Too old to learn snowboarding? - Page 2 - Snowboarding Forum

**HoboMaster** · 09-25-2012, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreampow

I have taught several friends including a 62 year old lady.

If he is athletic he should be fine but get a board with lifted up contact points and proper lessons.

My main suggestion is learn to ride somewhere there is powder, even if you take a 1 week trip somewhere.

Powder makes the difference between painful falls and possible injury and harmless, painless falls into a soft forgiving surface.

Its almost fun to fall on freshly groomed powder. Its hell on ice.

Keep in mind though that powder is something you learn after you get good at groomers... for beginner/intermediates powder is also some of the most frustrating stuff to ride because you have to be comfortable letting go and have good balance. Fresh groomers after it snows however are a lot more awesome to fall on.

firstx1017 · 09-25-2012, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmytard

You know your not supposed to use pictures of your daughter for your avatar.

TT

@TT - lol - good thing the avatar hides wrinkles and gravity! lol Have two boys who aren't interested in snowboarding - good thing my 57 year old husband will hang with me doing this!!!

2hipp4u · 09-25-2012, 10:55 PM

Go for it, Im 47 and this will be my third year on the board. Extra protective wear would be a good idea and I would also have him talk to a doctor about the eye problem. Nothing is worth losing your sight over.

slyder · 09-26-2012, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstx1017

@TT - lol - good thing the avatar hides wrinkles and gravity! lol Have two boys who aren't interested in snowboarding - good thing my 57 year old husband will hang with me doing this!!!

anyone smell smoke....TT being shot down in flames

From the OP'er post I inferred his dad hasn't been on skis in a long time, and his health was not the best. I may have read into it a bit though.

wrathfuldeity · 09-26-2012, 06:22 AM

He is playing tennis and used to ski. He knows how snow works, how edges work, how to read terrain. Ime tennis is hell on my 53 yr old knees...stop go, twist....ehhh boarding no problem. I think with excellent instruction, going over how to fall, the mechanics of getting back up, good body posture and how to turn. No problem...just predose with ibuprohen to help prevent the swelling before it happens.

edit: Get your old pops a day long private lesson with a hot chick snowboard instructor (motivation and gender pressure so he won't puss out) and buy the beer at the end of the day.

dreampow · 09-26-2012, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoboMaster

Keep in mind though that powder is something you learn after you get good at groomers... for beginner/intermediates powder is also some of the most frustrating stuff to ride because you have to be comfortable letting go and have good balance. Fresh groomers after it snows however are a lot more awesome to fall on.

Fair point, let me clarify.

Freshly groomed powder as in groomers with packed down powder, AKA corduroy. No newb is going straight into off piste powder, but if there is snowfall the night before the groomers consist of soft compacted powder rather than hard unforgiving ice.

Thats how most of my buddies learned thanks to regular snowfall here in Japan. No bruises or bad injuries.

iechoi · 09-26-2012, 11:57 AM

Thanks for all the responses! It sounds like it's very possible with some extra precautions. He's still in good shape and active, and I'll make sure the eye thing gets checked out again. We both live near Seattle, so finding soft snow won't be a problem for us. He'll have all the time in the world after he retires so we can cherrypick the days to go up.

LuckyRVA · 09-26-2012, 12:14 PM

My step dad learned to snowboard when he was in his upper 50s. But, he's super fit and has more energy than I do it seems. I'm sure it can be done. But, like someone mentioned padding is probably at must at that age.

hktrdr · 09-26-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreampow

Fair point, let me clarify.

Freshly groomed powder as in groomers with packed down powder, AKA corduroy. No newb is going straight into off piste powder, but if there is snowfall the night before the groomers consist of soft compacted powder rather than hard unforgiving ice.

Thats how most of my buddies learned thanks to regular snowfall here in Japan. No bruises or bad injuries.

+1. I am with dreampow 100% on this. It is what makes Japan such a great place to learn for beginners - you generally do not have to be afraid to fall.
I don't enjoy riding in Japan (more accurately Niseko) as much as I used to (I mean, I love the powder but the terrain is just not that challenging without having to do long hikes up undeveloped mountains), but for learning it is definitely tops.

wrathfuldeity · 09-26-2012, 12:26 PM

Since ur in pnw, catch a nice 4-6" little refresh and he'll be fine. Get him to think about getting a little retirement cabin in the hills.

09-25-2012, 10:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
2hipp4u -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Flatrock Posts: 231	Go for it, Im 47 and this will be my third year on the board. Extra protective wear would be a good idea and I would also have him talk to a doctor about the eye problem. Nothing is worth losing your sight over. __________________ GBR

09-26-2012, 06:22 AM	#15 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,701	He is playing tennis and used to ski. He knows how snow works, how edges work, how to read terrain. Ime tennis is hell on my 53 yr old knees...stop go, twist....ehhh boarding no problem. I think with excellent instruction, going over how to fall, the mechanics of getting back up, good body posture and how to turn. No problem...just predose with ibuprohen to help prevent the swelling before it happens. edit: Get your old pops a day long private lesson with a hot chick snowboard instructor (motivation and gender pressure so he won't puss out) and buy the beer at the end of the day. __________________ Last edited by wrathfuldeity; 09-26-2012 at 06:27 AM.

09-26-2012, 12:26 PM	#20 (permalink)
wrathfuldeity Resident poet Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bham Posts: 2,701	Since ur in pnw, catch a nice 4-6" little refresh and he'll be fine. Get him to think about getting a little retirement cabin in the hills. __________________

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09-26-2012, 11:57 AM	#17 (permalink)
iechoi Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 17	Thanks for all the responses! It sounds like it's very possible with some extra precautions. He's still in good shape and active, and I'll make sure the eye thing gets checked out again. We both live near Seattle, so finding soft snow won't be a problem for us. He'll have all the time in the world after he retires so we can cherrypick the days to go up.

09-26-2012, 12:14 PM	#18 (permalink)
LuckyRVA Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,099	My step dad learned to snowboard when he was in his upper 50s. But, he's super fit and has more energy than I do it seems. I'm sure it can be done. But, like someone mentioned padding is probably at must at that age.