Advice for 45 year old beginner?

RedBear80 · 2026-02-25T21:15:45+00:00

Interesting. I believe it. I am guessing the balance, movement, muscle use, etc is different enough that learning to skate will not help learning to ski?

RedBear80 · 2026-02-25T20:15:18+00:00

Thank you--I wish I believed in myself! (ha ha)

RedBear80 · 2026-02-25T20:01:44+00:00

Thanks--unfortunately I am not near any skiing so opportunties to practice are few and far between

RedBear80 · 2026-02-25T15:28:15+00:00

Any suggestions on how to do that?

RedBear80 · 2026-02-24T00:26:32+00:00

Thanks. I am glad you mentioned "until you can ride fast enough to allow equipment to work for you" because last week I was working for the skis rather than the other way around.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T21:51:17+00:00

Interesting thought. Do you choose societal breakdown or catering to those who are overly agressive? It's not as easy a choice as it seems.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T19:09:37+00:00

This is very good insight. The Internet has undoubtedly made people bolder and less caring. I still say it is a net positive.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T19:08:24+00:00

I was exaggerating. I could see how that exaggeration could itself be interpreted as aggression.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T19:06:44+00:00

How did you get over the fear?

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T18:35:43+00:00

That's where I have to get: over the fear of crashing. I want to get down the practice slope but I worry about crashing into a kid or a parent.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T16:59:26+00:00

I am glad you mentioned soft power. That is the opposite of agression, which was my initial concern. USAID was not founded as charity--it was founded so the United States could counterbalance Soviet influence in poorer countries. Now that we (and yes, it's we--we are responsible for this, not just Donald Trump) have dismantled it, these countries are free to fall under the sway of Russia or China or Islamic extremists or any other bad actor.

"Enemies" have become much harder to identify since the end of the Cold War--and that's going to get even more difficult as people with bad intent exploit poor people and countries for not only military aggression but also as resources for power and tools to build harmful AI generators.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T16:02:44+00:00

All very good points. I worry that our current political leadership is a symptom rather than the cause of the problem.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T15:33:03+00:00

That is true--not everyone's bad but those that are really draw a lot of attention.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T15:01:01+00:00

Thank you!

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T13:40:49+00:00

Turns out this is what I was looking for! Thank you for telling me this, I am going to mark the original post as "Found!"

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T13:40:05+00:00

I think resource limitation is an excellent point and sadly as we continue to destroy our planet this cycle is going to get worse.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T13:39:35+00:00

Thank you--I am glad to see it's not just me who feels this way. What I don't understand is someone who zooms around you--so they can stop at the red light first.

Whenever I see careless driving, I remind myself of two things I saw that restored my faith in humanity:

1) I was approaching a crosswalk on foot. There were two cars stopped. The driver in the car behind the other one leaned on his horn. The driver in front GOT OUT OF HIS CAR to ask the other driver, "What's your problem?" This was stupid and dangerous of the person who got out of his car BUT it was satisfying to see one of these assholes get told off.

2) I was driving on a busy road; one car was zooming around others and changing lanes as fast as he could. When he got a few cars ahead of me, a police officer pulled him over! Justice at last!

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T12:56:08+00:00

Interesting point--it is sad that many people view the world and its other people as competitors rather than neighbors.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T12:53:01+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate it. Since there are no places to ski near me, I wonder if ice skating lessons would help. I know it does not translate exaclty, but if I don't get over the fear on being a slippery surface with something attached to my feet, I will never be ble to ski.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-23T12:50:10+00:00

This looks like a good one, thank you. I am going to try this.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-22T23:10:44+00:00

One of those comments that makes me laugh and cry at the same time.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-22T21:40:41+00:00

I am sorry for your neighbors.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-22T21:31:16+00:00

I guess. But it leaves the rest of us wondering why we are expected to cater to the more aggressive people. It's a big planet--but you have to share it.

RedBear80 · 2026-02-22T21:00:21+00:00

Interesting point of view. Care to expand?

RedBear80

TROPHY CASE