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Last Lift

HISTORY LESSONS: Peak Performers: The Remarkable
History and Adventures of a Seniors
New Book Documents Emergence Skiing Program in America.
By Stephen S. Hultquist and Lance HK
of Colorado’s Over the Hill Gang Secretan, with Moe Mosley. Ontario,
Canada: The Secretan Center Inc., 2018
ISBN 978-0-9865654-6-5. Pp. 131.
BY REBECCA W. AYERS, EDITOR Available on amazon.com.

RUNNING A SKI AREA means being in a state of perpetual the elderly sister of then-deceased Grant Wood—painter of
anticipation for what’s on the horizon, but there’s still some- American Gothic—to use a slightly altered version of the iconic
thing to be said for the occasional look back. If you appreciate work to help market the newly formed OTH International
a dose of ski industry nostalgia now and then—and reassurance program. Once Stein explained the organization’s role in
that some good things can last a long time—you’ll find it in benefiting active senior skiers, the 85-year-old Mrs. Graham
Peak Performers: The Remarkable History and Adventures of a readily approved the mockup of the stoic Midwestern farm
Seniors Skiing Program in America. couple holding skis instead of pitchforks. (She also revealed
Clearly a labor of love, the book is an enjoyable retelling that the farmhouse in the background was not, as widely
of how one of the Colorado ski industry’s most cherished assumed, the Wood family home, but “a whorehouse.”)
senior skiing social clubs, the Over the Hill (OTH) Gang, Peak Performers is a thank you to those who have joined,
came to be. Formed in 1978 by three part-time ski instructors helped shape, and loved OTH programs over the years,
at Copper Mountain—The Reverend Bill Magill (now including Copper Mountain management, POWDR Corp.,
deceased), Tom Stein, and Moe Mosley—OTH was introduced and other ski areas that embraced the program.
as a way for Copper’s ski school to reengage middle-aged It is also a call for recognizing the relevance and impact
skiers who gave up the sport after their children grew up and of the ski industry’s senior participants. Authors Hultquist,
left home. Secretan, and Mosley (a founding member of Copper’s OTH
The club was an immediate success, as the story goes, with Gang and a recent inductee into the Colorado Ski Hall of
its mix of skiing, instructional clinics with skilled, professional Fame) emphasize that these are not just social clubs. They
guides, and social opportunities. Recognizing the potential for galvanize untold numbers of people to continue their
keeping older skiers engaged in the sport, other Colorado ski par ticipation in an activity that benefits their physical and
area operators began to approach Copper about starting their mental wellbeing—and that has translated to millions of ski
own chapter, eventually inspiring the formation of similar clubs area visits, and countless coffees and beers sold, over the years.
in other parts of the country. To this day, members of these (Winter Park’s OHG, OHG International, Ski Meister’s club,
clubs meet up regularly at ski areas throughout the US and on and related senior skiing programs alone have had more than
ski trips throughout the world, incentivizing their continued 13,000 members since 1976.) In light of the aging trend in the
participation in downhill skiing—and now snowboarding and industry (see “2017–18 National Demographic Study,” pg. 16),
cross-country skiing—well into their golden years. such clubs and their members’ potential to serve as ambassa-
Peak Performers opens with a tribute to the returning dors for the sport and ski areas has never been more relevant.
veterans of the 10th Mountain Division and their role in the Among those who wrote a glowing review of the book
burgeoning post-World War II winter sports industry, then for its opening pages is Jennifer Rudolph of POWDR Corp.’s
describes the emergence of the Copper Mountain OTH club corporation communications team. “The real feat of Peak
during the late 1970s, a pivotal time of resort development Performers is how it documents camaraderie as not only a
and expansion. The authors’ loyalty to their home area is founding mission for the Over the Hill Gang, but as a signifi-
apparent as they recount the early days of the OTH Gang as cant motive for snowsport participation today,” Rudolph said.
it coincides with the evolution of Copper up to present day. “It is impossible to read Peak Performers and not want to call
If you like a good anecdote, the book has some gems, your ski buddies and meet them on the hill as soon as possible.”
including the story of how Tom Stein visited a Chicago For anyone who dreams of skiing or riding forever, that’s
nursing home to seek permission from Nan Graham, a compelling endorsement.

66 | NSAA JOURNAL | EARLY WINTER 2018