When Sedona’s Rolf Funk partook in the Arizona Senior Olympics at Arizona Snowbowl outside of Flagstaff on Monday, Feb. 24, he was the oldest skier on the mountain. That didn’t stop him from coming home with a gold medal in the Giant Slalom event.

Funk, 85, made it down the mountain in 1:24. That was quick enough to earn him a gold medal in the age group he competed in.
“You know what they say, ‘To be first, you’ve got to last,’” Funk joked. “It was just a good field. The field was stronger this year than it was last year.”

The Arizona Senior Olympics are open to competitors 50 and older. Competitors are placed into categories based on their ages, starting at 50 to 54, then 55 to 59, etc. At 85, Funk technically should have competed in the 85- to 89-year-old division — but that would have left him in the field by himself. In order to have some competitors, Funk raced in the 80- to 84-year-old division, racing against and defeating three younger skiers.

Heading into the race, one of the things Funk was most worried about was how he’d handle the final right turn on the track, remembering how much trouble it had given him and other skiers a year ago. But when the time came, Funk handled it well.

“The course was set perfect. There has to be a flow to it,” he said. “[The race was] competitive but it was fun. They had a big hoopla after. An awards ceremony. It was good.”

Funk is unsure if he’ll ski again this year.

“I don’t know if that will be the last of skiing for me this year — but I accomplished what I wanted to do.”

Funk said he returned to Flagstaff the day after his victory for some leisure skiing. Unfortunately, he had to call it off due to high winds, prompting him to joke that he went to Flagstaff for a cup of coffee.

Funk noted that getting back to the links to work on his golf game is more likely in his immediate future.
But while Funk might have skied for the last time this season, he has no plans on giving the sport up in the near — or not so near — future.

“Somebody asked me, ‘Have you been skiing all your life?’ I said, ‘Not yet,’” he said smiling. “I plan on doing it at 90. How many people are doing that at this age?”