Staying Fit
Don’t let this week’s mild weather across much of the country fool you. Ski season isn’t just right around the corner — it’s actually well underway at many popular destinations. And here’s even better news: At more than 100 ski resorts, older skiers can schuss for free this winter.
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According to website Seniorsskiing.com, 112 ski resorts will offer free season passes to older skiers this year. More than half of the slopes use 70 as the minimum age to ski free, though a few — including Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire and Cataloochee in North Carolina — extend the offer to those as young as 65. At least one — Sugarbush in Vermont — limits free skiers to those 90 and older.
More than 1.25 million people 55 and older ski and snowboard, according to the National Ski Areas Association, though that number naturally decreases as skiers get older. And some areas that don’t allow free skiing do offer older skiers steep discounts, or what SeniorSkiing.com dubs “virtually free skiing.” Snowbasin in Utah, for example, offers a $99 season pass to skiers 75 and older — a $1,200 discount off the price of a regular adult pass.
The site also listed the states with the most slopes offering free or “virtually free” season passes to older skiers:
• New Hampshire: 12
• California: 11
• Minnesota: 10
• New Mexico: 8
• Pennsylvania: 8
• New York: 7
• Maine: 7
• Vermont: 6
• Oregon: 6
• Colorado: 5
• Washington: 5
To see the full lineup of the 112 slopes offering ski-free deals to older skiers and more information on age requirements at each, visit Seniorsskiing.com. To view the full list, you’ll need to give your name and email address, but it’s free (naturally) to sign up.
