You get used to it and your body builds strength in the right places when you do it regularly.
Like, earlier this season, I went to show my buddy the new shack on the the mountain (every mountain has a "secret" shack somewhere for 420 breaks). To get to it, you have to come from above through some technical stuff, or hike about 50 yards in from the side. I opted to hike, since my friend is still a bit of a noob. I started tromping through the knee deep pow, and turned around about halfway there to find homie panting and struggling about 5 steps in. I had forgotten just how exhausting hiking in deep snow is for people that don't do it regularly.
Lucky for him, he built up some chops this season, and can now ride in from above and out below.
I went boarding with a couple friends that live in CO years ago. I hadn't been on slopes in awhile.
They had me constantly gassed and made me boot up to a couple fun drop ins. I was mad at em for making me do it but totally worth it lol.
Day 1: totally cooked, was ready to stop by noon but pushed through
Day 2: holy shit I can't feel my legs, continuing purely through pride and spite
Day 3: wow somehow I'm feeling great and killing it??
I'm 42. My skateboarding peaked in my mid thirties, and my snowboarding is probably peaking right now after getting deep back into it around the same time. I know a guy who rides almost every day and started in his 50s. The body is a crazy thing if you let it be.
I'm primarily a rock climber and it's scary but risks are so much more controlled - mtn biking is terrifying in comparison and tiny mistakes can really be consequential - I don't have time to be injured!
Grew up skating street in SF. Learned early on that risk is always there, injury is a part of life, and the biggest mistakes are made when playing it a bit too safe. Falling is just another experience to learn from.
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u/Accomplished-Lie716 1d ago
I'd be puffed out after 3 hops, snowboarding is exhausting