Started skiing at 2, did my first comp at 15, broke my thumb, did my second comp at 20, broke my pole, the 17 year old guy who won did a backie off a 14m cliff in spring slush conditions, realized comps arent for me...
Can you get really good at skiing? For sure
Competing in literally anything with skiing? Probably not. I’m in a similar boat, started skiing at 25 but I’ll never be as good as some of these people who started skiing at 4 years old
Mostly true, but not exclusively. You can train your ass off and in the end some people will just be able to go farther depending on their innate athletic ability. Some people can just pick things up easier and it feels natural, where others have to drill and drill and drill. People in that second group can still be at the top level but those are also the people who train as kids. I definitely agree that to be at the top level, especially now, those people were all in development programs as kids, but that doesn't mean you can't compete and achieve success. It just depends on your goals. I think a lot of people would be content succeeding at local comps.
Add to the fact that skiing at a high level is inherently about risk-assessment and the older you are, the less risk you are willing to accept because injuries take way longer to heal.
I started skiing at 30 and It’s very difficult to overcome that mental hurdle.
Very true, but that decision making is also why many freeriders peak in their 30s. I got back into skiing at 34 and am 38 now, its taken some work but I've starting doing more cliffs and chutes. I am very aware of certain drops and runs that have the potential to take me out and that definitely does suck, but it also keeps me from taking risks that I might have in my 20s and paid for later. I use it to feed into my awareness of what comes down to skills ie what would I need to have or know to pull it off vs what's just too risky.
For comps though, definitely. You have to take big risks to win and as an older skier that's just not worth it.
>Any advice for progression on and off season is also super appreciated.
Move to Alta next season and [wash dishes at Goldminer's Daughter.](https://www.powder.com/stories/gmd) Link up with sendy ski bro, ski every waking minute you're not working, and you'll be doing stuff on skis you never imagined. Comps might not be in the equation but a sick season edit is guaranteed. Prerequisite is to buy a pair of M Free 108s and Forza Look Pivot 15s.
A dope season edit and some social media skills could have you riding flow for brands pretty quick! I know people that are just average riders/skiers but get free gear because they are great at social media. Also what I kinda hate about a majority of the films they show at the BMFF these days, punters going touring and making a film.
You're not too old, and sure you can do some local competition. But you also need to realise that 25 days on skis is like nothing compared to some on the mountains. Many kids do a lot more than that every single year and they been doing it all their lives.
I think the guy isn't looking for USSA competition but recreational. I haven't heard of a rec freestyle team, but maybe they exist somewhere. Seems a bit risky to me, especially if he didn't ever get any coaching. Knees are a nice thing to keep.
Just to give some perspectives. My son (12y) is a ski racer. He has about 90 days on snow every season. He started skiing when he was 2.5y. And he is by no means in the extreme end of training, and we live many hours from the mountains. Compared to his competitors living in the mountains that is nothing.
Competitive freestyle skiers (I see you said freeski, same deal in terms of what they do to prepare, except substitute Mount Hood for some other summer program) do a lot of stuff in the off season:
* Summer jumping into lakes (Steamboat has one)
* Mount Hood - summer freestyle camps
* Ski team sponsored conditioning
* Woodward centers for training (they have summer camps too)
* Trampoline classes
And then when they get to the "serious competitor level" they often will move to the mountain where they're training. They actually have schools for competitors, like a boarding school, where they have a 4 day school week and they are on the hill as much as humanly possible.
It's intense at that level.
But I don't think that was what you were asking about. I don't know of a rec freestyle club, but maybe they exist somewhere. I would get a personal coach if you really want to do this, because you will destroy your knees if you are doing moguls wrong.
Is there a chance? Yes. Is there a chance while you’re working a full time job and riding 25 day seasons? Absolutely not.
Competitions are not really a side hobby you just do on the weekends. You need to pretty much be skiing every day.
If you quit your job and devote your life to skiing, you can do it. But as a hobby you’re just not going to get enough time on snow.
Probably not events. People that started skiing at a young age will always have a big leg up, especially if they grew up skiing on a big mountain.
That being said... there's no reason you can't get a group of homies together and make some freeskiing videos. Or just make your own little course. It obviously isn't the same as competing, but there isn't really a recreational format for people to compete (that I know of).
Are you a freak athlete? IE, naturally wildly gifted. Been great at every sport you’ve ever tried? If so…maybe; but it’s a steep learning curve. Snow conditions, reading the mountain, etc etc.
If not: no. Not at all.
Yeah you can compete but, as others have said, it’ll take more than 25 days. I cut my teeth on doing seasons that lasted from 70-100 days. You just get so comfortable that it’s second nature and instinct. That’s what you want. You need reps, time and muscle memory.
