Are You Ready For Ski Season?

This winter you could do the stationary bike or treadmill thing, but if you’re lucky enough to find some snow this season, hitting the slopes is an exhilarating way to stay fit, and take advantage of the senior discounts offered by many ski resorts across the country. High altitude adventures aren’t just for kids, and boomers are tackling their Olympic freestyle dreams one mountain at a time.

Joint replacements, fear of falls? The ski loving resort town of Aspen, Colorado has taken their passion for winter recreation fifty, and beyond with their Bumps for Boomers program. Instructors know getting older doesn’t mean slowing down, and teaching active adults tips, and techniques to navigate moguls, and powder is their specialty in a learning environment designed exclusively with boomers in mind.

Skiing isn’t a simple cakewalk of a sport and requires intense focus, coordination, and skill. The euphoric feeling of high-speed twists and turns is what keep 55+ ski enthusiasts coming back for more, and talk about an effective cardio workout! An article in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports featured a twelve-week study on a group of older adults 60-76 years of age who participated in alpine skiing, and found those taking part in the sport had improved lower body strength and aerobic stamina.

Of course, traditional skiing isn’t for everyone, and those preferring the experience of getting out into the wild snowy yonder at a more leisurely pace might find cross country skiing the way to go. Seniors can still burn calories, and enjoy a low impact activity that will work muscles they didn’t know they had.

According to Fodors, some of the best destinations in the country to be on top of the world are Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Midway Utah, and with a reputation for gorgeous winters, it’s no surprise the majestic slopes of Mt. Bachelor, Oregon made the list as well. Boomers traveling abroad for the ultimate ski fantasy might find the storybook town of Grindelwald, Switzerland, or Cervinia, Italy the quintessential ski lovers paradise. Ski Season