For Those “Older” Park Skiers

For older folks who have been doing park for a while, I curious how you progressed your skill level. I'm pretty athletic, but am much more aware of the consequences of a poor landing than I was 10 or 15 years ago. Any advice for when just working up to a trick seems scary?

Gulo_guloFor older folks who have been doing park for a while, I curious how you progressed your skill level. I'm pretty athletic, but am much more aware of the consequences of a poor landing than I was 10 or 15 years ago. Any advice for when just working up to a trick seems scary?

The last few years I’ve been hiking a LOT more on mellow rails. More reps = less fear imo.

SkierPTThe last few years I’ve been hiking a LOT more on mellow rails. More reps = less fear imo.

For sure! Small steps makes sense

Just gotta send it man, let that lil kid back out. I threw my first real 3s two seasons ago at 36, I threw 5 yesterday and ate shit all 5 times 😂. Do young guy shit, stay in young guy shape.

I say just start in a place and with a trick your comfortable with. If you have the basics, you can pop and land a 10+ ft straight air, your ready for 3s

Gulo_guloFor older folks who have been doing park for a while, I curious how you progressed your skill level. I'm pretty athletic, but am much more aware of the consequences of a poor landing than I was 10 or 15 years ago. Any advice for when just working up to a trick seems scary?

Check out athlean-x workouts, try to stick to single leg versions any time you can. Try to limit your isolation exercise to a large compound movement like a squat and finish with single leg training

Gulo_guloI've been doing pretty basic stuff like squats and core. Don't even need a heavy weight, just keeping good range of motion. That and hip mobilization.

I’m all for squats, i workout in a pull push legs off split so my legs get hit every 48, but before recommending squats, especially as a pt, should you not be recommending these people assess their posture to see if they are ready/capable of squats? Squatting on a broke foundation leads to some really whack problems.

SkierPTStrength is king. Compound lifts heavy and often is my opinion. Feel free to PM me.

Gulo_guloFor older folks who have been doing park for a while, I curious how you progressed your skill level. I'm pretty athletic, but am much more aware of the consequences of a poor landing than I was 10 or 15 years ago. Any advice for when just working up to a trick seems scary?

I got my first 7 last season after 10 years of doing 5s (37 years old), pick your days and just don't push it if you're not feeling the conditions/jumps. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNRxUro31E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

**This post was edited on Jan 13th 2022 at 8:59:54am

**This post was edited on Jan 13th 2022 at 9:00:33am

SavageBiffCheck out athlean-x workouts, try to stick to single leg versions any time you can. Try to limit your isolation exercise to a large compound movement like a squat and finish with single leg training

I’m all for squats, i workout in a pull push legs off split so my legs get hit every 48, but before recommending squats, especially as a pt, should you not be recommending these people assess their posture to see if they are ready/capable of squats? Squatting on a broke foundation leads to some really whack problems.

Yes? Find a good coach or sports physio and learn basics for lifting technique.

I’d also argue squats with mediocre form are better than no squats, as long as you aren’t maxing out and trying 1RMs.

Agreed however, I’ve seen a lot of so called “good” coaches have people squatting and deadlifting who have pelvic tilt one way or another, no thoracic extension in their spines, rounded shoulders(nerd neck), knee or ankle immobility, hip problems. As well as coaching bad form, I just hate to see people hurt, or limit their longevity when it could easily have been avoided and corrected with posture correction and strengthening prior to squats. So make sure your trainer is a PT with a true passion for strength training, bodybuilding, or training athletes, not just some brohard at the gym that can squat 500.
I also like to perpetuate single leg training, non linear and explosive, bc if you squat squat squat squat your gonna slow yourself down, do something explosive like single leg Bulgarian jump squats.

Also, ya gotta make sure you are really, I mean really activating glutes in your leg training.

And older guys, me included, high reps, especially with bad posture, or bad form are gonna wear your joints and tendons, your much better off going heavy, even with perfect form/posture higher reps with age = not the best

SkierPTYes? Find a good coach or sports physio and learn basics for lifting technique.

I’d also argue squats with mediocre form are better than no squats, as long as you aren’t maxing out and trying 1RMs.

I'm in my 30s, last season was an ok ish parkseason (summer) until I twisted my left knee 180 degress and bursitt something, then overcompensated with right knee ( prevoious bad knee) and some infection shit hit.



