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Park skiers at what age did you start to ski park?

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SirBuckles
Posts: 274 - Karma: 700
As much fun as skiing regular runs and powder which in my opinion really is the best part of skiing I would like to get somewhat good at park skiing. It seems fun and I would like to be able to do something. I'm not that old (16) however I have no tricks in my arsenal. I was wondering from the people who consider themselves pretty good at skiing park what age did yous start, and how long did it take to land simple tricks? Simple tricks could include a 180, 360, or maybe a safety grab.
Jul 18 2014 2:28AM
84 7
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slayaa
Posts: 197 - Karma: 582
Last year was my first season skiing at all and I can now do all of those! Considering youve skied before, it won't take long. :)
Jul 18 2014 3:28AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51586 - Karma: 161,711
7 for skiing and 8 or 9 for snerrberdding.

Back in the day when frankfurters only cost a nickel
Jul 18 2014 3:35AM
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SirBuckles
Posts: 274 - Karma: 700
slayaaLast year was my first season skiing at all and I can now do all of those! Considering youve skied before, it won't take long. :)


That's good to hear. How long did you spend working on tricks and how much time did you spend on just downhill skiing?
Jul 18 2014 3:47AM
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HolySchimmel
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 1,297
I am in no way good, but I started with around 21, which is waaaay too late I guess.
Jul 18 2014 4:00AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51586 - Karma: 161,711
SirBucklesThat's good to hear. How long did you spend working on tricks and how much time did you spend on just downhill skiing?


Don't ration out your time and try and do too much. Meet some people in the park, ski with them, have fun. Tricks and skills in general will come.

Honestly that's the best way to progress imo. The more you ski the better you'll get. Don't sweat it just have fun. If you can try and learn from the better kids in the park. Push yourself to try new shit
Jul 18 2014 4:03AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51586 - Karma: 161,711
SirBucklesThat's good to hear. How long did you spend working on tricks and how much time did you spend on just downhill skiing?


Don't ration out your time and try and do too much. Meet some people in the park, ski with them, have fun. Tricks and skills in general will come.

Honestly that's the best way to progress imo. The more you ski the better you'll get. Don't sweat it just have fun. If you can try and learn from the better kids in the park. Push yourself to try new shit
Jul 18 2014 4:10AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51586 - Karma: 161,711
SirBucklesThat's good to hear. How long did you spend working on tricks and how much time did you spend on just downhill skiing?


Don't ration out your time and try and do too much. Meet some people in the park, ski with them, have fun. Tricks and skills in general will come.

Honestly that's the best way to progress imo. The more you ski the better you'll get. Don't sweat it just have fun. If you can try and learn from the better kids in the park. Push yourself to try new shit
Jul 18 2014 4:10AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51586 - Karma: 161,711
shitty internet connection. sorry
Jul 18 2014 4:19AM
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Suusataja
Posts: 314 - Karma: 1,113
I started when I was 16, now I'm 23. By now I can do 7's and switch 5's with grabs so I'm intermediate or whatever.

First season I managed 180's on small bumps, park jumps scared the shit out of me.

Second season I got 180's on park jumps. I also did my first 360's, they were flaily and corked(landed backseat constantly), because I had bad air awareness.

Third season I got better at 3's(grabs) and started landing 5's(which became my plateau trick for a while), also got more confident trying stuff on bigger jumps.

Then for couple of seasons I kind of slowed down trick wise, but I became more fluent/stylish(in my mind)/better overall skier.

Last two seasons were awesome, I got so many new rail tricks it's nuts and 7's, sw 5's with grabs, so I'm pumped for winter.

