SNOWBOARDERS: Where did you learn how to first snowboard and how old were you?

• I first got on a snowboard at 23 in South Korea. It wasn't until I was around 26 that I went to the West Point Ski School and really learned how to ride. Life-time love now.

• Answer:

  First time for me was at Crystal Mountain resort on Mt. Rainier. It hadn't snowed it a while and was hard as a rock. I fell hundreds of times. I was just shy of my 38th birthday. I didn't really learn to snowboard those first 2 days. I went home and a couple weeks later went to Mt. Hood Meadows. I took another lesson. Then I just kept going up. It took me quite a while to really "get it". But 6 years later I am doing well and completely obsessed with snowboarding. I went 50-60 times last season despite working 50-60 hours a week and staying home for 4 weeks recovering from a car accident, and we missed the first couple of weeks due to the road being washed out. I have my season pass for this year, my snow park permit, chains, shovel, and new gear. I am leaving for Austria on Friday and have a new Nitro snowboard, bindings, boots waiting for me. So I'm quite excited for the season to start up. I have been snowboarding in Tignes France (twice), Val Senales Italy, Saas Fee Switzerland, Mt. Bachelor (Oregon), and am looking forward to Kaprun Austria. But almost all my snowboarding has been on Mt. Hood. I know I'm not the oldest snowboarder out there, but @ 44 (nearly 45), I feel pretty good about having learned it at my age, and having stuck with it, and making it my winter exercise program. I've also taught my two nieces how to snowboard and they go up with me 2-3 times a week.