Ate shit on rail killed right shoulder ( forgot to detune new skis) , ate shit on rail killed right hip, ate shit on rail killed neck (also right side). I do see why older people dont hit rails, I could of course also suck less. sucking less would help a lot.



so now I cant lift stuff with right hand high, damn hip hurts (yeah I sound 70) and I cant sleep on on of my sides do to neck, but hey its same side as hip and shoudler, so yeah gooo! leftsidesleeping.



I can finally ski again and throw crazy shit like shifty on rollers, thats about as wild as I've tried this season, so there is progress, but its SO SLOW WHEN YOU AGE, your body repairs itself at 5% pace.

SavageBiffAgreed however, I’ve seen a lot of so called “good” coaches have people squatting and deadlifting who have pelvic tilt one way or another, no thoracic extension in their spines, rounded shoulders(nerd neck), knee or ankle immobility, hip problems. As well as coaching bad form, I just hate to see people hurt, or limit their longevity when it could easily have been avoided and corrected with posture correction and strengthening prior to squats. So make sure your trainer is a PT with a true passion for strength training, bodybuilding, or training athletes, not just some brohard at the gym that can squat 500.
I also like to perpetuate single leg training, non linear and explosive, bc if you squat squat squat squat your gonna slow yourself down, do something explosive like single leg Bulgarian jump squats.

Also, ya gotta make sure you are really, I mean really activating glutes in your leg training.

And older guys, me included, high reps, especially with bad posture, or bad form are gonna wear your joints and tendons, your much better off going heavy, even with perfect form/posture higher reps with age = not the best

So much of what you just said isn’t relevant or just wrong man. Feel free to PM if you want to further discuss.

SavageBiffAgreed however, I’ve seen a lot of so called “good” coaches have people squatting and deadlifting who have pelvic tilt one way or another, no thoracic extension in their spines, rounded shoulders(nerd neck), knee or ankle immobility, hip problems. As well as coaching bad form, I just hate to see people hurt, or limit their longevity when it could easily have been avoided and corrected with posture correction and strengthening prior to squats. So make sure your trainer is a PT with a true passion for strength training, bodybuilding, or training athletes, not just some brohard at the gym that can squat 500.
I also like to perpetuate single leg training, non linear and explosive, bc if you squat squat squat squat your gonna slow yourself down, do something explosive like single leg Bulgarian jump squats.

Also, ya gotta make sure you are really, I mean really activating glutes in your leg training.

And older guys, me included, high reps, especially with bad posture, or bad form are gonna wear your joints and tendons, your much better off going heavy, even with perfect form/posture higher reps with age = not the best

Good form can help with a lot of pain and I'm a big Jeff Cavalier fan, but I don't think we need to over-athletesize squats. They're the most basic motion a human can do, it's how we all took shits for thousands of years. Whether it's high weight or low weight, it doesn't matter if they're not getting done.

Not if your in proper alignment. If your not aligned properly the only thing your gonna do is enforce this disfunction, which is next to impossible to retrain


most of the people I see walking around should not be doing squat, Hence so many people not continuing their strength training into their 50s, 60s, 70s, or living with limited range of motion.

Gulo_guloGood form can help with a lot of pain and I'm a big Jeff Cavalier fan, but I don't think we need to over-athletesize squats. They're the most basic motion a human can do, it's how we all took shits for thousands of years. Whether it's high weight or low weight, it doesn't matter if they're not getting done.

If you disagree with something I said, you should publicly correct it.
We’re talking about peoples Heath and well-being of their athleticism here, if I put out bad info you should correct it, afterall your the pt. It’s you they will more likely listen to, not me, and I’m not here to argue or be a Dick, but I’ll tell ya right now, I am %100 correct and any real trainer, say someone who trains football players, or trained people in the marines for 20 years, I think I know what’s up.
I’m actually beyond shocked you state what I say didn’t make since, even if it wasn’t written perfectly you should know anatomy enough to make sense of it, and I question whether you should be allowed to train anyone if you disagree, bc depending on how you disagree, your gonna cripple people and there is NO way outta that

SkierPTSo much of what you just said isn’t relevant or just wrong man. Feel free to PM if you want to further discuss.

I just wrecked myself on a handrail yesterday. Quad has a big ol bruise and Im limping, just in time for a potential 10" storm. Oh well

SavageBiffIf you disagree with something I said, you should publicly correct it.
We’re talking about peoples Heath and well-being of their athleticism here, if I put out bad info you should correct it, afterall your the pt. It’s you they will more likely listen to, not me, and I’m not here to argue or be a Dick, but I’ll tell ya right now, I am %100 correct and any real trainer, say someone who trains football players, or trained people in the marines for 20 years, I think I know what’s up.
I’m actually beyond shocked you state what I say didn’t make since, even if it wasn’t written perfectly you should know anatomy enough to make sense of it, and I question whether you should be allowed to train anyone if you disagree, bc depending on how you disagree, your gonna cripple people and there is NO way outta that

Okay Dr. Newschoolers. Take your fear mongering elsewhere and work on your grammar.

