“Embracing the Joy of Leisurely Runs: A Boston Herald Perspective”

I am traveling north in early February to ski with a long-time ski companion. The first time we hit the slopes together – a bitterly cold January day around 1989 when the snowfall was abundant and we were still practically youngsters (at least in our minds) – we took some runs, stopped for a snack and a drink, looked across the table and exclaimed, almost in unison, “Oh my goodness! We are like twins!”

We both exhibited (and continue to exhibit!) the same snorting laugh persona that masked our intense career ambitions and goals. We were both at the beginning stages of forming our own ski family. More importantly, we both genuinely adored the ski lifestyle, from the first lift to the last call. Whenever we met up, we experienced it all.

It has been twenty years since we skied together, so we are both eager. But since it has been a while since she has been around me, she expressed one concern: “We must make a pinky promise not to party too late that night! I’m serious! I know how we can be, but I can’t burn the candle at both ends anymore!”

Good news, long-time ski buddy: We are still like twins.

I bring this up not because it’s humorous (though it is) and certainly not because it evokes sadness. Because here’s what I had been contemplating in the early hours before she mentioned that: Skiing may very well be the best sport to grow old with on the planet. Because – and I have skied for nearly my entire life – I can confidently say that these ski days might just be the finest ski days yet, and I know there are more ahead.

Here’s the reality: While I may not always wish to partake in the apres until the last call, and while the triple diamond chutes may not attract me as much as they did in the past, I am finding this phase in my skiing journey to be filled with complete, unadulterated happiness.

Here’s why (as I shiver at the numerous “This is your year for Medicare!” mailings I receive) I believe these years are the golden ski years – and ones we’ve rightfully earned.

It’s all about me: My adult years have featured more ski days than most; I consider myself fortunate. But many of those days were centered around family. No regrets here: Nurturing a ski family was on my list way back when – to age myself – I would ask for Love’s Baby Soft and a POW/MIA bracelet for Christmas. But it’s a dissimilar ski day. Ensuring kids are fed, clothed, equipped, and safely dropped off at ski school (as well as taking them skiing myself) is no minor endeavor. My husband and I have been empty nesters for 15 years now (we were young parents; I’m not that old!) and still, each time we board our first chair of the day, we exclaim “Wow! We only needed to get ourselves ready!”

It’s delightful to not be “on a schedule” on a ski day; to simply start and stop at your own pace and to lose track of it all while being out there with no guilt or unattended responsibilities. No children to drop off and pick up and for me, no child with Type 1 diabetes at ski school to frequently check on.

I now take my grandchildren to ski school every Saturday, and I relish every moment of the chaos. But on my ski days? It’s all laid-back and easy. I earned that.

It’s essential to pause and appreciate the corduroy: (Because if you were skiing through roses I’d be alarmed). Look, I’ve slowed down, and it’s a deliberate choice and I want to share it’s magnificent. Skiing in a laid-back, fully casual manner heightens your awareness of the winter landscape surrounding you. Sure, it’s exhilarating to speed, and I still do occasionally. But carving down a beautiful trail at a more measured pace? I notice the views, the trees, the clouds, and more.

I’m not alone: Some of my closest ski friends were world champions and they, too, cherish these days of carving, laughing, pausing to take fun selfies, and embracing the world we adore so much. Age may have nudged me to slow down slightly and I’m grateful for that suggestion.

Of course, partly this is to maintain health, but that’s the wonderful aspect of skiing: What other sport allows you to experience maximum enjoyment even if you take it a bit slower?

You can bypass the crowds: Weekdays reign supreme and as we progress in age, with more vacation days accumulated or – lucky you! – nearing retirement and all the perks that come with it, we can opt to ski on weekdays. From Monday to Thursday, and often many Fridays, not only will you dodge the lift lines, but you’ll frequently have entire trails to yourself.

This translates to more vertical and decreased stress. Talk about a mountain improvement.

Spontaneity is key: With our children raised and our careers winding down a bit, it’s easy to spot an ideal weather forecast and simply say “yes” to ski days. There are no children’s activities to navigate around or schools to (clears throat) feign needing a sick day from as we age. It’s just us. See a favorable condition report and poof, our vehicle is packed, and we’re on the road. That’s a remarkable scenario.

There are friends to be struck up out there: Ski or ride midweek and you are bound to share a chair with like-minded senior skiers by chance. Strike up a conversation and make connections. I encountered two incredibly cool women at Gunstock on a chair, of the same age as me. They introduced me to fantastic trails and we exchanged contact information. I’ll ski with them again shortly. What a bonus.