At what age did you feel too old to learn new things?

[North]

Age isn't really factoring for me (yet). Was feeling as good or better than I ever have at 35...right up until a flukey low/no speed moto injury 2 months ago that required ORIF foot surgery (first orth surgery ever). So now I'm questioning how much fun one person really needs to have

I've never pushed myself super hard in recreational sports so "throttling back" hasn't seemed necessary. Felt like I reached 95% of my skiing potential ages ago, so rather than try to wring out an extra 5% of ability, I've been having fun learning new things. Getting bad at surfing, pow surfing, and dirt bikes has been awesome. You can make a lot more progress w/o pushing yourself doing stuff you suck at. Even if you're not pushing shit can still happen and my current situation is a prime example.

I'd tentatively planned to ride the bike park more next season and finally get comfortable jumping. That'd be in the "wringing out 5% more ability" category, and after being on the couch for 2 months, with a few more ahead I'm definitely reconsidering the risk/reward of learning new sports skills. But kiteboarding, foiling, and snowmobile hopovers are still on the to do list

[crankplank]

I tried to learn BMX at 33, also with modest goals in mind. That did not end well.

I rode BMX in high school. Going down at speed and with a bike were not a good combination. Bike slams are horrible, its half the reason I don't have a MTB. Went up once, went over a berm, broke my leg. I'm prepared to be humbled on the skateboard.

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[k2skier112]

Once you stop learning, you become that grumpy old man

[Harvey44]

I dig the thread too.

I'm not the most flexible person, mentally or physically, but I do believe the key is to keep yourself moving.

Two years ago my buddy Duck fulfilled a decades old promise to himself by skiing bumps on his 70th bday. Here he is last weekend busting a move in big snowmaking whales at Gore:



I started lift-served skiing when I was 40, my goal has always been to be an "expert" or at least ski with experts and not have them notice or wait much. To the original title of this thread, I think I'm still improving at 65.

Cross country skiing is my past and my future. What we call BC skiing in the southern Adk, is more about cardio then adrenaline.

[jackstraw]

The thread title doesn't mention sports, but it's awesome that just about everyone read it that way [emoji16]

I've tried a lot of sports over the years and wish I had pursued a couple more often than I have, mainly surfing and snowboarding, but I continue to do both just not very well. Splitboarding is the balz! Might have something to do with powdah turns.

But the number one true "new" thing within the past two years, coming up on three actually...f I'm old...is yoga. Took a lot of effort to get over the initial hump, but I do at least 30 minutes daily. If I miss a day I feel like I'm cheating myself out of a mind and body therapy session...and man do I need both of those and some.

[halliday]

Yoga is great. The best part of Yoga is (obviously) yoga pants. https://www.reddit.com/r/hotgirlsinyogapants/?rdt=48075

[buckethead]

pushing 60
still working to up my game on skis
my banged up knees have ironically been getting better as i've gotten older.
i do go for quality over quantity so when conditions suck (like current season's
plentiful torrential rain events) i embrace the downtime as my legs will be fresher/stronger next time out. i used to try to 'power through' tweaks and minor injuries, typically with poor result.

i also get more sleep than i used to (though i did ski nearly bell-to-bell last weekend on 4hrs sleep). and have had the same beers sitting in my fridge for a year or more.

ditto for playing the drums. decades after i stopped playing out regularly i've been working to grow technically, practicing every day i'm able.

haven't really picked up any new pursuits lately but am open to it.

[old goat]

I haven't tried any new sports in the last few decades but getting back on XC skis at 71 after decades away was/is tough.
When is it too old to learn new stuff? My observation is that that almost everyone I consider an expert skier started skiing before they were 21, and most as kids.
I know that learning Dobro in my 60's was a fail, and I'm a very good guitar player. Although some of that is a lack of willingness to work hard enough at it--when you're very good at something it's discouraging to do something you're lousy at.

As far as my skiing--I dialed it back at 70 after a bad injury and then heart surgery. I can still ski terrain as hard as I ever could, although with less endurance, but I made a conscious decision to stay off the steep stuff except in great snow.

[MakersTeleMark]

when you're very good at something it's discouraging to do something you're lousy at.

What's more disheartening is trying to do something 30 years later that you were really good at in the past.

I just put together a new skateboard setup; I feel like I could pick up a trumpet and be at least passable, but this hits on all fronts.

[RootSkier]

This is why I have been all-in on golfing for the last 3 years after a 30-year break: because it is infinitely challenging but there is essentially zero risk of catastrophic injury.

It also helps that (a) I learned to golf when I was a kid so I got down to a single digit handicap the first year and (b) my brother is a damn good golfer and lives far away but I have spent more time hanging with him (because of golf) in the last 3 years than in the previous 20.

[MakersTeleMark]

This is why I have been all-in on golfing for the last 3 years after a 30-year break: because it is infinitely challenging but there is essentially zero risk of catastrophic injury.

It also helps that (a) I learned to golf when I was a kid so I got down to a single digit handicap the first year and (b) my brother is a damn good golfer and lives far away but I have spent more time hanging with him (because of golf) in the last 3 years than in the previous 20.

I felt the need to add back in a very high risk activity to compliment my low impact disc golf habit. I don't know why, but that's the facts.

[RootSkier]

Trying to keep up with my 10-year-old on skis and bikes fills that bill for me for now...I figure I've got 3 years at most before it is hopeless.

[dewam]

Trying to keep up with my 10-year-old on skis and bikes fills that bill for me for now...I figure I've got 3 years at most before it is hopeless.

