Skiing vs. Snowboarding ???

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ss_md

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Questions for skiers/snowboarders.

My Son-in-Law says he can't ski if his life depended on it. Yet he tried snowboarding and loves it.

I'm thinking I want to learn how to Snowboard. But I have my reservations since I suck on a skateboard. Are there similarities between these two or are they as different as fire and ice?

Is it harder to learn to Ski or Snowboard?

I'm a better than average skier, will the transition to snowboarding be easy or difficult?

I know there are a ton of questions I'm forgetting, chime in everyone!

TIA for your input and comments.
 
I just learned how to ski last year while on vacation in Canaan Valley, WV. I found it pretty easy to learn how to ski, but wouldn't even think of trying snowboarding after seeing other people taking classes. There were always a dozen people on the beginners slopes on snowboards sprawled out on the ground, made it look very intimidating.
 
I'm Level II skiier and I've tried snowboarding a fewtimes (like 3x). I think that Snow boarding is more intuitive in the begining. Similar to Skiing a lot of the turning is done with the torso.

The only part I didn't like was the fact that my wrists and ass were super sore by the end of the day since those two parts were the first to make contact with the snow when you fell. So I suggest you wear a lot of padding on your ass your 1st time out. Also some wrist supports might help.
 
Skiing is way easier than snow boarding.....

when u learn to ski u can "plow" to make turns in both directions without really falling...

can't do this with a snowborad....the learning curve is alot harder on a snowboard but once you get it ..it becomes easy...


its similar to a skateboard...but your feet a bound so u cant move them or jump off...all you can do is press with heals or toes with different pressures on either foot

imo snowboard is alot more fun than skiing..
 
I skied for several years and then took up snowboarding for several more. Once I learned to snowboard, I never went back to skiing.

Skiing is easier to learn the basics than snowboarding. Both are difficult to master. I haven't snowboarded the past few seasons, but I used to go frequently.

Snowboarding is fundamentally the same as skateboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding. (I have done all but real surfing).

There are two kinds of turns in snowboarding that you must learn so you don't fall on your knees/wrists or your ass.

Before you turn you have to figure out which "way you go". If you haven't skateboarded, surfed, etc., you may have to put on some socks and slide on a wood floor or go out on some ice. See which foot you put forward intuitively, and that will be your "stance". If you have your left foot in front, pointed in the direction you want to go, i.e. down the hill, you are considered "regular-foot" and if you have your right foot in front, you are "goofy-foot". I am goofy, myself.

The first is the toe turn. This is to initiate a "backside turn", which means you go from your sideways stance down the hill and turn so your rear end is now facing down the hill. Your stance will determine if this is a left or right turn, with regular being right and goofy being left. (Visualize it)

To do a toe turn, you essentially push down on the front/ball of your front foot. This causes weight to transfer to the front corner and the board to rotate. If you screw this up, you catch the front edge and hit your wrist/knees.

The second turn is the heel turn. This initiates a "frontside turn". This is the reverse of the backside turn. A regular person will turn left, goofy will turn right. As you may have guessed, you push down on the back heel, and this causes the board to rotate. If you screw up, you will land on your ass.

The heel turn is usually the first turn you learn, and the snowboarding equivalent of a snowplow when it is used to slowly slide down the mountain.

When you put them together and learn how to carve, it is a rhythmic motion with the hips and arms. Then you learn to ride both ways and ride the pipe or launch of the jumps if so inclined.
 
My parents sent me to a 'kiddy ski school' when i was ~9 but i didnt liked it so now i'm snowboarding since i'm 10 years old. So i dont realy remember how i learned it :). But i can help you with one point, i suck at skateboarding, i cant even roll down a hill or something, even after 8 years boarding, so i think the lack of skateboarding skills is not that big problem. Another thing, i stood on skis lately and it fealed realy wired to be able to move both feet in different ways and not have them locked on one board. I can only speak for myself, lots of my friends change from snowboard to ski from one day to another, but i cant imaging to go back to skis again.

If something sounds wired in that post just ignore it, got problems sometimes to translate what i want to say, my english teachers sucked :tongue:
 
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Scott,
Knowing that you work with computers for a living, I woulnd't risk my wrists with snowboarding. More than enough friends have had problems to give you the heads up on this one.
Take care,
John :biggrin:
 
I was an intermediate but infrequent skiierr for many years before I switched to snowboarding. That was back in January of 20021...and I seriously didn't think I would "get it" until the end of my third three-day trip. Even dislocating my elbow two seasons ago (taking small jumps in a beginner's terrain park), hasn't stopped me.

In fact, I've become somewhat obsessed. I'm on my fourth season / third consecutive season pass at Mammoth / second snowboard....we even bought the Pilot because of snowboarding.

