Are you a Retro-Skier?  In other words, are you a skier who has shared some of the memories included in this blog?  Here’s a test to see how you rate as a Retro-Skier. Yes, I know, once a teacher always a teacher.

For each question, check all the answers that apply:

1. Indicate which of the following skis you have skied:

  • ____Wooden skis, no steel edges
  • ____Wooden skis with steel edges
  • ____Wooden skis with P-Tex base
  • ____Head Skis: Masters, Comp GS, or Comp Slalom
  • ____Rossi Stratos

2.  Indicate the length of skis you have skied

  • ____Greater than 210cm (men), 200cm (women)
  • ____206-210cm (men), 191-200cm (women)
  • ____201-205cm (men), 181-190cm (women)
  • ____180-200cm (men), 160-180cm (women)
  • ____Less than 180cm (men), 160cm (women)

3. Indicate which of the following ski boots you have used

  • ____Laced leather ski boots with no inner boot
  • ____Laced leather ski boot with laced inner boot
  • ____Leather buckle ski boots
  • ____Plastic ski boots
  • ____Foamed-fit ski boots

4. Indicate which of the following bindings you have used

  • ____Bear trap, free-heel bindings
  • ____Cable binding with release capability
  • ____Racing Turntable (Bonus point if you used a long-thong)
  • ____Cubco binding
  • ____Look Nevada toe piece

5. Indicate which of the following ski lifts you have used

  • ____There were no lifts, I walked!
  • ____Rope tow
  • ____T-bar or J-bar
  • ____Poma lift
  • ____Single Chair

6. Indicate which of the following ski pants you have worn

  • ____Wool snow pants
  • ____Knickers
  • ____Gabardine in-the-boot ski pants
  • ____In-the-boot stretch pants
  • ____Over-the-boot stretch pants (Bonus point if you had stretch pants with a racing stripe!)

7. Indicate which of the following ski parkas you have worn

  • ____Poplin pullover
  • ____Long-line parka with belt
  • ____Down-filled parka
  • ____Wind shirt (Bonus point if it had a flowered or psychedelic pattern!)
  • ____One-piece ski suit (Bonus point if it was fluorescent colors!)

8. Indicate which of the following ski hats you have worn

  • ____Cap with ear flaps and chin strap(See photo)Ski cap with ear flaps and chin strap
  • ____Hand-knit head and ear band
  • ____Moriarty hat
  • ____Knit hat with big pom-pom (Subtract one point if that hat was long enough to also be used as a scarf!)
  • ____Helmet

9. Indicate which of the following you have done

  • ____Carried a stick of wax with you so you could wax during a day of skiing
  • ____Hot waxed your own skis (Bonus point if you used your mother’s or wife’s iron!)
  • ____Used a flat bastard mill file on your skis
  • ____Used a P-Tex candle to repair your ski
  • ____Burned a hole in the carpet with a P-Tex candle

10. Indicate which of the following you have paid for an all-day ski ticket

  • ____Less than $5
  • ____$5 – $20
  • ____$21 – $50
  • ____$51 – $80
  • ____Greater than $80

5 Point bonus if the first lift-served ski area you ever skied is no longer a ski area!

Add up the number of checks plus bonuses to determine your score!

There are 60 total points available including bonuses.  How do you rate?

  • Greater than 45 points – you are the ultimate Retro-Skier and should be writing this blog!
  • 35-45 points – You’re a Retro-Skier!  (I scored a 40!)
  • 15-34 points – You’re a Retro-Skier with an *, sort of like Barry Bonds’ home run record.
  • Less than 15 points – It’s great to be young!  See all the things you missed.