So what are you planning for your retirement leisure time in your mid to late 70s ? (Assuming the concept of retirement and/or pensions still exists by then, obviously.) Possibly a little light gardening perhaps, or some gentle dog-walking followed by a few cups of tea and a nap.
But wait – how about a bit of alpine skiing instead? Or snowboarding if you're feeling more adventurous. Few things cooler than surprising the grandchildren with a casual backflip off that wind lip they've all been going on about.
You'd think free passes for septuagenarians wasn't really that much of a give-away, but you'd be surprised. We don't see many of them in January (bit chilly) and none at all in February since they have more sense than to ski at the busiest possible time of year when they no longer have ankle-biters and don't need to, but now that March is here they're swarming out of the woodwork.
'I'm here for my free pass' they say smugly, half of them looking no more than about 50 as far as I'm concerned. Then they bounce around in front of the ticket window comparing prices and taking the mickey out of younger friends who have had to make do with a reduced price for being mere whipper-snappers of 65+.
Most French resorts do freebies for old crocks, but it pays to do a bit of research before you go on holiday and be sure to pick the right resort. In the Espace Killy (Val d’Isere/Tignes) for example – and most other places - you have to make it to 75 before you can claim a free pass. Come to 2Alpes or Alpe d’Huez, on the other hand and we’ll stand you a ticket as long as you're 72 or over. That’s an extra three years free skiing just because you picked the right place to go. And let’s face it, at that age you can’t afford to hang about.
The same applies to the slightly less crumbly skier looking for a reduction on the ticket price. You have to get to 65 before we’ll cough for that one here, but head off to Chatel and the Portes du Soleil and you can claim a reduction from 60 onwards. They don’t do freebies for the elderly there though, so you’ll have to switch resorts when you hit 72.
In fact, once the end of your 60s hoves into view it could well pay you dividends to do some intensive web-trawling, because I’d be prepared to bet that there are resorts out there willing to make you a present of a week’s skiing as soon as you turn 70.
With the price of a six day pass in the big resorts at about 160€ for a senior, this sort of saving can buy you an extra week’s accommodation – two weeks for the price of one, bargain. Alternatively it’s four star instead of standard, new gear, or a whole lot of riotous après ski. Stop laughing at the back there – you didn’t think they were doing anything more exciting than walking the dog did you? For all you know they might spend their spare cash on loose women, gigolos and bungee jumping.
