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Snowboarding For Mature Folk: A world of fun and frivolity awaits. by Michael Hodgson
Why snowboard? One word--hedonism! Every snow sport from skiing to snowmobiling was born of a need for transportation except one, snowboarding. Snowboarding's life pulses with the fluctuations of the fun meter. With the proper instruction, snowboarding is also more comfortable than skiing, especially for us mature lads. Heed the words of my friend Bob Hall. At 50, he is the former CEO of Ride Snowboards and, as the former president of Salomon too, a converted alpine skier. "I carry one board now instead of fighting with two. The soft boots I wear on the slope are so comfortable I can wear them all day boarding and then into the bar for an apres snowboard toast. There are no poles to forget. And, my snowboard will fit in my trunk." Comfort is good, but where's the fun? Perhaps Gordon Robbins, a.k.a. "Grandpa Shred" can help. At 56, he is certainly one of the oldest snowboarding instructors in the country, and heads the snowboarding program for Okemo Mountain in Vermont. Robbins insists that even with white hair (which he has) and a bit of a paunch (which he doesn't have) you will rediscover your youth on a snowboard and find yourself having a great time pulling off 360's on even the most tame slope. And there lies the beauty of snowboarding. No matter how boring your life seems to be, no matter how mundane your skiing experience appears to have become (assuming you even had one to begin with), the right snowboarding experience is a lock to inject a mountain-full of snow-loaded smiles and thrills. It is because of this guaranteed thrills with few spills that an increasing number of aging baby-boomers are showing up at a different kind of board meeting. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, of the nearly 3.8 million boarders in 1996, nearly 400,000 of those were over the age of 35, nearly double the number of several years before. Isn't it hard to learn? While the snowboard learning curve's steepness is legendary, much of the difficulty scale is based on myth, not fact. You see, snowboarding's growth far outstripped the training of quality instructors proficient in the latest and best techniques. That left many to do as I did--foolishly hit the slopes trusting snowboarding friends to offer the necessary tips as needed. Ouch! Without a lesson, I can guarantee you will spend your first day hitting the snow and crawling back to your feet 100 times as a minimum--a foolish blood and guts approach to learning. With quality instruction (look for PSIA certified instructors) your butt may never touch the snow, unless it is intentionally of course. This is not meant to delude you into thinking the first day will be impact-free however. The first day on a snowboard is definitely tougher than the first day on skis. Which is why Robbins espouses the board-bar instruction method. "First you need an instructor who understands that you do not bounce the way you did when you were 13," says Robbins. "Next you will have to learn to keep your balance on a moving board with your knees locked together. The instructor will guide you through a series of side slip, turn, side slip maneuvers. After two hours, that is enough. Hit the bar." "The next day, your balance will become better, turns will require less effort and gritting of the teeth. Yes, there can be some potentially bad falls, but you can more or less avoid them with your instructor's help. After two more hours of practice, it's time to belly up to the bar again." "On the third day, the feeling of surfing on snow grabs you and the fun takes over. From there on, the climb up the learning curve accelerates," says Robbins. Adds Hall, "With the right instruction, you can become an intermediate boarder in half the time it takes to become an intermediate skier." What about injuries? Snowboarders are far less likely to tweak the knees than skiers according to orthopedic surgeon Tom Moore, M.D., PhD. from the Rocky Mountain Sports Clinic. As for broken bones, while it is true that breaks can happen to the leading ankle (from falling to the front) and trailing wrist (from falling to the backside), these injuries are rare and preventable in most cases provided you remember how to fall and are wearing the appropriate protective gear (see our recommendations for padding below). No matter which way you fall (and believe me, I've become a expert in falling) always keep your board up off the snow when you slide to a stop since that will prevent sudden and painful stops caused by catching an edge. Also, whenever you fall, make a fist so you will be less likely to jam fingers, hands or wrists into the impact zone. For backside falls, let your butt meet the snow first and then slide to a stop on your back. Do not throw your arms back in an attempt to catch your fall. For frontside falls, let your forearms touch first (like a wide receiver diving for an overthrown pass) and then land on your stomach. Finally, keep your need for speed under control. The very best way to help prevent injuries is to be in shape and no, we don't mean a crash-course in running, jumping and skipping the week before you go. Running, hiking, climbing and surfing will strengthen weight-bearing muscles and help improve your sense of balance. Adding a regimen of sit ups, squats, wall sits and lunges will further strengthen your legs and abs and enhance your boarding experience. Oh, and don't forget the push-ups 'cause you'll be doing lots of those while you learn to board, whether you like it or not. Tips and Techniques While learning has certainly gotten much easier and instruction a lot better, the following are tips and techniques to keep in mind when heading into that infamous first lesson--you can thank me later.
I learned a lot that first day on the snow. I sat nursing my bruised ego and body vowing to attend a camp this winter to learn to shred with gnarly older dudes who value the best instruction, hot meals, warm beds, stretching before playing and a good bourbon. I learned from watching others that while I may never "peak the stall" or get "way geeked"--I'm too refined (old) for that--I long to carve gracefully across the snow's surface, tracing a line with my trailing hand like I'm touching the face of lover. Two edges, one surface, no poles and me. It's a relationship based on simplicity and unbridled fun. Ponce De Leon needn't have bothered. From what I've seen, the secret to eternal life's not in the water but on the snow. Getting Campy © 1999 Michael Hodgson; All Rights Reserved
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Participation in any of the activities described within this site involves significant risk of personal injury and death. Adventure Network®, its owners, employees, and contributors to this site do not recommend that anyone participate in these activities unless they are experts, seek qualified professional instruction and guidance, are knowledgeable about the risks involved, and are willing to assume all responsibility associated with those risks.
