Skiing after 60+

[O2Bfree]

I haven't downhill skied for about six years—partly thanks to Covid—and am thinking about getting back into it. I skied a lot in my 20s through mid-40s, including some backcountry on randonee gear and have done a little XC the past couple years on a great old pair of Karhu Lookouts, climbing up the slope to get to the trails rather than riding the lift, and snowplowing/walking down the slope.

My main concern of course is falling and getting injured. A friend who's 65 and an avid skier recently crashed and tore more ligaments in his knee than I knew it had. He's currently limping around in an impressive brace, waiting for some areas to heal before getting surgery on his ACL. He did say that his ski didn't pop off, though his DIN setting wasn't too high. But maybe it's at the upper end of his appropriate range. I tend to keep mine in the low-middle setting for my range.

I've crashed plenty of times in the past skiing, windsurfing, and mountain biking, with no serious injury, but now I'm 60 and though I'm still pretty fit I'm feeling a little wimpy.

So how are you 60+ skiers doing these days? Still cutting up the pow and conquering the moguls? Dealing with any injuries? Sticking to the blue squares/red circles? Thinking it's about time for that final run? Like this guy, going out on a career high with class:

 

[braumeister]

I still ski in my 70s, and I'm always impressed by how many of us oldsters I meet out on the slopes. Possibly because many ski areas give substantial discounts at that age.

My only suggestion is that in the months before your skiing, you really need to strengthen those leg muscles, especially the quads. Also make sure your core is stable.

 

[audreyh1]

Gosh, I overdid skiing around age 30 and my knees never recovered. So that ended my skiing career.

 

[O2Bfree]

I still ski in my 70s, and I'm always impressed by how many of us oldsters I meet out on the slopes. Possibly because many ski areas give substantial discounts at that age.

My only suggestion is that in the months before your skiing, you really need to strengthen those leg muscles, especially the quads. Also make sure your core is stable.

That's encouraging, thanks! I'm still in pretty good shape, as I lift weights 3x/week and do box jumps and cycling. But I'd certainly take it easy the first day, maybe even hitting the beginner slope for few runs.

 

[Sojourner]

Well, I'm not quite 60 yet (still another five full years to go), but unless something about my health and physical fitness drastically changes, I have no doubt I'll still be an avid skier in my seventh decade. I've been averaging about 10-20 days on the mountain each ski season over the past ten years, and I just don't see that changing much. Sure, a twisted ankle or knee is always a possibility, but that's life. My worst injuries on the slopes happened when I was much younger, so I haven't yet seen any age correlation there.

Now, will I be doing any long, steep, black moguls when I'm 65? Probably not. Moguls are a young man's game, IMHO, given the stress and strain on the joints, but nice groomed blues and blacks... oh yeah! I'll keep doing those as long as I can. I'll consider it a happy life accomplishment if I'm still cruising down groomed ■ and ◆ runs once I crest the 70 year mark. Something to shoot for, I guess!

 

[O2Bfree]

Gosh, I overdid skiing around age 30 and my knees never recovered. So that ended my skiing career.

I had to give up running because my knees were getting too sore the next day. Skiing never bothered them, but might now. I think they do get a little swollen after a day of vigorous cycling.

Did you have specific injuries or general joint pain?

 

[Kabowest]

I just returned, at age 62, from a ski trip here in the NE. We have been skiing the same mountain (Sunday River Maine) for over 20 years and there are trails for all levels. In younger years we would ski them all, but these days we stay away from the steepest and narrowest trails - we also go midweek when it less crowded and a bit cheaper.

 

[O2Bfree]

My worst injuries on the slopes happened when I was much younger, so I haven't yet seen any age correlation there.

The biggest correlation with my ski injuries is how empty the bota bag was!

 

[O2Bfree]

I just returned, at age 62, from a ski trip here in the NE. We have been skiing the same mountain (Sunday River Maine) for over 20 years and there are trails for all levels. In younger years we would ski them all, but these days we stay away from the steepest and narrowest trails - we also go midweek when it less crowded and a bit cheaper.