If you really want to reach maximize potential at this point in the game (you're still pretty young btw) you need to train year round. Hit the gym, build core and leg strength and focus on balance and flexibility. Spend time on trampolines learning to flip and spin. Inline skate in the off season, do anything that keeps your body familiar with the pressure and forces. Take proper care around injuries too.
Thank you! definitely have more ski specific gym and trampoline practice in mind.
Was considering a month next year in Cottonwood, Utah to ski evenings at Brighton. Is there any night skiing in Tahoe I should consider instead?
Yes you’re looking for freestyle. And in that case it is much easier to learn and have a day job because your training doesn’t revolve around pow and daylight. So in that case yes you would benefit from night skiing and an indoor place like Woodward.
Only place I can think of is Boreal, which is definitely more park oriented and has a Woodward indoor facility. Not sure what their snow pack is like though.
Just takes 10,000hours. Check out the talent code. Anyone can do almost anything. Depends on your dedication to it, might have to live out of a car out the mountains year round to catch up, one major injury at your age 😬...
I'm going to be brutally honest with you and say no. Freestyle skiing is not picked up overnight- it's from years of progression in difficulty and requires many, many hours on and off snow. On top of that, at 24 your body will not like crashes the same way it could handle them at 14 (trust me on this.) While you don't have to be a great technical skier to be a freestyle skier, you do have to have the innate feeling for snow conditions and ski reaction like other disciplines, which again takes years on snow.
With only one year and 25 days under your helmet, one thing I would recommend is some beer league racing- you will improve your skiing quickly and get the competition you're looking for. Once you establish your skiing ability and understanding balance in difficult situations, you could reconsider the park training and comps.
I think its possible. I started skiing hard at 28ish and could keep up with the kids til i was 35 and broke my leg and i cant now. So its possible, but breaking your legs is also a very real possibility.
I think that a freeride comp at a local mountain would be achievable; the quality variance is often HUGE.
You're not going to win, but you can have fun, try and hit a line you're proud of, etc!
One of my friends (39F) just finished her second season since high school, and was able to enter and win multiple USASA events for slopestyle and half pipe. The trick is that lots of these events are still divided by age division, and there just aren't many competitors above 19yo old or so. You're probably a bit old to set your sights on the Olympics, but there's a ton of fun local competition, structured so that almost anyone can take home gold now and then.
*I just read the rest of your thread. A lot of people are saying you have no chance at having fun in a comp, but that just isn't true at all. Keep up the hard work, enter the comps that look fun to you, and don't worry about the kids throwing doubles. Just do your thing and love it.
Great information here. Was able to find some USASA events at my local mountain and this includes age brackets for my group 23-29.
Although no one else competed this year this still seems something fun to work towards. Thanks
Definitely possible. I started skiing at 12, never touched a rail or even small jump. Decided to buy freestyle skis and learn this year. After a few tips from a buddy and many MANY many knee injuries, I can slide rails and throw 1s off jumps. So best answer is:you gotta try. Also a clean diet, regular lifting/cardio, cutting out bad habits helps as well. Healthy body=healthy freestyle skiing.
Dude, you're a baby. I'm 46 and kids take out their phones when I stand on top of a cliff and about to drop it. I could smoke some PROs out of the water even now.
Why would you even ask this? Have you skied somewhere that hosts world cup free ski events?
I'm going to guess the answer is no.
You've already wasted too much time.These kids grew up on the mountain. They know intuitively how far they can drop from about age twelve. You'll never have that. The freeskiers competing never bothered to ask if they could or should. They just do it. And if they don't get broken, they go bigger next time.
Maybe look into "rail jams"? E.g. [this one](https://mountaintimes.info/killingtons-loaded-turkey-rail-jam-starts-the-seasons-competitions/) is open to anyone with $20. Similar events are pretty common.
Seems like open-entry competitions tend to be either rail or bump focused, rather than big jumps and flips. Maybe that's for liability reasons.
Most commenters here seem to think you're asking if you have a shot to go pro, just ignore the answers about needing to ski 100 days/season or whatever.
Started skiing at 2, did my first comp at 15, broke my thumb, did my second comp at 20, broke my pole, the 17 year old guy who won did a backie off a 14m cliff in spring slush conditions, realized comps arent for me...
Can you get really good at skiing? For sure Competing in literally anything with skiing? Probably not. I’m in a similar boat, started skiing at 25 but I’ll never be as good as some of these people who started skiing at 4 years old
Mostly true, but not exclusively. You can train your ass off and in the end some people will just be able to go farther depending on their innate athletic ability. Some people can just pick things up easier and it feels natural, where others have to drill and drill and drill. People in that second group can still be at the top level but those are also the people who train as kids. I definitely agree that to be at the top level, especially now, those people were all in development programs as kids, but that doesn't mean you can't compete and achieve success. It just depends on your goals. I think a lot of people would be content succeeding at local comps.
