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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Skiing in your 30s

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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
Starting to lose the love for it.


I think mainly as over the last 2/3 seasons I've accepted I've never achieved the standard I wanted to be when I was younger.

Now I'm no longer progressing (if anything, i'm in decline right now).. I'm struggling to find motivation to go.

Anyone else experience this?
a month ago
20 1
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gnarley_marl
Posts: 263 - Karma: 263
It’s just a fact of life. As you get older and life forces you into an uncompromising work schedule and your old bones start to wither you are presented with a choice:

do you give up a big part of what made you who you are just to earn a living and keep up with the joneses, or do you keep getting after it, sending it, and staying true to yourself?

the choice is yours

for context I’m turning 35 in a little over a month. Still getting after it!
a month ago
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gnarley_marl
Posts: 263 - Karma: 263
to answer your question a little more directly: I have totally experienced this. I essentially never reached what I believed my skiing potential to be especially what I dreamed/daydreamed about when I was younger, but that’s totally ok in my opinion! I’m still “relatively” young and have my health and good wits about me. And most importantly I’m as motivated as ever to keep getting after it.

my father in law started mountain biking when he was 35 and is now at the ripe age of his late 50’s is an absolutely ripper on the mtn bike. Talking 30 foot wall rides and all the insanity you can imagine.



I choose to be inspired by that and pray I can keep sending it for as long as I can, as often as I can
a month ago
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SKIER_STEVE
Posts: 17934 - Karma: 2,728
as a 37yo/ 38 in a month. sure die hard days in the park might be behind me but I've learned to love skiing as a whole. good day of turns, fun day out with friends. As life gets busier, I cherish my time on the hill in a new way. My friend group holds the kfed as a bare minimum to keep relevant in the park, anything above and beyond isn't expected.
a month ago
35 1
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pinesurfer
Posts: 30 - Karma: 144
JmckRStarting to lose the love for it.


I think mainly as over the last 2/3 seasons I've accepted I've never achieved the standard I wanted to be when I was younger.

Now I'm no longer progressing (if anything, i'm in decline right now).. I'm struggling to find motivation to go.

Anyone else experience this?


Progress tends to go up and down but as you grow older becoming a bit worse and maybe not reaching the high expectations you had as a kid is normal. Itll come back to you one way or another though bro
a month ago
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Rparr
Posts: 5740 - Karma: 48,916
I'm 31 now and I think I've finally lost the progression bug. I am more than happy to cruise around and do the same tricks over and over
a month ago
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dubmasterskanka
Posts: 817 - Karma: 2,942
Nothing wrong with doing dipped 3's all day every day.
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
gnarley_marlto answer your question a little more directly: I have totally experienced this. I essentially never reached what I believed my skiing potential to be especially what I dreamed/daydreamed about when I was younger, but that’s totally ok in my opinion! I’m still “relatively” young and have my health and good wits about me. And most importantly I’m as motivated as ever to keep getting after it.

my father in law started mountain biking when he was 35 and is now at the ripe age of his late 50’s is an absolutely ripper on the mtn bike. Talking 30 foot wall rides and all the insanity you can imagine.



I choose to be inspired by that and pray I can keep sending it for as long as I can, as often as I can


That's awesome about your FIL. I guess starting at that age though you put no pressure on yourself to achieve a certain standard you want.

I think because i've failed mine, quite dramatically, I can't help but think about it constantly even when I'm out skiing 30cm dream pow days... I was at Whitewater BC not long ago and couldn't help but think a few times "am I even enjoying this"?
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
RparrI'm 31 now and I think I've finally lost the progression bug. I am more than happy to cruise around and do the same tricks over and over


This is my point though, I feel like now I'm no longer progressing, why am I skiing?

Idk, maybe a bad attitude, but what I love(d) most about skiing is pushing myself and progressing. I've not had that sense of accomplishment for a few years now and I really really miss it.
a month ago
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jumpman101
Posts: 206 - Karma: 1,252
As I hit 33 this year I feel this. Best thing to do is go out with a bunch of friends and have a blast. I have been moving more and more from park to all mountain side hits and carving. When the occasional park lap comes up I’ll still rip it up in there but mainly have focused more on getting a good carve and working on form now.
a month ago
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2YearParmesan
Posts: 108 - Karma: 644
I'm happy to cruise around if conditions aren't great and definitely pick and choose my battles when it comes to progression. I swore off rails and park skiing a few years ago after knee surgery so stick to big mountain, woods, steeps and backcountry stuff more now.

I will say it's harder to get motivated to get after it as frequently these days, I think the logistics of planning out weekends and trips with friends has become more difficult in the 30+ club; people less happy with bummin' on a couch, things more expensive, etc.

