What's Up? - Page 2 - Snowboarding Forum

OldDog · 10-08-2012, 01:44 PM

Sweet! Thanks for the reply.

Don't get me wrong, I fully expect to damage myself in the process. At 34 I was sparring 3 days a week with 20 year old kids who were trying to take my head off my shoulders. I loved fighting and I've separated my floating ribs, ripped off my big toe nail, broke my foot, sprained my wrist, and dislocated my shoulder (not to mention the countless mat burns, bloodied lips and noses, and various bruises and contusions).

2 months ago I endo'd downhill on my mtn bike and nearly impaled myself on a tree. In my mind, a little pain is the price of admission if you want to get that rush!

OK, so I might be a little "unbalanced"...

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRomo

Started 3 years ago at age 37 (turning 40 on the 28th) and I've always been atheletic. Raced BMX in the 80's, played football, ran track, skate boarded etc...

I picked up boarding quickly but the first day was pain incarnate. Every inch of my body hurt except for my toes. Wear your helmet cause catching an edge sucks and it will happen.

Your gear looks great. I started with a 159 and I'm 5'8 190.

**Donutz** · 10-08-2012, 05:55 PM

Unbalanced is good.

I'm the same height and weight and boot size as you, and my board is a 159 NS Heritage. You'll be fine with yours. I'm going into my 4th season, and my experience is that the biggest stopper is timidity. Don't take that to mean you should throw yourself off the first cliff you see, though. Always limit yourself to what is logically the next technique or skill to learn, given where you are. But given that, being a wuss just slows you down.

Good waterproofing on the clothes, and I hope they're roomy -- too tight is bad.

Now where's my damned cookie?

slyder · 10-08-2012, 07:07 PM

Old dog this is a familiar story. I was sparring with a high school girl that caught me off balance with a round house to the head. Needless to say I was on the floor seeing stars. I loved fighting guys 1/2 my age, but it does take it's toll on your body.
I started riding 3 yrs ago at 42.

You sound solid but don't over look the Azzpadz recommendation. A little pain is fine but when/if it ends your day when it could have been prevented and you'd still be riding. Why not use them and enjoy your new sport a little more.

OldDog · 10-08-2012, 07:17 PM

Thanks for the reply Donutz...

I went with the sizing chart @ the-house.com and figured an XL in the jacket would be good considering layering and all. I probably could have gone with a large. I feel like I'm swimming in the damn thing. Between the pants and the jacket I look like a hoodlum that needs to pull his pants up... Damn kids!...

Anyway, I wanted GTX but couldn't justify spending the extra dough for my first season. Maybe next year I'll upgrade my jacket. In any event, I went for 20k/15k as a minimum based on feedback from the girl I work with who was an instructor.

Yeah, I feel ya on not hucking myself off the back country cliff on my first day or looking for that 6' kicker my first time off the lift. I've watched lots of vids of people doing it wrong and people doing it right. The basics just don't look that hard to me. And as you may have surmised, timid I ain't...

Anyway, we shall see how it goes. Did I mentioned I'm totally pumped and the next 2 months are going to drag like a mutha?

PS: Meet me at Shames opening day and I'll bring you a damned cookie!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donutz

Unbalanced is good.

I'm the same height and weight and boot size as you, and my board is a 159 NS Heritage. You'll be fine with yours. I'm going into my 4th season, and my experience is that the biggest stopper is timidity. Don't take that to mean you should throw yourself off the first cliff you see, though. Always limit yourself to what is logically the next technique or skill to learn, given where you are. But given that, being a wuss just slows you down.

Good waterproofing on the clothes, and I hope they're roomy -- too tight is bad.

Now where's my damned cookie?

OldDog · 10-08-2012, 07:21 PM

You got KO'd by a girl?... Dude, that is awesome!

Don't feel bad, I had a girl tap me when I first started rolling. Kind of sucks don't it?

Anyway, yeah I've thought about the Azzpadz. Just don't know if I want to look like I'm wearing depends! I'll definitely check it out though. Thanks for the reply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slyder

Old dog this is a familiar story. I was sparring with a high school girl that caught me off balance with a round house to the head. Needless to say I was on the floor seeing stars. I loved fighting guys 1/2 my age, but it does take it's toll on your body.
I started riding 3 yrs ago at 42.

