A Voice from the 50s

Cleaning out some papers I came across a note I had attached to the November 2005 edition of Snowboarder magazine. There was a letter from “Anne Lewis,” of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Lewis wrote:

“My husband and I got a chuckle when we read about the riders “well into their 30s an still ripping.” We took a few snowboarding lessons to surprise our snowboarding sons. We both discovered that it was more fun on one board than on two planks! … At the “ancient” ages of 56 and 58, we are both looking forward to our third winter of snowboarding. Someone once referred to people like us as “grays on trays.” Works for me!

The response here: Well into their 30s? That’s nothing. Wander over to the Grays on Trays discussion board and you’ll meet folks in their 40s, 50s, 60s and perhaps beyond.

The response from the editorial staff at Snowboarder magazine? A flippant comment relating to the publishing industry, completely ignoring the point and missing an opportunity to welcome a non-traditional demographic to the sport.

Typical