Snowboarding

[Brian in Montana]

Any of you guys snowboarders? I got into it, a little, about 20-odd years ago, but life changed directions as it's apt to do, but I did continue to ski off and on. Fast-forward and I have a teenage son who is legitimately a very talented skier, therefore we're up at Ski Discovery every chance we can get there. The winter before last, pretty much on a whim, I leased a deck and surprised myself with how much fun I had on it. Nowadays, I pretty retired my skis and just ride a board, even though I'm probably the oldest fart on the hill doing it.

I was just thinking about it because my son and I have been browsing all the summer sales for ski and snowboarding gear recently, and I thought I'd put this out there. Surely I'm not the only hunter that likes to ride during the winter.

 

[Wildabeest]

I’ve tried, but no bueno for me. I prefer my feet pointing where I’m heading.

So does being a boarder require that you lay around in the middle of the run with all your hipster buddies, or is that just an age thing?

 

[Rack Daniels]

Haven’t gotten to snowboard since high school. Been a skateboarder since I could walk so naturally when I moved to Montana as a young teen I got into it quickly. Like you said, life changes directions. Have fun and be safe out there!

 

[TOGIE]

i've never worn a pair of skis in my life believe it or not.

used to snowboard 30+ times a season in high school and college.

great times. still love it. go once a season at most anymore.

pace will probably pick back up once my kids start getting into it. i'll probably nudge them towards skiing though.

 

[Brian in Montana]

I’ve tried, but no bueno for me. I prefer my feet pointing where I’m heading.

So does being a boarder require that you lay around in the middle of the run with all your hipster buddies, or is that just an age thing?

No, man, I totally do that. Smoke a bowl, dude.

 

[Brian in Montana]

i've never worn a pair of skis in my life believe it or not.

used to snowboard 30+ times a season in high school and college.

great times. still love it. go once a season at most anymore.

pace will probably pick back up once my kids start getting into it. i'll probably nudge them towards skiing though.

I have 3 kids - my oldest daughter is a good skier, she and her fiance are actually going on their honeymoon to ski in Scandinavia (they have their details all worked out, but I'm not sure where exactly). My middle child, another daughter, isn't into it, but she's my only real hunter of the brood. My son is going to be 16 in September and that kid does things on skis I never could. He's not bad on a snowboard too, but he's so natural on skis you'd think he was born with them on his feet.

 

[TOGIE]

I have 3 kids - my oldest daughter is a good skier, she and her fiance are actually going on their honeymoon to ski in Scandinavia (they have their details all worked out, but I'm not sure where exactly). My middle child, another daughter, isn't into it, but she's my only real hunter of the brood. My son is going to be 16 in September and that kid does things on skis I never could. He's not bad on a snowboard too, but he's so natural on skis you'd think he was born with them on his feet.

it's not too late for me to pick up skis, and i actually want to. but we're in a season of life where hitting the slopes more than once a year (if even that) just really isn't in the cards.

I'm young enough still i could probably get proficient pretty darn quick.

seems when i was a wee lad, the cool kids snowboarded. so that's what i demanded my parents rent for me that first day ever. i feel like that's definitely no longer the case.

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

I know the feeling. This was February ‘26 at Sipapu. A year earlier, he learned skiing and I strapped a board on for the first time in 23 years.

 

[cedahm]

I am primarily (like 95% of the time) a two-planker but I raised two knuckle-draggers so I still occasionally strap the board on.

Basically only on powder days (assuming I planed ahead and brought the board kit), as that's where I see additional value/fun out of the big board. The older I get the more I just like powder days or tearing down Blue runs and I feel much more comfortable at high speed on skis. Especially as crowded as most places have gotten in the last decade or two.

But man, on a good cold dry powder day, the feeling of surfing on a snowboard is unmatched.

 

[BAKPAKR]

@INMT, I think this is up your alley.

 

[Phaseolus]

As a long time Telemarker I look down on lessor forms of snow recreation

 

[Gr8bawana]

Nope, it's a good way for old farts like me to break a hip.

 

[Marshian]

It’s interesting how times change. When I was a teen in the mid nineties snowboarding was the cool new thing in Michigan but I had learned to ski. When I moved to Montana in 2010, I wanted to learn to snowboard as my wife was learning to ski so we could both be newbies on the bunny hill. I won a K2 world wide weapon in a raffle that winter, got decent at it, sold my skis and haven’t looked back. Now all the cool young people ski again but I still like boarding better. Every year when I bring the board in to get waxed, the young shop employees compliment what a cool vintage board it is. I’ve plateaued skill and boundary pushing wise (I’m 46 now) so see no need to upgrade although the boots and bindings did need it. Makes winter go by.

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

in the mid nineties snowboarding was the cool new thing

banned. It was despised by the purists at a lot of resorts. They didn’t even give us separate water fountains.

 

[INMT]

@INMT, I think this is up your alley.

Oh yeah. When I moved to Montana I had been on skis once about 13 years before. Grew up skateboarding and my brother had bought a snowboard setup a couple years before I moved and he never used it.

He gave it to me when I moved. Eventually bought a split board and replaced the snowshoes and really got into backcountry for a while. Middle fork and glacier stuff.

Had kids and it kinda fell by the wayside. Got more into XC skiing and the peaceful solitude of it.

Fast forward and both girls are getting to be great little skiers and keep asking about trying snowboarding so maybe they will this winter.

I’ll snowboard until I can’t anymore and keep XC skiing.

And suck it @Wildabeest, go to Alta if you want to be elitist. And I’m sure you’re aware of the Skiers responsibility Code.

 

[Wildabeest]

banned. It was despised by the purists at a lot of resorts. They didn’t even give us separate water fountains.

Stilled not allowed at Alta and Deer Valley.

 

[Nunyacreek]

You’re not the oldest by a long shot. I think the ability to ski and snowboard both are wonderful. When I sometimes can’t stand my kids or they can’t stand me we can still go skiing. Both my kids and wife are superb skiers and all can snowboard to varying degrees. I am a better snowboarder than skier but do both. When it’s early season or icy or lots of traverses I ski. When it’s chunky or powder I find it way easier to board than ski. I’m a Disco fan myself, but if you ever want to be inspired go to Sun Valley and the average age is easily 70+.
I was tired and broke when my daughters raced but it brought me to some great places and great people. And in MT it’s not elitist by any stretch. It’s hard not to think that there has to be some good that comes out of a lot of people outside enjoying winter.

 

[MThuntr]

Adult onset skier here. 2 of my old friends are OG snowboarders. Our ski hill is currently on fire

 

[Wildabeest]

Adult onset skier here. 2 of my old friends are OG snowboarders. Our ski hill is currently on fire View attachment 414188View attachment 414189

Cottonwood fire took out Eagle Point ski resort in southern Utah this summer as well.

 

[belshawelk]

I appreciate you boarding. Gives me more wickets to go around. I am a two planker. On a serious note, older guys like me seem to be respectful boarders and I can co-habitat. The younger crowd i cannot. Ruin the snow and sit on the downside of hills.

As someone who has skied downhill semi professional and over 40 years there is room for plenty on the mountain. And if it weren't for Snowboarders ski mountains would never have been make if financially. But damn the young punks and attitude. Two of them last year thought they owned the mountain by crossing back and forth the whole run while I stayed in my little zone on the edge. Started yelling at me after they tried to cut me off. They weren't so tough when I clicked out waiting for them at bottom of run.

Good for you and enjoy the snow. My useless rant is over.