ZenFlow7

First, Ill at least introduce myself... I'm 22 years old, currently residing in maine. I was givin the oppertunity to start skiing when I was about 3 or 4 years old, while growing up in colorado. I stayed with it in to my mid teens, at which point I was given a snow board. I think I was around 16 or 17, I had always wanted to ride... but was always nervous about how difficult it'd be in comparison. So I tried a few times... landed on my ass one too many, and gave up. It became something that sat in my garage for the last few years.... I would go once or twice a season, improve a small amount, then put it away again.

But then this season... something hit me one day while I was boarding. It was right during the first perfect toe to heel Id ever pulled off... before then id been only riding on my heel, barely able to stand. That was about a month ago. Since then, Ive come up to hitting blues at a decent speed, with quick controlled heel-toe action... and even worked up the courage to start hitting up the park. I havent really done anything too amazing... I hit a 6 footer at sunday river with a tail grab a couple of times and felt pretty damn good...

But here's my dilema, sorry it took so long to get to;

Ive fallen in love with boarding. Ive gone every day the lifts have been open in my town, even in the worst blizzards we've had. I want to make something out of it. Am I too old to go pro? I certainly dont mean olympic... but at least a career? I dont care if I have to pick up journalism to support it... I think Ive finally, after 22 years, found what I want to do.... but now Im curious if its too late.

BliND KiNK

I'd love to hear what others say about this...

I don't think you are ever too old considering you take care of your body and have the drive to keep up with a younger crowd... but man... when you hit that perfect carve... or a kicker... my first grab, first spin... all of those things give you like an inside hunger that can't be quenched...

and that's why this is as much of a sport as anything else.

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swilber08

im 20 and i have gotten pretty good in my first year boarding so i cant help but wonder how late some pros get started too

not to say that i think i could make it at all, just wondering...thats why im goin to grad school haha

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little devil

I'd imagine if you have the talent and attitude its never too late.

But the problem is having both those things. I cant beleive the shit going down.

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"It's so hood to participate in a sport that costs thousands of dollars a year and the TechNine crew is just here to remind us of that" - Bakesale

--bigtime--

Jeremy Jones is 35

little devil

Which one? Trick question! They both are! j/k but no... they both actaully are. Jp walker aswell.

All the older guys who are around right now were around along time before. When they were 20 and shit.

I havent heard of any 35 year olds getting attention and rep outta nowhere.

But holy fuck man, JP born in 1976 still fucking KILLING it. Thats crazy.

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"It's so hood to participate in a sport that costs thousands of dollars a year and the TechNine crew is just here to remind us of that" - Bakesale

freshy

To be blunt, if you just learned to link you carves and are doing tail grabs I think your dreaming. I'm not saying it's too late, it's good your so stoked on it, but unless by next year or two your doing switch rodeos and at least 900's if not 1080's or in the least getting in the top 3 in contests your not going to catch anyone's attention.
If you already hung it up once because you fell on your but whats going to happen when you start breaking bones, because lets face it, it will happen if your going to push yourself to be pro.

If your that serious about becoming pro then go to one of those clinics with pro's as teachers and go to one of those jump facilities in the summer and practice all year long. Move from Maine back to Colorado or further west. IMHO that's the only way you stand a chance.

caneyhead

Ya'll forgot the part about quiting your regular job and finding something to do that will let you Board every day. Then enough money to go south for a few months during the summer. Need to make up for lost time.

I'm thinking at my pace that I'll be ready to go pro at 80. Wonder if I could get depends or viagra to sponser me.

oneshot

Ive been pro my whole life.. 37 now... so no. You are not too old..

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david_z

I don't wanna burst your bubble bro, but, consider it bursted. This forum (and others like it) are full of kids and old men and everyone in between who area already better than you (or me) and have loads more talent - all of whom have approximately zero chance of ever making a career out of snowboarding. Not to mention the thousands of kids (and old men, and everyone in between) at every hill across the country who don't participate in the blogs, forums, twitters, etc., who are already throwing down seriously, with an equally zero chance of making a career out of snowboarding.

The market will pay maybe something like maybe a couple hundred people out of 7 billion. You got better odds of getting bitten by a shark in Nebraska.

OTOH if you want to be a "snow journalist" that might be one route you could pursue. But it ain't "pro snowboarding". It's "pro journalism" with a snowboarding slant

There's also film, photo, marketing/advertising/promotions/etc., and the myriad other jobs that every major resort and snowsports industry requires to keep the wheels in motion (accounting, finance, HR, etc...). Possibilities are there but you gotta make the right moves at the right time and know the right people and also have a lot of luck.

Not hating, if you wanna shoot for the moon you f*cking go for it I won't stand in your way and hopefully you prove me wrong; but the odds are not in your favor. Good luck!

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