Tips for advanced skiers over 50 planning to ski until 80+

[diymom]

Or.... you can just buy more! As well as stickers for skis or helmet.

70+ Ski Club - Store

 

[LucieCZ]

I'm 43, but my husband is 56. He skis like he's in his 30's thanks to life long leg workouts and eating healthy.

I can tell he's more careful, like not hitting big jumps or taking the cliff drop. But he still skis bumps really aggressively.

Here are a couple tips I know he follows:
1) stay very hydrated. Altitude and strenuous exercise dehydrate you quickly. everything works better when the blood flows better. Hydration starts the day before you go. FYI.
2) mobility is important way before the season starts. Everyone should already be getting up regularly and being mobile frequently. Hiking, biking, moving, Yoga, pilates (my specialty), anything. But do it daily.
3) it's expensive, but he swears by Stoko support pants:

Women's Merino Supportive Tight

The Merino Supportive Tight features medical-grade knee support designed to help you overcome injuries, feel unrestricted support and move with confidence.

stoko.com

They're not really a brace, but they reduce fatigue a lot. That helps reduce the risk of injuries. It's funny watching him struggle to get them on lol

 

[VickiK]

I have a routine that mobilizes most of the major joints and gently stretches morning stiffness away.
On my back--knees, feet, hips, core, arms, chest, back
Kneeling--spine, back
Down dog--calves
It really helps.

 

[marzNC]

I have a routine that mobilizes most of the major joints and gently stretches morning stiffness away.

SAM recently did an article by a medical professional about the reason simple dynamic warmup exercises are important. The target audience was people who work on snow in the ski industry. I found the reasoning useful to know.

September 2025

Warm-Up Act

A few minutes of simple exercise every day can prevent aches, pains, and career-shortening injuries.

www.saminfo.com

"
Why has it become the cultural norm in the snowsports industry to neglect warming up before a physically demanding workday?

Most snow professionals know they should “warm up” before shoveling, skiing, lifting, and working on the hill. It only takes five to 10 minutes each morning to do so, yet most still skip it. Well, don’t! Whether your reason is “not enough time” or “I’ll loosen up as I go,” going from zero to full throttle without properly preparing your body increases your risk of injury, reduces physical performance, and accelerates wear-and-tear that can cut careers short.

You’d never see an elite athlete in any sport enter competition without properly preparing first. A baseball pitcher would never step onto the mound in the first inning without a total body neuromuscular warm-up. A gymnast would never perform a floor routine without a complete warm-up to optimize movement, flexibility, and stability.

This doesn’t just apply to elite athletes. A simple neuromuscular warm-up—a basic five-minute sequence is outlined in this article—is one of the fastest and most effective ways to prepare for working or sliding on snow, so you feel, move, and recover better, both today and long-term.
. . .

A Simple Warm-Up Sequence​

An effective neuromuscular warm-up doesn’t require a lot of time, space, or equipment. You can do this simple five-minute sequence just about anywhere—at home, in the locker room, or out on the snow. Feel free to modify and expand to fit your needs and goals.

• Bodyweight mini squats
• Side-to-side lunging stretch
• Reverse lunges with trunk rotations
• Hip circles or leg swings
• Ankle pumps or circles
• Arm circles, shoulder stretches, and neck stretches
• Single leg balance
• Hip activation with resistance band and gentle plyometrics (if tolerated)

If you don’t have five or 10 minutes, you can break this into “movement snacks” throughout your shift, so your body remains ready for action even during periods of inactivity.

Take Care of Yourself​

Your body is your most valuable asset. It could make or break your career in snowsports and your future lifestyle.

Make it a priority to start each day with a neuromuscular warm-up routine that increases heart rate, activates stabilizing muscles, gradually loads tendons, stretches joints through full range of motion, primes the nervous system, and mimics movements in your sport or activity.

All it takes is a few minutes of intentional movement will better prepare you to handle everything the mountain may throw your way."

 

[VTsnowflower]

SAM recently did an article by a medical professional about the reason simple dynamic warmup exercises are important. The target audience was people who work on snow in the ski industry. I found the reasoning useful to know.

Good article. Sensible advice.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

3) it's expensive, but he swears by Stoko support pants:

Women's Merino Supportive Tight

The Merino Supportive Tight features medical-grade knee support designed to help you overcome injuries, feel unrestricted support and move with confidence.

stoko.com

They're not really a brace, but they reduce fatigue a lot. That helps reduce the risk of injuries. It's funny watching him struggle to get them on lol

I've been holding off for more than a year, but I finally ordered a pair. I'm literally on the borderline b/w sizes, but I've read that Stoko's customer service is excellent and I'm willing to risk it.

