Septuagenarian skiing

How does one’s relationship with skiing evolves past the age of 70? That question is something I’m asking myself everyday and wondering how other skiers in that age group respond to it. 

The most obvious hurdle is fear of getting hurt through falling or collisions, especially these days on super-groomed runs. Getting back up can also be a major issue, especially in deep snow. 

There are also problems associated with age, like sens-related issues such as loss of balance, poor eyesight, hearing-loss, blurred memory as well as chronic pain whether joint or back related. In addition, it’s fair to mention a decrease in muscular strength and more physical fatigue for the same amount of exercise.

Let’s not forget an overall body stiffening due to a hardening of the muscles, tendons and other tissues that make shock absorption far less efficient and I’m not mentioning bones that become weaker. 

Living close to a ski area also plays a huge role. If skiing is distant the older person will ski far less often and may resent the enormous of time absorbed by the sport itself, the commuting time and the traffic conditions (crowded roads, parking difficulties and driving on snow).

Cost can also play a role in terms of the soaring price of lifts tickets or season pass, obsolete or won out equipment that should be upgraded, gloves that need to be replaced and maybe a helmet that should be added to the panoply. 

There are other issues to like not having one or several partners to ski with, particularly when the spouse doesn’t or no longer wants to ski. 

Finally, with each new year, there seem to be more apprehension towards starting a seasonal routine as it takes a very strong motivation to turn the switch on and decide to enlist for yet another winter. 

If you think of other issues, let me know and we’ll add them to the list as I intend to develop that topic in future blogs. Tomorrow, I’ll tell you the good reasons for keeping skiing as a septuagenarian!