I'd say don't overstress about tricks, just challenge yourself and your friends/skibuddies and have fun skiing.
Jul 18 2014 7:03AM
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
I really started at 15, I am 20 now. 16 is a good age, we all wish we had started younger, but all of us are only getting older.
Jul 18 2014 7:38AM
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Ali_Dibden
Posts: 1966 - Karma: 1,688
I started when I was 17 (im 19 now) and i progressed pretty fast i think. Anyways i can do 900s, cork 9s and a bunch of other stuff. i am in no way stylish but it suits me. Trampolining really helped for my progression too.
Jul 18 2014 8:45AM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2872 - Karma: 34,164
around 12 /13
Jul 18 2014 8:55AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Been skiing since I was 2 so I am confidently a really solid skier all over the mountain. didn't start park though till I was ~14-15. Got pretty good but kinda faded out when I was around 21. Though still love ripping the park once and a while would rather ski all mountain at this point.
Jul 18 2014 9:04AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
I don't consider myself pretty good at skiing park, but I'm going to answer your question anyway

Started at 14 or 15. Was decent at rails for a little while. Never got good at jumps. Started being able to do big 3's probably 2-3 years in. That's about as far as I got. 7-8 years later i'm still not good at jumps
Jul 18 2014 9:27AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
SteezyJibberI don't consider myself pretty good at skiing park, but I'm going to answer your question anyway

Started at 14 or 15. Was decent at rails for a little while. Never got good at jumps. Started being able to do big 3's probably 2-3 years in. That's about as far as I got. 7-8 years later i'm still not good at jumps


Just to add to this, I started skiing when I was really young
Jul 18 2014 9:28AM
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McLS
Posts: 1985 - Karma: 6,454
around 15
Jul 18 2014 9:29AM
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spaceghostpurp
Posts: 249 - Karma: 835
I started skiing when i was 4 and i "skied" park at five and got twintips when i was 8 and became serious when i was 9.
Jul 18 2014 9:57AM
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ZachAndCheese
Posts: 816 - Karma: 5,116
I started fooling around in the park at around age 10, I am still fooling around in the park now
Jul 18 2014 10:27AM
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Z_Benesch
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 2,683
I became interested about park at age 12 probably, I'm 15 now. So, basically I started getting serious about it last season when I was 14. It took me until the one or two seasons to finally get threes stomped on small kickers.
Jul 18 2014 10:39AM
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Crispy.
Posts: 6108 - Karma: 7,678
12 I think.
Jul 18 2014 10:46AM
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Mingg
Posts: 13973 - Karma: 49,240
The first time I hit a jump and a box I was like 7. But I didn't really start riding park until I was 16, almost 17.
Jul 18 2014 11:01AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
i got a pair of snowblades in like 2000 or something? Had been in the "snowboard park" before that though on straight skis as a little kid
Jul 18 2014 11:04AM
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ny300z
Posts: 1299 - Karma: 1,708
29.

better late then never
Jul 18 2014 11:14AM
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SirBuckles
Posts: 274 - Karma: 700
theabortionatorshitty internet connection. sorry


That's alright.
Jul 18 2014 12:03PM
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SirBuckles
Posts: 274 - Karma: 700
KravtZBeen skiing since I was 2 so I am confidently a really solid skier all over the mountain. didn't start park though till I was ~14-15. Got pretty good but kinda faded out when I was around 21. Though still love ripping the park once and a while would rather ski all mountain at this point.


All mountain is more fun from what it would like and adding a few tricks while skiing around the mountain is one of the reasons why I learn. If you have seen This sander Hadley video http://vimeo.com/85012142 it probably wouldn't be good as him, but doing stuff like that to spice up skiing around the mountain.
Jul 18 2014 12:11PM
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BigMoneySpender.
Posts: 92 - Karma: 214
SuusatajaI started when I was 16, now I'm 23. By now I can do 7's and switch 5's with grabs so I'm intermediate or whatever.

First season I managed 180's on small bumps, park jumps scared the shit out of me.

Second season I got 180's on park jumps. I also did my first 360's, they were flaily and corked(landed backseat constantly), because I had bad air awareness.

Third season I got better at 3's(grabs) and started landing 5's(which became my plateau trick for a while), also got more confident trying stuff on bigger jumps.