 

[LucieCZ]

I've been holding off for more than a year, but I finally ordered a pair. I'm literally on the borderline b/w sizes, but I've read that Stoko's customer service is excellent and I'm willing to risk it.

My husband ordered two sizes and returned the one that didn't fit. the company was very good with the return. Saved some time.

 

[Ski Robin Ski]

A while back I started a thread for intermediate skiers over 40 planning to ski well past age 70. There are some really good tips in that discussion. Click here if you are interested. Having become an advanced skier in the last 10 years, I started think about skiing a bit differently in recent years after turning 60.

What advice do you have for an older advanced skier who plans to keep skiing for a long time? I'm thinking well past 70, or 80, or even 90. Do you expect to keep working on improving technique after age 50? Do you plan to ski more, or less? When you ski with others, are they usually younger or older than you are? Are your ski buddies better skiers they you or do they have trouble keeping up?

Here are a few simple tips from Liftopia:

4 Tips For Skiing Over 50

1) Get Modern
2) Get Fit
3) Get Lessons
4) Get Out There

I’m 62 and still improving! I wish I could ski more. I wish could work on a mountain! But I live in Brooklyn, lol. I asked at Sugarbush about their unpaid ambassador program, but I’d also have to have a place to live in Vermont to do that. I’ve usually skied with my son in recent years, but he’s 21 and not likely to be available. And I can’t keep up with him and his friend. So I mostly ski alone. Which is why I’m excited to find SkiDiva!

 

[Ski Robin Ski]

As an almost 50 year old instructor I too find PSIA's cutoff for seniors starting at 50 kind of surprising, but they do have a point that most of us do start to experience changes in vision and other function, even if many of us are still getting stronger physically and better technically. I attended a PSIA Senior Specialist accreditation last winter and found that while much of the focus is probably true, there was an automatic bias towards less active skiers, which in my home resort is not at all the case. I often ski with young city folks who have less endurance and gumption than the seniors I get to ski with that live locally. But ultimately everyone is an individual coming at the sport from a unique place in time.

On the funny side, Jackson Hole has locals' ski groups that meet weekly with a coach. I always thought the "The old dogs" had to be the oldest, but then was invited to substitute coach "the Geriatrics". The senior in the group turned 90 last summer and not one is under 80. They still ski ungroomed black runs on good and sometimes awful days, though poor visibility is often a challenge for most of them. One of the gals in her late 80's always reminds me, "Christina, no stopping OK? No stopping, we go top to bottom Hoback with no stopping", and she means it. (Hobacks are very long, and ungroomed and can be gnarly https://www.jacksonhole.net/blog/top-ten-ski-runs-at-jackson-hole/)

All I know is that every single truly senior skier and boarder out there, whether close by or watched on you tube, is a major inspiration. I hope I have the courage and levity to keep enjoying my favorite sport even when the performance starts to decline. Having friends to share the passion with seems to be the number one challenge and motivation at the same time.

Love this whole post! Very inspiring. And a reminder I need to find a friend group to ski with.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

Since I only started skiing at 49, that clearly can't be considered too old to ski. It was all new, shiny, scary, bizarre, confounding, novel, frustrating, exhilarating, magical, and vaguely insane. Still is.

Before that, I had never seriously considered skiing. I had always been too financially stretched (aka, poor), too busy, and geographically challenged to ski. I had kids to raise up, degrees to get, student loans to pay off, divorces to recover from. I was desperate to catch up and put together a retirement. I mean I had a lot of catching up to do.

I married my current mate, an expert skier, when I was just a young lass of 47. We bought a small cabin in the Appalachians with views of 3 ski areas and that's where my journey began. Improbable but possible.

I am now my 19th season skiing.

Since moving to UT 7 yrs ago, I'm living another dream I didn't even know I had - that of being a big mountain powder skier. I'm glad I failed to note that most other folks (non-Divas, of course) think there's a "too old" for tree skiing or cat skiing. I'm pretty pleased to see there's support and understanding that we can and should -- if we want to.

I continue to improve technically every year, mainly because a.) I've learned to relax and trust my skills. b.) I live where I ski so I ski. A lot.

I now average 55 days downhill and 25 of backcountry Nordic a season. I also snowshoe. Breaking trail in fresh, deep snow is a spectacular workout. I am a firm believer in cross-training. And OMG I love snow!