I still get hyped for a lot of skiing tho; caught first chair on a pow day this year, ripped some sick glades on a pow weekend with my gf, just had a rad spring skiing weekend, those little things help remind me that skiing is still fun and worth it.
a month ago
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oldmanski
Posts: 3566 - Karma: 26,518
This is completely normal. Sometimes taking some time off, take a season or two and coming back could reignite the spark. Our bodies grow old and slow down while our mind is still young wanting to do things we did back in our teens. I am speaking from experience.
Maybe bring the standard you want down a level and go from there? Small wins grouped together make for a big win. I'm old but I am not THAT old, so I try and push the boundary when I'm feeling it.

Hang in there, you will find the love again.
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
Well said everyone. Just looking forward to summer and riding bikes again now.
Will see how I feel about skiing again in 8 months time.
a month ago
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Bloom.
Posts: 3544 - Karma: 13,371
Went hard in my 20s and got to the highest level I could - sw 10s, dubs, etc. Discovered working out / gym too late around 28ish. I was always pretty skinny and likely would have had more capacity for progression if my legs were stronger.

I had best season of my life when I was 30 - most confident I've ever been with style to match. Blew out my knee at the end of that season and I've hardly done anything since in the park and I don't miss it either. More aware now of the fragility of my body and also my interests & priorities have changed.

Still love skiing just as much as ever and have found a new way to keep it exciting by swirling around in moguls, steeps etc. There's no limit to creativity. Don't have to be chuckin dubs for it to be fun still.
a month ago
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NightGoblin
Posts: 30 - Karma: 238
Damn man, to hear you’re asking yourself if you’re even enjoying it is tough. I guess at that point I’m asking myself what I feel is missing to make me enjoy it. And then go after that. Personally I have seen a link between social media/phone use, and the level of enjoyment I get from activities I like. So I spend way less time doing that and I find more enjoyment in the things I truly love. You just gotta find that missing piece for you not that it’s phone related.

32, skied as a kid, and spent 8 years of my 20s partying and fucking around not skiing much. Moved somewhere I can ski easily and fell in love with skiing in a whole new way. Sure I think about my missed opportunities related to skiing, seeing people I know from childhood make a life out of skiing/boarding. But feeling bad about that isn’t gonna make you better, be yourself you don’t need to be some idealistic version of yourself. That’s more of a life thing but sometimes you just gotta accept you’re not fuckin special and you don’t deserve shit you didn’t go out and do for yourself
a month ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7934 - Karma: 23,019
I'm 35 and I love skiing more than ever and still progressing. It's important to stay in good shape. Cardio is a must, and training for strength and endurance goes a long way.
It also helps to re-assess your goals. I've had more fun and felt just as accomplished skiing tricky lines or a difficult street spot, finding an interesting line through the park or simply carving more aggressively as I ever did adding another 180 to a rotation.
I guess refining your style will always be possible, and I definitely used to put a lot of pressure on myself to try big tricks that in hindsight weren't that cool.
a month ago
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bennwithtwons
Posts: 1672 - Karma: 16,075
do you ski with friends? when i'm alone, i usually feel less inspired and interested in skiing. i can feel that my attitude isn't great.
i always feel more stoked when i'm shredding with at least one buddy. if you find yourself skiing alone, i suggest calling up a homie.

as far as progression goes, i'm definitely not hitting jumps with the same intent as before. a couple thousand days of riding park takes it toll, so i'm happy to avoid slapping into hard ass landings when i can. the good news it that rails are fairly low consequence and super fun to session. i can be super happy hiking a simple flat or down feature for a couple hours trying out new combos. learning something new will go a long way to keeping your stoke high!

hope you can reawaken your passion!
a month ago
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OldParkRat
Posts: 49 - Karma: 633
oldmanskiThis is completely normal. Sometimes taking some time off, take a season or two and coming back could reignite the spark. Our bodies grow old and slow down while our mind is still young wanting to do things we did back in our teens. I am speaking from experience.
Maybe bring the standard you want down a level and go from there? Small wins grouped together make for a big win. I'm old but I am not THAT old, so I try and push the boundary when I'm feeling it.

Hang in there, you will find the love again.


Couldn't agree more. And get in the gym during the offseason. Practice balance work and depth drop off boxes to prepare knees for impacts. It might spark the fire you need internally to keep ripping in your 30's and beyond!
a month ago
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HumanGenius
Posts: 393 - Karma: 470
Progression in a lifestyle sport like skiing doesn’t just mean sending bigger and harder tricks every year. It can also mean getting better at making good decisions like easing up when the conditions/your body don’t support sending 100%. Or it can be getting really dialed on some technique, or showing newer skiers what’s good.

