Snowboarders are getting younger and younger. Well, technically, they’re getting older and older, just like the rest of us, but it’d take an atomic pedant to point that kind of thing out (and if you felt that nagging urge to do so, we can’t be friends).
Just over 12 months ago, the then 14 year old Chloe Kim became the youngest ever Winter X Games Gold Medalist. And then, just a couple of weeks ago, 13 year old Estonian skier Kelly Sildaru smashed the record, and became the youngest X Games gold medalist ever.
So, what age should somebody start snowboarding? The precedent set by the latest generation of super-groms suggests that it wont be long before we see a mere twinkle in a mans eye somehow learn how to do a backside boardslide.
Think this seems a little far fetched? Take one look at 14 month old Johnny Perry. 14 months old. FOURTEEN MONTHS! Normally, it’s standard practice to ask you to remember what you were doing at 14 months old but, let’s face it, it’s so long ago that it’s impossible to remember.
Despite his tender years, the micro-grom is already well versed in sliding sideways, so much so that he does it with more style than most people 20 years older.