I ski among lotsa folks in their 70s and a few in the 80's and we all have this in common: We all live in the mountains most of the year. The odds of being able to ski well and "fearlessly," no matter what year shows on the odometer, are greatly enhanced by living and playing in the mountains year round. Higher altitude "training" of the heart and lungs builds incredible stamina. It's just a hell of a lot easier to be mountain ready when you don't leave the mountains.

I believe it can be done, but I don't think that I possess that level of drive. Fitness had to be simple and have many options.

Being "fit for ski season" is achieved being fit in every season and looks like this for me: Biking, stand up paddling, camping, hiking, kayaking, walking, living in a house with stairs, carrying 40 pound bags of soil and amendments, going up and down stairs -- life stuff. Little stuff and big stuff. I use my body as a way of life. A few years ago, I did add some weights & resistance training along with balance and flexibility routines all at home to combat more forcefully combat the inevitability of sarcopenia (muscle loss).

Nah, I'm not gonna pretend I am as strong as I was at 50 or even 65, but I am more flexible and have better balance.

I am a bit more risk averse. I wait out thin cover. I don't ski at mega-pass crowded resorts anymore. And I don't ski double black ungroomed terrain.

And some days, I just get tired of skiing and go home early or (gasp) skip a day. I refused to let skiing or anything else feel like an obligation because that's the ultimate buzzkill.

I probably have another edge. I am the product of at least 10 generations of peasant/farmer's genes -- a likely head start on the attributes for strength and endurance. I built from that baseline by being raised on the farm (the last generation in our family to do so).

I nurture that genetic gift by feeding my body mostly really good stuff and I don't knowingly ingest toxins. I don't calorie restrict. I treat my body well, as well as do my skis. With that and some luck, I'll be skiing until I want to stop. I don't think that'll happen this season.

 

[jenasabatini]

A while back I started a thread for intermediate skiers over 40 planning to ski well past age 70. There are some really good tips in that discussion. Click here if you are interested. Having become an advanced skier in the last 10 years, I started think about skiing a bit differently in recent years after turning 60.

What advice do you have for an older advanced skier who plans to keep skiing for a long time? I'm thinking well past 70, or 80, or even 90. Do you expect to keep working on improving technique after age 50? Do you plan to ski more, or less? When you ski with others, are they usually younger or older than you are? Are your ski buddies better skiers they you or do they have trouble keeping up?

Here are a few simple tips from Liftopia:

4 Tips For Skiing Over 50

1) Get Modern
2) Get Fit
3) Get Lessons
4) Get Out There

I understand 2-4 but what's Get Modern? Is that mean newer equipment?

 

[jenasabatini]

Since I only started skiing at 49, that clearly can't be considered too old to ski. It was all new, shiny, scary, bizarre, confounding, novel, frustrating, exhilarating, magical, and vaguely insane. Still is.

Before that, I had never seriously considered skiing. I had always been too financially stretched (aka, poor), too busy, and geographically challenged to ski. I had kids to raise up, degrees to get, student loans to pay off, divorces to recover from. I was desperate to catch up and put together a retirement. I mean I had a lot of catching up to do.

I married my current mate, an expert skier, when I was just a young lass of 47. We bought a small cabin in the Appalachians with views of 3 ski areas and that's where my journey began. Improbable but possible.

I am now my 19th season skiing.

Since moving to UT 7 yrs ago, I'm living another dream I didn't even know I had - that of being a big mountain powder skier. I'm glad I failed to note that most other folks (non-Divas, of course) think there's a "too old" for tree skiing or cat skiing. I'm pretty pleased to see there's support and understanding that we can and should -- if we want to.

I continue to improve technically every year, mainly because a.) I've learned to relax and trust my skills. b.) I live where I ski so I ski. A lot.

I now average 55 days downhill and 25 of backcountry Nordic a season. I also snowshoe. Breaking trail in fresh, deep snow is a spectacular workout. I am a firm believer in cross-training. And OMG I love snow!

I ski among lotsa folks in their 70s and a few in the 80's and we all have this in common: We all live in the mountains most of the year. The odds of being able to ski well and "fearlessly," no matter what year shows on the odometer, are greatly enhanced by living and playing in the mountains year round. Higher altitude "training" of the heart and lungs builds incredible stamina. It's just a hell of a lot easier to be mountain ready when you don't leave the mountains.

I believe it can be done, but I don't think that I possess that level of drive. Fitness had to be simple and have many options.

