Nick, I was never a big skier, but I can think of a few things I gave up as I aged. In my thirties, I had two friends that popped their Achilles tendons while playing basketball, and I decided to give up that sport. (They were both on crutches for months.)
I have also now known too many people that got in life changing road biking accidents (not their fault!). I decided to give up that sport, too, almost 10 years ago now.
So, I get the risk/reward tradeoff you’re describing! It’s cool to have fun as long as you can, but you are right that the ability to recover slows down pretty dramatically!
When I was still skiing I met several wild and crazy old skiers in their 70s or so. This was at Timberline, on Mt. Hood in Oregon. One took me down Timberline's challenging Palmer run (black diamond, long, well above the tree line). But he was still part of Ski Patrol there. Also had an instructor of the same vintage.
Me? I stopped skiing at 60 when my hip and knee locked up on a stretch where I absolutely needed to make that turn. I miss it, but...I already had issues with that hip and knee and didn't want to make it worse.
Like you, cross country didn't work for me. I fall more using cross country skis than I did skiing downhill. Weak ankles. And I got sucked into it with the same inexpensive skis/lessons/lift ticket intro. Only mine was a regular school ski night.
Thanks for the comment. It's good to hear that other people got sucked into the inexpensive ski lessons 'scam' (OK, it was not really a scam, and who ever thought it up should get a payrise as it has made millions for the ski areas over the years). Interesting that you have a knee/hip thing going on. Me too. I think problems getting off the chairlift will finally make me stop (assuming my hips and knees hold out). The seats seem to be getting closer to the ground at the top every year!
Nick, I was never a big skier, but I can think of a few things I gave up as I aged. In my thirties, I had two friends that popped their Achilles tendons while playing basketball, and I decided to give up that sport. (They were both on crutches for months.)
I have also now known too many people that got in life changing road biking accidents (not their fault!). I decided to give up that sport, too, almost 10 years ago now.
So, I get the risk/reward tradeoff you’re describing! It’s cool to have fun as long as you can, but you are right that the ability to recover slows down pretty dramatically!
So, how are you getting your adrenaline fix? Skydiving?
I’m afraid skydiving would be “out!” I even have a hard time with many amusement park rides! 😊
When I was still skiing I met several wild and crazy old skiers in their 70s or so. This was at Timberline, on Mt. Hood in Oregon. One took me down Timberline's challenging Palmer run (black diamond, long, well above the tree line). But he was still part of Ski Patrol there. Also had an instructor of the same vintage.
Me? I stopped skiing at 60 when my hip and knee locked up on a stretch where I absolutely needed to make that turn. I miss it, but...I already had issues with that hip and knee and didn't want to make it worse.
Like you, cross country didn't work for me. I fall more using cross country skis than I did skiing downhill. Weak ankles. And I got sucked into it with the same inexpensive skis/lessons/lift ticket intro. Only mine was a regular school ski night.
Thanks for the comment. It's good to hear that other people got sucked into the inexpensive ski lessons 'scam' (OK, it was not really a scam, and who ever thought it up should get a payrise as it has made millions for the ski areas over the years). Interesting that you have a knee/hip thing going on. Me too. I think problems getting off the chairlift will finally make me stop (assuming my hips and knees hold out). The seats seem to be getting closer to the ground at the top every year!