In the latest issue of Sunday River’s newspaper there is an article on “How to Ski and Snowboard Well Into Your Golden Years” that lists 10 ways you can keep your mind and body happy, healthy and slope-ready as you get older. Number seven on the list is “Have a ski buddy. Or 10.” We at Prime Time Ski Club have found that to be the number one reason that our members give when asked why they are still skiing well into their 60s, 70s and 80s. Many of members are “singles” – some because their spouses/partners do not ski and others because they have lost their skiing partners due to death or divorce. Most members admit that it has been the camaraderie of Prime Time Ski Club that has kept them involved in a sport that many people give up as they get older.
One potential member, when told about an upcoming pot luck dinner, said she didn’t feel comfortable coming by herself because her husband was not around mid-week. After being encouraged to attend, she was at a recent pot luck dinner. She said that she felt very welcomed and had a wonderful time. She was last seen filling out a membership form. We have found that other Prime Time members, especially some of the women, were on the verge of giving up skiing because they no longer skied as fast as their longtime skiing partners or they preferred to ski less challenging trails. They ended up joining the ski club because they found other members who are happy to ski the trails they enjoy and at a comfortable speed. Their spouses/partners are happy, too, because they are free to ski more challenging terrain with their ski buddies who prefer a faster pace.
So if you are single either by choice or chance and are 50 years or older, consider joining the Prime Time Ski Club whose motto is “you never have to ski alone.” The club boasts a membership of more than 125 skiers and non-skiing spouses or partners, ranging in age from 50 to 80 plus. Anyone looking for someone to ski with any weekday should show up at North Peak Lodge at 10 a.m. (upper level, right hand side past the bar). After a brief time for announcements, members usually break into small groups of four to eight skiers, based mostly on skiing ability and speed and terrain preference.
This coming week Prime Time members will be helping out with several of the activities during Sunday River’s Go50 Week (Jan 26 -30). On Monday morning there is a “Cinnamon Bun Social” at 10 a.m. at North Peak Lodge where visitors can meet up with Prime Time Ski Club members and learn local secrets about getting around the mountain while filling up on cinnamon buns, Peak Lodge’s signature treat. Monday through Friday there is a “Meet “N” Ski” with Prime Time members at 10 a.m. at Peak Lodge where you can find a skiing partner, enjoy a guided tour of the mountain and maybe learn at little history of the mountain from members who ski as many as 100 days a season. Check out the Sunday River website for more information about Go50 Week activities. For Prime Time Ski Club membership information and a schedule of activities check out our web site at www.primetimeskiclub.com or stop by Peak Lodge any weekday at 10 a.m. and join us for a few runs. We hope to see you soon.
