old guys setting PRs for ski days

[Razor]

I'm 76, retired for 20 years, and fitness is a year round, non-stop routine. Has been for most of my life. 3 days/week on road bike, 3 days/week in gym. 1 day of rest. Plenty of squats and fairly heavy (for me) dumbbell work along with some machines. Full body stuff. I finally broke down a couple of years ago and bought an e-bike. Best move ever. Former 10-15 mile rides now 20-25. My wife is similar. We can go from bell to bell still and still do the trees and bumps. But the older you get, the harder you have to work to maintain the same fitness level. Plus we've been lucky with injuries and medical issues.

 

[Smellytele]

Just turned 55 but this year I’m only at 30. Most years around 50. Personal best was 75 when I was laid off but had a 10 month severance.
I gravel and road ride in the non snow months. The gravel ends up being on mtb trails half the time. Lots of good old deserted roads in my area as well.
Hike/camp a few times of year as well.
Oh and hate working out indoors!

 

[Andrew B.]

I wish I could to that.
When I am your age, which is not that far away, I am going to quit and move North for the winters. Right now it is not possible to run very complex construction projects and not be on site full time. Very difficult and mentally challenging work. Workng from home or on a chairlift is not an option. Well not unless you want the whole thing to go off the rails. Becasue no mater how good your people are, if not watched it will go to shit. Especially the younger guys coming up. No sence of urgency, no pride in staying late to get it done right.

But I digress. Carry on.

I had this same “discussion” with a youngly who was upset I was yelling. If you weren’t EIGHT friggin months late I wouldn’t be yelling


I am 57 get 50-60 days a year typically. I wish I was in better shape but ride peloton 5-6 days a week or ride road/mountain bike on weekends in warm season.
I also gain 10# every ski season.

 

[RichT]

69yo, I'm nowhere near as physical as you guys, I ski 55-60 days a year (retired live 6 miles from Hunter in the winter). Summer I live South Jersey so LOTSA bike riding then. I think it isn't only the number of days but also the vertical that should be considered for me it's been about 700K. I no longer do Moguls and like the "cruisers" I also pick my days out. I can still ski multiple days with no problem. After the last storm I skied 8 days straight, but like I said I'm not as physical. I do the speed limit and use the rest stops . The best part is I enjoy the hell out of it!!!!

 

[jaytrem]

I like to chop wood. You can get it dumped for free around here. Overdid it a bit this past year. Was rushing too much to get it off the front lawn and it bothered my achilleas area a bit. No issue skiing though. I think being in a boot actually helped it heal. Felt better after the Oregon trip.

I don't really count days, but a was over 100 back in college. All were in VT while I was in school in NJ. Crammed everything into the middle of the week and worked on campus.

 

[crank]

I'm 66 and only get around 25 - 30 days in a season. Hoping to double that in a couple of years when my wife retires. Fortunately she loves skiing about as much as I do and is pretty darn good too.

i used to get in shape for the season and as I reached my 50's I realized it was better and easier to stay in shape year round. 8 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and after a while realized that exercise, along with diet of course, but a lot of exercise works best for controlling my glucose level and A1C.

We have one of those old Nordic Tracks and I do some core work, sort of a mix of pilates and yoga and just stretches, as well as dumbells a couple of times a week. I used to mountain bike around 3 times a week but all my old riding buddies stopped and I have a hard time motivating myself to hit the trail solo and tend to go slower and shorter when I do. Wife and I are weekend warriors and try to hike, bike, kayak, SUP on weekends as well as xc ski which we don't get to do often here in Westchester County, NY.

Still I fight my inner couch potato. I'm retired and a few months ago I took a part-time job as a dog walker. It forces me to get up and out of the house and on my feet. I work from 2 - 5 hours a day Monday - Thursday and usually walk about 3.5 - 5 miles a day. The company I walk for has been cool with me taking 3 and a half weeks off for skiing this winter and after just getting back from 6 days in Banff I can say my fitness level has definitely increased. Plus I have lost 5lbs, possibly from not being at home with snacks available?

 

[Former Sunday Rivah Rat]

At 55 I should hit 75+ days this year, my wife a few less days, when it rains. We own a 2nd home in Northern NH and can work from home. I take half days to make the vacation time last. We only ski mornings and groomers so it's not too physically taxing. Yoga helps with the back. We always use a vibrating foam roller and stretch before skiing, and a hot bath after when you have the time helps. My morning routine year round is ususally gym or hockey in the AM.

 

[Smellytele]

While I said I only skied 30 days I didn't count the over 20 times that I skinned up various mnts/hills

 

[JimG.]

I'm 65 and 50 days is always the goal. Like others I do something that raises my heart rate every day. I watch the things I eat and don't eat too much especially late. Plenty of biking and rowing in the warmer months.

I've hit 60 days some years when we have good snow years. Once hit 86 days. 100 days is not a goal of mine, seems like work. I keep it fun.

 

[Kingslug20]

Skiing does get you in shape..it also can beat the shit out if you..just limit the pigging out and drinking..
Off season I lift a few times a week and now will hike and maybe Mtb at Bolton...
Also race a motorcycle several times a month...that is exhausting...didn't think it would be..but it is .
And yeah..my knees are starting to feel it...I shy away from the icy moguls now...but when it's powdery...or corns up...I'm in.
Day 83.....

 

[Andrew B.]

i should also say that when I ski I usually (unless it’s a powder day) do an uphill tour but that’s wiped out with one or two beers that follow.