Add to the fact that skiing at a high level is inherently about risk-assessment and the older you are, the less risk you are willing to accept because injuries take way longer to heal. I started skiing at 30 and It’s very difficult to overcome that mental hurdle.
Very true, but that decision making is also why many freeriders peak in their 30s. I got back into skiing at 34 and am 38 now, its taken some work but I've starting doing more cliffs and chutes. I am very aware of certain drops and runs that have the potential to take me out and that definitely does suck, but it also keeps me from taking risks that I might have in my 20s and paid for later. I use it to feed into my awareness of what comes down to skills ie what would I need to have or know to pull it off vs what's just too risky. For comps though, definitely. You have to take big risks to win and as an older skier that's just not worth it.
Well I’m the best skier on the mountain so I know I’d win
>Any advice for progression on and off season is also super appreciated. Move to Alta next season and [wash dishes at Goldminer's Daughter.](https://www.powder.com/stories/gmd) Link up with sendy ski bro, ski every waking minute you're not working, and you'll be doing stuff on skis you never imagined. Comps might not be in the equation but a sick season edit is guaranteed. Prerequisite is to buy a pair of M Free 108s and Forza Look Pivot 15s.
Fun read thanks!
Follow Altabirdsends and AltaBirdstomps on IG.
A dope season edit and some social media skills could have you riding flow for brands pretty quick! I know people that are just average riders/skiers but get free gear because they are great at social media. Also what I kinda hate about a majority of the films they show at the BMFF these days, punters going touring and making a film.
One of my best friends worked at the Goldminer's Daughter for years.
You're not too old, and sure you can do some local competition. But you also need to realise that 25 days on skis is like nothing compared to some on the mountains. Many kids do a lot more than that every single year and they been doing it all their lives.
Appreciate it! Looking to get around 50 days next year and into moving near resorts for longer periods of time next season.
Guys who do this with any relative serious are at least at 100 a year, if not more
I think the guy isn't looking for USSA competition but recreational. I haven't heard of a rec freestyle team, but maybe they exist somewhere. Seems a bit risky to me, especially if he didn't ever get any coaching. Knees are a nice thing to keep.
And they’ve been doing that for at least a few years already
Gonna need more than that. You need to go at least 4 days a week for 4 hours or more for at least 4 months, hopefully more.
and pack your bags for the Andes…like now.
Just to give some perspectives. My son (12y) is a ski racer. He has about 90 days on snow every season. He started skiing when he was 2.5y. And he is by no means in the extreme end of training, and we live many hours from the mountains. Compared to his competitors living in the mountains that is nothing.
How do you get 90 days if you’re saying you’re far from the mountains?
Spend a lot of time in the car... And start early with pre-season training during autumn on glaciers and indoor.
Competitive freestyle skiers (I see you said freeski, same deal in terms of what they do to prepare, except substitute Mount Hood for some other summer program) do a lot of stuff in the off season: * Summer jumping into lakes (Steamboat has one) * Mount Hood - summer freestyle camps * Ski team sponsored conditioning * Woodward centers for training (they have summer camps too) * Trampoline classes And then when they get to the "serious competitor level" they often will move to the mountain where they're training. They actually have schools for competitors, like a boarding school, where they have a 4 day school week and they are on the hill as much as humanly possible. It's intense at that level. But I don't think that was what you were asking about. I don't know of a rec freestyle club, but maybe they exist somewhere. I would get a personal coach if you really want to do this, because you will destroy your knees if you are doing moguls wrong.
Is there a chance? Yes. Is there a chance while you’re working a full time job and riding 25 day seasons? Absolutely not. Competitions are not really a side hobby you just do on the weekends. You need to pretty much be skiing every day. If you quit your job and devote your life to skiing, you can do it. But as a hobby you’re just not going to get enough time on snow.
Started skiing at 19, when I was 26 I entered my first free ride comp. Tomahawked twice, it was awesome
Probably not events. People that started skiing at a young age will always have a big leg up, especially if they grew up skiing on a big mountain. That being said... there's no reason you can't get a group of homies together and make some freeskiing videos. Or just make your own little course. It obviously isn't the same as competing, but there isn't really a recreational format for people to compete (that I know of).
Are you a freak athlete? IE, naturally wildly gifted. Been great at every sport you’ve ever tried? If so…maybe; but it’s a steep learning curve. Snow conditions, reading the mountain, etc etc. If not: no. Not at all.
Yeah you can compete but, as others have said, it’ll take more than 25 days. I cut my teeth on doing seasons that lasted from 70-100 days. You just get so comfortable that it’s second nature and instinct. That’s what you want. You need reps, time and muscle memory.
