The Strenuous Sport Thrilling People in Their 70s -- and Beyond

Charley French, a downhill skiing enthusiast until his late 50s, switched to cross-country skiing when he was approaching that age range. Friends initially assumed he was dialing back his physical effort, moving away from steep, bumpy mogul runs toward longer stretches of rolling hills. The short report frames the change as a continuation of serious athletic involvement rather than retirement from training. It also notes French’s background as a former ski instructor and an Ironman competitor, highlighting that his later choice of cross-country still fits a pattern of endurance-focused sports activity. The piece continues beyond the excerpt provided.