I agree with the physical fitness part of passing a level 3. I also agree with the age part. I still ski well above the standard but I would not call my skiing particularly athletic. I have got two guys right now, one 55 yo and the other 66 yo. Both of them can ski it but don't come back with the pin. They turn into old men or something. I am starting to notice perception and some balance issues.
Over the last five years my skiing has improved substantially. My skiing has gotten very smooth and clean with round well finished turns. My turn size has gotten smaller. I can carve a turn at 4-5 meter radius. The comments I receive from other people is not "your skiing is athletic" or "you ski with power" or "you are a badars skier" No, what I hear most often is " Why don't the laws of gravity apply to you?" People sometimes say it with a tone in their voice. I have no idea what they mean by that and I have not heard that comment about other peoples skiing. I hear it pretty consistently so their must be something different in the way that I ski.