“The community of Silver Star is amazing. It provides a unique lifestyle second to none in the world. I am so happy to live here.”
-Colleen Lindsay, 58, Silver Star resident.
Patti Wild peers over the edge of Kirkenheimer, a double black downhill ski run on the dark side of Silver Star Mountain Resort. At 66, the petite, passionate skier, who has undergone two knee surgeries in the past few years, doesn’t hesitate. “It’s my favourite run on a powder day,” says the five-foot dynamo. Then she’s off.
Silver Star Mountain Resort, its village perched at 1,609 metres, only 20 minutes above the Okanagan Valley city of Vernon, boasts 131 downhill runs, 105 kilometres of groomed cross country ski trails in conjunction with adjacent Sovereign Lake Nordic Club and 16 kilometres of snowshoe trails. A perfect playground for kick ass Silver Star seniors. When they join up for winter on the slopes, look out.
These girls with grit represent only a few of the vibrant, inspirational women of Silver Star. Aged 58 to 78, they’re showing no signs of deceleration. Some work, full or part time. Many volunteer in the community. Above all, despite past issues and injuries, they’re game for the next adventure.
At 65, Patti says she forgot to buy the extended warranty on body parts. “I tore the meniscus behind my right knee in a mountain bike fall. The surgeon took care of it. I have had both knees buffed and polished. Two years ago, I had a half knee replacement,” she says. “I was on my exercise bike within a month.” She is still going strong. “I love alpine skiing for the thrills and spills with friends, surrounded by Mother Nature in all her winter splendour. You can always improve, even after 50 years at it.”
Often seen on the snowshoe and cross-country trails with her dog, she also coordinates locals in inventive projects to support the community. The Brockville, Ontario native shares the secret to her success. “I live in the moment, practice kindness and patience and do a little stretching every day before I head out.”
When Dixie Logie, 75, is around, things are bound to be fun, whether she’s strutting her springtime stuff through Silver Star Village in a purple bathing suit or burning up the cross country trails with the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club Masters Program. Dixie operates The Calico Cat B&B with her husband in Brockville, Ontario. During the summer, she squeezes walking and biking into her busy schedule. A skier for 50 years, winter is for Silver Star.
“I downhill ski or snowboard when the weather suits me, but classic cross-country is my favourite activity,” she says. “It requires more energy than alpine skiing.” She’s passionate about painting and sculpting, and
plays bridge three times a week. “I feel staying active has helped me maintain my good health. And I love my life.”
Dixie’s oft times partner-in-crime is Trisha Reid, 78. Originally from Glasgow, this former radiographer counts cross-country skiing as her favourite winter activity. “I love to be out in nature for the exercise and fresh air,” she says. Another 50-year veteran of the slopes and trails, Trisha is Silver Star’s resident bird expert. She writes bird articles for the Silver Star Newsletter and volunteers at the Silver Star Museum. “I keep fit just by doing,” she says. “I cross-country ski five times a week. Joining the Masters Ski Program has made a huge difference in how fit I feel.” She walks her dog every day and joins Dixie at the bridge club three times a week.
Anyone who knows her will agree Peggy Kassa, 66, is a force to be reckoned with. Busy with water skiing, stand-up paddle boarding and outrigger canoe paddling in summer, she continues into the winter with alpine, cross-country and telemark skiing and snowboarding. Downtime? A bit of gardening. Originally from Saskatoon, Peggy brings her skills as a florist, restaurateur and long-time ski instructor to her present career as ski instructor and organizer of Silver Star’s popular Ladies and Men’s Days ski programs. All this despite a torn ACL, which required lots of rehabilitation. Even more daunting, an earlier serious head injury. “I just had to be stubborn and keep trying things over and over and over. I do some form of exercise every day. Sometimes three sports a day,” she says. Truly unstoppable.
Despite a broken ankle, now fixed with six screws, and her current place on the wait list for two total knee replacements, Kathy
Parton, 62, still rips up the downhill slopes six days a week with her pal Peggy Kassa. The one-time hotel interior and fashion designer, originally from Calgary, is Peggy’s right hand in operating the Ladies and Men’s Day programs and decorating Silver Star Village for the winter. No doubt her history as a junior alpine racer and golfer since the age of seven gave her a great start. These days, she keeps fit by walking in the hills at Predator Ridge Golf Resort near Vernon, taking aquafit classes, snowshoeing and playing golf. “I love the thrill of the speed of downhill skiing most and being outside in winter.”
