Her kids asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She told them “I wanna go snowboarding.” Not an unusual request but she was age 70. A few coworkers questioned the safety of someone starting that sport at such an age. Then one of them said “better bring her a tall glass of milk” and also “she’ll break some bones if she falls.”
I had been a ski instructor but was transferred to teaching snowboarding. The transfer occurred the day no one showed up to teach a snowboard lesson. Betty Rae said “you are older, compassionate, know how to tell time and you show up. You have no choice you Will be a snowboard instructor.” And so I was on a new career path. I became a highly requested instructor, especially for the older folks. In all my years of snowboard instruction there were no students that I had to bring to first aid. I wanted to keep that record.
Mary was a fit looking 70 year old. She walked up the hill to the lesson starting point with ease. It is not unusual to see even a 20 year old struggle up to the starting point. Her stride gave me confidence about the lesson. She was glowing and enthusiastic about her new adventure. I thought 70 was too old for snowboarding (or so I thought then), but I was going to do my very best to have her link some turns and maybe even ride the chairlift.
As with all my lessons the progression was slow, not moving on to the next task until the guest grasped the basics. We did some walking around exercises focusing on our stance as well as putting pressure on the heel and toe of the boots. A lot of time was spent gliding on the flats until we eventually hiked up the hill just a few feet. From the start I offered a hand to her. She was quite happy about that. At the end of the lesson she felt comfortable gliding as well as making basic toe and heelsideturns with just one foot strapped in.
Surprisingly enough she did show up a second and third day. During our last lesson she was slowing and cautiously linking turns down a beginner slope. She was thrilled about the experience; she gave me a big fat tip, a hug and thanked me for helping her fulfill her dream.
70 did seem old. That was indeed the oldest snowboard student I ever had and wondered about other “elderly folks” that might also give snowboarding a try. And now some decades later I have found another 70 year old shredding it up. Yes, that 70 year old is me.
Although I enjoy a day of Telemark Skiing my true passion is on the snowboard. At 70 snowboarding seems way easier to me, with less equipment to lug around and most comfortable boots. And despite me thinking 70 was too old for the sport I now see it as just a number.