So do most skiers wear helmets these days?

 

[braumeister]

So do most skiers wear helmets these days?

Where I ski, everyone wears one. At first I thought it was unnecessary, but I found that I really like it. Keeps my head warm.

 

[RunningBum]

My only suggestion is that in the months before your skiing, you really need to strengthen those leg muscles, especially the quads. Also make sure your core is stable.

Yes, this. And also what you said about having your bindings set properly.

I also learned to make sure the bottoms of my boots were clean so I'd clip in good. I had the same knee damage as your friend a few years ago, when a ski suddenly released and I lost control, and I landed badly. I wasn't even going very fast. I'm pretty sure the boot wasn't fully in the binding after a break a couple runs earlier.

Helmet, of course. Always.

I'm 61 and already bought my pass to the local ski hill for next year without hesitation, and deciding where to go out west. Blue and black groomers mostly for me. I would still like to cut in and out of the intermediate glades but the last few years I haven't been out in enough powder for me to feel safe in them. I found myself in moguls a few times this year and I did ok on them but it is work and just not that much fun for me.

I still go pretty fast, just a little slower each year to stay in control. Some people get hurt going too fast out of control. Others get hurt by getting run into someone going too fast. I figure with decent speed I have fewer chances of someone faster hitting me from behind. At least that's how I justify the thrill of speed.

On trips out west I don't ski first chair to last anymore. When I start getting tired and feel my form start to break down, I either take a break or head in. By that time others are getting tired too, and the snow is usually more inconsistent by then, so it's less safe. Sometimes I'll even take the gondola down from mid-mountain to avoid the crowded and poor condition run to the bottom.

 

[RunningBum]

Where I ski, everyone wears one. At first I thought it was unnecessary, but I found that I really like it. Keeps my head warm.

Most do, I see a few who don't. Really bad decision, IMO.

Get one with vents you can open for warm days. A balaclava can keep it extra warm on cold days, and try them on with goggles to eliminate the gap on your forehead.

 

[O2Bfree]

Where I ski, everyone wears one. At first I thought it was unnecessary, but I found that I really like it. Keeps my head warm.

I always tended to get too hot skiing. Rarely wore a hat, usually just pulled on my hood if it was cold. Of course this is in the Pacific Northwest where most days are in the 20s.

Are helmets big now mostly because the areas are so crowded? Seems to me that the chance of a collision on groomed runs increased when snowboarding took off, but then crowds have gotten a lot bigger too. And the number of people skiing/boarding in the trees.

 

[Sojourner]

Are helmets big now mostly because the areas are so crowded? Seems to me that the chance of a collision on groomed runs increased when snowboarding took off, but then crowds have gotten a lot bigger too. And the number of people skiing/boarding in the trees.

Yes, I think it's a combination of all those things, plus high-profile news stories about celebrities who've died due to head injuries on the slopes (Liam Neeson's wife, Michael Kennedy, Sonny Bono, etc.).

 

[Montecfo]

I always tended to get too hot skiing. Rarely wore a hat, usually just pulled on my hood if it was cold. Of course this is in the Pacific Northwest where most days are in the 20s.

Are helmets big now mostly because the areas are so crowded? Seems to me that the chance of a collision on groomed runs increased when snowboarding took off, but then crowds have gotten a lot bigger too. And the number of people skiing/boarding in the trees.

Liability.

 

[O2Bfree]

I had the same knee damage as your friend a few years ago, when a ski suddenly released and I lost control, and I landed badly. I wasn't even going very fast. I'm pretty sure the boot wasn't fully in the binding after a break a couple runs earlier.

Nice to hear that you recovered from that injury! I know people who've had knee and also hip replacements, and went back to skiing. Of course, when you're an athlete you're in shape already and are motivated to lean into therapy so you can get back to your sports. Many non-athletes who've had a joint replaced don't recover very well, or just continue their downhill slide to complete loss of mobility.

 

[audreyh1]

I had to give up running because my knees were getting too sore the next day. Skiing never bothered them, but might now. I think they do get a little swollen after a day of vigorous cycling.

