Can age block progression? One writer took a course in Chamonix – the elite skiers’ training ground – for a midlife ‘stretch’
Standing at the top of the Hôtel Face – a classic freeride line above Chamonix’s Brévent ski area – my legs were shaking. Not from cold, but from five days of glacier skiing, boot-packing ridge lines and navigating slushy spring steeps. Below, the snow had softened into something heavy and unforgiving.
“C’est bien,” said our guide Cyril. “Spring snow, a little powder – it’s perfect.”
Perfect wasn’t the word I’d have used. But this was why I’d signed up for UCPA’s Ski Off Piste High Mountain – Expert course – a French non-profit organisation offering affordable, all-inclusive sports weeks.
Now in my 40s, I wanted to push myself. Not for ego, but to see if I could break through the technical plateau I’d hit years ago.
A Chamonix guide had once rated me “off-piste purple” – an upper-intermediate level in the Ski Club of Great Britain’s colour-coded system for off-piste skiing.
I took it as a small win: competent, but nowhere near expert. Among Chamonix locals, though, purple barely registered – it was practically pastel. I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to ski steeps, crust, powder – and stay upright in the process.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a “brush-up-your-technique” week.
The High Mountain course included glacier travel, avalanche safety and terrain that made my stomach lurch.
The course pushed every skiier out of their comfort zone but, crucially, was also designed not to cause panic
There were six of us, aged up to our mid-50s, and only two women. Annie, a ski instructor from Taiwan in her 20s, had only skied for nine years but did so with smooth, effortless control.
On our first day at Le Brévent, Cyril started us on drills. “Spring snow is like piste,” he said. “But it changes fast, so you have to anticipate.” At Grands Montets, we hit the Italian Bowl above the Argentière glacier, catching the crust just as it softened. By the time we reached the moraine around 45 minutes later – including short stops – my legs were screaming.
Dartford says her instructor for the week, Cyril, inspired her to approach skiing differently
Day two began at the world-famous Aiguille du Midi. We clipped into crampons and edged down onto the glacier. The snow screeched under my skis – that sharp ice-on-edge sound that tightens your chest. Midway through the moguls and crevasses of the Vallée Blanche, I asked Cyril: “Can you really keep improving with age?”
“I’m 44,” he said. “I still improve – but not because I’m stronger. It’s a balance. Efficiency. Knowing where to turn.”
And fear? I asked. “Yes, it’s a big one. Not for everyone, but men often commit more. If you go too slow in powder, you sink. Fear blocks momentum. People freeze, and that’s it.”
Majestic Mont Blanc creates a stunning focal point in Chamonix town centre Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
‘People don’t ski worse with age’
By the end of the course, my legs felt like jelly, but I was convinced: you can still improve, whatever your age. And the experts agree – with a few caveats.
While age affects all skiers, women often face added barriers – from injuries and caregiving roles to years of skiing in male-dominated groups where they’re expected to follow, not lead. Rachel Kerr, BASI Level 4 instructor and co-founder of the Chamonix Women’s Mountain Club, says: “People don’t ski worse with age – they just get more cautious. And that holds them back.”
She runs women-only weeks tailored to energy levels: drills in the morning, mellow runs after lunch. “Push through fatigue and confidence suffers,” she says. Pre-season strength training, especially for legs, helps too. “It keeps you loose through the turn, rather than muscling it.”
Gender crevasse
A 2024 survey of UK female skiers by Kimberley Kay and Dr Carol Porter, supported by Snowsport England, found that while 90 per cent of respondents had experienced fear around snowsports, 62 per cent said it actively impacted their enjoyment – and a third reported that their fear had increased over the past five years.
The authors link this to reduced confidence and slower progression, particularly among once-a-year recreational skiers.
“It’s not just fear of falling,” Kay says. “It’s fear of slowing others down.” Dr Porter adds: “Confidence isn’t the starting point – it’s the result. You might have the skills, but if you don’t believe it, you won’t use them.”
Females also tend to stress more in group dynamics. “Too many women end up trailing behind family groups,” says Dr Porter. “That knocks your confidence.” Their advice? Ski with people who match your goals, book lessons, and give yourself space to grow.
As skiers get older, they tend to enjoy the restaurants and views more, which improves their mindset on the slopes
Derek Tate, a long-time instructor and founder of Parallel Dreams Coaching Academy – a platform blending technique and sports psychology – agrees, adding: “You have to plan for improvement. Get fit, get coaching, set realistic goals and know why you want to improve.”
He champions the “stretch zone” – just beyond your comfort zone, but not pushing yourself into panic. “That’s where progress lives. Good instructors teach you how to train yourself.”
There are upsides to age, too. “Older skiers are less reckless,” says Tate. “They enjoy the mountains more – the cafés, views, nature. That mindset’s a strength.”
The verdict
On day five, we returned to Brévent. The Hôtel Face – steep, exposed, and once used in freeride competitions – was our final test. Cyril pointed to a rocky drop at the top and launched himself off. Most of us passed. But one gentleman – who’d lost control and slid down a slope the day before – went for it. He fell again.
The rest of us took it in cautious pitches. I stopped often,“to take photos”. A few years earlier, I’d snowploughed this line with gritted teeth. This time wasn’t elegant, but it was progress.
“I’ve got nothing left,” said one of the group. “Good,” said Cyril. “[That] means you worked.”
I didn’t finish the week as a professional, but I did finish thinking differently. Differently about confidence, about pacing, about how I wanted to ski. No, I wasn’t too old to improve, but neither was I chasing steeps to show off. I just wanted to ski with more flow, more confidence and a little less internal noise. Maybe that’s what progress looks like on the slopes in your 40s.
Essentials
UCPA’s Ski Off Piste High Mountain – Expert week-long course in Chamonix for the 2025/26 season costs from £1,351 per person when booked through Action Outdoors.
The price includes guiding, full-board accommodation, lift pass and equipment hire. It’s aimed at advanced skiers with previous off-piste experience. Flights from London to Geneva start at around £60 return with easyJet, and transfers to Chamonix take around 90 minutes with AlpyBus.
Great conditions and charming squares have made Chamonix an elite ski destination Credit: Kisa Markiza
How to improve your skiing in midlife
Get out of your comfort zone – gently
Choose challenges that stretch you without overwhelming you. Terrain that’s just outside your comfort zone helps to build confidence without triggering fear.
Ski with a guide or coach
A good instructor (like those on UCPA or BASS courses) can spot bad habits, tailor tips to your level and offer reassurance in tougher conditions.
Work on mindset, not just technique
Midlife skiers often carry more fear onto the slopes. Visualisation, breathing techniques and understanding what’s holding you back mentally are key.
Pre-train and stay strong
Regular strength training, mobility work and cardio sessions all support better skiing and, crucially, reduce the risk of injury.
Ski with people who build you up
A supportive group can make all the difference. Find others who ski for joy, not ego, and who celebrate progress – however small.