skiing or snowboarding?

togster

went to sälen in swedenat christmas and went snowboarding having never skiied before. it took me all week to get going a bit. its all that heel and toe thing.
anyway should i have started on skiis??

5starpool

They are two different beasts tbh. I know people who have only ever skied and never snowboarded, and I know people who have only snowboarded and never skied. Learning each of them is an independent skill I think, but then again I have only snowboarded for 2 days and nearly killed myself. I think part of learning to snowboard is that you will fall - a lot. Falling from a snowboard hurts a lot more than falling skiing I think in general, especially as a beginner where you are never really going too fast.

To summarise, if you want to snowboard then knowing how to ski first, while no harm, isn't really that much of an advantage in my opinion.

mollser

This happened in our group last year - 2 beginner snow boarders and 2 beginner skiers. The 2 snowboarders, despite getting lessons in Kilternan, couldn't get going at all for the entire week. The odd time they got down a slope they got a real buzz. But those times were few and far between, and if they were honest I'm not sure they really enjoyed it at all.

The couple of us who were first time skiers, despite a tricky first couple of days, were flying down the hills by the end of the week, going at the same pace of the boarders with a few weeks experience under their belt.

I definitely think there's an image thing with snowboarding, that blokes in particular, think its a much better/cooler sport than skiing, despite it being undeniably trickier to pick up.

Finally, in the group there were a number of guys who went to the mountains a lot when they lived in Europe. These are all fairly handy at both, but ski almost everytime now, generally on blades. Seem to be the best of both worlds!

My 2c!

sharingan

What everyone else said. Plus some of my observations.

I will of course repeat that boarders will fall. Lots. And it will Hurt. Its rare for a skier to injure more than their pride in a fall, especially while learning. When a board gets caught on something, and you
wipe out, you hit the ground harder than just gravity and speed allow for - the board levers you into the ground. And its all upper body falls, banging your hips, elbows (dont try to stop your fall with your hands), shoulders and the head.

We met a boarder this year who said that the best investment he ever made was a set of snowboard jocks. Basically shorts with impact protection at all the usual spots. ~€100 though, not for beginners.

Having gone on plenty of trips and chatted lots with beginners etc. Beginning skiers are on average more capable than beginning boarders by the end of their first week. On average, beginning boarders are more likely to express frustration or be underwhelmed by their first trip (hard falls, spending all the time on your ass, chairlifts, buttonlifts, T-bars, poor personal development, non-ideal snow conditions) and are less likely to catch the snow-holiday bug.

If you have no preference between any winter sport you are better off learning skiing. Obviously if boarding/skiing/boozing is your thing, then just go for it.

Skateboarders and Surfers take to snowboarding like ducks to water.

Repeat Boarders are more likely to develop better. A lot of skiers hit plateaus.

Learning skiing is by no means a foundation for learning boarding. However, beginning skiers have an easier time with complicated piste features like lifts and bad snow conditions.

Blades are fun and easy, but you can get bored of them, and there is less things you can do on blades (like off-piste is basically off-limits). Blades are handy for intermediates on a bad day. They are also handy for wannabe-cameramen who want to get some videos of their mates doing a descent.

I am not precisely sure what the difference between Snow Blades and Snow Skates is, but there must be something if the fans of skates are so vehement about it.

RATM

Previous posts are right-snowboarding is a bit harder to master-Ive worked a season in NZ and after 2 months boarding a gang of us decided to try out skiing for the day,no lessons or anything,straight to the top,we just watched how others did it and were fine.At the end of the day most of us could do blueys without falling and a reasonable speed.
People often ask me why boarding over skiing- I always say its like flying a helicopter over a plane- you'll definately go faster in the plane,but you'll have more fun in the helicopter.
Boarding feels alot more natural,there's no awkward knee movements,just your head and shoulders pointing where you want to go.

robinph

Snowboarding is probably harder to pick up the basics off than on skis, but once you have that sorted you'll progress further and faster with technique on a board than on skis. Once you've got the basics on a board you can struggle down pretty much any run one way or another, but someone at an equivalent level on skis would not be able to get down narrow or steep black or tricky red runs with as much confidence.

Basically I think boarding is more difficult in the first weeks, but skiing is more difficult to get really good at.