Being "fit for ski season" is achieved being fit in every season and looks like this for me: Biking, stand up paddling, camping, hiking, kayaking, walking, living in a house with stairs, carrying 40 pound bags of soil and amendments, going up and down stairs -- life stuff. Little stuff and big stuff. I use my body as a way of life. A few years ago, I did add some weights & resistance training along with balance and flexibility routines all at home to combat more forcefully combat the inevitability of sarcopenia (muscle loss).

Nah, I'm not gonna pretend I am as strong as I was at 50 or even 65, but I am more flexible and have better balance.

I am a bit more risk averse. I wait out thin cover. I don't ski at mega-pass crowded resorts anymore. And I don't ski double black ungroomed terrain.

And some days, I just get tired of skiing and go home early or (gasp) skip a day. I refused to let skiing or anything else feel like an obligation because that's the ultimate buzzkill.

I probably have another edge. I am the product of at least 10 generations of peasant/farmer's genes -- a likely head start on the attributes for strength and endurance. I built from that baseline by being raised on the farm (the last generation in our family to do so).

I nurture that genetic gift by feeding my body mostly really good stuff and I don't knowingly ingest toxins. I don't calorie restrict. I treat my body well, as well as do my skis. With that and some luck, I'll be skiing until I want to stop. I don't think that'll happen this season.

Inspiring!

 

[marzNC]

I understand 2-4 but what's Get Modern? Is that mean newer equipment?

Welcome! Good question.

My take is that Get Modern is more than just updating gear. Have learned more since starting this thread in 2017.

Certainly doing a proper boot fitting will made a huge difference if your boots are more than 5-10 years old. Getting new skis can make a difference but not worth doing if you have skis less than 10 years old until your have good boots. Renting skis is an option. Renting boots is not usually worth the money if the goal is to ski more in the coming years.

Other stuff has improved in the last few decades. Helmets, goggles, gloves, outerwear . . . if I had to use what I had thirty years ago, I probably wouldn't be skiing as much. Note that I'm not really that much of a shopper in general.

Getting new boots is key. Renting skis during a trip or as a seasonal rental is fine to start with. Using clothing and outerwear that's been around for a while is fine. Better to get a new helmet if the old one is over 10 years old.

Where do you ski the most?

 

[marzNC]

While answering the question about Get Modern, I wanted to note what I've learned from the experience of my primary ski buddy, Albuquerque Bill, who many Divas have met in the past fifteen years. My husband of 30+ years is a non-skier for assorted reasons. Bill is an old bachelor pushing 75 at this point and a schoolmate. We both were born and raised in New York City and ended up elsewhere long ago. Bill is not exactly a fan of change.

Bill tried to avoid getting new boots, even as he started doing 2-3 ski trips a season. Bill didn't get new boots until his boots cracked during a ski trip to Big Sky. The boots were at least 20 years old. Luckily he noticed when booting up. However, that meant he was forced to buy boots on the spot. Those boots were never quite the best fit. Eventually he did a proper boot fitting and got boots he really likes.

However, for Bill what really made a difference in the long run wasn't gear. It was lessons. He was an advanced/expert skier in high school skiing bumps on Aspen Mountain . . . back in the late 1960s. When I started skiing with him (alumni gathering at Alta Lodge in 2008) he was using technique appropriate for long straight skis. I was an adventurous intermediate and he was a patient ski buddy. After I started doing lessons regularly in 2013 (after rehabbing a knee), he could tell it was making a difference. Bottom line is that after I got him started on having semi-private lessons about ten years ago he skis far smoother with less effort than before. Meaning on challenging steep, bump runs, and in trees when the snow is good. Also takes him no effort when snow conditions aren't the best. I've improved as well, but still can't keep up with him.

The first trip I and my "crew" did to Taos was in 2017. Bill had been doing a Taos Ski Week annually since then. By 2019 he was putting himself in a lower advanced group instead of an expert group in order to really focus on improving technique to set himself up for skiing in his 70s and 80s. In recent years, he probably averaged 65 days a season. I don't see that changing any time soon.

 

[MarthaH]

A while back I started a thread for intermediate skiers over 40 planning to ski well past age 70. There are some really good tips in that discussion. Click here if you are interested. Having become an advanced skier in the last 10 years, I started think about skiing a bit differently in recent years after turning 60.

What advice do you have for an older advanced skier who plans to keep skiing for a long time? I'm thinking well past 70, or 80, or even 90. Do you expect to keep working on improving technique after age 50? Do you plan to ski more, or less? When you ski with others, are they usually younger or older than you are? Are your ski buddies better skiers they you or do they have trouble keeping up?

