Boarding at 40+

Originally posted by Piranha first day is rough (and any time falling after that adds up), but there's no reaon why 40+ can't take up the sport...with pads. progression is inevitable.  Only problem is how are you going to face the challenge of the next level, after being able to link turns down most runs and the technique of letting yourself fall with the least amount of damage?  Do you see yourself stagnating yourself at the beginner plateau or are you going to move on to the logical next level?: tricks like riding backwards ("switch"), straight jumps, 180s, etc can you ever see yourself riding off a big rock or small cliff in powder conditions?...because you are going to want to do something out of your routine  Riding down groomers the same way for eternity can, eventually, get boring.  You're naturally going to want to progress, and in snowboarding, the consequences get exponentially higher

There may be some truth to this line of thought.  Since I'm a brand new beginner, I haven't gotten to the point to see how this plays out, and I figure I've got a long way to go. 

On the other hand, most things in life can get pretty boring around the age of 40-50, which is what leads so many people to have a mid-life crisis.   It's really up to the individual to continue to make the experience worthwhile.  When I get proficient, I plan to check out other resorts in the area, and then take trips to resorts in the Northeast and West.  I figure if I can't progress in my riding, I can use riding as a way to see the country. 

BTW, I would attempt some jumps, but it would embarrass my daughter too much!

wow.. i never thought about advanced lessons...

I wonder if they have that here down in DC..

my cousins dad boards and he loves it. just take it slow and you'll love it alot. he was a skier but tried snowboarding a couple time and never looked back.

I'm 40 and started in the winter of '06, and I swear I get a bit younger every time I go

my Dad is 52 and he has been snowboarding as long as i have... of course hes not as good b/c of fear and arrogance but he handles all the same runs i do.

go for it, YOU CAN DO IT

Originally posted by Skoojoo my Dad is 52 and he has been snowboarding as long as i have... of course hes not as good b/c of fear and arrogance but he handles all the same runs i do.

LOL. Obviously the point of view of youth. I'm sure he views it as risk management and level-headedness. After all, he has to go back to work the next day to pay the bills with his family depending on him. Don't want to risk that for a short term thrill. Also, the body just isn't the same after all those years. Damn, I sound old.

as long as you dont fall over much, you'll be fine in the office the following monday :D

I'm 33 now and plan on boarding my entire 40's.

Im forty this year and only took up snowboarding last year, from years of skiing. I took a one on one private lesson, expensive, but I can now snowboard with confidence. Its fun just doing something new, although I did do a rib cartlidge injury last season, catching an edge and landing face first under the chair lift is not my most memorable moment.

Haha I'm only 21, but go for it dude. I plan on boarding as long as I can still walk.

A lot of very good comments on here.
   I was a few weeks shy of my 45th b-day when I first decided to give boarding a whirl. Over the last 2+ seasons, I've been out 39-40 times. I was hooked from that first day, which lasted maybe 2-2 1/2 hours. I'd skied for about five years as a teenager, but it had been 29 years since I'd last been out on the mountain. I never enjoyed the mountain on skis the way I do on a board.
   I've been an avid tennis player for over 10 years, but I'd give it up in a heartbeat, if I had to choose between it and boarding. There are a lot of different reasons to like boarding, just as I'm sure there are for skiing. Everybody's got their own story to tell. If you just like being out on the hill, snowboarding is definitely one great way to enjoy it.
   Also, I've got a friend that goes to the hill with me quite often, who, at 43 or 44, started learning to board this past season.

I'm 45 and started snowboarding last winter. I'm not a converted skier (only been on skis 5 or 6 times) but my wife is a skier and she figured this would be the time to get our boys on skis (ages 4 and 6). I wasn't interested in heading to a ski resort to ski so I figured I would try snowboarding. Took one lesson and I was hooked!

About the only thing I can compare it to that I have done in the past (waaaaay back) is skateboarding. In my much younger days I used to spend the whole summer in a skate park. I haven't attempted to hit a snow park yet but I hope to make a lot of progress next season and maybe give it a try. We'll see...

i recently went boarding with someone in their 70s and he beat me to the bottom of the hill each time. i hope i can still board when im his age

Originally posted by yc5405 I first start with skiing, but now I think snowboarding has more fun and cooler!! and comfortable in many ways. For example, sitting on the slope.

Haha. I start with snowboard cause it is cooler too.

Welcome to the snowboard world!

I'm still going to shread hard when I'm forty.  Maybe less jumps and less other dumb stuff, but I'm going to continue boarding until I;m physically unable.

shtook Off. 

I'm 37 and have plans to board for YEARS!!!

You only live once man, you dont want to try snowboarding because your 40 and your gonna bust your ass? Dont let that stand in your way. Your only as old as you feel. gotta live young wild and free

something tells me this guys had enough time to figure out if he's going to try it.  

I started 2 seasons ago at 26-27. Skied once and hated it.. falling down and losing all my gear. Boarding all the way. I can't wait... even if it's crappy Blue Mountain here in Ontario!

try it at least once. rent the gear from the mtn. or your local shop. you'll never know till you try.

Started in my 50's, met an instructor who was boarding at 75.

Now 62, 90% retired, and boarded about 175 days this past season. Last day of boarding Tahoe was July 9th.

Originally posted by FreeCarve Now 62, 90% retired, and boarded about 175 days this past season. Last day of boarding Tahoe was July 9th.

Impressive.....hope I am still boarding at that age....atleast i plan on it!