Boarding at 40+

Started about 4 years ago and am addicted.

Spending 4 weeks on the mountains here in Aus this upcomming season hoping to improve to an intermediate level.

 

Falling hurts!

 

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would Bell's Beach be the SAME Bells Beach that "Bodie" found his perfect wave at in Point Break?? 

 

I'm 44, started snowboarding 4 years ago because I didn't feel like skiiing anymore and simply wanted a new challenge. We were all skiers before, now my older son and I snowboard, my younger one and my wife still ski. I love it and will not be skiiing anymore. By the way, my older, now 14 year-old son broke both his wrists. The first accident was on the very first day he switched from skiing to snowboarding. The second one was last X-mass eve in VT. This time he was pushing himself a little harder than she should have along with an 18 year old snowboarding instructor (they were racing). In VT he even had wristguards, but he fell backwards and hit the hardpack (or may be some hidden piece of ice that was below) with the uppers side of his wrist and cracked it. It was a green stick fracture, so he healed in 4 weeks, but now he's got Burton Impact gloves, they're support his wrists and are heavily padded (and he thinks they look cool). To be honest with you I didn't have the helmet the first year, only bought it after I fell and bump my head, not smart!!! So far my bones are intact, but I am not as agressive (or young, brave and stupid) as my son is. I have had Impact Gloves from Burton for 2 years, I find them better than just wristguards for several reasons.  I also do not ride when it's frozen solid which unfortunately happens often in the East... One needs to remember that a certain level of risk always exists, you need to decide if you are willing to accept it or not.

BTW, a very good friend of my busted his knee 5 years ago and after two surgeries was told to forget about skiing, but that snowboarding was OK. We were together in VT last Xmass, he figured it out in three days and in April bought his new gear (all Burton) from Sierra (his cousin who lives in SF had to buy it for him because Sierra can't ship Burton to Canada). He can't wait for snow now (he'll turn 41 this Friday)!!!

I'd say rent a board for a couple of days (get a decent board, it'll help you pick it up faster), remember the helmet and wristguards, and enjoy. I'm pretty sure you'll like it,  and if you do get yourself as decent gear as you can afford, good quality gear will allow you to improve your skills faster and will also minimize the risk of injury.

haha me 2 

The only downside to learning to board late is that you want to kick yourself in the butt for not having gotten around to it sooner!

There are quite a few of the older generation out here in Europe who board... my (conservative) Dad always thinks its strange to see a guy with gray hair wearing the newest 686 baggy boarder outfit or whatever, but I think its cool! Respect to everyone who doesnt take growing older to mean having to grow up 

I started at 31 myself and didnt take any lessons... just went by trial and (loads of) error... it took 2 days of figuring everything out a little til I managed my first linked turns on the 3rd day, although I have to admit that I spent nearly the first entire day only in new powder snow since that was much softer to land in. 

Been riding now since Jan2006 and cant get enough! Best decision I have ever made!

One little piece of advice should you try without lessons first, when riding a T-bar, put your back foot in FRONT of the back binding ;-) no need to look like an idiot like I did my first time!!

Have fun!

That is excellent - and I thought I might be the oldest female snowboarder at 44.