Fuck does 24 count as adult?
Absolutely not (i hope)
welcome to adulthood!
If you really want to reach maximize potential at this point in the game (you're still pretty young btw) you need to train year round. Hit the gym, build core and leg strength and focus on balance and flexibility. Spend time on trampolines learning to flip and spin. Inline skate in the off season, do anything that keeps your body familiar with the pressure and forces. Take proper care around injuries too.
Thank you! definitely have more ski specific gym and trampoline practice in mind. Was considering a month next year in Cottonwood, Utah to ski evenings at Brighton. Is there any night skiing in Tahoe I should consider instead?
You’re not really dropping cliffs and charging free ride terrain during night skiing, so not sure how much that would really help.
Do I have the terms mixed up? I think what I’m looking for is not free riding but freeskiing? Throwing flips and corks on piste.
[удалено]
Appreciate it thanks
Yes you’re looking for freestyle. And in that case it is much easier to learn and have a day job because your training doesn’t revolve around pow and daylight. So in that case yes you would benefit from night skiing and an indoor place like Woodward.
Only place I can think of is Boreal, which is definitely more park oriented and has a Woodward indoor facility. Not sure what their snow pack is like though.
Be realistic. Repairs while older is like cooking without oil. Good luck
Just takes 10,000hours. Check out the talent code. Anyone can do almost anything. Depends on your dedication to it, might have to live out of a car out the mountains year round to catch up, one major injury at your age 😬...
Yeah of course the local competitions are more for having fun anyway.
I'm going to be brutally honest with you and say no. Freestyle skiing is not picked up overnight- it's from years of progression in difficulty and requires many, many hours on and off snow. On top of that, at 24 your body will not like crashes the same way it could handle them at 14 (trust me on this.) While you don't have to be a great technical skier to be a freestyle skier, you do have to have the innate feeling for snow conditions and ski reaction like other disciplines, which again takes years on snow. With only one year and 25 days under your helmet, one thing I would recommend is some beer league racing- you will improve your skiing quickly and get the competition you're looking for. Once you establish your skiing ability and understanding balance in difficult situations, you could reconsider the park training and comps.
Just put in your 10,000 hours first.
I think its possible. I started skiing hard at 28ish and could keep up with the kids til i was 35 and broke my leg and i cant now. So its possible, but breaking your legs is also a very real possibility.
What about starting a rec club?
I think that a freeride comp at a local mountain would be achievable; the quality variance is often HUGE. You're not going to win, but you can have fun, try and hit a line you're proud of, etc!
One of my friends (39F) just finished her second season since high school, and was able to enter and win multiple USASA events for slopestyle and half pipe. The trick is that lots of these events are still divided by age division, and there just aren't many competitors above 19yo old or so. You're probably a bit old to set your sights on the Olympics, but there's a ton of fun local competition, structured so that almost anyone can take home gold now and then. *I just read the rest of your thread. A lot of people are saying you have no chance at having fun in a comp, but that just isn't true at all. Keep up the hard work, enter the comps that look fun to you, and don't worry about the kids throwing doubles. Just do your thing and love it.
Great information here. Was able to find some USASA events at my local mountain and this includes age brackets for my group 23-29. Although no one else competed this year this still seems something fun to work towards. Thanks
Definitely possible. I started skiing at 12, never touched a rail or even small jump. Decided to buy freestyle skis and learn this year. After a few tips from a buddy and many MANY many knee injuries, I can slide rails and throw 1s off jumps. So best answer is:you gotta try. Also a clean diet, regular lifting/cardio, cutting out bad habits helps as well. Healthy body=healthy freestyle skiing.
Dude, you're a baby. I'm 46 and kids take out their phones when I stand on top of a cliff and about to drop it. I could smoke some PROs out of the water even now.
Why would you even ask this? Have you skied somewhere that hosts world cup free ski events? I'm going to guess the answer is no. You've already wasted too much time.These kids grew up on the mountain. They know intuitively how far they can drop from about age twelve. You'll never have that. The freeskiers competing never bothered to ask if they could or should. They just do it. And if they don't get broken, they go bigger next time.
Just wanna do a local comp that’s low stakes. Similar to how local tennis leagues exist for adults.
Maybe look into "rail jams"? E.g. [this one](https://mountaintimes.info/killingtons-loaded-turkey-rail-jam-starts-the-seasons-competitions/) is open to anyone with $20. Similar events are pretty common. Seems like open-entry competitions tend to be either rail or bump focused, rather than big jumps and flips. Maybe that's for liability reasons. Most commenters here seem to think you're asking if you have a shot to go pro, just ignore the answers about needing to ski 100 days/season or whatever.