 

[hovercraft]

Clocking in @ 65 yrs, 106 days at this moment. I do XFIT 4 to 5 times a week off season plus cardio. 3 times a week plus cardio during season. Lots of mobility year round…. I live to be on the mountain in the winter, summer/fall I fly fish small mountain streams. It all works……

 

[thebigo]

You have to be retired, a trustafarian, work in the ski industry or work very little to get to 100. I don't know if I am considered an older guy at 57 but I ski on average about 55 days a year without fail. That includes most weekends from November to May, Christmas week, a vacation week, some PTO fridays and some powder days. I did 110 once just after college when I was unemployed. For the last 35 years I have had a full time job working 50+ hours a week in Boston.

Wholly unture.

Mid 40's, employed full time, live an hour from the nearest mountain, the primary caregiver to two young kids and there is certainly no trust fund. 99 days last year, currently at 76 with a good chance at 100 this year. Neither total includes the non-skiing days at the mountain either watching the kids race or working a race - around seven days in this category this year.

Skiing just needs to be a priority and a flexible job helps; engineer who works seven days a week the entire summer. Phone is always with me on the mountain, take calls and answer emails on the lift or in the bar, spend the drive home returning phone calls - actually makes the drive go by faster. Currently putting in 12+ hour days this week to catch up, then likely ski around 15 - 20 days in April.

Back to the original topic, had way more aches and pains in my 20s skiing 30 days a year than now. Human body is wonderful at adapting, do any activity enough and the body will figure out a way to rapidly heal.

 

[jimk]

A lot of great posts in this thread. Very encouraging. I love it when I read posts from folks that are older than me and still very active!!

 

[deadheadskier]

47 and I've been averaging 40-45 days the past couple of years now that the kids are fully on board. Prior to kids I was a 25-30 day a year skier because my wife doesn't ski, so I'd skip a lot of days to hang with her. I let her know back then, life is going to get lonely in winter because the kids are going to want to ski most every day they aren't in school. That is exactly what has happened, but she supports it and quite frankly can use the break because I'm gone 2-4 nights a week for work.

I'm doing a better job with exercise the past couple of years and also completely cut out alcohol before, during or after skiing. When I say before, I mean the night prior, not breakfast beers. I figure why diminish the positive health returns from skiing. Low and behold, I no longer put on the winter 10-15. Yoga has been a big discovery and help. I still ski just as hard now as I did when I was 20, but only for parts of the day. Started mixing in lots of cruising break runs in my early 30s or just skiing less aggressive certain runs. But several runs a day I do put the pedal down. That has been intentional because I still want to be skiing well in retirement and not have a broken down body. I realized at 30 I was really going to damage myself with constant bumps and trees.

I imagine I'll be a 4 day a week skier in retirement. I'd love to get into Masters ski racing then in addition to still doing the Pats league I do now.

 

[JimG.]

Back to the original topic, had way more aches and pains in my 20s skiing 30 days a year than now. Human body is wonderful at adapting, do any activity enough and the body will figure out a way to rapidly heal.

I always laugh that the only time I don't ache is when I'm actively skiing.

That's not really true. Other than my right knee which is still functioning decently after getting transplanted ACL/PCLs over 20 years ago I'm mostly pain free. But that right knee will get replaced eventually.

 

[180]

love this thread!

 

[pinion]

Very cool thread. I like hearing the different approaches to maintaining health/endurance, and with a wide range of ages. Impressive.

Only age 43 here. Usually 25-30 days per year, skiing with kids in tow. Was tracking towards 40 days this year before injury stopped it on 2/25. In my head, I'd move into part-time consulting around age 55 and work towards 50-60 days per year and gradually increase as time becomes more available. Can't imagine giving up bumps, trees, and steeps but I'm sure that would get scaled back at some point.

Taking notes here, keep the thread going

 

[snoseek]

I got my 100 day seasons when I was younger.

50 now and really need to drop weight this summer. I lift some weights and ride mtb in summer. Need to eat better and cut the beer more.

 

[Hawk]

Wholly unture.

Mid 40's, employed full time, live an hour from the nearest mountain, the primary caregiver to two young kids and there is certainly no trust fund. 99 days last year, currently at 76 with a good chance at 100 this year. Neither total includes the non-skiing days at the mountain either watching the kids race or working a race - around seven days in this category this year.

Skiing just needs to be a priority and a flexible job helps; engineer who works seven days a week the entire summer. Phone is always with me on the mountain, take calls and answer emails on the lift or in the bar, spend the drive home returning phone calls - actually makes the drive go by faster. Currently putting in 12+ hour days this week to catch up, then likely ski around 15 - 20 days in April.

Back to the original topic, had way more aches and pains in my 20s skiing 30 days a year than now. Human body is wonderful at adapting, do any activity enough and the body will figure out a way to rapidly heal.

You are a total exception to the rule. Plus there are big nuances and perception swings to this conversation. Keep in mind I have no idea what you do for work. A sales guy or a person with estabished customers that does mostly talking with some paperwork, I understand the flexibility. Also what constitutes a ski day. I draw the line at 3 to 4 hours. The reason I say this is I have a close friend that is a regional sales guy that talkes calls and orders on the phone all day. Takes notes and then gets off the hill to do his paperwork at 3 before the 5:00 close of business. That is not a common full time job. I discussed what I do with 50 to 60 ski days a year. So the characterization of Wholly untrue should be more like partially untrue.