Who Started Riding @ 50+ and Why? - Snowboarding Forum

Oldman · 11-15-2012, 03:21 PM

Ok, let's find out about those of us who saw the light at 50 or over. To get the ball rolling, I'll start.

Like most, did some skiing. Never got comfortable on the double planks. Always feared them crossing up and we all know what comes next.

One year, on the cusp on my 50th I go with my wife and her school Extended French class to St. Donat (north of Montreal ) for a cultural experience. Skiing / Riding is part of the deal.

I am skiing on this trip, but as I am riding the lift, I am watching the kids riding boards and I say to a fellow supervisor, "Those kids body language is telling me that they are not working nearly as hard as I am skiing. They look so relaxed".

At that moment I made the decision that when I came back the next year, I was going to learn to ride.

The following year I did just that. Went back to St. Donat on the school trip, rented a board, signed up for lessons, went straight to the bunny hill with the kids. For those of us at this point in life, it is the only way to learn to ride.

Three years later I am riding 25+ days a season and wondering what the hell took me so long to see the light.

I love the fact that it is so much easier on your body to ride vs. skiing. My feet are always warm, they never hurt me and my knees are so much happier. I only have one edge to worry about, the two never cross and if you ride any degree of rocker on your deck, hooking an edge is a rare event.

What's your story?

ScottVD · 11-15-2012, 03:37 PM

Cool story bro! (: I'm not 50, but I did start two years ago when I was 30- and I totally feel like I missed my prime opportunity - nevertheless I'm enjoying myself. Like you getting in 30+ day seasons even with that crummy winter we just had. I want my little guy to have an early start (if he enjoys it?) so got him mostly geared up - he's 2.5 and excited.
Anyhow, very cool you're getting into the sport!

KIRKRIDER · 11-15-2012, 04:01 PM

47 Tuesday!

Skied a lot as a kid. In Italy and in Austria. Beautiful. Then I lost interest. Tried a board in 99 for the first time, was a lot of fun. Another long pause. We moved to California,, the kids...but 8 years ago we started taking the kids on the slopes, instead of renting skis I rented a board and started to learn on my own.

5th year season pass to Kirkwood...best season was 40 days. Worst was last one..just 11.

can't wait to rip my new Hovercraft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldman

Ok, let's find out about those of us who saw the light at 50 or over. To get the ball rolling, I'll start.

Like most, did some skiing. Never got comfortable on the double planks. Always feared them crossing up and we all know what comes next.

One year, on the cusp on my 50th I go with my wife and her school Extended French class to St. Donat (north of Montreal ) for a cultural experience. Skiing / Riding is part of the deal.

I am skiing on this trip, but as I am riding the lift, I am watching the kids riding boards and I say to a fellow supervisor, "Those kids body language is telling me that they are not working nearly as hard as I am skiing. They look so relaxed".

At that moment I made the decision that when I came back the next year, I was going to learn to ride.

The following year I did just that. Went back to St. Donat on the school trip, rented a board, signed up for lessons, went straight to the bunny hill with the kids. For those of us at this point in life, it is the only way to learn to ride.

Three years later I am riding 25+ days a season and wondering what the hell took me so long to see the light.

I love the fact that it is so much easier on your body to ride vs. skiing. My feet are always warm, they never hurt me and my knees are so much happier. I only have one edge to worry about, the two never cross and if you ride any degree of rocker on your deck, hooking an edge is a rare event.

What's your story?

**Donutz** · 11-15-2012, 04:33 PM

Started snowboarding just shy of my 52nd. I was a volunteer parent with my daughter's school ski trip. Standing around kicking the rugrats back into play, and I had plenty of time to watch the snowboarders ripping by. Snowboarding didn't exist when I used to ski so it was my first look at the sport, and it looked like a lot more fun than skiing. It helped too that when I used to ski it was on Grouse which is all groomers, and there was no park or any concept of side hits.

Anyway, I rented the equipment the next week and went the self-taught route. And deserved what I got.