Root, at a certain age the scariest words are "Follow me dad". Learned to say no befor he was a teenager.
In my 70's I have decided I cannot afford to pay the learning curve to learn to board. Having met a couple good boarders instills a desire, but I realize that I cannot afford to pay the learning costs and still get as many good ski days. Four or five years ago I quit riding my moutain bike because I was falling off and thought it was going to interfer with my ski season. I guess I thought I was better than I was. Still get a lot of ski days and get lots of enjoyment. I do not ski the things I did five or ten years ago, but when conditions are good I still get to experience the thrill of survival. As I mature I do have to work harder, but the level of reward is still there. Although I have not taken up golf, I think sex can substitute for a hobby with an infinately challenging skill set with low risk of catastrophic injury. Riding a bike, skiing, and sex, three things in my life that were fun from the first time, fun to learn, and difficult to become good at. Looking to enhancing my skill set in my mature years. Den

[steved]

I'm technically a better skier than I ever was, and I probably enjoy it more than ever. As one of my (same age) friends says "don't let the old man in". This is not practice, folks. Make every day count. Happy new year.

Ditto da klixter's + Harry's.......

[eldereldo]

Went back to riding dirt bikes at age 60, I guess not really a ‘new’ activity since I did it up until mid 20’s, definitely not as fast as I was then. Stopped jumping off of large things after I tore my ACL on a bad landing on my 50th birthday, and I mostly ski BC now as my knees are much happier in soft snow. I really can’t think of any activity that I would want to do, that I wouldn’t because of fear of getting injured. I was a computer programmer for almost 40 years before retiring, you are always having to learn new things in that line of work to stay relevant so mentally that helps to keep the brain active. Never learned to play the guitar like I would like to, but then never really put in the time to get good either so that’s on me.

[rod9301]

I started climbing and mountain biking when i was 50, tried surfing as well, but cold water and crowds out an end to this.

Now, 24 years later i ski, bc ski, climb and mountain bike, but not taking in new sports because these keep me pretty busy.

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[jables]

Trying to keep up with my 10-year-old on skis and bikes fills that bill for me for now...I figure I've got 3 years at most before it is hopeless.

I remember when I first thought about this, and said something like "I'll be faster than him until he is like 16 ir 18" and a dad with a 13 year old laughing at me. I'd say most of my training goals center around being fast/better/stronger than my kids for as long as possible. Theoretically, this will push them too. I once read thar Derek Jeter said his dad never ever LET him win.

[old goat]

Root, at a certain age the scariest words are "Follow me dad". Learned to say no befor he was a teenager.

My kid is my personal guide. On ski trips he'll ski by himself the first morning and then take me places I wouldn't have found or skied on my own. He's never taken me over my limit, although close. Big Couloir, High Rustler, Great Scott, Spanky's are all runs he took me on the first time I did them.

He outskied me at 12. He dropped into Scott Chute and by the time I sidestepped two quick steps to the edge he was out of sight. I got him started in technical rock when I was in my 60's and he was in his 20's after I had not climbed for 30 years. I was better than him for one day. Still, I was pretty happy to be able to manage a 5.8 crack first try. But after that I stuck to belaying him until he found a gf (now wife) to do it.

[RootSkier]

In my 70's...I think sex can substitute for a hobby with an infinitely challenging skill set with low risk of catastrophic injury.

Fuck yes, my dude. #lifegoals

[Stuntmonkey]

Good call, 38 was a major turning point for me. At 32-34 I was still going full send. I hit my last big cliff drop at 33, 60-ish footer and was fucking pinning it down steep terrain. I can't imagine some of those hits and airs I was doing at that point any longer. Becoming a Dad though definitely had it's affects and probably induced that 38 yr old turn down.

37 here - same same same. In fact I need more friends like you because the ones I have are still hitting giant ass drops.

We have shared custody of the kiddo, and that opens up a lot of trip possibilities for us. The wife only learned to ski 3 years ago and now that she has a mountain bike will be coming out for that as well. The learning curve for her (she’s the same age) is significantly harder and longer because she was never an athlete whereas I was. I pick up things a heck of a lot faster than her, but she gives it her all and I push her past her limits frequently. Trying to do less of that and focus more on fun. Will start making trips to the climbing gym this year as well, alongside all the swim/bike/ski lessons my step daughter has.

Zero plans to stop growing and trying new things, but big plans to slow my type-a / gotta be good ass down.

Oh, if anyone in Fernie region fly fishes……wanna teach me?

[baron]

learning ? or relearning by middle age

im feeling good enough to relearn how to hit some small-med jumps at this point (though im only 52) a little air between some SOFT moguls makes you feel 15 yrs younger.

[Shaaarrrp]

Someone in the fam got a juggling set for Christmas and I was inspired to give it a try. Turns out it's super fun, low impact and really good exercise, esp for shoulders/arms. Has to be good for vision and hand eye coordination as well. Finally achieved flow state last night after just a few sessions which was unexpected but awesome

https://youtube.com/shorts/iKRzjE0ue...aZBjv_vg_KabyW

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[Flounder]

I just got a learn to lock pick kit for Christmas so I guess I’m going to see if 56 is too old to learn that. Might be able to retire earlier if I can make a coupe of big scores.

[PB]

On a similar note, I'm thinking about learning about on-line gambling, and maybe some shady international investing.

[crankplank]

learning ? or relearning by middle age

im feeling good enough to relearn how to hit some small-med jumps at this point (though im only 52) a little air between some SOFT moguls makes you feel 15 yrs younger.

Riding well shaped park jumps, if you're disciplined to keep speed and get over knuckles, is a beautiful feeling and low impact. Margins for punishment are there though

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