that moving to shaped skis has helped them immensely, particularly with their knees. It makes skiing safer and easier.

8. Stay Social

One of the advantages of belonging to a club like ours is we have a lot of fun and social functions and ski days. Also we do ski tours where we go various places. And we usually have overnighters at Sunshine Village and Marmot Ski Resort.

9. Try Alberta Mountains

I like Sunshine Village, I have a season’s pass. They have the longest season and they natural snow. Marmot Basin is one of the more accessible of our bus tours and I like the area quite a lot. They do a tremendous job of husbanding the snow.
(Editor’s Note: Other choices in Alberta include Mt. Norquay, Castle Mountain and Lake Louise Ski Area).

10. Wear a Helmet

The trouble is that the older you get any injury takes longer to recover, so we are conscious of potential injury. I was wearing a helmet when someone traversed into me, and I went through the air and came down on my head, so I was really glad for the helmet. I’d recommend wearing a helmet. Find one that fits comfortably.