Skiing in Your 80’s – You Bet!
Category: Adventurous retirement
April 3, 2024 – When you were a lot younger, could you ever imagine someone in their 80’s, even 90’s, who was still skiing? Well get over that, because the slopes in some resorts have plenty of octogenarians gracefully coming down their trails. Some ski areas are welcoming them with deals and events too.
One of those is Aspen, Colorado. Although a daily lift ticket can approach $300 on holiday weekends, it offers a senior season pass to skiers over 70 for $799. Alta, the longstanding resort in Utah, offers a season pass to people over 80 for a $50 admin fee (but years ago it was available to people over 75). It even has a seniors ski club, the Wild Old Bunch, with many members in their 90s. Other resorts offer substantial discounts for 70+ skiers too.
Taking precautions
Older skiers do have to be more careful because of physical limitations. A NY Times article, “Chasing Powder in Their 80’s and 90’s”, recommends taking precautions like not skiing in bad conditions, avoiding crowds, and knowing the terrain for safe longevity on the slopes. Keeping a safe distance from speeding and out of control skiers is essential for avoiding a serious accident. Medical experts advise that skiers make the effort to train before going out on the slopes. As far as when it is time to hang up the boards, cardiovascular health is more likely to end someone’s skiing career than age, says Dr. Gina Fernandez, an assistant professor at Dartmouth’s medical school.
Best Ski Resorts for Older Skiers
See this list of the 10 best ski resorts for retirees for ideas about resorts that will welcome you. Waterville Valley in New Hampshire has an active 50+ ski program, and offers season passes to super seniors (80+) for only $25. Copper Mountain in Colorado has a legacy skiing club for those 50 and older, dubbed the “Over the Hill Gang.”
Bottom line
We’re not finished yet!
Comments on "Skiing in Your 80’s – You Bet!"
Mary Ellen Jensen says:
Loved this article!
Stevo says:
I decided to work for Vail Resorts at a small Mid-Atlantic resort in the area this past winter. I was a guest scanner who worked mostly at easier and more difficult slop lifts. When I scanned the guest I got a picture with their age to verify them.
It was amazing how many people over 70 there were skiing, some almost every weekday. They all met in a certain part of the lodge to socialize and get ready for the morning. The oldest was a man who was 94yo and came with his 86yo brother. Another 86yo woman who came almost every day was like part of my family by the time the season ended. She saved all her season passes through the years and had 50 of them. I can only hope that I'll be in the same shape and skiing 20 years from now.
Bill Bamber, Edmonton Ab. says:
Yippee!! One 4 "The Old Guys!!" We can still "Go"!!
Frank says:
This July I will turn 86. This month I will be purchasing my 20th Epic Senior Tahoe Local ski pass, with the HOPE that I can return to skiing Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe. Two years ago I stepped off at the top of the gondola (8,500 ft.)with skis and poles in hand, walked down the steps, and started the 100 Yard trek to the chairlift that would take me up to a little over 10,000 ft. I had to stop my trek half way there! I was out of breath, and a bit light headed. I stood there for about 3 or 4 minutes before I resumed my trek. This time I headed toward the lodge and parked my skis, bought a hot chocolate and sat down outside for about 15 minutes while thinking about what to do next. It was a beautiful day, blue sky, no wind, temperatures in the mid 20s, great snow and no snowboarders!! I had to ski!! So, off I went, only 25 yards to the chairlift. No problem, the 15 min. rest and the hot chocolate had worked wonders. I skied for nearly 3 hours at altitudes between 8,500-10,000ft with no real problems. But, I did find that I skied (more like cruising) only intermediate or easy slopes, stopping for a short rest 2 or 3 times on each run. Boy, I was thinking this old guy is really out of shape. That was true, even though I was still playing single’s tennis 2 to 3 hours a day three days a week after having both knees replaced four years earlier and sarcoma ( cancer) surgery on my left leg two years earlier.
Fast forward to 2024. I did not ski in 2023 ( wound care left leg) due to ski boot that rubbed against an open post surgery wound on my left leg. So, singles tennis was out, but I could play doubles. I noticed that my tennis court endurance and balance had deteriorated. I took two falls on the court and decided that something else was wrong. My Doctor gave me an EKG during my annual physical, and suggested I see a cardiologist and to take a stress test and an echocardiogram. This led to an angiogram which detected a blockage on the right side, no stent could be put in, and that my heart had established new vanes on the right side that supplied about 70% of the blood flow needed. The left side of the heart has a 30% blockage that does not warrant a stent at this time. For more than 40 years I have been on a medical regimen of LIPITOR and ASPIRIN that has helped to reduce cholesterol and build up in my arteries. I have been moved to a more aggressive medical regimen AND, I am now enrolled in a MEDICARE APPROVED Outpatient Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (3 times a week for 8 weeks) run by PALOMAR HEALTH. The program includes supervised exercise, diet and weight control, and medication and live style guidance. I can continue with my tennis, and I look forward to limited skiing in the new year.