Uphill Skiing at 75: ‘There’s No One Left in My Category’

Ok, good for her. I'm envious she gets to jet around to all these cool events, to be sure! But 3:35 for the 33k classic in VT last weekend? ... I don't know, I'm way more impressed by Trina Hosmer, who skied 2:19 in that same race -- and is 74, just a year younger. Where's the article on Trina?

Go Sharon! I hope to race with you when I turn 70!

Blown away! She's incredible!

I used to be a member of Rocky Mountain Orienteering Club and fellow member Sharon always encouraged me when I became frustrated with my results. Sadly, I have become a couch potato in the last few years but this article may turn that around for me. So, so happy to see her get the recognition and acclaim she so richly deserves--you go girl!!!

i often see people of her generation in the mountains skitouring in the Alps in Austria and Switzerland. In an area where walking or skinning up the mountains is a part of the history, older adults with a mane of white hair is a common sight, and often much better on skis going down than i ever will be. That she is the only one in her age category shows really just how shallow the pool of fit seniors are in the US. I hiked on the same trails as 80 year olds, and have watched many a grandpa or grandma slowly and steadily reach the summit of their choice and enjoy the way down. it would do the US good (i'm from Philly) to have a culture where going outside is simply how one spends a weekend... and maybe as a result, seniors skinning up a mountain wouldn't be such a rarity.

I go xcountry skiing and snowshoeing at least 50 times a year in the Wyoming mountains. At age 73 it has only recently occurred to me that I simply do not see folks in their seventies do these activities in the higher elevations. I'm not sure why exactly: But several friends that used to go with me every winter are do not around any more. Well, several have passed on and of the others only a couple in their early 60's will still go with me, a couple of times a year. Of course, in a rural state heavily republican, just about every one in their latter years is either simply gone and their health is terrible because they refuse to take care of themselves. My wife has a large family and takes care of her health, but all of her brothers and sisters are in terrible shape and doing nothing to take care of themselves and their spouses. That is why Medicare is going broke.

What a good story. Here is a person worth noting and admiring. Let’s focus more on people who have great lives without drugs, crime, corruption, social media.

Awesome, simply Awesome!!!You Go Girl! You give inspiration to all of us, especially those of us who many believe should be taking it easy in a rocking chair.

oh great. just when i thought my 66 year old body had enough someone like Sharon Crawford comes along to shame and inspire to get out there for another couple of years. :)

At 72, I’m perhaps one of the younger men Sharon can beat. Cross country skiing is a wonderful sport for older folks, but the ranks thin out in this age group. Must be healthful to live in Frisco, Co - the average life expectancy in Summit County is above 86.

Inspirational. I’m going out the door and up to ski. Not in her class however. Bravo!

So inspiring! Go Sharon!

Wow. When I get home today and I'm tempted to sit on the couch this article will come to mind. Maybe we'll get some snow this weekend and I can get my sticks out and get some skiing in.

I’m inspired Ms. Crawford!!! I’ll hike my home mtn. this weekend thinking of you and dreaming newly inspired dreams :-) I especially like that you have different goals for each race, just partaking being an option. Autobiography?!?

Simply wonderful. Motion is lotion.

My kind of person or actually, my kind of a woman. Getting older is not much fun and really hard to do now what seemed so much easier when younger. This lady should be an inspiration to all of us, the young and very mature included!

Fantastic competitor !!!

Thank you for putting to rest any lingering doubts I had about taking up backcountry skiing as a retired 62 year old engineer. Ms Crawford you are my hero and inspiration - I’ll be thinking of you with joy as I skin up the mountain today.

What an inspiration! I also want to give a shout out to the wonderful people of Montana, noting her MSU degree, and her childhood there. A generous pioneering spirit lives in big sky country.

I had the pleasure of teaming with Ms Crawford for a ski-orienteering race in the 90s. Twenty years younger and of the male gender, I ALMOST kept up with her. Keep climbing, Sharon.

What I love about Sharon is that she does this for the sheer joy of competition. She is always supportive of others and underplaying her own accomplishments. She competed in a XC ski race February 5th. It was -25º. No problem for her. Over coffee afterwards, we discussed the World Masters Games. She enthused over the courses, the scenery, meeting people from all over the world. She never mentioned the six medals she won, including five golds. I had no idea until reading this article. Sharon is an inspiration for all.

We need more positive articles, such as this uplifting piece. After wading through all the negativity in the world, Ms. Crawford is a reminder that we need not sit in a chair and watch all the unsettling world events. Much more important to go out and make our own news.

What a great article. Ms. Crawford is an inspiration.

Such an inspiring story on all levels, and a real antidote to so much of today's news. Go Miss Crawford!

I knew Sharon when we both lived in Alaska in the 1970s. Even then, one of her mantras was that, even if not speedy, she had endurance. However, to round out the picture, some mention should be made of her mental abilities. Her many, many successes in orienteering around the world are largely skipped over in this article. Orienteering involves using a map and compass to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, across terrain without trails. You make all the tradeoff calculations in your mind, on the fly: the shortest route may be the best for one runner, but not another. She was a master at that, able to win many races despite being an admittedly slower runner in a conventional race. She was quite the force, one of a kind. It's exciting to see that she is still at it.

It should be noted that the environment in which Miss Crawford competes and trains has approximately 33-35% less effective oxygen in the atmosphere than sea level. Temperatures during the competitive events can be around zero and add a little wind to that and the apparent temperature can be in the -10 to -25 range. Just wanted point that out. She's one tough lady, no doubt.