lal_truckee wrote:
Dave Smith wrote:
lal_truckee wrote:

Dave Smith wrote:
...Let's just say that if you are old
enough to have a 14 year old kid, you are going to be one of the
oldest people on the hill.
I call Non sequitur.

Not entirely, but maybe I should have explained. It is a little more
physically demanding that some people realize. There is more to it
than just standing on a pair of skis and letting gravity do the
work.

Many beginners aren't prepared for the fact that skiing is a SPORT. They
seem to expect that you just kind-of get on, buy your ticket, and it just
happens.
They aren't ready to sweat, and make their bodies move, and use a bit of
muscle.

It takes a lot of energy to counter gravity and keep yourself
under control. I tried downhill skiing after more than 15 years of
cross country skiing. That taught me some basics about balance, but
I always thought that downhill skiing would be easier..... until I
tired it. I had no problem on the bunny hill, thanks to Xcountry
experience. I had no problem on the beginner hill. I set off for an
intermediate hill. Half way down that hill for the fourth time I
thought my thighs were going to explode.

I think downhill is easier than XC. However! XC is more approachable without
lessons. In downhill, not having lessons means a lot of hard work, and
usually a nice collection of counter-productive habits. Like sitting back,
leading to sore quads. As soon as someone starts up about how sore their
thighs are, you know pretty much how they ski.

Bad technique; Leaning back stresses the quads. Get forward over the
skis.

Just stand up. Stand on your feet.

I was 43 the first time I tried down hill skiing, and I was usually
twice the age of most of the people around me. I rarely ran into
people my age or older. I attribute that to the physical demands.
There aren't that many people over 30 who are in condition to even
tackle the slopes, and those older people who do try it do only a
few runs. Kids have a lot more energy and can easily spend a whole
day on the slopes.

Nonsense! skiing is a great sport for older people, because primarily it's
about balance. Sure, you can use muscles and things if you want to, or want
to "go hard", but I've taught heaps of older people, mainly women. And they
find it very easy.

You probably didn't see many 40+ year olds because they were out on the
mountain proper, not stuffing around on the bunny hill.

--
ant