Hello Sno Lovers, ZARDOG, Birdmon....
What is funny: I did not seek to be a skier or ski racer, but things happen.
Or start a nightclub that allowed me to ski for free for 25 years. Plus, give away 80% of my perks.
The real joy was teaching and helping people be better than they thought they could be.
I wondered why my racing had flaws, and I know why - a birth defect.
Balance off, Scared of heights.
Over 6 years, my body has been reconstructed. 2 Hips, 3-level cervical fusion, and Lumbar 1-level fusion.
Every procedure came out 100%. The question is when to retire, or at least tone down my risk.
I am no longer scared of heights, my hips and function are better than ever.
We know the speeds and physics. easy to avg 25 mph and max close to 55 mph.
A lot to ponder.
I will say life is an adventure, and I have had a fun life so far, but pushing the envelope now does not make sense.
I got to ski race against Olympic racers.
A Race team that made the top 50 in the USA.
Delivered $125,000 in gross sales to SnowTime Inc.
My new adventure is Amateur Radio, for fun and for my resume.
Working with youth to upskill.
Baltimore Amateur Radio Club.
Under 18 free as free can be. Start in middle school, high school, and add trades or community college for free.
Take Care all,
Ed, aka Zardog.
Ed, you know the saying. You didn't quit skiing because you got old. You got old because you quit skiing. Only you can be the gauge. I say keep going. On those days when your "on" give it all that you have, safely. If your "off" that day, dial it back and enjoy a cruise. Amateur radio looks like a fun but passive hobby. Skiing keep you moving and as young as your body can be regardless of your age. Have you read Jim Kenney's Aging into skiing? Here's the link: dcski.com
Hi friend!
Yeah that was fun! I thought I was totally into giving up skiing as some of my previous posts indicate. Moved to Pacifica CA 50 feet from the Pacific Ocean and Mary and I had a wonderful time there - but - I miss the skiing even though I said I don't care any more. We are in Sparks, NV now and the snow on the mountains are calling me. OK totally weak; TLDR: I need it again so we are going to hit the local little hills I hope I can remember how to lay trenches again. It's in the blood and I have been denying it lately. The Universe gifted me and I am just going to follow the path.
I didn't choose it it chose me.
Damit
ZARDOG wrote:
"... I will say life is an adventure, and I have had a fun life so far, but pushing the envelope now does not make sense."
I have been skiing since I was 5 and I'm 52 now. I teach skiing to mostly youngsters - some adults. As for personal skiing, I do typically take it easy but sometimes rip it. I don't have much to prove, and I've been around long enough to know that. I'm thankful that I haven't had many injuries or setbacks during those 47 years. I'll keep skiing because it balances me and always helps me to stay focused on something.
My "most westest" trip was to whistler-blackcomb in 2007/2008. That was merely a preamble to what destination skiing would come to be; always been a northeast skier. I'll end with the idea that - wherever you are / wherever you're from - those local hills make you what you are as a skier.
At Sugarbush / castle rock chair - 2007 - double chair. I saw an elderly lady in a full length winter coat absolutely killing it down the slope (think northeast crud and corn). I could only stand by and watch as I tried to sketch my way down. That told me all I needed to know about what skiing is and what it should mean to the beholder.
^ True. That's the thing about skiing - there's no one way to go about it. Skiers are usually bikers, hikers, and many other things in the off season - or any season, really.
I have invested a good bit of life/time into skiing, but no guarantees for that investment. I'd like to ski well into my 80s or something like that, but I'll have to adjust just like anyone else if entropy just happens and I'm not able to.
Patf1engineer wrote:
It is funny, I am looking to retire to skiing......
I thought the same.
With a snow-hating wife, a new grandkid in FL, my goal of 20+ days on the slopes each winter quickly ended.
We spent 20 + days in FL in Jan / Feb. March is retiree golf practice in Myrtle Beach.
I skied 2 days in Dec and came up sick and missed a trip this past Sun / Mon.
2027 is looking like Jan, Feb and Mar in FL.
Looks like December skiing is my new norm.
One thing stood out this winter - my flip flops were much lighter than skis, boots and poles at the airport.
pagamony wrote:
I think a lot of us go through latent more or less ski periods. I have, and I think about it, but lately snow falls and I try to kick the old ski pigskin again. One day I want to be that old guy going down Casterock, but biking on a flat trail near a southern beach is not a bad alternative.
I had a blast skiing with pagamony recently in Utah. I am feeling my age (72) this winter. After something like 35 ski days I still don't feel like I'm in satisfactory "ski shape". Jelly legs after even just a half day. Endurance not what it used to be, and that's especially noticeable when somebody takes me down a long double diamond. I had my statin Rx doubled last fall and I'm wondering if that is having an effect on my muscles, but most likely I'm just getting old :-) Main thing, still avoiding injury, but even that was a challenge while dealing with dangerous low tide snow conditions in Utah over the first half of the season. Things have improved nicely in Utah over the last two weeks, but still - be careful out there folks.
PS: Ed, I hope you enjoy the next phase of life as much as you enjoyed the past!
At 64, I now enjoy dancing with the mountain
Instead of trying to dominate it. Slow down and
Enjoy the greens and the blues. Don't ski all day,
And take advantage of rest days to recover, so you
Can still get outside and ski later in the week.
As long as you can ski and enjoy it, then keep skiing.
Good way of saying it. I see so many kids racing every weekend, and it's pretty impressive. I wish them well and hope they can continue to kill it. I've taken a different path and have enjoyed skiing in my own way. I'll stick with that; again, nothing to prove. nobody to prove it to. When you lose your legs mid-day, take a break.
Bird Dog wrote:
At 64, I now enjoy dancing with the mountain
Instead of trying to dominate it. Slow down and
Enjoy the greens and the blues. Don't ski all day,
And take advantage of rest days to recover, so you
Can still get outside and ski later in the week.
As long as you can ski and enjoy it, then keep skiing.
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