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Am I too old?

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jeffEllis
Posts: 40 - Karma: 10

I am 25 have been skiing since I was 8.  Good skier and ski all the time (well on weekends and vacations).  I do pretty much everything, except freestyle/park.  I would like to add that element into my game.  I have wanted to for a couple years, but never really dedicated too much time to it.  I ride Line Chronic Blends and attempt a few things, switch, grabs...now i'm not necessarily looking to be a park-hound.  But I do want to do add elements when i pop off rollers or drops, or jib some natural terrain and if I do happen to head into the park, I want to do something exciting.  Wanna learn spins and rails essentially.

Questions:

Am I too old to start this shit?

Am I too big (6'0", 220 lbs)?

If no on both, where should I practice, park or in my element?

Thanks...n00b

Jan 21 2009 12:23PM
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Bigwoods
Posts: 3116 - Karma: 76

Learn to spell, "wait" doesn't have anything to do with pounds.

Seriously though, welcome to the world of freesking!

Jan 21 2009 8:27PM
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atnum.
Posts: 90 - Karma: 21

Skiing is one of those sports where there is no age limit, just make sure you stretch a lot to keep yourself limber, it'll help a lot when it comes to avoiding injuries.

Jan 21 2009 8:44PM
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mcweapon
Posts: 175 - Karma: 247
i am glad some one asked this question... i too am 25 and though i have been skiing park for 2 seasons now... i feel like i am the oldest one rolling through it... i am glad to hear there are a lot of others that are in the same boat.... and that there are people my age that are on this site...

go for it and good luck!

Jan 21 2009 8:45PM
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dozerr
Posts: 4007 - Karma: 404
never too old to have fun! and thats that!
Jan 21 2009 8:46PM
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Kornn101
Posts: 3534 - Karma: 25
yeah man i made an apparent decision to secure my professional life before becoming a pseudo ski bum and now im 24 and stuck in nyc for most of the time, and when i do get to the hill its fun to rip thru the park, just felt like a douche riding with a bunch of 15-19 yr olds sometimes haha but hey we're all in this for the love of the sport, so keep it up

p.s. any nyc folk who wanna ride vt gimme a shout
Jan 21 2009 9:16PM
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
john spriggs is 6'5" and simon dumont is 5'6" and theyre both pro so anywhere in between you should be ok
Jan 21 2009 10:39PM
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ASkierNamedJaymz
Posts: 1209 - Karma: 341
its true, play in the park, if you don't love it stick to BC
Jan 21 2009 11:40PM
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jeffEllis
Posts: 40 - Karma: 10
thanks dude...i actually got that yesterday...think i will def get some use for it. 

everyone, thanks for the confidence and support...i def look forward to trying some new shit this weekend...after fighting through a day of work...def stoked to get done with that and head up
Jan 21 2009 11:57PM
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VTtreeskier
Posts: 1833 - Karma: 64
I remember skiing killington my first year in the park and taking a couple laps in the park with this guy who was almost fifty. Some crazy guy who when he was 45 was like fuck this im learning to ski park. Solid rails, switch threes, pretty big 180s, guy was the fuckin shit. So no, definitely not that old. And anyone know this 50 year old at killington, crazy guy in a wrx with a beard haha.
Jan 22 2009 12:04AM
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Roy
Posts: 1982 - Karma: 1,240
I'm 23 and I'm learning new tricks all the time! The biggest thing I would suggest if your serious and you can (don't know your body type) try and drop some weight. I went from 212 ish to 197 ish and I'm starting to bounce like I used to (plus I stretch lots) at 18
Jan 22 2009 12:05AM
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jblaski
Posts: 5566 - Karma: 1,078
Good thread. I'm 24, and have been snowboarding park for the past 6 or so years. And am the Park Supervisor at my local place. I see people of all ages in the park killing it. The main crowd I ride with for the most part falls in the 16-20 age group. But over, we go from 15-upper 30's. I TOTALLY think that riding with the younger crowd makes ME feel so much younger.

And being too old...? I ride with a skier, who is around 35. 2 years ago he learned his first 3. Last year he landed his first 9. And just last weekend, he landed his first frontflip. This dude was SO pumped that the entire park vibe got better just from seeing him.

