Fun & Fitness over 50

Here's an article I found that is right on the money regarding us "oldies" getting into fitter and funner lifestyles:

More Over Fifties Skiing Than Ever
posted by Sarah Brown on January 16, 2008

Proving that age is nothing but a number, research conducted by internet insurance agents insurewithease.com has indicated a massive rise in holidaymakers trying a skiing break for the first time who are over the age of 50. This huge and growing group of groovy grannies and grandpas are putting their couch potato, younger family members to shame by maintaining fitness levels, leading an active lifestyle and remaining keen to try new things.

However, a significant proportion of these mature adrenaline junkies are taking dangerous risks: despite the growth in popularity of skiing holidays for older skiers, there are also figures from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) showing 65% of over-50s skiers did not take out winter sports travel insurance this year. Jack Harris, from insurewithease.com stated: “While some may not realise they need extra cover for winter sports, it seems many are prepared to take a huge financial and physical risk. It’s far better to play it safe than risk a huge bill and the consequent worry if something goes wrong.”

The growing ranks of senior skiers are creating yet another booming marketplace as these silver surfers turned skiers are hitting the slopes on a regular basis. The numbers of 65, 70 and even 80 year old skiers are increasing such that certain USA snow resorts that previously offered discounted or even free skiing passes to ‘retired’ skiers are removing these incentives in light of the significant revenue streams they are currently passing up from this growing spectrum of the market. According to the National Ski Areas Association, 31 percent of downhill skiers in the United States were older than 45 in the 2004-05 season; the figure was 21 percent seven years earlier. In 2006, 12 percent of skiers were 55 and older. These figures can be credited to higher numbers of seniors who stay healthy and active well into retirement and beyond.

Savvy ski marketeers are picking up on the Senior ski trend. Skiers aged 50 plus, they say, have more spending money than 20- and 30-somethings, and resort developers recognize they are critical to supporting slope-side amenities such as vacation homes. Many resorts also moving towards building active year-round retirement communities, offering skiing in winter and golf, hiking and boating in summer. Given that seniors often like to holiday with children and grandchildren, their spend per head goes up if you calculate the overall income that they bring to second home ski resorts not to mention restaurants, shopping centres and other onsite amenities.

To help keep these skiers on the slopes there has even been a move towards improved ski equipment — especially a new generation of shorter, shaped skis that make turning easier on ageing muscles and creaky joints!

Full article at http://www.nubricks.com/archives/488/over-fifties-ski-property/