how old is too old??

FlatH20 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 167

so - got started boarding a bit later then most - I'm at the mid forties - what do you folks think - should I go ahead and try to do some more advanced tricks - my goal would be to nail a backroll or something even more advanced - what say the crew?

flixmaster · Site Owner Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Posts: 7488

The Veterans division has guys in your age group. Watch some veteran riders ride and you will see that anything is possible. Take a few private lessons and have an instructor give you some good tips on handle control before you go and beat yourself up trying to huck some inverts.

twolfcorner2009 · Guest

A Backroll or Tantrum is usually the first invert most people learn. If you're already comfortable or used to doing the laid out flip (like a normal backflip off of a diving board or trampoline, etc) I'd say start with learning the tantrum if you're ready for it. I started with the tantrum because it felt more natural to me as I grew up jumping around on a trampoline and doing flips off of whatever I could find.

I agree with flix though, make sure you've got all of the basics absolutely dialed before charging the inverts. Without good fundamentals, you'll just find yourself either flying through the air and landing upside down, not getting enough pop off the wake, or digging your edge into the wall of the wake.

GnarShredd · Posted: Jan 09, 2012 9:51 am Post subject:

There's a guy at the cable park who's gotta be well in to his 60's. It's never too old.

BrianABE · Outlaw Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 210

flixmaster is right, get a few lesson and you'll learn the do's before the don't.

FlatH20 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 167

I've got the basics, can do the W2W, 180's, a few grabs and some great wipeouts - like the idea of a few lessons - thanks much

BrianABE · Outlaw Joined: 01 Sep 2009 Posts: 210

Another great tip is to ride with guys who are much better than you. Don't let your pride or ego get in the way. The fastest way to progress is to ride with other who are better. You push yourself to ride more and try more. Cool

JoLo_Si · Criminal Joined: 24 May 2011 Posts: 87 City: Orlando

You're never to old to have a good time and I can't think of a better one than being behind a boat. Besides that, alot of us on here are closer to your age than you might think. It's not a cheap sport so unless you were born lucky, you / I had to wait until we were a little older to get into it.

Lessons are the best way to progress quickly & safely and keep you stoked to learn the next trick. I rode all last season with the same crew all at the same level. I learned more in 1 hour by myself with a coach at the begenning of this season than all of last year. It made this year so much more enjoyable to go grab a set with a coach every 3-4 weeks and learn something new each time that I could throw when I got back with the regualr crew.

FlatH20 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 167

dpd2483 · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 11

im 50 ben doing it for 2 years

Cragrat · Newbie Joined: 27 Feb 2012 Posts: 2 City: Gillette

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Mar 01, 2012 8:04 am Post subject:

You're only too old when you decide so. In other words, you aren't too old for anything until you think you're too old. I plan to ride into my 60's if at all possible.

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

I have lots of respect for all you in your 40's and 50's, that's awesome. I got a late start for the same reason many of you did, but look forward to giving my girl an early start. I know I'll never be Clifford or Murray but it sure is fun trying! I hope to ride until I die.

Ski Supreme · Criminal Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 50 City: Las Vegas

Im 42 and just getting started this year. I use to Slalom Ski like a champ about 14yrs ago so this shouldnt be to bad, but I think I might take a few lessons from more advanced riders. I so want to learn the Tantrum. Cool

FlatH20 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 167

good to see a few more folks jumping in- 44 this year and started my fourth season last weekend - air temp 50, water a balmy 45 - got on my new board and had about a 10 minute set- got my arms stretched out really good...

wife also got started post 40 - so far we're keeping up trick for trick with the kids...

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

I started at 22, but I do not have a boat and I only get out about 5-10 times a season. I can't wait until I can afford my own boat. I am 27 now and hope to have one by next season. I feel like I am getting a late start getting a boat, but I then I lok at this thread and consider myself lucky that I get to ride at all.

FlatH20, It's cool that you and your wife are keeping up with the kids.

dpd2483 · Newbie Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 11

i was 50 friday i went to day

mgs917 · Addict Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 532 City: Spartanburg

dpd2483, What were the temps? Where do you ride? Have you been out since last week?

