Masters of the mountain

A half dozen skiers fly down Emmons Ridge, whipping through the powder during an afternoon outing at Blacktail Mountain. They weave among each other, snow trailing behind them like a wintry wake. As the group comes closer, the skiers’ features become more apparent.

It’s not a gaggle of teens tearing down the slopes — but a crew of seasoned snow-sports athletes, the majority with decades of experience under their belts. They’re members of an unofficial group of skiers over 60 who shred Blacktail Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, convening for lunch around 11:30 a.m. To some of the staff on the mountain, they’re an inspiration — these skiers are exactly what they hope to be in the future: still skiing into their 60s, 70s and beyond.

“They’re like the people who I emulated when I was a little girl learning to ski — they bring their lunches …. they sit around in their Norwegian ski sweaters and swap stories about the day,” instructor Carolyn Pardini said.

Ski instructor Kristy Wilke said she admires their joie de vie and how they refuse to be defined by societal norms.

“I feel like our culture waits for life to happen — these guys chase after it. They shape life rather than waiting for life to shape them,” Wilke said. “Their lives are communicating hope … and hope is contagious.”

Among the skiers over 60 are a former pharmacist, police officer, geologist, teacher, and others. No two share the same career and many came to be part of this gathering through sheer proximity — as neighbors of other members — or simply through word of mouth. Other than the lunchtime gathering, nothing about the group is planned. They might ski together, they might not. They might be there all three days, they might not.

One aspect that is consistent, however, is their mutual love for skiing.

Tom Fitzsimon picked up the sport after he retired at age 54, and even worked on the mountain as a lift operator.

“It’s something to do. What do you do — are you going to sit around on the couch and watch television?” Fitzsimon said. “I’m 72 now, so when my body falls apart I guess I’ll stop.”

“Winters are tough in Montana,” commented Diane Edge, of Bigfork. “But up here, you often come out into the sun and it’s always fun. You don’t care if it’s snowing or cold or windy or anything else. This is a gift. Blacktail’s such a gift and these people are a gift — a family.”

While some among them don’t see each other apart from ski season, others have developed friendships beyond the hill. Tom Edge and Jack Thomson fish in the summer months, while Edge hunts with another member during the fall.

The group not only provides a sense of camaraderie and a regular crew of ski buddies, but also helps the skiers push each other and offer advice — when solicited, of course.

“When I first got out here, there’s no way I would get off of a groomer,” Thomson said. “Now I go looking for bad stuff.”

Phil Catalfomo, of Dayton, said over the years he’s had to scale back on the difficulty of the runs he takes, and stresses skiing within one’s ability to keep riding as long as possible.

“You should just do it within your own abilities and not take unnecessary chances, not do things that you’re not capable of doing, not try to be a hero,” Catalfomo said. “Just do your thing. Enjoy it.”

His wife of 58 years, Madeline, noted she’s seen changes in the group over the years as health issues cause members to hang up their skis.

“We don’t know from one year to the next, are we still going to be able to ski?” she said.

But she and her husband keep as active as possible, walking two to three miles on days they don’t ski — and trying “not to get too heavy,” she added.

Outside of the group, Blacktail is home to other stellar senior skiers, such as Olympian Lajos Máté, of Lakeside. Máté is 91 years old and originally from Hungary. He represented Hungary in the 1948 Olympics in the downhill and slalom alpine skiing events. Back when he was training in the last 1940s, his skiing experience was a far cry from what he enjoys on Blacktail Mountain.

“We don’t have ski lifts,” he said. “You climb up three-and-a-half, four hours to the top of the mountain, and then in 9 minutes or 5 minutes you are down on the bottom.”

Máté’s illustrious skiing career also included a 15th place finish at the 1954 Alpine World Ski Championships in Sweden, which helped inspire his escape from Hungary after the country fell under Soviet rule. In 1956, Máté left Hungary and eventually made his way across the U.S. to Montana, where he’s been able to continue his passion for skiing.

“Everybody should ski because it’s healthy and it operates the whole body — it’s amazing what a sport can do for you,” Máté said. “I pray to God that he let me ski until I die. I want to ski to my funeral. “

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss can be reached at 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com