The switch was difficult, especially frustrating because I hadn't been to Mammoth in something like 15 years when I first made the change (i.e. I really wanted to see the rest of the mountain that I loved). After your first day snowboarding, you'll likely be in a considerable amount of pain (you'll spend a lot of time on your ass...bring Advil). The learning curve is initially very steep compared to skiing...there's nothing as easy as snowplowing on a snowboard. Adding frustration, going slow makes it really hard for learning how to turn (and you won't feel comfortable going fast for awhile) and riding a single edge will really wear your legs out quickly (so try not to push yourself too hard on your first days). Like skiing, rental gear can be brutal...I bought a snowboard and boots after my first trip even though I wasn't certain I'd ever really get into it!

Icy snow is brutal for a beginning snowboarder...deep powder can also be a problem...so make sure to pick ideal conditions when you learn or you may get prematurely deterred. But, once things click and you start to link turns, you'll likely progress at much faster rate than you ever did on skiis. By my third season I was comfortable enough to shoot video while coming down black diamond runs (the most difficult runs I ever attempted on skis)...and, of course, that's when I dislocated my elbow taking jumps (something I never attempted on skis).

Wear protective gear. I wear a helmet and wrist guards...and know they have saved me from more costly medical expenses. It's really easy to catch an edge and fall over...you'll fall a lot...sometimes intentionally.

I also think you need to be in better shape to snowboard versus ski. I feel I use a LOT more of my body when I snowboard...
 
I skiied ever since 5 years old and was in an alpine skiing team in school.
I also started snowboarding since I was in high school.

Both are difficult at first, but if your focus is just riding down the slope, snowboarding is easier than skiing in my opinion.

I have stopped snowboarding after having 2 concussions and dislocated knees. To me, snowboarding is potentially more dangerous since both of your feet are fixed onto one board (less freedom).
 
For what it's worth, my observations on learning to snowboard as an adult...

OK, a little background: I learned to snowboard a few years ago, I was 33. I've since learned to surf, and I've messed with a skateboard (I suck). I haven't done any skiing since I was 13 or so, but while learning to snowboard I was with friends who were intermediate skiers so it was easy to judge my progress against them.

First off: Use a Helmet and wrist guards! You are going to fall about a billion times, most of the times backwards on your wrists, sometimes hurling backwards and hitting your head.

Snowboarding has a brutal learning curve for the first three days (compared to skiing), then it becomes much easier. I was told this by all the instructors and it is certainly what I experienced. Just getting around on a snowboard (which you do by unlatching one foot) is awkward. It's crazy, you can't even walk, much less board. You're going to want to get through this stage as fast as possible so take classes, don't just flail around on the slope by yourself. My skier friends spent this time on the slope, having fun, laughing at me.

After five or six days I was hanging with my intermediate skier friends. They were waiting for me a lot but I was out there with them.

At ten days I wait for them. Slow wussies.

This happened in three trips over the course of two years (two days, four days, four days).

Some miscellaneous observations:

- I've had people tell me one board sport (snowboard/surfboard/skateboard) is just like another, but I can't see it. Sure they all train your balance which is helpful, but other than that they all feel different to me. So don't let the fact that you suck on a skateboard dissuade you. I suck on them also :)

- Since Snowboarding (once over that initial hump) is easier than skiing it's perfect for those who only go every now and then: you'll be able to do more trails with less skill. When I talk with people who live in Tahoe (where I learned) they usually both ski and snowboard, and just pick the one that best suits them on any given day.

- Moving across a flat surface or incline sucks with a snowboard. Many times I've miscalculated (or just fell down) on a flat part of a slope and had to have a skier friend pull me. Those polls they have are useful.

- My skier friends fall like once a day, at the end, when they're tired and take it as a signal that it's time to end the day. I fall constantly and spectacularly. I think that’s because you get so much better every day when first learning to board that you’re constantly pushing into new territory.

So I'd say to anyone give it a shot and have fun! Know that you're going to have to be patient for a few days. Unless you're not going to wear the wrist guards and helmet, then don't do it.
 
Thanks for all the info!! :biggrin: :biggrin:
 
I just want to emphasize how important it is to get a helmet, especially if you plan on snowboarding. One of the many reasons is that if you accidentally fall foward on a snowboard your knees can possibly bend back and nail you right in the back of your head. Those edges can be razor sharp and you could have the back of your head hammered open. OUCH!!!

I'm the guy that goes back and forth between snowboard and ski because I like both. And the first day or so of snowboarding can really be painful with all those falls on your bums and wrist or those "superman falls" as I call them where the downhill edge gets caught and you just go wee!!! and often get the wind knock out of you when you land on your chest.

One more thing for snowboard, the faster you go the eaiser it is and it also makes that initial hump easier to overcome. Those snowboarder who took it really slow and seem to just fall standing still are only making it harder on themselves.
 
