Whether you are particularly athletic or more of a fan of mountain air, winter sports have a certain appeal for many of us (although the media zoom on them tends to hide the fact that it is still a hobby that only concerns a small privileged part of the population). But can we still practice it — or even start it! - at any age ? It's because skiing, for such a popular activity that brings the whole family together (we see fewer families going on surfing or skateboarding holidays), is still a daredevil sport:slips, falls and aches will be at the rendezvous, when it is not simply the crushed toes in the rigid shoes that make the martyr suffer. It is also not uncommon to hear about a celebrity involved in a tragic accident, whether it was the athletic Schumi who never recovered from a violent accident, or more recently the far too young Gaspard Ulliel, who died on the slopes. early 2022.
Before you start (or relaunch), do not skimp on security equipment. If it should be at any age, the helmet is essential for seniors who want to hit the slopes! But it is indeed not uncommon to come across septuagenarians and even octogenarians on the slopes, and who put their younger brothers to the fine! See for yourself.
If it is certain that one is not as athletic once retired as during his youth, this is all relative:a dashing retiree will always be more athletic than a young adult who does not take care of him. In other words, to the question "until what age can you practice skiing?", the most accurate answer will still be:it depends on you! And we know that, between the aging of the population in better living conditions, and careers that are often more lenient than for their ancestors, our retirees are doing (on average) better than ever:there is a whole lifetime between accession to retirement and the beginning of the loss of autonomy — a life to be filled with hobbies and activities of all kinds, especially since these maintain these seniors who are in Olympic form.
After all, many of these senior slalomers are long-time skiers, themselves belonging to the generation of the first snow classes of the 1950s and 1960s. Our boomers have, for some of them, spent ski holidays very regularly since their early childhood. Some are therefore aces who have fun off-piste as well as on black slopes. Others, on the other hand, put on or put on skis for the first time well after retirement age, without hesitating to take private lessons on occasion in order to get into the skies at their own pace.
The resorts have also clearly identified the attraction of this older clientele for winter sports, some of them thus offering clients over 75 years of age free ski passes on presentation of proof - an offer more than generous which has the merit of attracting a population that is often ready to spend but also cross-border!
And if skiing holidays are a pleasure that can be enjoyed as a family, retirees have this advantage that they can go there whenever they want, and therefore a fortiori outside school holiday periods:it is up to them to take advantage of much less crowded slopes, without traffic jams at the lifts, without slush snow from the early afternoon, and without groups of beginner children crossing the slopes up and down in snowplows.
If it is therefore quite possible to continue skiing even once you are in your seventies, it is undeniable that at this age you are more fragile. And if falls are commonplace in skiing, regardless of your level, they are a little less forgiving when you are older. What could have been a simple sprain easily becomes a fracture – for example, it is wise in this regard to tighten your shoes a little less in order to avoid breaking a bone. The knee, ankle, hips or pelvis are among the bones that bring the most seniors to winter sports for medical consultation! It is also reasonable to adapt your rhythm to your diminished recovery capacities, as well as to your reflexes, which are also diminished — in short, listen to your body and do not exceed your limits , and start gently by taking your pain in patience the first days, in order to get used to the efforts of winter sports.
There is therefore no need to play the daredevil in an exaggerated way, although this is precisely the case with certain seniors who do not accept to see their bodies and their faculties deteriorate (a fortiori among men, women having apparently tend to hang up their skis after a fall that is a little too violent - it is not for nothing that their life expectancy is longer):it is wiser to always ski in a group without losing sight of your partners , as well as staying on the marked slopes and avoiding slopes that are too rough or icy, or more generally not skiing in adverse weather conditions . Yes, it is often frustrating to spend part of your vacation at the chalet or at the hotel, but it is by forcing that you get hurt, and the repercussions when you are older can be very dramatic. This advice is valid at any age, but all the more so when the body begins to show itself to be more fragile.
As is often the case with sports activities after a certain age, it is therefore wiser to turn to health professionals to ensure with them that it is still possible for us to have fun without putting ourselves in danger. Make an appointment with your doctor to get his opinion , and do not hesitate to do a few physio sessions beforehand to strengthen the joints. Indeed, altitude (more than physical activity itself, to tell the truth) increases the risk of heart attack, for example, which makes winter sports not very suitable for people with heart problems. This is also the case for the elderly on anticoagulant treatment, which can make the aftermath of a collision much more dramatic if the bleeding does not stop!
In general, physical preparation at least a good month before going to the slopes is quite essential. Once again, it is therefore not so much age as physical form that proves to be decisive :if you are sedentary all year round, the risk of accidents is no less high for a 30-something than for someone twice their age used to hiking and physical activity! And once in the resort, it is necessary to have a hearty breakfast before putting on your skis, but also to rehydrate regularly during the effort as well as to allow yourself regular rest periods:go and perk up yourselves at the altitude restaurant between two descents. Similarly, after exercise, give yourself as many chances to recover from your sporting day:if possible, massage and going to the swimming pool will allow your body to reconstitute itself as much as possible, while the consumption of alcohol and lack of sleep, on the other hand, will prove to be particularly harmful!
Finally, the material is to be taken into account. Although it is still not unanimous, and a fortiori among the elderly who often learned to ski at a time when it was not widespread, the helmet nevertheless saves lives . Remember that an accident can happen to anyone, regardless of their own level, since we share the slopes with users who are not always as experienced and in control of their slides as we are. No one is therefore above an accident and the possibility of head trauma or a fatal fall. If you have to rent your equipment, also ask in store for equipment that may be more suitable for comfortable sliding than extremely athletic.
And then, if skiing seems a little too violent to you, or if you are simply not a fan of strong sensations, remember that there are a plethora of other activities to practice in the mountains, starting with hiking. snowshoeing or cross-country skiing (on the other hand, why not try snowboarding if you're already a skiing fanatic, and descending blue slopes with the grandchildren who pass their first snowflake seems boring to you? ), the toboggan runs that delight young and old, or the dog sled rides, which will spare you the slightest effort while allowing you to enjoy the same mountain vistas — and not, swallowing kilos of fondue at the resort restaurant. however, is not yet considered a sporting activity...