ZorbaTehZ

The major difference between Boarding and Skiing in terms of learning is that the learning curve for Skiing is flipped over for boarding i.e. for skiing its easy to learn the basics, but to become very proficient at it, it takes a lot of time and skill - whereas with boarding it takes quite a while to learn the basics, but when you've got them your sorted and you'll be tricking in the park no bother.

Personally, when I first started back when I was about 13 I did skiing for 3 days and switched to boarding for the rest of the holiday. I've been boarding ever since.

This year my sister (who's been skiing for about 6 years) went boarding for this holiday (her first time on a board), and after only 7 days she said very surely that boarding is way way better than skiing.

If you are starting out boarding theres 2 things that are very important to bring and thats wrist protection pads (the skateboarding or rollerblading type is perfect) and knee pads (especially if you know that the resort you are going to is not getting alot of snow).

I definitely think there's an image thing with snowboarding, that blokes in particular, think its a much better/cooler sport than skiing, despite it being undeniably trickier to pick up.

^^so true

Unpossible

If you are starting out boarding theres 2 things that are very important to bring and thats wrist protection pads (the skateboarding or rollerblading type is perfect) and knee pads (especially if you know that the resort you are going to is not getting alot of snow).

I was going to say this as well, when I started off learning an american friend of mine convinced me to wear knee, elbow and wrist pads. I still wear the wrist pads and sometimes the other two and it has saved me some pain I would also advise a helmet and the helpfull martial arts tip of "if you are falling on your back tuck your chin onto your chest" (although admittedly if your going at speed you will still get a bad jolt).

As for which to choose, it was never a question for me. I used to windsurf growing up in Ireland and went surfing a bunch of times so having a board under my feet just seemed natural (and more appealling/interesting).I have also tried crosscrountry skiing and discovered that my legs being tied to a board is a good thing in my awkward ham fisted case. Now some friends are trying to get me to go skiing, don't know if I will try or not, I just dont know where to begin (kind of like how I taught myself how to snowboard so I guess)

ZorbaTehZ

Aye, but the thing about buying a helmet is they are so expensive (E120 for mine). Better idea to rent one out there instead. Theres nothing sorer than falling backwards toe side, on a steep slope and hitting you're head badly.

The annoying thing about the wrist pads too is that you can rarely fit them under your gloves if you use the plasticky kind. The gaelic football ones like the kind of navy elvery types is best. (Very pedantic, I know )

Unpossible

Aye, but the thing about buying a helmet is they are so expensive (E120 for mine). Better idea to rent one out there instead.

Well yeah, I should have said to rent one first. I thought people would just rent everything (board, boots and helmet) while they are learning and then buy them when they are sure they will continue with the sport.

The gaelic football ones like the kind of navy elvery types is best.

Havent a clue what your talking about could you post a pic ?

robinph

ZorbaTehZ wrote:

Aye, but the thing about buying a helmet is they are so expensive (E120 for mine). Better idea to rent one out there instead. Theres nothing sorer than falling backwards toe side, on a steep slope and hitting you're head badly.

Personally I wouldn't want to use a rented helmet for keeping my noggin safe, I would want to know exactly what it been through regarding any knocks before putting my head in it. Also you can be a bit more certain of a good comfy fit if you've taken the time to get your own rather than just whatever the rental shop has on the shelf.

ZorbaTehZ

I would certainly hope that rental shops don't give defective helmets to people if that is what you are implying.
Like Unpossible said its impractical to buy a helmet first time out there. The helmets that I borrowed for my first few years were fine and I had no problem with them.
I realise this thread is going very off-topic so I'll try not to post again.

robinph

ZorbaTehZ wrote:

I would certainly hope that rental shops don't give defective helmets to people if that is what you are implying.

More that I know it's only ever been my head that has gone inside my helmet I suppose, but then I don't like the idea of rental boots either now since I got my own. But it is too expensive to buy too much specialist gear when you are just starting out and are not sure if you'd ever go sliding down a mountian again so renting is far better than nothing.

Nietzschean

mollser wrote:

This happened in our group last year - 2 beginner snow boarders and 2 beginner skiers. The 2 snowboarders, despite getting lessons in Kilternan, couldn't get going at all for the entire week. The odd time they got down a slope they got a real buzz. But those times were few and far between, and if they were honest I'm not sure they really enjoyed it at all.

