OT: Snowboarding, picking it up in middle-age

You'll mostly spend the day slipping and falling on your butt. Wear something padded in that area.

your poor joints

I recommend skiing instead of snowboarding tbh

Ski.  Snowboarding is a young man’s game and it is significantly more difficult, and often far more painful.

I haven't done snowboarding, but I did a 4 hr surfing lesson in San Diego at 42 years old.  I was sore in places I didn't know I had muscle, but had I signed up for lessons the next day I think I could of managed. 

Stick with snowboarding if you plan to do it again, not worth it if it’s a one time trip.

once you get the basics of snowboarding and get your balance under you it’s straightforward but you will still catch edges and wipe out occasionally. To get really good takes consistent practice, but once you get it, it stays w you.

also both your wrists and your butt will take a beating depending on which direction you fall. Don’t be too cautious though bc that will cause you to fall even more and will prevent you from getting going. Embrace the pain.

Be prepared to fall a lot and don't brace yourself with your arms when you do. A lesson may help, but it's a fairly steep learning curve before you feel comfortable.  If you're athletic and have good balance, you will probably be fine. You will be sore from using muscles and ligaments that you may not work out often.  

Do not expect to have fun in just a few days. Then you will be fine. Coming from a 25+ years snowboarder.

Best of luck to you. I tried and can't tolerate my feet being locked in place relative to one another. Gave me a severe panic attack first (and last) time I tried it.

Regular skiing for me.

Ski instead. Take a lesson and you’ll be ok for the rest of the weekend. 
 

Snowboarding is awful for the first 3ish times out, even for the best athletes. 
 

You’ll have a really sore ass and knees, as well as being really frustrated the whole time out if you snowboard. Forget trying to take a chairlift. Skiing is manageable, and you’ll actually be able to see some of the mountain. 
 

Signed,

Mt. Holly snowboard instructor in high school

• I've definitely signed up for lessons on Day 1 (Saturday) - should I sign up again for Sunday too, is multiple days beneficial?  (or just get a lift ticket and see how it goes?)
  • I'd recommend signing up for lessons both days if you can afford it. Maybe halfday on Sunday if that's an option, so you can save yourself some money, and considering you might be wrecked. But make no mistake, you'll be on the beginner hill still.
• Are private lessons --- which of course are costlier, but I can afford it --- worth it?  Or being part of a group lesson sufficient?
  • I think group is fine, especially for day 1. You can almost always find someone willing to give a private lesson, but getting into the groups is harder (although that's for kids--I doubt the adult groups fill up as fast).
• How sore will I be after Day 1?  To the point that Day 2 could theoretically be a non-starter?  How steep is the learning curve?
  • Hard to say. You will certainly be sore, and do wear padding on your ass/lower back. Getting into the hot tub and icing will help a lot, like any other activity.
• Any other advice?
  • Below!

1. Wear a helmet.

2. Wear a helmet! Seriously. Everyone on the mountain, regardless of sport and experience, should absolutely wear one. Pay to rent if you have to.

3. Do your best to make sure your boots fit properly (understanding that this is all new to you). They should be pretty snug, and you don't want much extra room past your toes, or above them (a/k/a the toe box). There are a few keys to board setups, but the transfer of power from your body to the board is probably my single biggest one. With respect to boots that means not losing any power from your feet/legs to the boot. I own my own boots that have BOAs (ratchet wheels) instead of laces. A nice feature, but not necessary. But if your boots don't feel right, go back to the shop and tell them to give you another pair. It may be a size issue, or try another brand. It's sports footwear after all.

4. If your feet are hurting, loosen the laces/BOAs on your boots and ratchet down on the bindings (the binding is what connects your board to your boots). I wouldn't recommend "clicker" bindings to anyone doing serious riding, but for a beginner it's definitely an option and convenient.

5. Consider buying a pair of ski/snowboarding socks. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it makes a difference and worst case scenario, you now own a pair of technical, warm, and thin socks. Regardless, nothing goes in your boot but your socks (i.e., no snowpants, no baselayers--roll or hike 'em up).

6. Not sure what you have for ski gear, but layers and having water repellant outerwear are important. I'm a big baselayer guy, and if you can sneak away to a store or buy online you should go for it. Otherwise, some Under Armour or similar athletic wear will do. Key things are moisture wicking and warmth. If you decide to get your own, Hot Chillys are a great brand. Borrowing from friends is great to save money and have good gear.

7. Goggles--you don't need anything fancy for the beginner hill, but you'll likely want something, even if it's the $50 pair from the ski shop at the base.

8. Stay warm and dry, have fun. If you need a break, take a break. Get a bite to eat. Have a beer.

Happy to answer more questions. Just let me know and we can take it out of the thread, to spare the rest of MGoBlog lol!   

I have never skied, but I attempted to snowboard once at age 19. I was fairly athletic and a lean 5’9” and 140 pounds. I never even made it down the hill the first time.

After falling several times on the bunny hill, I figured, “If I’m going to fall anyway, I might as well do it on the actual hill.” I fell a LOT.

At one point, I finally got going with some speed, tried to turn, wiped, fell on my shoulder, and snapped my collarbone. Never made it past the halfway point of the slope. First and last time I tried to snowboard.

