Hello... I just started skating at age 44 and the half pipe is literally killing me...smashed myself so many times against the floor trying to go down that ramp.....any tips? Thanks!
Once you cover what Ryan said and you have your knee pads on, as Michael suggests, I recommend you to first stay low on the halfpipe learning to pump up and down the transition, without kick turning for a while (so yo can learn and feel how to ride fakie), and with backside and frontside kick turns for a while, alternating. This will give you the basic feel. Chill!