i probably first learned to ski when i was like 4 or 5 (am 24 now), and skied a few times in the midwest as i grew up, but never got hard core into it. now im in my third winter out west, third winter of really being gung- ho, skiing as often as i possibly can. as far as tricks, i pretty much suck at even hitting jumps straight, so ive yet to really try to many tricks. got my mind set on a swith 180 this year though- gotta start somewhere, right?