• Make sure you have a board that fits you or is too big. Not too small.
• Wear actual snowboarding boots. They are tapered at the heel and toe. - regular boots will make you catch your edge.
• Stay away from icy runs to start out. Too powdery can be challenging too but much more forgiving if (when) you fall. 
• It's impossible to learn without a little slope. Flat bunny hills are not ideal on a snowboard. You don't have to bomb the hill, keep your weight back and fall "uphill" as you learn.
• This will sound dumb but If you drink, a round or 2 in the lodge beforehand may loosen you up a bit and make it easier for you. Have seen that be the case with many people. 
• There is no shame in telling the lift operator its your first time on a chair lift. Getting off the lift can be tricky until you get the hang of it. Don't let your board catch underneath!

Book the 2nd day. Do private lessons if you can afford it.

Hay que aprovechar tu tiempo en las montañas.

Better to have skateboarded a little and surfed once than to never have done anything resembling snowboarding. Hard to say if that experience would make a difference, but it can't hurt.

I learned to snowboard relatively late in life (early 30s). Others have covered the bases pretty well. I'd say:

• Protect your hands and wrists! Look online for proper falling technique. Make fists, try to spread the load across your whole forearm.
• Get some tips on the best positions (in terms of degrees from horizontal) for your feet. There's a mix of art and science there.
• I agree with others that at least one lesson would make sense. Snowboarding is pretty simple conceptually (stay low, keep track of your edges), but a guide would be helpful.

I found it easier than skiing, which I'd done for several years prior. After five or six outings I could take steeper hills on the board than I could on skis. Yeah, I was probably just a shitty skier.

Go with skiing.  Beyond the falling and catching edges it also takes a ton of energy to get around on a snowboard, plus constantly sitting/standing to get your boot in and out for the lifts.

If you stick with snowboarding you definitely want to find some padded shorts.

If you get a chance head over to Tamarack Lodge and try cross country skiing. 

- signed, Your Knees

I'm 47, learned how to snowboard in my 20's, and went for the first time in 7 years in December.  I wasn't falling much, but was still almost paralyzed by day three (not joking).  Snowboarding is a young man's thing because you have to sit down to get the snowboard on, and standing up from that fully sitting position is really hard past a point in mid-life.  And if you're only an intermediate snowboarder, at least a few falls are inevitable, and it hurts.  I can't imagine learning in my 40's - I would have almost certainly broke something.

I can’t imagine why someone your age would take up snow boarding. I admire your spirit but question your judgment. 
That said, get private lessons right away until you know what you are doing. Most importantly don’t try to keep up with your kids. 

Are you set on snowboarding vs skiing? Snowboarding is extremely hard on the body, especially starting out. Skiing is generally easier to pick up within a day or two, and falls are usually less painful (slipping onto your side vs slamming forward or backwards). 

Hope you have good medical insurance. 

I too tried snowboarding for the first time in my 40's--in my case, late 40's.  I paid for an all-day beginner group lesson.  I was with about 5 other newbies and one instructor.  Due to the small size of our group, there were plenty of opportunities for one-on-one instruction.  The first couple hours were on the pre-bunny hill with the little kiddos (who'll soon by zipping by you while you're still trying to stand up).  After that we went to the actual bunny slope.  I fell down A LOT.  I was so sore by the end of the morning session that I (and the rest of the group) cut short the afternoon session.  I think if we hadn't stopped for lunch I wouldn't have gotten so stiff and sore, and falling down again wouldn't have hurt so much.  But that first tumble after having let my body cool down and tighten up felt like getting hit by a truck.  Being in your 40's is a lot different than being in your 20's.  It's harder to bounce back.  

A year later, I tried the same thing.  I paid for one all-day beginner group lesson.  I knew I hadn't retained much if anything from my one prior lesson.  This second instructor was a little better than the first and showed us some tips and tricks in addition to the basics.  He was more insightful than the first.  I still fell a lot, and again, my body could not take a second session on the slopes after lunch.  I was exhausted.

What I came away with though is that I should have gone out for the afternoon sessions and even tried to snowboard on my own the very next day.  I think I would have gained more ability by stacking my snowboarding efforts and, of course, having more of them.  The more time off between sessions, either for lunch or by waiting a year, means you're more likely to be starting over from scratch and not building on gains.  You lose a lot of hard-won progress.  I think by snowboarding as often as you can as soon as you can you'll see your skills develop exponentially. 

Fight through the pain and keep at it.  Hot soak afterward is a must.

I never understood the draw to snowboarding.  I am a lifelong skier and I find it easier and more enjoyable, especially when falling down.

I love Mammoth Mtn.  Been there several times.  If you can catch a snow storm during your visit you will be knee or sometimes hip deep in powder.  That area is a snow magnet.

Your knees can take a thrashing skiing, your butt and wrists can take a thrashing snowboarding. Either way you’re going to be sore.  But I would recommend skiing. You’ll be able to move on to blues by day two most likely.
 

There is nothing more painful than catching an edge unexpectedly on a snowboard. You’ll either catch the front edge and at best face plant hard or catch your back edge and at best give yourself a good whack of the noggin. At worst much worse things can happen. Wear a helmet!!!!

I started snowboarding at age 42 and loved it!    I was having the same debate.  It had been a long time since I skied (Mt Brighton!) and had moved to the Pacific NW.  Went for family lessons and had the same questions.   The instructor looked at me and said “If you wanna snowboard, then you should snowboard!”  Best advice!  Definitely be prepared to fall a lot on the first days and definitely do private lessons.  Look - if it’s absolutely terrible on day 1, you could switch to skiing on day 2. 
 

I actually find snowboarding easier on my knees than skiing. 
 

Pickleball would probably be less dangerous.