I work with the general population. Not elite athletes. If I can get a 75 year old woman to complete some squats, though not perfect form, I consider that a win. Most PTs aren’t loading up patients with repetition maxes. Idk where you’re from but most people in the USA don’t exercise AT ALL. So again, back to my argument, most exercises with imperfect form is better than no exercise. Generally speaking.


You are a fear monger speaking in absolutes. Every body is different. Every person is different. Idc who you’ve “trained”. Language like “cripple” don’t belong in the rehab realm. I can’t tell if you’re trolling or not to be honest but I hope you’re not.

Whoa spazzzz much?

I’m no fear monger I’ve been on here recommending squats for years for the right people.

I’ve been talking about training skiers and young people, training them to be able to train into their elderly years with success, this thread was about older park skiers not GRANDMAS that you are trying to rehab. And I was hoping to discuss and combine our beliefs into something positive but you apparently forgot your meds or had a bad day idk…
again this thread was about what should middle aged folks be doing for park skiing…. Not how does grandma excel in extreme knitting and for that I say
1-posture correction and stabilization
2-squats, squats, squats
you can say things like “you don’t know any PTs” , well your a young and inexperienced person imo and have a lot to learn. And you can say things like the word cripple doesn’t belong in rehab, well maybe not, but if you have people doing things they shouldn’t well… your gonna cripple em. And you can attaak my grammar, since we’re all here for an English class not skiing, or training for skiing, rather than answer my one question of.

what was I wrong about ….

SkierPTOkay Dr. Newschoolers. Take your fear mongering elsewhere and work on your grammar.

I work with the general population. Not elite athletes. If I can get a 75 year old woman to complete some squats, though not perfect form, I consider that a win. Most PTs aren’t loading up patients with repetition maxes. Idk where you’re from but most people in the USA don’t exercise AT ALL. So again, back to my argument, most exercises with imperfect form is better than no exercise. Generally speaking.


You are a fear monger speaking in absolutes. Every body is different. Every person is different. Idc who you’ve “trained”. Language like “cripple” don’t belong in the rehab realm. I can’t tell if you’re trolling or not to be honest but I hope you’re not.

SavageBiffWhoa spazzzz much?

how does grandma excel in extreme knitting and for that I say
1-posture correction and stabilization
2-squats, squats, squats

Squats always kept my grandma's knitting game on point.

Also, this is a thread about park skiing, the kind of skiing that involves jumping and crashing on the reg but it seems like you think squats are more dangerous than flying through the air. I'm giving folks the benefit the doubt and assuming they have the minimum level of body awareness to know that if a movement doesn't feel right or causes pain they should stop. I'm working from the baseline that if someone reading this is comfortable leaving the ground they can perform an effective squat. Man, also suggesting single-leg training to an audience that you don't even think can squat? Also, also, anyone that can sit down in a chair and get out again without using their hands can squat. Sitting and standing is something we all do everyday without training.

Gulo_guloSquats always kept my grandma's knitting game on point.

Also, this is a thread about park skiing, the kind of skiing that involves jumping and crashing on the reg but it seems like you think squats are more dangerous than flying through the air. I'm giving folks the benefit the doubt and assuming they have the minimum level of body awareness to know that if a movement doesn't feel right or causes pain they should stop. I'm working from the baseline that if someone reading this is comfortable leaving the ground they can perform an effective squat. Man, also suggesting single-leg training to an audience that you don't even think can squat? Also, also, anyone that can sit down in a chair and get out again without using their hands can squat. Sitting and standing is something we all do everyday without training.

I def think skiers should be doing squats, and deadlifts, I just think that should be put on hold until you address the weaker muscles and the muscles you don’t have a strong mental connection with, like the glutes, hip flexors etc…as well as correcting bad posture before you take on squats etc…this will only lead to more powerful squats for more years.
a lot of people out of alignment or with a muscle imbalance/weakness can ski, but they can’t do squats for years and years and years w/o problems, when they start off with bad posture, out of alignment and have to retrain that, however if they start with the weak links……
As far as single leg training, most of it is much less impacting on your body, requires more core and will let you know if you have a weakness to be be addressed. Also for skiing, not bodybuilding, it’s superior to train and move in multiple directions not just up and down. Your not gonna ski any better if you can squat 500 instead of 300, but if you can command that weight in multiple directions and planes, you will.
Finally saying u can stand up from and sit down in a chair, or squat to crap is not the same as a squatting with load, nor is it the same as a metabolic stress from insane reps with light load.

yes to summarize yes workout, squat, but build a proper foundation first.

