Boarding at 40+

its a whole different thing.  i cant tell ya if you would love it more then skiing but its def worth a try.  go up and rent for a day.  if you can take a lesson do that.  but yea, its def wroth trying. 

Depends on how often you hit up the mountains... If you have the time to commit to the sport, I say go for it. Learning, is the hardest part. If you can past to the point where you're not always falling on your ass while trying to trying to carve down the runs than snowboarding can actually be easier on your body than skiing.

I think the hardest part for you might be trying to forget what you know about skiing. I'm sure your body falls into a natural kind of rhythm for skiing, so i would imagine it would be difficult to try and forget what you already know about being on the snow. I dont think you have any more risk of bruising/breaking something than any other 40+ who's never skiied and wanted to try skiing. In all likelihood, you'll probably do better. 

I'm close to 40 and this is my second season......I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go for it

You're only 40??  I went to High Cascade snowboard camp last summer, adult session, and the 3 oldest campers were between 52 and 56, while half were in their 20's. I read an article that said more older adults were giving up skiing and taking up snowboarding because it is easier on the knees.  Go to highcascade.com  and read about the camp. It is something you and your son could do together for a week, you will learn to ride, and if you dont have the most fun of your life, well,...go back to boring old skiing.  

There's a guy on another snowboarding forum that's in his 40's and he hits the park and has learned to do 7's off the big boy jumps.  IIRC, he picked up snowboarding when he was in his very late 30's or when he turned 40 and a few years later, he's damn good.  So it can definitely be done.

When presented the option of boarding or skiing, there really wasn't an option for me.  I'm only 28, but my knee's are thrashed from years of streetball and injuries.  There is no way I could ski safely.

The first couple of days will suck, but I'm sure you could get the hang of it.  My father is learning now and he is 53

I know a buddy's dad that was in the same position as you are. He picked up snowboarding, and he loves it

Originally posted by polin@optonline.net I've been a skiier for years but after watching my son snowboard, i'm seriously tempted to try it but i have heard of so many people taking up snowboarding after reaching 40+ and coming home with busted body parts.    Is boarding really that much fun and worth it or is it a sport for the young at heart and more importantly, body?   Stick with skiing or should i hit the board?

Do it, i've seen guys in CO and Utah that rip who are at LEAST 40.. Maybe closer to 400!!

Originally posted by shakazulu12 When presented the option of boarding or skiing, there really wasn't an option for me.  I'm only 28, but my knee's are thrashed from years of streetball and injuries.  There is no way I could ski safely. The first couple of days will suck, but I'm sure you could get the hang of it.  My father is learning now and he is 53

Just rent once and see how it is. I don't think age should really matter. If you are active, then I see no reason you can't pick up boarding. Go rip it up, old man! ;) ... jk

Why not?,  I would go for it.  Its better to try something and see if you like it than to live the rest of your life never knowing if you could or couldn't do it.  Also you could pick up some wristprotectors, maybe some impact shorts, and def a helmet to help ease yourself into it.  Just make sure you give it more than a day before you say you dont like it because after the first rough day you will have many nice and easy ones.

Originally posted by polin@optonline.net I've been a skiier for years but after watching my son snowboard, i'm seriously tempted to try it but i have heard of so many people taking up snowboarding after reaching 40+ and coming home with busted body parts.    Is boarding really that much fun and worth it or is it a sport for the young at heart and more importantly, body?   Stick with skiing or should i hit the board?

I dont think you can ever be too old to try something new and exciting...perfect example I know a woman in her seventies who is taking a trip to Hawaii, I asked her if she was planning on doing anything adventurous while she was there thinking snorkeling or hiking would be adventurous for someone her age, she quickly said she was really thinking about doing the zip line they had there and she wanted to do the pairsailing as well, proving you can never be too old!

My dad is 62 years old and he wants to try next year.  He watches me while he skiis and he said it looks a lot more fun than skiing.

I switched on my 32nd birthday and never looked back.  Sold my skis and all my ski gear after a year on the board.  I used wrist guards every day when I was still falling a lot, now I use them if I'm trying something new.  But for me, being able to get up many many days was key.  I live in a ski town and have never gone more than 3 days without getting on the hill (except for summer of course).  But definitely give it a try, I became completely addicted, I used to ski maybe 15-20 days/year, now I ride 80+ always, I LOVE IT!!!!!

Let us know what you decide. So far nobody has said dont do it. Several have hit the nail on the head though--dont give up because you get frustrated the first day.  Keep at it till you can at least ride all the blue runs easily, then decide if you want to continue. By the time you reach that point, you wont want to go back to skiing.  I've never skiied, but I've heard that the learning curve for boarding is a little steeper, but once you 've got it, it just clicks. Age is not even a question, the only question is whether you want to do it or not.  If you want to do it, you  can. Worried about ''busted body parts'' you said? Remember Sonny Bono (skiied into a tree) and Natasha Richardson (fell down on skiis on a bunny hill a few months ago).  Buy a helmet. Then go have fun with your boarding son because yes, it really is that much fun and worth it.

I just learned last season 07-08...40 years old and had not even SEEN the snow for over 20 years.

So freakingly awesomely fun...

I took 2 days of lessons which certainly helped a LOT.  Always wear a helmet, get some wrist protection (I have Burton gloves with integrated prot which work great) and very very important IMO is some tailbone protection.

It is a BLAST and I highly recommend it.
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My dad tried riding about three years ago, and he's well in his forties. He caught a couple back side edges and busted his ass pretty good and then he went back to skiing =D Hasn't been on a board since. I think I'm gonna get him back on the board this up coming season though.

This is an awesome thread.  I thought I was a late bloomer trying to pick it up in my 30s, but hearing about the 60+ crew up there ripping it up makes me feel pretty good about it.  Although it doesn't make it any easier when you're up there tripping over your own feet while some teenyboppers are zipping around you doing tricks. :)


My two things for what it's worth:

1.  Don't go when it's icy.  Trying to learn edge control your first time on ice would be kind of rough, and you're probably going to fall a lot and that wouldn't feel food.

2.  Survey some advanced beginner/intermediate riders to find out which resorts have the best beginner areas around.  Some might have a teensy bunny slope, some might have a more expansive area.  Longer terrain=more time for your muscle memory to retain what you're learning.

Rent a board,and HELMET, for three days. The first day is going to suck because you have to learn how to fall and plow. Second day is going to suck because you're going to plant from learning toe edge. Third day will get you so hooked that you will never want to ski again! Get out there and do it. Become inspiration for all the dinosaurs who think they're too old to board.

Just remember that your mentality going into it is almost more important than skill. If you don't think you will be able to board, you never will.

I'm 60 and have no intention of slowing down any time soon. I'm retiring from work in the next couple months, and fully intend to board every month of the year in 2010, starting in North Tahoe, followed by Chile and NZ.

Originally posted by FreeCarve I'm 60 and have no intention of slowing down any time soon. I'm retiring from work in the next couple months, and fully intend to board every month of the year in 2010, starting in North Tahoe, followed by Chile and NZ.

dang heischjr.. can we share role model?!  How cool is it to show up your grandkids out there?! I can't wait!!

do it, you only live once.

Originally posted by FreeCarve Although my son-in-law was an instructor, we've decided it would be way more cool for me to teach my grand daughter. It'll be a couple year wait, as she just turned 1 ... but she's already had a taste of the bunny slope on a little plastic sled ...