I say go for it man. You'll find a whole new crowd to ride with and make friends with.
Jan 22 2009 1:29AM
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powerslide
Posts: 570 - Karma: 273
im 34 and started jibbing when i was 32 - for me it is a new way to look at skiing. The cool thing is that you can mix freeskiing in to all your skiing - piste, BC. just go man. I have kids and i'm marrid, now thst is old (lol) old is a state of mind - im not old
Jan 22 2009 3:56AM
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PopsicleStand
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 147
there is a like a 50 year old dude at okemo who fuckin slays, sw 180s FTW.
Jan 22 2009 5:52AM
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Maximumsushi
Posts: 7837 - Karma: 3,354
Good vibes in this thread! You're definitely not too old to be skiing park.

I'm 24 and skiing more than I ever. I find that I am more prone to serious or semi-serious injuries now. Last season I suffered an AC separation in my shoulder and hurt my meniscus badly. Although, I am hitting bigger jumps and rails than I was when I was younger too, so that may have something to do with it! Just stay confident and progress comfortably. Make sure you're always having fun, that's why you're doing it. 

I don't ski with crash pads, but they might help when you're learning the basics. As someone else in the thread said, you're going to bruise your hip up learning boxes and rails because you will lean back. Everyone does it. I do ski with a knee brace and a helmet. Make sure to stretch and stay in shape. Strong muscles and staying loose both help to prevent injury.
Jan 22 2009 8:19AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Awesome thread. Good posts by everyone.

Anyways, you are certainly not too old, and not too big. I am 6'0, 190lbs at 23 years old. When I started freeskiing I was that 150lb lanky kid who could take bails. Now that I am bigger and have grown into my height more (as many of you 6'0 tall 150lb'rs will) I cannot take the impacts as well, but still am trying to learn.

A major setback for me was a severely dislocated shoulder. I opted against surgery due to the odds of retearing the ligaments with another fall. I wear a shoulder brace skiing and have been good so far this year.

I do suggest stretching daily, even if not skiing. Being more limber and flexible will do wonders for your skiing and health.

Start small too. I never got into rails before, started with some boxes 2 years ago, and this year, I finally started hitting some easy flat-bars in the small park. Yeah,. they are easy, but it's cool. I'm having fun, and getting a sense of accomplishment from it, which is all that matters.

With regards to jumps. Start with smaller hits, slowly working up comfortably with straight airs until your air sense is good.
Jan 22 2009 9:11AM
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cousinmark
Posts: 939 - Karma: 29
i started skiing for real at 19,,,,,i skated quite a lot as an adolescent,,,thats what helped for me,,,,,,,, hitting one jump 50 times just with a straight air and a little grab untill you just feel it, if you want it bad, it will come
Jan 22 2009 12:24PM
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TMswitch06
Posts: 987 - Karma: 11
that fuckin snuggy pic gets me every time hahahah
Jan 22 2009 1:26PM
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Atypical
Posts: 1339 - Karma: 45
falling is going to suck more. But if you really want to go for it. There are riders who are well over 25 and still rape at big mountain and back country, no reason you can't rape park at 25.


Jan 22 2009 3:31PM
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oldskewl
Posts: 457 - Karma: 10
25 too old? are you joking?

Here you go guys. I havent told my age yet. 42! Did my first 540 at 36 yrs old (claim but true). I have been hurt before but never in the park (other than bumps and bruises). But my medical file is fuckin a thick 2 knees 3 shoulders 1 ankle numerous broken bones and 4 really nasty procedures. You guys that think you are old and your knees are shot at 20 really need to take stock in where you are going to be in 10 or ever 20 yesrs cuz you will blink your eyes and you'll be there.

by the way if you think im full of shit im bskip i've skied with him a few times this year. we used the chads gap shout out. if you ever see an old dude at the canyons (red jacket black pants skull candy fuzzies or silver helmet) give me a shout (i'm the only one)

what is an old guy doing on this sight???trying to learn new tricks and trying to give a little wisdom when he can.



spark notes: you are only as old as you think so sack up
Jan 22 2009 4:03PM
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