[jshape]

I've skiied all my life - both kids were into racing. My brother-in-law runs a ski area in the Midwest. My son was ranked 1st in Slalom for the US while in his teens. I'm a past Regional Director of USSA and a former FIS/USSA certified official. Most of my skiing is now with grandkids on much gentler slopes. In 1991 I broke my right femur at Telluride after hitting a giant boulder that was maybe just a little off piste and spent about a year in a chair/on crutches/with a cane. Four surgeries later I'm still skiing but I'm much happier on groomed slopes. No cartilage left in either knee makes moguls difficult and painful. Cruising in powder is great but tiring. I usually get to Vail/Aspen someplace out west every year. Next year it's Vail in February.