You sound solid but don't over look the Azzpadz recommendation. A little pain is fine but when/if it ends your day when it could have been prevented and you'd still be riding. Why not use them and enjoy your new sport a little more.

slyder · 10-08-2012, 07:26 PM

Ya was a rude awakening. She was a black belt at the time and I was lower belt, but it was still a hellava hard well placed kick.

Onto the Azzpadz, I could almost bet you can't even tell when I have mine on. For me they are totally worth it. On days or at any point I can take a short walk to the car and take them off. Again for me it was so worth it. Just trying to give you a good experience.

OldDog · 10-08-2012, 07:57 PM

What about some of the shorts like Pro-tec or something? the azzpadz look pretty clunky and I've read some reviews where they say the straps are uncomfortable. I might rather wear compression shorts with padding? I always wore shock doctors when fighting and I wear a chamois when biking so it wouldn't seem too strange.

What's the consensus, should I go all out with full body armor? Or, just protect the tailbone and wrists? I don't think full body armor is necessary is it? Maybe ass, knees, wrists, and elbows? I of course already have a great helmet. I can see most of it for park rather than free ride. Shames doesn't have much of a park from what I hear and I'm not really interested in anything other than jumps or maybe a box. No rails for this kid...

Quote:

Originally Posted by slyder

Ya was a rude awakening. She was a black belt at the time and I was lower belt, but it was still a hellava hard well placed kick.

Onto the Azzpadz, I could almost bet you can't even tell when I have mine on. For me they are totally worth it. On days or at any point I can take a short walk to the car and take them off. Again for me it was so worth it. Just trying to give you a good experience.

slyder · 10-08-2012, 08:27 PM

I also have a set of Skeletools which is more like you mentioned. Spandex shorts with pads. They are good. It really depends on what tricks I'm working on which pair I wear. Skeletools I mainly wear if I'm gonna work on spins, which wasn't much. I usually wear the Azzpadz all day but I bring both in my gear tote. The skeletools are harder to get on in the parking lot with out making a scene. The Azzpadz just 3 clips and they are on/off

The Azzpadz weren't uncomfortable for me at all. I have never had issue with the straps. The only time I notice them is when I'm on a quad or six man lift that is full as the chair doesn't let you spread out much.

I don't wear armor other than bum pads. I always wear wrist guards but many don't .
I will be buying a spine protector only. This is because I want to learn rails this season and trying to be smart and safe. I figure a small cash outlay to be safe and be able to continue my day should I take a hard hit, hopefully.

I researched other pairs like Pro-tec and for me I just thought these were the best buy for my money.

henry06x · 10-08-2012, 08:55 PM

Try not to make your expectations so high. You may very well pick it up the first day or you may not just as well. Your main goal when learning is simply to have fun, laugh, and enjoy yourself. I am not an instructor but I have taught a few friends and that's always the first thing I tell them. I had one friend who was very athletic put a lot of expectation on himself and got so irritated after 4 hours he quit left and never came back. He wouldn't laugh or let him self have fun and just got frustrated from falling. Everyone is going to fall day one a lot remember that. I think it's better if you have a friend that you can learn with and laugh at or a friend helping that screws around a lot and falls while your learning to keep your mood light hearted.
I also had a friend learn (I didn't teach) who use to skateboard lots when he was younger. He was an avid skateboarder and could Ollie and ride fine. It took him about two days to learn to make it down the hill and actually knocked himself out day one. He learned with a friend tho and they had a good time laughed went in and got beer and stuck with it. He was a little younger at 23ish tho.
Long story short have fun, laugh, and don't get top upset if your still falling and not where you expect to be half way through day one.

Sounds like you have a solid setup!

snowklinger · 10-08-2012, 09:03 PM

You guys shoulda seen my buddy who knows how to snowboard and skate, when I took him surfing. He had told me for years how it was going to be easy for him. We went out in 1foot surf, and he spent the whole afternoon paddling in circles about 50-100 yards from the break (there was a slight wind lol).

I'm sure this won't happen to you.

