Anonymous wrote:My parents started with me (late 30’s). My dad loved it. He is terrible, but really enjoyed it and we took family ski trips every year until I was about 20. My mother never really talk to it. She got decent, but she never really enjoyed it. She just did it to not be bored on the ski trips.
I happened to meet someone on my last ski trip who had picked it up as an adult and skied like someone who had been doing it his whole life. We met on the chairlift and he dragged me down a double black glade out west that I’ve been too scared to try before…
I’ve never met anyone like that before and I think it was related to his complete and utter fearlessness. Connecting it to my parents, my dad is somewhat similar. He didn’t mind falling or worry about getting hurt. I think if you’re a normal adult with normal adult concerns, it’s harder to learn. If you’re willing to just dive head first, go full speed and not care about the consequences, that’s when you can get better and enjoy it more when starting as an adult.
I agree it’s way more related to cautiousness/no fear rather than athleticism. I learned mid 40s and have just been so concerned about injuries that I can’t enjoy it. Then my daughter tore her acl skiing (she has no fear) and I’m ready to be done.