Phew! Seeing hail fall at Apex last week made me breathe a sigh of relief that we are making it through fire season. The anticipation for winter can’t be more palpable this year.

But with thoughts of winter, does it bring some hesitation to your knees?

Maybe you recall those last turns last year all too well. And instead of being excited for the next season, your knees may be telling a different story.

There does come a point in every skier’s life when the conversation changes. From What new skis should I buy this year? and How much snow are we going to get? to Do I have the right knee brace? and Will my knees hold up for another season?

Maybe you’ve noticed that you don’t recover quite as well. Or perhaps you prefer the groomed runs over the bumps any day. Maybe your off-season is now spent tending to your knee. Or you’ve been given a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and are beginning to hear the words “knee replacement”.

And somewhere along the way, you’ve wondered: How many more ski seasons do I have left? Will I still be able to do the skiing that brings me so much joy?

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Getting older doesn’t automatically mean you have to get off the mountain. You may even find some reassurance if you’re skiing midweek when the patrons at the Edge are mainly sporting silver hair.

You see, aging doesn’t mean giving up. It means learning how to adapt to your changing body.

You may have less muscle mass, slower recovery, previous injuries, cartilage changes or stiffer joints. But that doesn’t mean you need to quit.

The goal isn’t to have 25-year-old knees. The goal is to build a body that supports the life you want to live.

A big piece of this is understanding that your knees are part of a system. They don’t work in isolation.

Knee health isn’t as simple as whether or not there is joint space visible on an X-ray. Even skiers with arthritis can have very different experiences depending on their strength, conditioning, body composition, recovery and movement patterns.

And if arthritis is part of your story, there is even more to consider. Managing an arthritic knee isn’t simply about reducing pain or looking at what is happening to the cartilage. It’s about looking at the whole picture — how you move, how strong you are, how you recover, what you eat, how you sleep and how much load your knees are handling. There is more within your control than you may think.

So what should you be thinking about?

Strength. Mobility. Recovery. Nutrition. Sleep.

The biggest mistake I see is waiting for the snow to fall before getting your ski legs back.

If your knees were bothering you last season, September is the time to start.

Think of this trifecta when it comes to knees that are friendly to skiing:

Build strength

Especially your quads, hamstrings and glutes. These muscles are an important part of the system that helps your knees handle load.

Pay attention to recovery

How long does it take you to recover from a workout? Are you still sore or feeling beat up several days later?

Don’t just push through it. Seek support from a trainer who can help you modify your workouts so you stay in the right zone and build capacity without constantly setting yourself back.

Figure out what’s going on

Persistent pain, swelling or instability all deserve attention.

Don’t simply chalk these things up to getting older.

Your knees may need a little more attention than they used to. They may need strength, recovery and a different approach to managing pain.

But before you give up and pass on your quiver of skis, ask yourself a different question:

What can I do now to give my knees the best chance of keeping me on the mountain?

Because your knees don’t necessarily have to retire before you do.

Ready to give your knees a little more attention?

If you’ve been told you have arthritis, or you’re starting to wonder if your knees are going to keep up with the activities you love, I’ve put together a practical Arthritis Guidebook to help you understand your options and where to start.