HHI Dave · Posted: Apr 25, 2012 2:30 pm Post subject:

I was 41 years old the first time I wakeboarded. I've ridden every single month for the past 71 consecutive months. I'm 47 now and I run a commercial watersports operation which includes coaching kids' wakeboarding. Its NEVER too late to start. Cool

WakeBait · Newbie Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 12 City: Vienna

Man thats great, I know the older crowd can do it.. Yawl are some pretty tough cats.. Like said earlier may take alittle longer to recover from those nasty wipeouts, but in my book yawl can roll with the young bucks anyday.. I am 22 and most of my good friends are in there 40s, none of them wakeboard though.. I need to find some wakeboarding buddies in Middle or South GA, i dont know anybody that rides. I hate riding by myself lol.

CJ

munkymush · Newbie Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 10

me and my mate are 57 this yr weve been boarding for a few yrs but skied for 20yrs before that .. were no good lol but we enjoy it all , still have a play on a slalom ski and trick ski for fun ..we blame our inability on our age lol.. and we maybe need a few more painkillers to keep going but no intention of giving up till we have to . Wink

DJBusyB · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 46 City: Knoxville

I'll be 47 at the end of August. I bought my first boat, ever, in 2007. I started skiing that year, got a wakeboard in 2008 and am absolutely in love with the sport. It is often the only exercise I get away from my IT desk job. I'm still learning and struggling, just now getting wake to wake, but I progress every time I go out.

My wife just turned 51 and loves wakeboarding too. She is progressing slowly, not as enthusiastic as I am, but is wanting to learn more. She gets up, can cut back and forth, wants to ride switch, and is learning surface 180s. Thankfully we tons of videos we've bought and watched on YouTube.

Age is nothing but a number. Now, my body might not think that, but I keep my mind young and always try things!

Brian

magilla · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 22 City: Canton

I'll be 56 this fall, been wakeboarding 10-11 years. Just learned a surface spin 1260 (that's 3.5 revolutions with 3 behind the back handle passes) and TS aerial 180's from both sides of the wake in the past week.

Also do lots of wakesurfing... dont even need a rope anymore. can begin surfing at speed from swim platform and end back on swim platform.

I love it!! Laughing

FlatH20 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 167

this is great - never thought that this thread would keep on going... kind of like all of us more "mature" riders - perfect!

Ski Supreme · Criminal Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 50 City: Las Vegas

Just got my surface 180's down now I need to practice wake jumps. Mr. Green

Ski Supreme · Criminal Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 50 City: Las Vegas

OH and Im 42. WOOT WOOT

jsperr · Newbie Joined: 02 Oct 2012 Posts: 3 City: South Jersey

I'm glad to hear I am in the company of my old age peers. lol At 50 I just took up the sport. I can't wait to get on the water each weekend and it's very cool to see progress every week, aka less face plants each time out. Just wish their were more opportunities to board in our area - Southern New Jersey. The best thing about the sport is that you can be as aggressive or passive as you want and it's still a great time.

FlatH20 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 167

crazy that I stumbled upon this thread again - another year older and I can claim the TS complete with the 180's (sometimes) started throwing a few more pounds up front (ballast) not beer belly... and its working for me.... my youngest just started landing his tantrums - pretty sweet!! - but I'm jealous

FWIW - been spending some time with a few newbs on the boat - getting them up and going - always nice to see their faces when they land something or even stay up...

here in the pacific northwest the summer has been going since about the 4th of july - been out almost every day - and the gas budget is on life support....

tantrum tomorrow...

samowelsby · Newbie Joined: 24 Jan 2014 Posts: 5

I think as long you as you are able to do it, there is no age limit.

Squashed_Fly · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2012 Posts: 4 City: Swindon, UK

My wife keeps telling me I should grow up and act my age, stop throwing myself around like a child.

I'm only 31 and landed my first tantrum off the kicker this weekend. I will NOT be growing gracefully!

One bit of advice I would give though, is take some trampoline lessons. Bodies don't take so kindly to slamming the water the older you get so learning safely how to somersault and spot landings will make a universe of difference! If you get it wrong, even on a trampoline, you can do some serious damage - I had bad whiplash last year from not landing a front somersault properly on a trampoline. If you're not taking off and landing on exactly the same spot, you're not doing it properly!