“I like doing stuff,” says Sandy Cook, 63. Self-described Jill-of-all-trades, master of some, raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, she spent her youth involved in competitive and synchronized swimming, alpine and cross-country ski racing, coaching and teaching, scuba diving, squash, road and mountain biking, outrigger canoe racing and kayak touring.
“I especially love skiing in all its forms,” she says. “Nothing better than sun and snow – it’s so fresh feeling.” Sandy is out there every day skiing, walking the snowshoe trails with her husband, friends and her dog. A mechanical engineer and expert quilter, she also finds time for knitting, checking the stock market and volunteer work. “I’ve suffered a broken wrist, hand and the usual wear and tear on my knees. I’ve dealt with it with lots of stretching and always trying to stay fit.”
It’s hard to believe. Carol King turns 69 this year. This former nurse, office manager and antique dealer also raised sheep in Ontario for 18 years. Originally a downhill skier, she started snowboarding at 44 and has been riding the slopes, groomed and backcountry, ever since. Weather conditions determine her schedule: cross country skate ski or classic five times per week, snowboard on a powder day, alpine ski on groomer days, snowshoe on cold days. In summer: single-track mountain biking, hiking or rowing on Swan Lake. With a pin in one ankle, she achieves maintenance with yoga, physiotherapy, Rolfing and regular massage.
“My passions are exercise, food, being outdoors, travel and sex.” She escaped to Big White for a while but now she’s back. “I’ve returned to Silver Star Mountain with all of its spirituality, amazing people and the most sun hours of the Okanagan.”
Swollen knees? Trouble alpine skiing and climbing the stairs? The answer for Bonny Junkins, 67, was to ditch her alpine skis 17 years ago and take up snowboarding. With no background in sport, the Ottawa native now loves the freedom to ride. Cross-country classic skiing, snowshoe and workouts in her home gym keep her fit. “I love the challenge of steep trails,” she says. “At home, I do weights, bench and floor exercises.” Sidelined by injuries? Not for long.
“I shredded the cartilage in my left knee snowboarding. Sports medicine treatments, exercises, physiotherapy and chiropractic care took care of it.” Two summers ago, Bonny started mountain biking, went over the handlebars twice, and injured her shoulder and hand. Time to quit? Nope. “I now wear a brace on my hand during outdoor activities.” The former research biologist also makes time for knitting, puzzles and volunteer work.
The baby in the crowd, Psychologist Colleen Lindsay, 58, refers to herself as a group project. She credits her father, an outdoorsman, for building on her childhood background in dance, gymnastics and swimming. “He took us on family ski holidays in the Rocky Mountains. His motto: try your best and no whining,” she says. When she arrived in the Okanagan at age 38, a group of Silver Star regulars spent many winter hours coaching and encouraging her. “I admired their free spirits and love of skiing. Now I can alpine ski, cross country classic and skate ski, telemark ski and snowshoe.” Weight workouts, biking and water skiing round out her program. She credits yoga with making the biggest difference. Recently, she hit a tree while skiing, broke some ribs and punctured her lung. “Took about six months to get over it. But now I’m back.”
Catch them if you can.
Patti Shales Lefkos, 70, loves snow sports in winter and stand-up paddle and lake swimming in summer. She considers them a great way to stay fit for her true passion, trekking in the Nepal Himalaya.
When not trekking in the Himalaya Patti Shales Lefkos loves living in the woods of Silver Star Mountain near Vernon, British Columbia, Canada where she skis, snowshoes, hikes and combats writer’s block by gazing out her office window at the antics of the Stellar Jays and squirrels eating her prayer flags.
These girls with grit represent only a few of the vibrant, inspirational women of Silver Star. Aged 58 to 78, they’re showing no signs of deceleration. Some work, full or part time. Many volunteer in the community. Above all, despite past issues and injuries, they’re game for the next adventure.
