Over 50? Now You Have Time

In my dreams, I’m paddling a kayak through the tall tupelo trees lining the edge of an Arkansas lake.

Or I’m fly fishing in western Montana - maybe not as expertly as in the movie “A River Runs Through It,” but well enough to fool a wily trout or two.

Many of us in the 50-plus generation finally have the time to fulfill our dreams of learning leisure sports. Or we’re ready to revive skills learned as kids. At last, we can golf or ski every week instead of once or twice a year and try out resorts, special-interest trips and vacation destinations that cater to our newfound enthusiasms.

Still, it’s not easy to become a beginner at a mature age. And we may feel uncomfortable taking lessons alongside muscular 20-year-olds.

The savviest resorts, schools, outfitters and professional associations recognize why we might be reluctant to take up a new sport. More are hiring instructors who are 50-plus themselves or are trained to work with mature students.

But before you sign up to learn the game, here’s some expert advice that may smooth your way into the outdoors, including these general tips:

Get your doctor’s approval, particularly if you have any medical condition to consider.

Read about your chosen activity. Learn its history, terminology, rules and etiquette.

You may have to buy some clothing or accessories before your first lesson, but rent or borrow the main equipment. After you’ve gained experience, you’re better able to choose equipment that fits your style and budget.

Skiing

Fitness is essential for downhill skiing, and workouts to strengthen the cardiovascular system and legs are particularly important for mature skiers.

The Professional Ski Instructors Association trains members how to teach senior skiers, says Dennis Beasley, executive director of the Over the Hill Gang International.

So look for an instructor who is over 50 or who has taken this course, Beasley says.

Canoeing and kayaking

Little physical preparation is needed for a first-timer headed for a flat-water canoe trip, but there are techniques to be learned, says Judy Harrison, publisher of Canoe & Kayak magazine.

“Learning kayaking is a total no-brainer,” Harrison says. “It has nothing to do with physical fitness or techniques. Kayaks are very stable. In some kayaks, you use your feet to steer with a rudder and paddling provides the propulsion.

Fly fishing

Fly fishing is just as addictive for those with troublesome backs or balance problems and who must fish from a boat rather than in waders.

Choose a school with one instructor to four or five students, says Jim Gilford, an instructor in the Fenwick Fly-Fishing Schools and retired director of the EPA’s Environmental Assessment Division.

A school or a personal instructor should teach you terminology, to understand and use the tackle, the principles and techniques of casting, and how to select flies or lures, Gilford says.

Golf

Many seniors who didn’t have time for golf earlier are eager to learn or tune up their game. Begin with lessons from a local pro who’s a PGA or LPGA member certified as a golf instructor. Develop your skills so you’re ready to play an easy “executive” or par 3 course, or one with beginner or senior tees.

Don’t race to a golf resort until you’re able to keep up the pace and courtesies of play, suggests Lloyd Wright. He’s the founder of the National Senior Sports Association, whose golfing members play at all skill levels and take trips together. Perhaps arrange an instruction package.