Across the nation, as skiing celebrates a golden anniversary of sorts, there is a growing group of skiers in the 70 and older category. Some, like Wally Rothgeb, took to skiing early on, excelled at racing and made his career at the resorts. In 1940, Rothgeb competed in the National Ski Championships, which called for each athlete to compete in downhill, slalom, cross country and jumping events. Against historic names like Alf Engen and Bert Irwin, this Stateline resident placed 12th overall. Having skied 71 years so far, Rothgeb still feeds a lifelong passion for his sport.
Skiing is one of the great joys of life.
I haven't changed too much of how I ski. I'm not interested in bumps, but I'll still go in the trees occasionally. They make it so much easier now for an older person to ski. She learned the smart way, spending three straight weeks at a resort in Canada's Laurentian mountains. Her first instructor was Jim McConkey, father of present day extreme star, Shane.