Then for couple of seasons I kind of slowed down trick wise, but I became more fluent/stylish(in my mind)/better overall skier.

Last two seasons were awesome, I got so many new rail tricks it's nuts and 7's, sw 5's with grabs, so I'm pumped for winter.

I'd say don't overstress about tricks, just challenge yourself and your friends/skibuddies and have fun skiing.


^ this
Jul 18 2014 12:17PM
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eddy9
Posts: 383 - Karma: 216
Going hard and taking the hits is more important than starting early if you want to be decent imho.
I started skiing park a few years ago, but only got good when I started taking it seriously.
Jul 18 2014 1:27PM
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eddy9
Posts: 383 - Karma: 216
Going hard and taking the hits is more important than starting early if you want to be decent imho.
I started skiing park a few years ago, but only got good when I started taking it seriously.
Jul 18 2014 1:27PM
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VTbass802
Posts: 992 - Karma: 240
I started last year(at age 16)after snowboarding for a couple of years... I got down some of the basics on rails and jumps and started trying flips towards the end of the season. Granted I had been snowboarding park and had learned a lot of stuff on trampoline anyways, you can get passably good in one season. Just ride with people who are better than you and make sure you are having fun and not stressing yourself out with trying new tricks and you will be good.
Jul 18 2014 1:30PM
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GeorgiaJibber
Posts: 1608 - Karma: 1,353
Started back in 8th grade which is lie 13 or 14, I'm 16 now and i learned pretty quick on rails but jumps.... my home mountain hasn't had one in 4 years so i suck at them
Jul 18 2014 1:56PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
I started to dabble in the park at 15 - learned some sketchy 360s and hit some boxes - when I got my first season pass. Skied only a handful of times when I was 16 due to injury and never once hit a jump, then when I was 17 I really got into the park. I'm 18 now and will be 19 for next season.

It kinda depresses me when I think about where I'd be if that dude hadn't taken me out and ruined that season... I was so stoked to start learning park tricks that year.
Jul 18 2014 2:38PM
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balzach
Posts: 241 - Karma: 2,616
i stated skiing park around 7 and learned 3s at like 8. I just turned 15
Jul 18 2014 2:53PM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
25
Jul 18 2014 2:57PM
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Sir.Steezealot
Posts: 1156 - Karma: 677
I seriously started park skiing when I was 15, four years latter I've landed all the basic leftside cork/inverted flips and can double. I'm really not trying to claim here. My point is that if you put your heart, and a bit of testicles into it, you can progress as fast as you want, age excluded. 16 is not late at all you can be doing some pretty cool shit in a year or two.
Jul 18 2014 3:27PM
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BCski95
Posts: 151 - Karma: 353
i switched from snowboarding to skiing when i was about 14 or 15 now im 19. first year learned 180s 360s front 270s then 2nd year i learned frontflips and more rail tricks
Jul 18 2014 4:44PM
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cheerio
Posts: 1032 - Karma: 3,415
13 ish for me but honestly if you already know how to ski, doing those tricks should not be hard at all, just find a very small park jump or side hit and you'll be able to get them
Jul 18 2014 5:21PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,632
19.

Late bloomer.
Jul 18 2014 5:54PM
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PeteMahn
Posts: 1316 - Karma: 3,363
i started skiing when I was 5 but didnt start park skiing until 14. In my first year I learned 3's and learned how to hit rails. I also learned backflips that year but thats because my home mountain had an airbag.

For your first year the best idea which is what I wished I did is just focus on learning to hit rails and easy stuff on them and on jumps learn spins with basic grabs and try to learn un-natual spins too. dont worry about corks,backflips, flats, rodeos, or any of that stupid shit cause that will mess up your fundamentals. Im now 17 and can rodeo's and do flats and shit but for a while I couldnt do upright 540's and 720's which is pretty sad. All those inverts and corks will be easier if you learn the basics first.
Jul 18 2014 6:34PM
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mr_hartl
Posts: 653 - Karma: 768
Mr.Bishop19.