Going into my 4th full season now (as soon as we get some goddam snow).

wrathfuldeity · 11-15-2012, 07:13 PM

Saw the light at 44, kids (then 15 and 7) talked me into it; had never been on skis, skateboard...nothin due to growing up on the flatland. Going into my 10th winter and this year bought the whole hog to venture into bc splitty world.

chomps1211 · 11-15-2012, 07:43 PM

Went skiing for the first time in 1978 with my high school's ski club! I sucked sooo bad I got kicked off the hill! Never tried it again.

The Marines put me on cross country ski's once while @ Bridgeport, CA. for moutain warfare, cold weather training! (...I was a Navy Medic, '79 to '83!) I couldn't stay "upright" long enough to even get a picture of me standing in them. That was the last time I strapped into ski's!

Feb 2011, two months after my 50th. Discover Mich. & a bunch of the local hills had their late season Special Intro Offer. A Lift ticket, board rental, and lesson for $40! I always wanted to try snowboarding. It looked cool, It also looked to me like a more "natural" stance for sliding down a mountain!!

I figured, for $40? What the hell!! I'll risk a hip!

I took to it right away! (wasn't great right off or anything, but I didn't TOTALLY suck!!!)

I bought a board and boots after my second day out & I got 20+ days between that Feb and april!! Including 3-4 trips to Boyne and 1 to Cab!!!!

Last year, 2011/12. I lost count after about 28-30 days It was my first full (crappy) season! (...don't think I broke 40! I hope too this year!) When I can manage it financially,.. I will probably relocate back to the West Coast! Or maybe somewhere in the Rockies, who knows!

I've posted this before, but snowboarding???
...IS THE MOST FUN I'VE EVER HAD WITH MY CLOTHES ON!!!!

slyder · 11-16-2012, 06:23 AM

I started at 41 but I had skiied in a past life but it had been a decade + since I was on a slope other then sledding with the kids.

You go man, it has become my Zen place to unwind from life and regroup.

chomps1211 · 11-16-2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slyder

...it has become my Zen place to unwind from life and regroup.

^^^^^^^

AhhhhYeeuup!!! U-Betcha dehr, Eh?

dreampow · 11-16-2012, 07:53 AM

Cool story bro! (: I'm not 50, but I did start two years ago when I was 30- and I totally feel like I missed my prime opportunity

You didn't miss shit, you've got the best of both worlds in front of you now, a body that still functions well and a brain thats beginning to function.

I say that because in ones teens or twenties its not the brain, but the testicles that do the thinking. In ones thirties its at least a mixture of both.

I started boarding at 31 now 5 years on and absolutely loving it. I taught several friends how to board, two are over 50 and one is now an addict and a very solid boarder. His lady friend learned at 61

. She just links turns but hopefully this year she will take it up a level.

I am blessed to live near some of the best powder available anywhere and if this year is a normal year I should be in the white room for many many days

.

Yeah thats me in there.

Derp · 11-16-2012, 08:28 AM

Started last year for my 40th bday. Absolutely love it. Actually pissed I didn't start earlier!

Even though I go to a gym I find snowboarding a great way of helping me stay in shape during the long winter.

Not to mention getting fresh air all night is great for falling asleep.

11-15-2012, 03:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Oldman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Too Far from Real Vertical Posts: 148	Who Started Riding @ 50+ and Why? Ok, let's find out about those of us who saw the light at 50 or over. To get the ball rolling, I'll start. Like most, did some skiing. Never got comfortable on the double planks. Always feared them crossing up and we all know what comes next. One year, on the cusp on my 50th I go with my wife and her school Extended French class to St. Donat (north of Montreal ) for a cultural experience. Skiing / Riding is part of the deal. I am skiing on this trip, but as I am riding the lift, I am watching the kids riding boards and I say to a fellow supervisor, "Those kids body language is telling me that they are not working nearly as hard as I am skiing. They look so relaxed". At that moment I made the decision that when I came back the next year, I was going to learn to ride. The following year I did just that. Went back to St. Donat on the school trip, rented a board, signed up for lessons, went straight to the bunny hill with the kids. For those of us at this point in life, it is the only way to learn to ride. Three years later I am riding 25+ days a season and wondering what the hell took me so long to see the light. I love the fact that it is so much easier on your body to ride vs. skiing. My feet are always warm, they never hurt me and my knees are so much happier. I only have one edge to worry about, the two never cross and if you ride any degree of rocker on your deck, hooking an edge is a rare event. What's your story?