Don't want to sound biased or anything... I just wanted to say that if I had my way, Snowboarders would have there very own part of the mountain away from skiiers, preferably a separate mountain altogether! :biggrin:

And secondly, James Bond never snowboarded! :wink:
 
AU_NSX said:
And secondly, James Bond never snowboarded! :wink:
Click to expand...

Apparently you missed the opening segment of "A View To A Kill"

I wish they all could be California girls..... ;)

brahtw8 said:
I skied for several years and then took up snowboarding for several more. Once I learned to snowboard, I never went back to skiing.

Skiing is easier to learn the basics than snowboarding. Both are difficult to master. I haven't snowboarded the past few seasons, but I used to go frequently.

Snowboarding is fundamentally the same as skateboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding. (I have done all but real surfing).

There are two kinds of turns in snowboarding that you must learn so you don't fall on your knees/wrists or your ass.

Before you turn you have to figure out which "way you go". If you haven't skateboarded, surfed, etc., you may have to put on some socks and slide on a wood floor or go out on some ice. See which foot you put forward intuitively, and that will be your "stance". If you have your left foot in front, pointed in the direction you want to go, i.e. down the hill, you are considered "regular-foot" and if you have your right foot in front, you are "goofy-foot". I am goofy, myself.

The first is the toe turn. This is to initiate a "backside turn", which means you go from your sideways stance down the hill and turn so your rear end is now facing down the hill. Your stance will determine if this is a left or right turn, with regular being right and goofy being left. (Visualize it)

To do a toe turn, you essentially push down on the front/ball of your front foot. This causes weight to transfer to the front corner and the board to rotate. If you screw this up, you catch the front edge and hit your wrist/knees.

The second turn is the heel turn. This initiates a "frontside turn". This is the reverse of the backside turn. A regular person will turn left, goofy will turn right. As you may have guessed, you push down on the back heel, and this causes the board to rotate. If you screw up, you will land on your ass.

The heel turn is usually the first turn you learn, and the snowboarding equivalent of a snowplow when it is used to slowly slide down the mountain.

When you put them together and learn how to carve, it is a rhythmic motion with the hips and arms. Then you learn to ride both ways and ride the pipe or launch of the jumps if so inclined.
Click to expand...


werd- this was a great post.

I also want to endorse getting safety equipment- An ounce of prevention...

Philip
 
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I occasionally ski and a few years ago tried a hand at snow boarding. I recommend you take a shot at it. Snowboarding is harder to learn and will take much effort the first day. The hardest part is that you are on your butt half the day and you don't have poles to get back up, so you might wear out before the end of the day, but you got to try - right?

Once you get the hang of it, I think you be glad you tried.

Of course, I was about 37 years old when I learned. If you are younger, better shape, maybe it will come easy!

Shaun
 
Snowboarding is not like skateboarding the only thing really similar is the stance. With snowboarding you turn using your rear foot, this was completely new to me and a little weird as I used to skateboard. I learned to snowboard when I was working in Canada one winter, I have tried skiing before and hated it, literally just snowplowed down the hill or fell over. Snowboarding I picked up in a day after a lesson, I highly recommend a lesson. The first day may be a bit rough, but you are on a bunny slope, next time I was out, I was on the blue's greens and black, prefer the blues and greens for now, just carved back and forth a lot on the blacks. Anyway you are less likely to get injured snowboarding than skiing the main reason is that your legs are boud to the board and can't move independantly of each other versus skiing where they can. Now that I know how to snowboard I have no desire to learn how to ski, but I have always enjoyed board sports more than there counterparts. Hate ice skating, roller skating, skiing. Like skateboarding, skimboarding, wakeboarding, snowboarding...you get the picture. Anyway take a lesson, assuming you are semi coordinated, and you have a good instructor you should be up and running by the end of the lesson.

Hth,

Carl
 
dood,

i'm 52, have been boarding exclusively since '93. back then i'd been skiing for 7 years on old/used skis so went out and bought myself a nice & shiny pair of new 210's (ok, so i wasn't a hot dog skier, either ;) got to the resort, saw the boards and thought, "i'll do that today and use my new skis tomorrow."

tomorrow never came.

i have a burton airsym 6, still in great shape (the board, that is - i'm a truck going down the hills) and i've never once considered using skis again.

like others said, take lessons, wear safety gear, r-e-l-a-x and have fun. oh, and for at least the early days, stay on nicely groomed runs.

werd.
 
It is worth trying once or twice. I took a lesson in snowboarding two years ago. I thought it was quite exhausting pushing yourself around with the snowboard between the legs. The rental boots were soaking wet (just disgusting). I couldn't wait to get out of them.

I maybe too old to learn coming down a snowy hill any other way than on a pair of skis, which I learned about 6- 7 years ago.