37, I've still got 5's and the occasional pretzel in me!

28, learned a switch front flip and switch cork 5 last year.

Body feels good but I workout regularly and have a band routine for my knees before I ski.


I think most people stop throwing down in park because after college they get out of shape.

**This post was edited on Jan 15th 2022 at 10:22:03am

I think the older you get, the mental side is just as important as being strong physically. You gotta want to take that hit, not be afraid of a flat landing, mostly still want to get in the air. I just turned 58 and i still feel good, about like always. I'm currently on a 40+ day consecutive streak and the just opened the park yesterday. And yeah I lift all off season.

3maniaI think the older you get, the mental side is just as important as being strong physically. You gotta want to take that hit, not be afraid of a flat landing, mostly still want to get in the air. I just turned 58 and i still feel good, about like always. I'm currently on a 40+ day consecutive streak and the just opened the park yesterday. And yeah I lift all off season.

This is goals!!

Thanks! I really appreciate it🙏🏼

DominatorJacquesMad respect! Great story! I remember too, I never got that good, now I'm "old"! BTW Jonny is still pretty cool!

In skiing it's a fractured thumb & dislocated AC joint.

Did my first 360 from a big (M to L size, 25') kicker and somehow got mad headwind gust after speed checking 5 times and knuckled with a proper yard sale explosion. Dunno exactly what happened to my thumb but most likely it was crushed between my pole & the knuckle. End result was a small piece of bone being torn from the outer edge of the midde joint in my right thumb. 4 weeks off the slopes with a cast from elbow to knuckles following four weeks of very easy tricks and mellow riding. The crash was almost exactly a year back and can be found on my Instagram.

The AC joint dislocation happened six weeks back. Got surprised by edge bite on a dub kink rail, did something between a Misty and a Barani out, landed shoulder first from chest height to icy / hardpack snow. Fortunately my collar bone dislocated only a half of bone width and didn't need surgery. Ten days off the slopes and not going full retard for around two months, just to avoid big crashes to shoulder. I've had tens of casual slams in the past few weeks and it already feels mostly normal. Still aching but the range of motion is close to 100%.

Other trick sport related stuff: another fractured thumb (yes, fractured both of my thumbs in 2021 😁😁) last July when doing final touches to my backyard mini ramp we built with my friends. My glove got stuck in the screw threads while boosting it Mach9 with a screw gun. I've done this likely around 150k times but still managed to fuck it up. Another four weeks of couch following four weeks of easy blase tricks.

In August 2018 got on crash course with a 40 pound Jerry torpedo in a public skate park, just managed to dodge it by a hair and fractured my right heel in the crash. Jerry was unharmed and his father didn't notice anything because Facebook felt more attractive at the moment. Jerry was like 3 years old and wondered alone in the park. Six weeks of crutch aided walking and back to it.

In my 38 rounds around the sun I've only broken one bone not mentioned, that wasn't trick related at all, but it was a thumb fracture 😁 Like who on earth has broken four bones in his life and three of those are in his thumbs? 🤪

From a fitness perspective I've done some kind of sports for the most of my life. Not on an athlete level, but still on the more enthusiastic side. Started with a few years of ice hockey as a goalie, following with the two seasons of die hard Daffys.

Then somehow forgot all the sports and exercise things when puberty and adulthood found their way to my brain. Also gained some weight and didn't exercise at all. Found disc golf when I was 22, was very in to it and poured all my free time to it for 12 years. The latter ten years I competed on a national level and trained like five times a week year around, participated in tens of tournaments per season etc. When I turned 30 I was just divorced with three under school age kids, had a septal bulge and a few other less serious injuries related to it. Disc golf progressed HARD in those years, little kids surpassed me from left and right even though I played the best game of my life. Those were mentally darkest years of my life and a divorce between me and disc golf was the price for me to pay. Haven't touched my discs in 3.5 years, but fortunately that opened the door for me to find skiing.