Late bloomer.



gotcha Bishop, 20
Jul 18 2014 6:59PM
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413Crew
Posts: 1636 - Karma: 5,612
when i was about 10 soooo like 4 years ago, man i can remember when i did my first 180 i thought i was like a god.
Jul 18 2014 9:15PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10813 - Karma: 57,124
I was about 14 when I got into park skiing. I took me the entire season to learn how to spin, I didn't even approach boxes until I was 15 or so.
Jul 18 2014 9:29PM
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rballs_
Posts: 709 - Karma: 2,991
I've been skiing since I was 13 (I'm 15), kind of started park this year (I don't spend a lot of time in the park) but I landed 360s on my first try. Wasn't pretty, but i landed it.
Jul 18 2014 9:46PM
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oldworld_newlife
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 5,251
im 16 and last season was my first. i rented a bit and got the basics, and then last minute asked for some park skis for my birthday. my first season and im able to do small-medium ish jumps, safety grabs, a japan grab, a sloppy blunt, 90 on 90 off forwards and backwards, 180 on small features (tried a 360 a few times and didnt quite get it) and i can ALMOST 270 off. i fucking love skiing and ive never loved anything more in my life. im obsessed and thats how i progressed.
Jul 18 2014 10:06PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
I was a mogul skier up until 13. I would play around in the park, throwing 360s and whatnot. I couldn't even hit a rail.

14: hit smaller sized flat rails, and down rails. Straight aired larger jumps. Occasional pencil 5. Extremely occasional (yet very sloppy). Frontflip.

15. Hit all rails in park. 270s off. 5 with grabs off larger sized jumps. Frontflips off knuckles.

16: rodeos, 7s with grabs, flat 3s. Swaps, 270s on. Better style, etc

Everyone progresses at different rates though. I know a kid who was throwing dubs his second year of park.
Jul 18 2014 10:41PM
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JamesO
Posts: 142 - Karma: 381
I started around 13, you should be able to land some of those simple tricks withing the first year or two but learn at your own pace for sure
Jul 18 2014 11:58PM
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Donketts
Posts: 261 - Karma: 173
i started basic 360s and boxes at 10. I started skiing late at 8
Jul 19 2014 12:01AM
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Donketts
Posts: 261 - Karma: 173
i started basic 360s and boxes at 10. I started skiing late at 8
Jul 19 2014 12:01AM
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SirBuckles
Posts: 274 - Karma: 700
Sir.SteezealotI seriously started park skiing when I was 15, four years latter I've landed all the basic leftside cork/inverted flips and can double. I'm really not trying to claim here. My point is that if you put your heart, and a bit of testicles into it, you can progress as fast as you want, age excluded. 16 is not late at all you can be doing some pretty cool shit in a year or two.


Putting balls into is important. I do have to man up a bit. I was thinking about pro skiers and trampolines and I was on one today for the life of me I could not to the backflip every time I would try I would just stall my jump and do some half ass spin. I do need to build up my courage a bit for doing the cool stuff. However I do not think a crazy amount of courage is required for a 180 or 360 it just takes practice.
Jul 19 2014 12:27AM
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SimplyClean
Posts: 556 - Karma: 1,752
Started skiing when I was 5. Started park at 16 and didn't progress much and don't care...because I enjoy pow more and ripping groomers here and there.

I still have fun doing basic 3's, 1's, buttering on anything possible, ripping groomers switch. And basic 2's out and switch ups/surface. I'm now 24 and don't care much to progress as much as all the kids these days. I'm going to try and attempt cork 3's this year though, which are by far one my favorite tricks.
Jul 19 2014 12:31AM
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Dolan.Escobar
Posts: 683 - Karma: 943
Hit jumps as a kid. Started spinning at age 20
Jul 19 2014 12:33AM
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