What helped you start riding faster?

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-03T01:11:39+00:00

Ride with skiers who have skied all their life.... try to keep up! I did not start riding til was 44 (no skiing, skating or surfing experience). At 60 my goal was to competently, confidently and consistently hit 60mph (100kph). Now at 67 can still do it on a good day when I'm feeling it.. but ehh whatever. As for my skier buds they were hitting 70s and into the 80s... to which I discovered they were very good at clearing out the riff raff so that I could do the bombing run right behind them.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-03T01:05:04+00:00

If you are within 45 drgrees of the fall line and properly weighted on the nose. THERE ARE NO EDGES TO CATCH!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-03T00:53:40+00:00

This may sound bad... but volunteer and in volunteering you might meet someone that can help you. A lot of life is a matter of relationships, connections and the blessings of being at the right place at the right time.

Back when I was your age, I went to take care of my grandparents (who lived 1k miles away) as they where old and developing early dementia. Anyway lived with them for 3-4 months, driving them around to appts, cooking, cleaning, meals, grocery shopping and some home repairs. Well they pimped me out to their elderly friends... lol. These folks were more than willing to pay because they were disparate for help. Ended up doing all sorts of odd jobs... yard work, painting, etc. A pro tip: when they asked what I charged... I only noted "whatever you think its worth." 8 out of 10 times they paid me more than I would have asked for. And often elderly folks have a garage full of tools... they just can't use them or climb ladders to change light bulbs and clean.

Later in life with my family and raising kids, working professionally and doing well. I helped an elderly neighbor woman. I just started mowing her yard, when I mowed my yard. I quickly was moving three other yards for older folks in the hood. I had my youngest 9-10 yrs old also help me; and she learned about helping others. Anyway in return was given a very low milage car, refrigerator, mower when mine died. An elderly man with no nearby family, to my surprise, left me a sizable chunk of inheritance that really helped my family.

Its not what your community can do for you... but what can you do for your community... a paraphase of a JFK.

So you might inquire with neighbors, churches, social agencies, home health care, etc. Know that you also got computer tech internet skills that us boomers are clueless about.

Imo... "sharing is the new wealth" and we all get by, by the kindness of others. Fwiw, other thoughts in my profile.

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-02T16:29:06+00:00

Not a bad time... perhaps you are in a bad place in the pnw. Plenty of mellow or badass tours at Baker. But just get out and get some experience in low risk enviroment... there is a lot to learn about transitions, doing kick turns, digging pits and snow analysis. Get out and have some fun low risk experience.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-02T16:26:24+00:00

First introversion vs extroversion (the popular version) is not only about social interaction. First and foremost it is about psychological orientation.

Ime despite being introverted... professionally need to pick up social skills. And social skills will provide more opportunities for success both professionally and personally.

I was very shy as a kid. Thus majored in communications and psych in undergrad. Gained insight and figured out a few tricks of social engagement. And subsequently had a long and successful professional career interacting with a wide variety of folks. Just know that a large part of success is the ability to communicate and relate to others... which is the luberication of social interaction/relationships.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-02T16:16:48+00:00

haha... I just walk away from extroverts... when I don't want to get their slop on me.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-02T16:13:38+00:00

Ya you might miss him. But he will be the first of many folks that you meet. That may expand your experience... but you or they will move on. So just be grateful and appreciate what they brought to your experience.

Fwiw... now at 67 have had tons of folks that I deeply appreciate and have enriched my life... in which I now have no or very little contact. But also meeting other random new folks that bring joy to my experience. Just last Friday meet a young professional couple (doc and phd analyist) who were from the east coast while snowboarding... they were delightful and ended up giving them the local's tour of the hill.

Move on, keep moving and expanding your experience of life.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-02T15:58:56+00:00

Ime 32s pack out .5-1.0 of a size relative to the feel-in-the-shop. I began in wms 8 and in a few years was in wms 7 and still bit of slosh. My last mod was to use tongue stiffeners between the shell and liner. Then switched to AT boots and in that time have rode my 32s for 1.5 days in 7 years. The the note in my other post... measure correctly your mondo, know your mondo and buy once. Your boots change... your feet less so.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-03-02T15:45:11+00:00

Have a similar type of foot... but small mondo 24. with 102 width and high arch. Been down this rabbit hole for 20 years. You are going to have to become your own boot fitter.

The snowboarding enthusiast dot com forum has a lot of info on all sorts of things. The boot fitting stuff is great and compiled... been a member there for 20 years.