Also it helps to have a few different ski setups. Icy day? Time to progress carving and gs turns on carvers. Pow day? Charge cliff lines and trees on the pow skis. Spring slush? Vibe in the park and throw some small spins and a few rails in the sun on the park skis. Variable/crusty day? Fine some side hits and a mogul line and rip that. You’re missing out on a lot of progression if your only progression metric is what you can throw down in the park.
a month ago
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johnblaze
Posts: 1535 - Karma: 2,802
JmckRStarting to lose the love for it.


I think mainly as over the last 2/3 seasons I've accepted I've never achieved the standard I wanted to be when I was younger.

Now I'm no longer progressing (if anything, i'm in decline right now).. I'm struggling to find motivation to go.

Anyone else experience this?


Remind me how old Candide and Tanner are? Get to work pusscake!!
a month ago
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12028 - Karma: 9,574
Just turned 39 yesterday. And I still love skiing. About 10 years ago I had a really bad crash and I'm lucky I'm not paralyzed. I had to rethink how I was to enjoy skiing. Also this last year I had some heart problems and that also made me so much more grateful that I can ski at all. I can't speak to your own motivation. I never had that massive progression bug I wanted to ski with my freinds and maybe get weird on stuff. I hope you can find a new flame to keep you going. It's out there
JmckRStarting to lose the love for it.


I think mainly as over the last 2/3 seasons I've accepted I've never achieved the standard I wanted to be when I was younger.

Now I'm no longer progressing (if anything, i'm in decline right now).. I'm struggling to find motivation to go.

Anyone else experience this?
a month ago
6 0
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DraculaFlow
Posts: 65 - Karma: 281
johnblazeRemind me how old Candide and Tanner are? Get to work pusscake!!


This, granted they are two of the GOATs of skiing.
a month ago
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freestyler540
Posts: 13203 - Karma: 20,053
I recommend changing it up. If you live in the mountains, take up backcountry skiing. Maybe become a ski instructior to teach the love of skiing. Just doing laps kinda sucks so you have to find ways to stay longer.
a month ago
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3335 - Karma: 32,088
RparrI'm 31 now and I think I've finally lost the progression bug. I am more than happy to cruise around and do the same tricks over and over


Same. It’s honestly freeing. I spend the better part of the day carving frontside, and if it’s good maybe hit some woods. Eat/drink in the parking lot. And then switch to the park skis and just fuck around w the same ol’ reliable tricks for the remainder
a month ago
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Slugger66
Posts: 146 - Karma: 925
I'll echo a lot of the other replies here. I'm 28 and continue to love the sport, just in a different way. I have responsibilities now that require me to take care of my body and be 100% come Monday morning. That being said, I can still push my abilities every once in a while when the conditions and mind are right. My threshold is definitely for becoming scared is much lower though, which is probably a good thing in the grand scheme of things lol.

I'd definitely recommend some strength training if you're dealing with any pain. In addition, find a good crew of friends or family to join you, if possible. Skiing is pretty fucking dope, especially compared to the offices or other workplaces where we spend 80% of our week.
a month ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22737 - Karma: 76,996
JmckRStarting to lose the love for it.


I think mainly as over the last 2/3 seasons I've accepted I've never achieved the standard I wanted to be when I was younger.

Now I'm no longer progressing (if anything, i'm in decline right now).. I'm struggling to find motivation to go.

Anyone else experience this?


You gotta risk bailing hard. If you haven’t had a solid crash In a season you aren’t actually pushing yourself.


learn to ski every run at your mountain switch from the top to the chairlift line. You can make some flat-ass shit gnarly as fuck doing that at full speed.
a month ago
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SSteezle
Posts: 9457 - Karma: 2,361
35 here and coming off an ACL surgery this year. The last few years, I've got into tele skiing and it's something new to work on. Coincidently I tore my ACL and destroyed my knee tele skiing, but it was because I was being dumb. I plan to get back into Tele skiing and taking it easy (and not jumping over ropes into frozen rivers).

The last 5 or so years, I've tried my best not to hop into the park, so I can relate. I was a full on addict to skiing and now I'm tele skiing (which I never EVER thought I would try).
a month ago
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Jaskier
Posts: 336 - Karma: 761
I'm 40 and still trying to get better, for example landed a 3 on a side hip over the weekend and my kids were hyped on it, age is nothing if you stay strong and keep pushing yourself.
a month ago
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CalumSKI
Posts: 4379 - Karma: 26,116
I haven't found 30 to be too old to throw down
(im 22)
a month ago
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captainslack
Posts: 314 - Karma: 566
I'll echo what others have said about touring/backcountry. I do more and more of that and love the progression that comes with learning about mountain and snow safety. I want to get to a point where I can combine my mountaineering with my skiing to ski lines that hardly anyone else has done. Hopefully I can do this well into my 50s so still have a good 20 years.