The couple of us who were first time skiers, despite a tricky first couple of days, were flying down the hills by the end of the week, going at the same pace of the boarders with a few weeks experience under their belt.

How well people get on at either sport is highly dependent on the person, one's level of crazyness normally dictates how fast they learn...

certainly on the last trip i was on the 20 or so beginner boarders by enlarge were going down far steeper slopes than the beginner skiers and infact lots of off piste(well meself and one of the other beginners). How much people could do skier or snowboarder varied wildly from person to person, and generally how scared they were of falling(i think i'd bruses more or less everywhere...)

Glowing

I personally like the comfort factor of snowboarding - the big soft boots, the fact that I only have to carry ONE board instead of FOUR independently moving sticks!

I also hate the threat of twisting my knees when on ski's - boarding feels much more secure to me!

La La

i went skiiing when i was in school and had fun with it - until i discovered snowboarding........which has essentially consumed me I love it so much.

starting off is heaps harder cos you smack yourself around a bit but it's the most worthwhile feeling when you nail it.

physically and mentally I can't think of a more perfect way to spend every day than up the hill with my board. snowboarding is all about very fluid motions and i LOVE the technicalities of it.

and while it may seem shallow, after spending a few seasons in NZ one thing is true - the style is much sexier. give me my baggy burtons over a skinny one-piece any day!

freeriding i dont bother with a helmet but if im in the park it's a must. cos you will smash yourself up bad or worse without one.

Cake Fiend

Just like smoking, snowboarding is just cool (but those who don't do it don't want to admit it!).

Your first week on a snowboard is the worst. After that, you can enjoy it far more.

I've skied and boarded, and I'd never see a reason to put on a pair of skis again.

Imposter

I know a few who've gone the other way!

I tried on a friends boots and snowboard once (exact same size and goofiness), the blood stopped going to my feet so I got out of it pretty sharpish. Might try it again next season by renting a set-up.

mcgratheoin

I'm a skier all the way I'm afraid. I can board as well after a few years living in Norway but skiing is the way to go for me - much easier to hit the backcountry and go touring - any sort of a slightly flat spot on a snowboard and you're buggered. One of the most annoying things for me when skiing with boarders is having to wait for them on traverses.

I use twin-tip skis so there's no problem hitting the parks either, althought the first few times in the superpipe were pretty scary. In general you can go faster and further on skis, although it will indeed take more work to get to a decent level at.

As for coolness - in the parks I frequented, skiing was probably considered cooler than boarding - and not a skin-tight suit in sight!

Curran

Its got to be snowboarding!!

You have to be brave and throw yourself in the deep end when beginning.
My 1st trip was to Andorra in 2006 and spent the first 3 days on the beginners slopes - didnt learn a thing, apart from straping the boots into the bindings - then my mate who had been the year before, said come up the top and dont be afraid of falling, so i didnt - you have to commit to every turn and you'll pick it up - granted a few bruises later, but worth it - 2 runs later i had the turns and both edges - was doing black runs by the end of the week!

Im totally addicted to it now - been to Italy (Jan) and Austria (Feb) this year and planning my next trip already - cant wait.

Met up with some very experienced skiier mates in Austria and got them to try boarding - CONVERTED - they havent looked back and said they'd never ski again!!!

Don1

Boarded for the first time in Germany this Feb. Hooked straight away. Sore as hell for the first few days. Still aint got onto my toes yet though. Moving to Canada later in the year hopefully. Flat out then!!!
Have absolutely no desire to be a skier. Might just try it for the speed, but that's about it.

ZorbaTehZ

Curran wrote:

Im totally addicted to it now - been to Italy (Jan) and Austria (Feb) this year and planning my next trip already - cant wait.

As soon as we get back, we usually start planning our next trip. It's insane, how much fun it is, and I can't wait to get back on the slopes next winter.

Don1

Next winter!! I wanna go now!!!

Curran

Don1 wrote:

Next winter!! I wanna go now!!!

Im actually tempted to head to Austria again, in the next few weeks - was in Mayrhofen in Feb and it was great even though the snow wasnt the best.
Got talking the bar man in the ICE BAR thats at the bottom of the ski lifts and he was saying theres boarding all year round on the glacier if you dont mind the icy conditions - wouldnt bother me in the slightest, as long as i got to do some carving!!