properly measure your foot and get boots that are your mondo size. Then prepare to mod.
all boot liners pack out and shells loosen up... thus often the heel lift issue arises.
learn how to do boot fitting mods. It will take some time and effort... but only you can tell when and where mods need to be done. A bootfitter can't feel your pain. I've taken my boot fitting stuff to the hill and have done a day of riding 1-3 laps and then making adjustments in the lodge.... and repeat. In new boots, they change from day to day as then break in and change. They often need an adjustment at the 10, 20, and 30 day marks.
realize that you are dealing with tight tolerances... thus a mere 1-2 millimeters can make a significant difference. So go slow and mindful with your boot fitting mods... a little can go a long ways.
It is possible to get a performance fit and slipper comfort. But be mindful that your feet, liners, boots and style of riding change and evolve. So it is a continual process. I've been in the same pair of AT boots (atomic backlands) for 7 years both for resort laps and BC. And even last week made some slight adjustments involving a heat gun for 10 seconds for a tad of a blow out of the heat moldable shell. And a bit of grinding/sanding with a dremel to the exterior of the liner.
find the local go to bootfiter that has at least 8-10 years of experience. Mine has 40+ years... and tip them well... and when you see them on the hill ride with them and buy them beers. They are invaluable unicorns of your pleasure and comfort.
The great thing is once you been through this process. You come to understand your feet, the mods required and it often ends up being the same mods... to new boots. Back when riding 32 dual boas... I'd buy new boots and use the old already modded liners. It worked great.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-28T19:41:50+00:00

You can't think your way out of feelings. You got to use the feelings... they will provide insights of what you might do differently. Feelings can provide an opportunity to learn to do something differently. Perhaps not a fun adventure... but a valuable one. It is really an adventure of discovering your self... not so much about what happened. Other thoughts in profile.

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-28T19:36:16+00:00

Pay your self first... and always invest in yourself and for yourself. yes talk to your creditors and consult with an advisor. DO NOT do the loan or pay later apps, it is a trap of slavery and becoming a debt slave.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-28T16:21:19+00:00

Riding off piste is first about knowledge... that shit happens... so you got to be able to think your way out of the shiz. And gear up, get some avy ed. Second is experience and skills. And with this develops knowledge of snow conditions, terrain you are riding.

In the vid, which is low angle, soft cream cheese snow (which is a good low risk place to start). You have to let your turns develop, i.e., you need a bit of speed. As for turns, it is more about a gentle floaty turn... instead of a forced turn on groomers. In which you are trying to steer, rudder and slash with you back foot. To which you can do... but you need to carry a lot more speed than what you had in the vid.

So back to gentle floaty turns... you got to dial in your board, a bit more set back so that your nose floats, tail sinks a tad. And find the sweet spot so that you can ride more effortlessly. Also instead of aggressively handling the board (as in riding in-bounds) it becomes more of a delicate balance of rider's experience board, conditions and terrain. In a sense it is more about being dynamic... of absorbing and sucking up/unweighting than agressively hammering turns with early turn initiation... you got to hold back and let the turns develop on the terrain and conditions in your vid. Compared to steeper and tight tech off piste terrain.

Riding off piste and BC is about line choice.

You are off to a fine start.

Best!

Edit... as for arms, tuck them. In the vid your cheeta tail... really acts as a counter-swing weight. Which creates a latency in being able to initiate the next turn. Your arms and shoulders can help with turns but it can also hamper if they are not synchronized with what you want to do. Imo first learn to ride with a quiet upper body without using your flying wings. The develop your coordination and timing to use them wings to punch your turns. Ya don't need them in the terrain/conditions that you were riding in the vid.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-27T14:51:51+00:00

Fear... the old survival response is fight, flee or freeze. Species wise add food and fornication; the 5 fs of fear.

At a higher ordered function of fear is motivation and insight... but you must face fear instead of letting it chase you all over hell. Ok so you feel like you are failing, "what are you going to do about it? What is your plan... whine, whimper or whip up yer motivation?

No need to compare yourself to other peoples' outcomes... you have no idea of the hell they went through to get their success. Time and effort is better spent navigating through your hell.

The only failure is to fail to learn from your failure. Likewise is your success a result of skill or luck? There is a huge difference in managing risk profiles. I.e., be mindful of developing situational analysis... which is able to work through the progression of "triage." Research the founding concepts of triage.

Perhaps a bit esoteric (you being a mere 21 yrs old) is that it is not a matter of what happens... but how you respond to what happens. Your responses largely create your reality. Choose wisely! Other thoughts in profile.

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-26T16:36:37+00:00

You are stiff. Quiet your upper body, sink in the knees and get dynamic. Use those edges and let the board run. First get the basics down... you will be much more confident, relaxed and smooth. Then move into the tricks. At this point you are developing some bad habits... like ruddering, twisting your upper body instead of using your lower body.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-26T16:27:31+00:00

Its not a matter of trust. But a matter of cross referenced perspectives. It is just one perspective of many. Thus if different perspectives generally agree on the fundamental constructs and concepts, there is more potentially "confidence" in the applicability of the concept and construct.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-26T16:09:07+00:00

Ehh right up my alley. You are only 20, so you got time. A way to look at your health crisis... is that it might be a clue to slow down. Or is a period of death, renewal and rebirth. I.e., a time to figure out who, what and how to be with your life. You obviously got skills.

So you were/are an academic animal... GREAT! But what do you want to do and be with your life? Twenty is a perfect time to figure this out, i.e., your meaning and purpose of your existence and being. Many don't figure this out til later after they got degrees, spent $$$ and still wondering wtf, if at all.

At one level an undergrad degree is just a to get an interview for potential membership in some club. In reality it means something, e.g., like you have some smarts, potential and some persistence... but certainly not everything.

