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The ranks of senior skiers are ballooning. And anyone who thinks otherwise hasn’t met people like Dick Arner.
Arner, 71, just bought his annual ski pass for the Alta ski area. Every day, Arner and other members of the Wild Old Bunch meet for lunch at a restaurant accessible only by skis. Rush Spedman, 89, with two practically new artificial knees, was the most senior of the skiers on a recent day. Last year, he skied 38 days. But Spedman scoffs at any special mention, because the Wild Old Bunch includes active members into their 90s. Alta allows anyone 80 or older to ski for free. And so far this year, at least 118 octogenarians have taken up their offer, according to the Vail Daily.
But what’s happening at Alta isn’t unusual. According to the National Ski Areas Association, 31 percent of downhill skiers in the U.S. were older than 45 in the 2004-2005 season; the figure was 21 percent seven years earlier.
Michael Berry, president of the Ski Areas Association, credits the increase in older skiers to a general rise nationally in healthier seniors who stay fit and active well into retirement. Improved equipment also helps keep skiers on the slopes longer.
“Ten, 20 years ago, if you saw someone on the slopes who was 70, it was a pretty big deal,” Berry said. “Now, it’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
Savvy resorts are picking up on the trend. Seniors have even more spending money than 20- and 30-somethings, and resort developers recognize they are critical to supporting slope-side amenities such as vacation homes, posh restaurants and resort shopping centers. Many resorts also nurture year-round retirement communities.
“They [seniors] are a viable, vibrant market and we definitely are paying attention to them,” said a spokesperson for The Canyons in Park City.
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