11-15-2012, 04:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,700 Blog Entries: 177	Started snowboarding just shy of my 52nd. I was a volunteer parent with my daughter's school ski trip. Standing around kicking the rugrats back into play, and I had plenty of time to watch the snowboarders ripping by. Snowboarding didn't exist when I used to ski so it was my first look at the sport, and it looked like a lot more fun than skiing. It helped too that when I used to ski it was on Grouse which is all groomers, and there was no park or any concept of side hits. Anyway, I rented the equipment the next week and went the self-taught route. And deserved what I got. Going into my 4th full season now (as soon as we get some goddam snow). __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum I hate the parts between winter...

11-15-2012, 07:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,734	Saw the light at 44, kids (then 15 and 7) talked me into it; had never been on skis, skateboard...nothin due to growing up on the flatland. Going into my 10th winter and this year bought the whole hog to venture into bc splitty world. __________________

11-15-2012, 07:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
chomps1211 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: S.E. Mich. Posts: 838	Went skiing for the first time in 1978 with my high school's ski club! I sucked sooo bad I got kicked off the hill! Never tried it again. The Marines put me on cross country ski's once while @ Bridgeport, CA. for moutain warfare, cold weather training! (...I was a Navy Medic, '79 to '83!) I couldn't stay "upright" long enough to even get a picture of me standing in them. That was the last time I strapped into ski's! Feb 2011, two months after my 50th. Discover Mich. & a bunch of the local hills had their late season Special Intro Offer. A Lift ticket, board rental, and lesson for $40! I always wanted to try snowboarding. It looked cool, It also looked to me like a more "natural" stance for sliding down a mountain!! I figured, for $40? What the hell!! I'll risk a hip! I took to it right away! (wasn't great right off or anything, but I didn't TOTALLY* suck!!!) I bought a board and boots after my second day out & I got 20+ days between that Feb and april!! Including 3-4 trips to Boyne and 1 to Cab!!!! Last year, 2011/12. I lost count after about 28-30 days It was my first full* (crappy) season! (...don't think I broke 40! I hope too this year!) When I can manage it financially,.. I will probably relocate back to the West Coast! Or maybe somewhere in the Rockies, who knows! I've posted this before, but snowboarding??? ...IS THE MOST FUN I'VE EVER HAD WITH MY CLOTHES ON!!!! __________________ *You're only Young Once,.. but you can be Immature FOREVER!!!!* 2012/13 Season; (48) days out!

11-16-2012, 06:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,929	I started at 41 but I had skiied in a past life but it had been a decade + since I was on a slope other then sledding with the kids. You go man, it has become my Zen place to unwind from life and regroup. __________________ Thanks -Slyder

11-15-2012, 03:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
ScottVD Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oakdale, CA Posts: 60	Cool story bro! (: I'm not 50, but I did start two years ago when I was 30- and I totally feel like I missed my prime opportunity - nevertheless I'm enjoying myself. Like you getting in 30+ day seasons even with that crummy winter we just had. I want my little guy to have an early start (if he enjoys it?) so got him mostly geared up - he's 2.5 and excited. Anyhow, very cool you're getting into the sport!

11-16-2012, 07:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
dreampow Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Kyoto Japan Posts: 1,056	Cool story bro! (: I'm not 50, but I did start two years ago when I was 30- and I totally feel like I missed my prime opportunity You didn't miss shit, you've got the best of both worlds in front of you now, a body that still functions well and a brain thats beginning to function. I say that because in ones teens or twenties its not the brain, but the testicles that do the thinking. In ones thirties its at least a mixture of both. I started boarding at 31 now 5 years on and absolutely loving it. I taught several friends how to board, two are over 50 and one is now an addict and a very solid boarder. His lady friend learned at 61. She just links turns but hopefully this year she will take it up a level. I am blessed to live near some of the best powder available anywhere and if this year is a normal year I should be in the white room for many many days. Yeah thats me in there.

11-16-2012, 08:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
Derp Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Wausau, Wisconsin Posts: 158	Started last year for my 40th bday. Absolutely love it. Actually pissed I didn't start earlier! Even though I go to a gym I find snowboarding a great way of helping me stay in shape during the long winter. Not to mention getting fresh air all night is great for falling asleep.

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