Here are a few simple tips from Liftopia:

4 Tips For Skiing Over 50

1) Get Modern
2) Get Fit
3) Get Lessons
4) Get Out There

I’m almost 59 and starting to worry about my knees. Menopause is wrecking havoc on my middle and my fitness. Though I’m working hard with strength workouts, day one today felt different. What recommendations do you and any other divas have for knee strengthening and dropping this meno-middle…thanks!!

 

[marzNC]

I’m almost 59 and starting to worry about my knees. Menopause is wrecking havoc on my middle and my fitness. Though I’m working hard with strength workouts, day one today felt different. What recommendations do you and any other divas have for knee strengthening and dropping this meno-middle…thanks!!

Welcome! Have you found the Health and Fitness section yet? There is a thread related to menopause but it's in Divas Only so you can read it yet. Need 15 posts to see that section. When you see the Getting To Know You section, starting a self-introduction thread can be a good way to get in some posts and perhaps find Divas who ski in your region.

I needed knee PT after an injury (not from skiing) a while back when I was over 50. Learned about exercises for hamstrings and adductors/abductors, which are key for supporting knees. I put some of what I found online into a personal blog.

This link should list the knee related posts:

Over 50 Fitness For Skiing Adventures

over50skifitness.blogspot.com

 

[Connie E]

A while back I started a thread for intermediate skiers over 40 planning to ski well past age 70. There are some really good tips in that discussion. Click here if you are interested. Having become an advanced skier in the last 10 years, I started think about skiing a bit differently in recent years after turning 60.

What advice do you have for an older advanced skier who plans to keep skiing for a long time? I'm thinking well past 70, or 80, or even 90. Do you expect to keep working on improving technique after age 50? Do you plan to ski more, or less? When you ski with others, are they usually younger or older than you are? Are your ski buddies better skiers they you or do they have trouble keeping up?

Here are a few simple tips from Liftopia:

4 Tips For Skiing Over 50

1) Get Modern
2) Get Fit
3) Get Lessons
4) Get Out There

Great tips! Thanks for posting! Definitely wanting to ski to 70!

 

[HuntersEmma57]

I will be turning 70 this coming January. I went through a divorce last season from a 25-year marriage. When I left my ex-husband, I told him it was over and I wasn't coming back and took up residence at our condo in Keystone, Colorado. I work remotely as a paralegal, but am putting less and less time in because I don't want the stress that job brings. I applied on-line for a ski instructor position at Keystone and amazingly was accepted. I will be a ski instruction at my home resort, Keystone this season because I wanted to meet new people doing what I love to do - ski! I will ski for as long as I take a breath and in the off season stay in shape with yoga, biking, hiking and workouts in the gym. I will be heli-skiing on my 70th birthday this season (something that my ex-husband and I were supposed to do but never did). For me, the key is to stay active, keep moving. I lost a husband, a job and a person that I thought was one of my dearest friends that I've known for over 40 years. I continue to hold on to my passion of skiing. You can't control so many things in life, but I will never give up skiing!

Sounds like you are rolling with the punches. But those were some pretty hard punches. Sliding on the magic stuff is a good way to remember life is still good. I'm so excited for you to be teaching at your home resort. Congratulations!

I'm just 14 months behind you and didn't realize how normal and young this age still feels -- if you stay active year 'round. Spouse said the other day, "I know there's an old man somewhere inside me, but I haven't met him yet." I'm not in a hurry to meet him either.

 

[dloveski]

As an "elderly" skier, I am enjoying skiing more by shortening my ski day and not feeling pressure to have to do the high traverses or the steep deeps, or go through gates---unless conditions suit me. It's easier to just say no than it used to be.

Canyon traffic, Parking hassles are getting to be the most stressful and frustrating aspect these days.

 

[LucieCZ]

I’m almost 59 and starting to worry about my knees. Menopause is wrecking havoc on my middle and my fitness. Though I’m working hard with strength workouts, day one today felt different. What recommendations do you and any other divas have for knee strengthening and dropping this meno-middle…thanks!!

As a certified pilates teacher trainer, who has helped many people regain their mobility, my advice is to get up and move daily, year round.

Also, I recommend not spot training, but going for a whole body fitness. There are so many parts that are interconnected, and affected by others. Neglecting something that doesn't seem relevant can leave another part susceptible to risk of injury. Or reduce performance somewhere.

I'm biased but pilates achieves this. Yoga is excellent too. Best of luck!