Go ahead, try it and dont break bones. Have fun.:smile:
 
Scott,

I didn't know you had kids? Much less a son-in-law already. :eek: :wink:

My first time learning to snowboard was pretty harsh on my butt and wrists as someone said before. I learned to take precautions and grabbed a pair of wrist guards that skateboarders use. Come to think of it, might as well protect your knees and elbows too. You can wear these underneath your clothing until you get the hang of it until you won't need them anymore.

Take the class. They teach you the fundamentals, especially how to fall. The first couple of hours you will fall A LOT. But by the end of the day, you should be able to get the hang of it.

Snowboarding is actually more similar to SURFING than skateboarding because you are carving the snow with the edge as you do surfing in the water.

RULE OF THUMB: the longer the board, the faster you go. The shorter the board, the more maneuverability you have. You should find a board long enough that goes up to your chin.

You can rent a board and boots at Sport Chalet for $25. Pretty cheap especially when you don't want to invest in gear your first time out.

Have fun!
 
I've been skiing since I was 4 years old. (Hence the Volkl in my sig)

I raced slalom/giant slalom in high school and college.

Came out to the PacNW and picked up snowboarding as a 2nd option. I consider way easier than skiing for the most part. At least it's a lot easier to get up to a middle level (going a few times on a snowboard vs what might take years on skis). As for as advanced level, it's probably just as hard.

I love snowboarding on powder days...so much fun...like surfing a giant wave!
 
Both are fun! So is telemark skiing! Even cross country skiing! Yee-haw, finally a thread that I can add real value to. Sweet! I skied in college (CO) and lived in Vail afterwards. My thoughts are that:

1. Wrists are definitely a risk. But, other than that, boarding is much safer. You can be an idiot or hit a tree on two boards or one, but you won't blow your knees on a snowboard. Only your self esteem.

2. Boarding is MUCH easier to learn. An afternoon and you'll "get it" which is why it's really well suited for people that want to "be decent" but can only go a few times a year. Skiing is physically a much more complex task for the body to perform and the brain to coordinate, which is why that 8 year old just flew past you.

3. They're both fun. If you are the type that throws golf clubs when you miss a shot on the course, you'll probably be frustrated when you ski a week a year for 10 years but always suck. If you aren't like that, and don't mind eternal mediocrity, you'd probably really enjoy the challenge of skiing.

4. Try both. Renting gear is cheap, no reason to "be a skier" or "only ride". Just tell the ski rental guy that you "know what you're doing" and you'll have the rentals back tomorrow.

5. Consider who you're skiing/riding with. If you're a decent skier and you take your new trophy wife to Chamonix, are you gonna leave her with Luc, the french ski instructor, while you go "shred the blues"? No. You're gonna strap on a snowboard (or skis, or whatever else she tells you to strap on) and be a gomer with her on the beginner runs. And remember, Luc would NEVER complain about "going too slow" tell her to "quit whining, it's not that cold out."

5.b) If you bring kids with you to Chamonix (any kids, doesn't really matter who's), you can pretty much disregard 5.A) since Luc won't be anywhere in sight.

6. Don't waste your time "relaxing" after a long day on the slopes. With careful planning, your apres ski party can end up in a hot tub anyway.

7. Under no circumstances does Luc wear a ski mask or jeans on the slopes.

8. Don't forget your address, your place of employment, and the name of your close friend ____, the general manager of the ski resort. There is ALWAYS a locals discount.

8.b) If you ignore number 7, all the name dropping in the world won't help you get number 8.a.

9. Snowboarding is more affordable in the long run because it's easier to hike around ticket areas in snowboarding boots.

10. Snowbunnies! :biggrin:



05 Silverstone/Onyx (never seen snow)
 
I've never tried skiing, but I picked up on snowboarding immediatly. I was taking jumps my first day. All the water sports and the short stint with skateboarding when I was younger probably helped me a lot. Basically, you have to become confident with rocking your back foot when kicking it out for turns to keep it from catching. Once you've got that down, carving out of someone's way is easy and you become comfortable with speed.

I like to introduce people to boarding, but hate taking out beginners because I don't like waiting on them. I go about once a week during the season, so I eventually end up teaching a few people.

I went out to Keystone, CO yesterday, but happened to catch my board at the wrong time and hit my head pretty hard as well as twisted an ankle. I still boarded the rest of the day after, but was hurting pretty bad at the end of the day... and today.

This pic is a little dark, but I'm catching a decent amount of air (This was only my third time out).
Pic

My riced out snowboard!

My roommate.
 
as a kid growing up in Tahoe during the 70's-80-s I was skiing since age four, then the snowboard came out:eek: I learned on a snowed over golf corse on a Burton "woody":redface: Never skied since:biggrin:

Once you learn it, it's easier to progress and ALOT more fun:tongue:

At least try it a couple of days and take a lesson too....

have fun...good luck.:cool:
 

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