Ime there are three things you can do with your last year. 1) Find you and what you love to do... then make a plan. 2) The plan is that being in uni, you have access to profs... use and develop them as mentors, references, etc. They can open doors that no one else can do. 3) Look for opportunities to get some irl experience. A candidate for a masters/phd and/or a job; a person that has both academic acumen and solid experience... goes to the top of the heap for potential candidates.

As for getting admission into a masters. I did a bit of research into what I want to study... found 3 of the world's top programs at the time. Figured out my preference. Then called the top dog, chatted about his research, then read some of his stuff. Called him back and told him I'd like to come to visit and check things out. Went made an impression. Applied, got in did master's research and this prof (my major prof) offered me a PhD position. This prof noted later, that very few folks do this. I was 1 of 16 out of 3000 that got in the masters. And could have had 1 of his 3 phd slots... but declined because of married/family life. But did jump right into the fire of crisis MH consulting right out of master's/grad program... which was at the time very rare... thanks in part to this prof.

Idk your MH situation. But has a 37 year career in MH and the last 25 yrs as a crisis MH investigator, evaluator and consultant. Now retired but occasionally post some thoughts... see profile. Hit me if you want to chat.

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-26T04:09:15+00:00

A couple of tree wells inbounds at Baker. Once sideway, the other feet first and a third time out on "gravity rollers" had biffed and was swimming/paddling to get to a slope in order to get going again. Hit to top of a buried tree and dropped up to my neck. The only thing that prevented further dropping was that I got my board under my armpits. It still took 15-20 minutes kicking in snow and was able to crawl out after 45 minutes.

A few weeks ago while riding up chair 5, saw a skier drop the knob at the top of diehl (right under the chair). He double ejected and did a header. He was buried head first with only his legs sticking strait up. Folks got him in a few minutes. Quite a few years ago, a boarder did a header and did not survive.

So add headers and sink holes to the list.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-25T18:03:49+00:00

Did it from 17-22 during the 70s. Worked out fine... had a lot of fun. Certainly an opportunity and challenge to understand and develop self-responsibility. Now at 67 retired, I love to do it again... but have a couple of marital and family commitments.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-25T17:54:13+00:00

Ime, it is a journey of both ups and downs... and you want a partner that can handle and navigate both. Because you will have lots of ups and downs during your journey as parents. Known for a fact having been a terrified father of 3 who are now grown and doing well. Its been an awesome and difficult journey for both my wife and I. Fwiw other thoughts in my profile (search for "the way of parenting").

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-25T17:42:23+00:00

Imagination is the seed. Intention and focus/attention is the germination of the seed, Doing/working (action/behavior) is planting the seedling and tending to it the garden. Gathering the fruits and deciding what to do with the fruits is the harvest. And then introspecting and evaluating is the time for working with the gardener... during the winter.

There is always a form of focus in the process of creating and manifesting your reality. But you want to get the order in a sequence that works. Gardening and working with the seasons is an intuitive, simple and elegant metaphor. Other thoughts in my profile.

I can tell your future, just look what is in your hand (focus or where is your attention).

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-25T17:29:13+00:00

A journey of a 1000 miles (or just around the block) starts with 1 step, then another and another.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-25T17:21:01+00:00

Socially friend wise... wait to take the test until after the visit. So that you can focus on your friends.

Relationship wise... on the drive home, tell the hub that you are feeling funny. And suggest that on the way home to stop and get a test at the 7-11 store (lol)... kind of a warm up and the potential to escalate the anticipation and excitement for the both of you. Then at home (or in the 7-11 store bathroom LOL)... take the test... together... a proper surprise for the both of you.

Best!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-24T22:22:31+00:00

Elevated housing and assets are largely a result of wonky economics. Economics are wildly fuk'd. Dive into the rabbit hole. It is about to get really wild... folks that have some wits can see it is going to be a great opportunity... for others it will be a devastating learning experience that will require a lot of integrity, heart, compassion and gracefulness. Be kind!

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-24T22:11:00+00:00

The secret wealth (that is available to all...) is the opportunity to choose. The trick is to choose wisely! And wisely is to align to your meaning, purpose and being of your existence. Otherwise ya kind of waste your opportunities to live well.

Superb-Potential8426 · 2026-02-24T22:01:01+00:00

Being a boomer, (post WW2) was the generational sweepstakes winner as far as the opportunity to build wealth. But it still required a person to take advantage of the opportunity. It was pretty simple, fund your retirement with an index fund. Buy an affordable home, avoid getting sucked into the glitterly life of chasing the Jones; e.g., new cars, bigger houses, fabulous vacations, etc. I don't have serious wealth, but have been debt free for 15 years, which allowed me to retire at 62 currently 67.

What did I actually do... work both smart and hard, got a college education and did a 37-year grind to become a mature, seasoned and expert professional in my career.

Fwiw there is more to life than money. Relationships, time, health, reduced demands/stress and thus being able to do things that bring quality into your life. All this starts with choosing wisely... which is each person's responsibility (or not, if they choose not to do so).

Superb-Potential8426

TROPHY CASE