Did you have specific injuries or general joint pain?

Knee pain, both. And I had to give up high impact aerobics after that trip because my knees became very sensitive to impact. They would get crunchy and stiff. I’ve since learned how to manage physical activity to avoid knee issues. No more jumping around for sure.

 

[donheff]

I skied a lot in my 50s and into my 60s. I even took up snowboarding when I was about 55. After my mid 60s I dropped it for no particular reason. Now, approaching 75, I won't go back because of concern about breaks. That said, my good friends in Vail who are my age are avid skiers and still hit the black diamond slopes.

 

[Willers]

I live in a ski town and ski 50-60 days a year. I just turned 60 so there is that.

I recently rode up with an 85 year old local who can ski like he’s 50. I’ve learned here that is more about health and fitness than age

Almost everyone here wears helmets. It is just smart. In a twisting fall you usually hit the back of your head. With a helmet no big deal. Without it is.

One saying we have is that you get in shape to ski rather than get in shape by skiing. In my experience that really helps reduce injuries. They can happen, of course, as in any sport.

YOLO. I find skiing to be one of my happy places. Not much beats a beautiful powder day with snowy trees and awesome views.

 

[Dtail]

Had to give up skiing at 40 when I had my ACL right knee surgery. Never the same.
However, I am able to play Pickleball 6x weekly, 4-5 hours daily with no pain thankfully.

 

[athena53]

Having been in a relationship with a member of the National Ski Patrol in my mid-20s, I heard many tales of the serious accident cases he and his fellow volunteers took off the mountain at Vernon Valley/Great Gorge. I also saw a lovely X-ray of a spiral fracture of the tibia of one of his skiing friends. I have only mediocre gross motor co-ordination myself so never attempted downhill skiing.

But... I still like cross-country skiing on occasion. Just two years ago (I would have been 68), my DIL's parents borrowed equipment from their local parks and rec department and I ventured out again on a local golf course. I don't enjoy cold-weather sports but it felt so good to get out on a sunny but cold day, and thanks to regular cardio my body held up nicely. I highly recommend it- you control your speed, injuries are far rarer and it's a good workout.

 

[Helen]

I just returned, at age 62, from a ski trip here in the NE.

At first I thought NE meant Nebraska. I don't recall seeing too many 'Ski Nebraska!' advertisements...

 

[O2Bfree]

Having been in a relationship with a member of the National Ski Patrol in my mid-20s, I heard many tales of the serious accident cases he and his fellow volunteers took off the mountain at Vernon Valley/Great Gorge. I also saw a lovely X-ray of a spiral fracture of the tibia of one of his skiing friends. I have only mediocre gross motor co-ordination myself so never attempted downhill skiing.

But... I still like cross-country skiing on occasion. Just two years ago (I would have been 68), my DIL's parents borrowed equipment from their local parks and rec department and I ventured out again on a local golf course. I don't enjoy cold-weather sports but it felt so good to get out on a sunny but cold day, and thanks to regular cardio my body held up nicely. I highly recommend it- you control your speed, injuries are far rarer and it's a good workout.

I've done a little XC on some metal-edge touring skis, which are wider than the "skinny" skis. We we went to a XC area with a groomed trail system. It was nice getting out in the snow on a sunny day! Those trails can be tricky though when icy or steep. I had to walk down some sections.

 

[kobedog]

I'm 61 and this is my 3rd year as a season pass holder at Mt. Bachelor. Great mountain for us older guys as the runs are long and not too steep. Midweek has short or no lines so you can get your laps in fast. Just got back from Whistler/Blackcomb and kept up with the younger crowd on snowboards. I try and stay in shape in the off season so I am ready come December.

 

[O2Bfree]

I'm 61 and this is my 3rd year as a season pass holder at Mt. Bachelor. Great mountain for us older guys as the runs are long and not too steep. Midweek has short or no lines so you can get your laps in fast. Just got back from Whistler/Blackcomb and kept up with the younger crowd on snowboards. I try and stay in shape in the off season so I am ready come December.

Seems like with a little work, 60 can be the new 40!