Besides skiing I've done some yoga and pretty intense bouldering after the disc golf era (haven't been on the wall for over a year because of the injuries tho and not finding the masked climbing that attractive). I try to do stretching at least once a week and when in Ruka, which is 500 miles north from where I live, (I'm in a fortunate position to be able to visit there monthly for a week at a time) or any other skiing trip, I stretch every night. My weekly yoga class just got covided so might have to find something else to cover it. Besides yoga and stretching I try to live a holistic and active life and I also work in the health/sports/wellbeing/physiology industry which compliments my lifestyle. For anyone interested in what I do, I'm responsible of the the Corporate Sales department of; www.firstbeat.com

Hopefully answered all of your questions!

SkierPTHell yeah! Would love to ask a few questions. What is your injury history like? How about fitness? Have you been committed to staying fit ? If so, what works for you?


late 20s and 30s are a weird time. A lot of guys I know get fat. Some continue to lift and such but continue to get fat and out of shape. I tell the younger kids I ski with to start their fitness journey now so it’ll be a habit in their 20s and 30s

3maniaI think the older you get, the mental side is just as important as being strong physically. You gotta want to take that hit, not be afraid of a flat landing, mostly still want to get in the air. I just turned 58 and i still feel good, about like always. I'm currently on a 40+ day consecutive streak and the just opened the park yesterday. And yeah I lift all off season.

I think that’s a big part of being about to ski into the “old age” that and visualizing exactly how you’ll do a trick before you do it, all the worst wipeouts and injury’s I have had have been from being unfocused and hitting something a little bit off.

Does anyone know who the absolute legend is at MSLM who sends the big kickers and does old school daffeys and such? He’s probably around 55-60 and goes huge!

Im 38 ...good thing all the kids at my local hill suck lol

I’m really trying not to be old. I turn 41 in a few days. Got both way 3s on this wild in run deal near my neighborhood this spring. my natural is r
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042173/trim-CBD0CFAB-46AB-4BE2-BDC1-D0AD716424D4-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOV

snomasterI’m really trying not to be old. I turn 41 in a few days. Got both way 3s on this wild in run deal near my neighborhood this spring. my natural is r
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042173/trim-CBD0CFAB-46AB-4BE2-BDC1-D0AD716424D4-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOV

Nice work you "old fart!"

snomasterI’m really trying not to be old. I turn 41 in a few days. Got both way 3s on this wild in run deal near my neighborhood this spring. my natural is r
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042173/trim-CBD0CFAB-46AB-4BE2-BDC1-D0AD716424D4-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOV

Goals! I got through this season injury free for the first time in a while!

It’s the knees. My knees can just take a easy tweak and be done for a week or two. Keep your knees strong and healthy kids!

snomasterI’m really trying not to be old. I turn 41 in a few days. Got both way 3s on this wild in run deal near my neighborhood this spring. my natural is r
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042173/trim-CBD0CFAB-46AB-4BE2-BDC1-D0AD716424D4-MOVhttps://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042172/trim-5E782724-82EE-42DB-974E-8D4897338488-MOV

That is Niice , I love the style

I did my first 7 last year, now feeling a bit more comfy with them, going to try and get switch 7s in NZ this summer! I'm 37, too old to work out how to embed insta posts.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CchsyF3IaUu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

**This post was edited on May 8th 2022 at 6:20:47am

**This post was edited on May 8th 2022 at 6:21:48am

Saw 43 year old man drop vert on skateboard after only starting the same year

forgot what my point is

live in Ohio don’t travel at all anymore, 31 and counting and don’t get to ski much…….



https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042856/trim-2A969781-10A6-44D8-A6EB-39A5F970489C-MOVYou guys got this shit! Keep shredding and try to stay in at least decent shape

**This post was edited on May 17th 2022 at 12:48:25am

J-Dunnlive in Ohio don’t travel at all anymore, 31 and counting and don’t get to ski much…….



https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/1042856/trim-2A969781-10A6-44D8-A6EB-39A5F970489C-MOVYou guys got this shit! Keep shredding and try to stay in at least decent shape

**This post was edited on May 17th 2022 at 12:48:25am

fire

29 and managed all 8 this year

still got a couple of different 2s on but a lot more touring and sledding nowadays, more inverts nowadays surprisingly

.Roockley.29 and managed all 8 this year

still got a couple of different 2s on but a lot more touring and sledding nowadays, more inverts nowadays surprisingly

You’re not even 30 dude. You’ve got a long time to keep going!

I'm 49 and get so confused trying to spin in the air (tramp or snow); can do 180's and sloppy 3's off little things, but I haven't got the hang of clean spins on med and larger features and haven't tried flips on snow. I've been working put pretty hard; trying the knees over toes guy stuff this year. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKneesovertoesguy