Start to the Ski season

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Vermont is off to a great start this year..... we actually have natural snow ..... last year the woods were brown till just after Christmas ..... Sooooooooooo I went last Fri. & again today ..... I try and get in shape prior to the season but the exercises can't match what REAL skiing will do .... At my age ( almost 77 ) I have nothing to prove , so I take it easy and stop before I get sloppy .... it will take a bit of time .... but I can't ride the Spyder so this will have to do .....stay safe .... Mike

[Yabbadabbadoo]

I'm 64 and I sure hope I can still ski when I'm in my 70's!

[ARtraveler]

Be very careful out there.

[2dogs]

Stop that Mike, I can't ski anymore. You make me jealous. My knees are shot now and I can hardly get on and off my spyder. Way too many moguls and PLFs in my younger days. But have fun for me anyway.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Stop that Mike, I can't ski anymore. You make me jealous. My knees are shot now and I can hardly get on and off my spyder. Way too many moguls and PLFs in my younger days. But have fun for me anyway.

Thanks .... I know how the age & dis-ability things are .... I have issues with leg strength/stamina & they haven't figured out what the problem is YET .... So I keep to the shorter more modest slopes ..... I'm working on building my stamina up .... But I'm still having a great time at it. .....Last season I got to ski with my 7 year old Grandson, but it only lasted for three runs and then I was toast, but those three runs were fun ......Mike

[wyliec]

Mike,

The only thing I have to say is GOOD ON YOU, and keep it going. We were in Lake Placid a year ago in June. We went to where the winter Olympics had been held years ago. I saw something that interested me in the shop/store there. It was skis on wheels. I thought that would be a good place to start, never being on skis, and good exercise. I was partially right. Someone in the ski shop that actually used them and spent time talking to me said that that is not the place to start learning how to ski down hill, but it was good exercise. So, I gave up on that idea. Have a great winter Mike.

[2dogs]

Thanks .... I know how the age & dis-ability things are .... I have issues with leg strength/stamina & they haven't figured out what the problem is YET .... So I keep to the shorter more modest slopes ..... I'm working on building my stamina up .... But I'm still having a great time at it. .....Last season I got to ski with my 7 year old Grandson, but it only lasted for three runs and then I was toast, but those three runs were fun ......Mike

As we age it takes longer to get your ski legs back. Make long traverses and relax between turns. Make your traverses more across the hill rather than down the hill. By the end of the season, you'll be in great shape. Stemchristy your turns, it's easier on the legs. Unless you are really good, slow parallel turns are more difficult and take a lot of practice. Slow parallel turns are what we use to call "leg burners." If you don't have a bota with you then a hot rum and brandy every couple of hours works well.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

As we age it takes longer to get your ski legs back. Make long traverses and relax between turns. Make your traverses more across the hill rather than down the hill. By the end of the season, you'll be in great shape. Stemchristy your turns, it's easier on the legs. Unless you are really good, slow parallel turns are more difficult and take a lot of practice. Slow parallel turns are what we use to call "leg burners." If you don't have a bota with you then a hot rum and brandy every couple of hours works well.

I'm doing exactly what you suggested ..... However, (for me at least), I don't feel it's easier to Stem Christie ..... I have "exaggerated" SHAPED ski's that almost turn by themselves when you transfer your weight. ..... also Less turning & more traversing is easier on the legs (for me) .... thanks for the tips and encouragement .... I plan on skiing today (Thurs.) ..... Mike

[2dogs]

I'm doing exactly what you suggested ..... However, (for me at least), I don't feel it's easier to Stem Christie ..... I have "exaggerated" SHAPED ski's that almost turn by themselves when you transfer your weight. ..... also Less turning & more traversing is easier on the legs (for me) .... thanks for the tips and encouragement .... I plan on skiing today (Thurs.) ..... Mike

We are riding spyders nowadays for the same reason we're riding parabolic skis. Like Clint said, "Just don't let the old man in"!