10-08-2012, 05:55 PM	#12 (permalink)
Donutz Drunk with power...er beer. Join Date: May 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 3,674 Blog Entries: 176	Unbalanced is good. I'm the same height and weight and boot size as you, and my board is a 159 NS Heritage. You'll be fine with yours. I'm going into my 4th season, and my experience is that the biggest stopper is timidity. Don't take that to mean you should throw yourself off the first cliff you see, though. Always limit yourself to what is logically the next technique or skill to learn, given where you are. But given that, being a wuss just slows you down. Good waterproofing on the clothes, and I hope they're roomy -- too tight is bad. Now where's my damned cookie? __________________ Illegitimi non carborundum Mountain Days: 30

10-08-2012, 07:07 PM	#13 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,927	Old dog this is a familiar story. I was sparring with a high school girl that caught me off balance with a round house to the head. Needless to say I was on the floor seeing stars. I loved fighting guys 1/2 my age, but it does take it's toll on your body. I started riding 3 yrs ago at 42. You sound solid but don't over look the Azzpadz recommendation. A little pain is fine but when/if it ends your day when it could have been prevented and you'd still be riding. Why not use them and enjoy your new sport a little more. __________________ Thanks -Slyder

10-08-2012, 07:26 PM	#16 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,927	Ya was a rude awakening. She was a black belt at the time and I was lower belt, but it was still a hellava hard well placed kick. Onto the Azzpadz, I could almost bet you can't even tell when I have mine on. For me they are totally worth it. On days or at any point I can take a short walk to the car and take them off. Again for me it was so worth it. Just trying to give you a good experience. __________________ Thanks -Slyder

10-08-2012, 08:27 PM	#18 (permalink)
slyder Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Milwaukee Suburbs Posts: 1,927	I also have a set of Skeletools which is more like you mentioned. Spandex shorts with pads. They are good. It really depends on what tricks I'm working on which pair I wear. Skeletools I mainly wear if I'm gonna work on spins, which wasn't much. I usually wear the Azzpadz all day but I bring both in my gear tote. The skeletools are harder to get on in the parking lot with out making a scene. The Azzpadz just 3 clips and they are on/off The Azzpadz weren't uncomfortable for me at all. I have never had issue with the straps. The only time I notice them is when I'm on a quad or six man lift that is full as the chair doesn't let you spread out much. I don't wear armor other than bum pads. I always wear wrist guards but many don't . I will be buying a spine protector only. This is because I want to learn rails this season and trying to be smart and safe. I figure a small cash outlay to be safe and be able to continue my day should I take a hard hit, hopefully. I researched other pairs like Pro-tec and for me I just thought these were the best buy for my money. __________________ Thanks -Slyder

10-08-2012, 08:55 PM	#19 (permalink)
henry06x Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 348	Try not to make your expectations so high. You may very well pick it up the first day or you may not just as well. Your main goal when learning is simply to have fun, laugh, and enjoy yourself. I am not an instructor but I have taught a few friends and that's always the first thing I tell them. I had one friend who was very athletic put a lot of expectation on himself and got so irritated after 4 hours he quit left and never came back. He wouldn't laugh or let him self have fun and just got frustrated from falling. Everyone is going to fall day one a lot remember that. I think it's better if you have a friend that you can learn with and laugh at or a friend helping that screws around a lot and falls while your learning to keep your mood light hearted. I also had a friend learn (I didn't teach) who use to skateboard lots when he was younger. He was an avid skateboarder and could Ollie and ride fine. It took him about two days to learn to make it down the hill and actually knocked himself out day one. He learned with a friend tho and they had a good time laughed went in and got beer and stuck with it. He was a little younger at 23ish tho. Long story short have fun, laugh, and don't get top upset if your still falling and not where you expect to be half way through day one. Sounds like you have a solid setup! __________________ 2011 Academy Propaganda Rev - 2012 Rome 390 Boss 2012 Never Summer SL 2012 - Ride Capo

10-08-2012, 09:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
snowklinger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: fuck boulder Posts: 2,834	You guys shoulda seen my buddy who knows how to snowboard and skate, when I took him surfing. He had told me for years how it was going to be easy for him. We went out in 1foot surf, and he spent the whole afternoon paddling in circles about 50-100 yards from the break (there was a slight wind lol). I'm sure this won't happen to you. __________________ is it late october yet?

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