And it makes the trips to the parks more about nostalgia with your mates than trying to progress anymore.
a month ago
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YoungWookiee
Posts: 710 - Karma: 525
Not 30 yet but i just turned 28 and definitely feel similar, last season was my first season back from like a 5 year hiatus finally got back to a healthy state where I could ski again and felt like a million bucks, then I broke my wrist towards the end of the season on an over rotation lmao I’ve never had that issue back in the day. Anyways my wrist didn’t heal back properly and is still giving me issues and it kinda stunted my desire to want to throw down if I’m just made of glass now or something. Father Time

ps I drive trucks for a living so I can’t be breaking bones in this day and age lol

**This post was edited on Mar 21st 2025 at 12:23:18pm
a month ago
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freeballer
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,077
Go ski powder
a month ago
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ecsm.
Posts: 1389 - Karma: 587
take up coaching part time.

the kids are fun and you can harvest their energy.
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
Mr.BishopYou gotta risk bailing hard. If you haven’t had a solid crash In a season you aren’t actually pushing yourself.


learn to ski every run at your mountain switch from the top to the chairlift line. You can make some flat-ass shit gnarly as fuck doing that at full speed.


Correct, however, like so many others my age, I can't risk bailing hard anymore. Firstly, as I've broken so many bones over the years I honestly don't think I could mentally process breaking another. I thought I broke my thumb a few weeks ago after dragging my hand dropping a cliff, and I was panicking like fuck for two days until the swelling and pain started to go away. I definitely have a form of PTSD from previous injuries and I'd probably fall into some sort of deep depression if I broke something now.

Secondly as I simply can't afford time off work.

So yeah, as I mentioned before, I'm not pushing myself, not progressing and not particularly enjoying it anymore
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
ecsm.take up coaching part time.

the kids are fun and you can harvest their energy.


You have to be good to coach lmao.
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
freestyler540I recommend changing it up. If you live in the mountains, take up backcountry skiing.


I like this idea actually, never toured. Maybe something for next year.
a month ago
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22737 - Karma: 76,996
JmckRCorrect, however, like so many others my age, I can't risk bailing hard anymore. Firstly, as I've broken so many bones over the years I honestly don't think I could mentally process breaking another. I thought I broke my thumb a few weeks ago after dragging my hand dropping a cliff, and I was panicking like fuck for two days until the swelling and pain started to go away. I definitely have a form of PTSD from previous injuries and I'd probably fall into some sort of deep depression if I broke something now.

Secondly as I simply can't afford time off work.

So yeah, as I mentioned before, I'm not pushing myself, not progressing and not particularly enjoying it anymore


Do it anyway. Either risk your shit on skis or blow up in a midlife crisis and start doing blow and hookers and shit. Better to break a bone than develop crippling alcoholism.
a month ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52480 - Karma: 172,691
I think for me it goes in and out. Some seasons I ride a shit ton. Some seasons very little. I probably should ride a bit more but being in winter year round and having other hobbies, I need my breaks.

I also love the feeling of a good turn. It's what I tried to remember coming back from injuries.

If I get a couple turns, everything else is gravy. Any tricks in the park, any steep chutes. Just loving a good couple turns goes a long way. Hard to have a bad day after that.
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
Mr.BishopDo it anyway. Either risk your shit on skis or blow up in a midlife crisis and start doing blow and hookers and shit. Better to break a bone than develop crippling alcoholism.


Honestly. Broken enough bones, Been there done that. Think I’d actually prefer to die young as an alcoholic than break my wrist again lmao. Like I said, I think I have PTSD from it, can’t think of anything much worse than another 3 months of hospital appointments and scans and doctors saying please stop doing these sports.

**This post was edited on Apr 3rd 2025 at 1:45:52pm
a month ago
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JmckR
Posts: 1329 - Karma: 6,021
theabortionatorI think for me it goes in and out. Some seasons I ride a shit ton. Some seasons very little. I probably should ride a bit more but being in winter year round and having other hobbies, I need my breaks.

I also love the feeling of a good turn. It's what I tried to remember coming back from injuries.

If I get a couple turns, everything else is gravy. Any tricks in the park, any steep chutes. Just loving a good couple turns goes a long way. Hard to have a bad day after that.


This is a fair point. However I had 3 seasons off between 2020 and 2023, so can’t particularly relate.

but you’re right, nailing some nice turns on a nice day does still feel pretty damn good.
a month ago
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3606 - Karma: 3,972
I am 36 and this is the first year I haven't skied since I was 2.

I am very over it. I have worked in the industry 18 years now, and still do. I just don't ski. The ski industry has ruined skiing for me.

I try to play as much golf as I can. It is better.
a month ago
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