What would you do first - Skiing or Snowboarding ?
Discussion
Stu R said:
Easiest - Skiing I found.
Best - subjective, I prefer boarding
Really? Best - subjective, I prefer boarding
On my first day of boarding I was going down black runs, took me a good few weeks of skiing before I could do the same. Admittedly, it was not a pretty sight.
I'd say it's alot easier to pick up boarding quickly - you can be going off-piste on your first week. And I think you can be having alot more fun boarding on snow parks and off-piste much quicker than skiing. However, I prefer skiing - try both and see which you prefer. I just find skiing more comfortable. I found wiping-out when boarding alot more painfull than when skiing - 3 broken ribs can back that up.
Well I've never tried snowboarding myself but from what people have told me that have done or do both you can end up black and blue the first week but it's relatively easy to get to a decent level. With skiing the falls tend to be a bit kinder as you tend to fall sideways as you legs go from under you....it takes longer to get to a decent level but once you're at a decent standard and with modern skis it's more versatile, you go quicker, you don't spend half the day messing around with bindings after every ski lift, get stuck on flat bits or catch an edge and get thrown down the mountain head first and pray you don't break your wrists.
I'd actually see what conditions are like when you go...if there is lots of nice fluffy powder/fresh snow on piste go for the snowboard...if there's been no snow for a while and conditions and the pistes are firm and maybe icy definitely ski. I'm a skier (obviously)and I can tell you learning to ski in loads of snow is not easy....my first ever weekend of skiing I was in Chamonix a few days before the massive avalanche that nearly wiped out a village....once in a generation amounts of snow which was brilliant but not for a beginner, falling over didn't hurt though.
I'd actually see what conditions are like when you go...if there is lots of nice fluffy powder/fresh snow on piste go for the snowboard...if there's been no snow for a while and conditions and the pistes are firm and maybe icy definitely ski. I'm a skier (obviously)and I can tell you learning to ski in loads of snow is not easy....my first ever weekend of skiing I was in Chamonix a few days before the massive avalanche that nearly wiped out a village....once in a generation amounts of snow which was brilliant but not for a beginner, falling over didn't hurt though.
I found when teaching boarders to ski, they understood the need for weight transfer and how to attack the fall line.
Most skiers that think they're good are at best intermediate - it's only until you start attacking the serious stuff does your technique need to be at a different level.
I started boarding but never really took to it - every time we had a decent dump of the white stuff, I'd grab the skis and jump off of mountains and other silly stuff
Most skiers that think they're good are at best intermediate - it's only until you start attacking the serious stuff does your technique need to be at a different level.
I started boarding but never really took to it - every time we had a decent dump of the white stuff, I'd grab the skis and jump off of mountains and other silly stuff
I skied for about 15 years and went to snowboarding about 5 years ago (because the OH and FiL just started and I thought - what the heck).
I've been boarding ever since, haven't gone on skis since then. But it's a lot about preference.
If I'd say: speed of learning?
For someone who's not too scared, a good two days of boarding and you can have half a decent speed, it requires a lot less technique imho than skiing.
Somebody who has skied for 10 days is still pretty rubbish at it.
Oh and the falls with skies less serious?
How old are you?
Snowboarding -> falling is inevitable, but you fall, you get up, you fall, you get up
Skiing -> Try to avoid falling as it includes losing skis, bending sticks,...
For the "fun" part, it's all subjective, but I find boarding more fun.
I've been boarding ever since, haven't gone on skis since then. But it's a lot about preference.
If I'd say: speed of learning?
For someone who's not too scared, a good two days of boarding and you can have half a decent speed, it requires a lot less technique imho than skiing.
Somebody who has skied for 10 days is still pretty rubbish at it.
Oh and the falls with skies less serious?
How old are you?
Snowboarding -> falling is inevitable, but you fall, you get up, you fall, you get up
Skiing -> Try to avoid falling as it includes losing skis, bending sticks,...
For the "fun" part, it's all subjective, but I find boarding more fun.
SimonV8ster said:
I'm off shortly for a trip to the states. Will be spending a couple of weeks in Colorado and intend to spend a bit of time on SNowmobiles but feel I should also give Skiing/snowboarding a go.
Never done these before so which is the easiest to pick up ??!!
Skiing and Boarding are much of a muchness in terms of learning the basics. Do which ever one you would prefer to do. Never done these before so which is the easiest to pick up ??!!
If your keen to go off piste as soon as possible, then learn boarding as it's far easier to board in powder.
I'm a skier of 20 plus year and a boarder of 10 years and i prefer skiing. Dont know why, just do.
Don't ever buy into the skiing vs snowboarding crap. Usually it's just people who can't do the other being idiots.
I've done both, boarding is much quicker to get to a reasonable standard. After a couple of days you can go most places and have fun, ironically the steeper and less packed the snow, the easier it is. You will fall over a lot, but that's part if the fun.
Skiing is more difficult, I have been on and off for over 30 years but I'm still an amateur. You have to control two ski's (which sometimes want to go different ways) as opposed to one board. I think you need to ski every year for a couple of weeks minimum, to get even half-good.
Both are great fun, you'll have good time either way!
Skiing is more difficult, I have been on and off for over 30 years but I'm still an amateur. You have to control two ski's (which sometimes want to go different ways) as opposed to one board. I think you need to ski every year for a couple of weeks minimum, to get even half-good.
Both are great fun, you'll have good time either way!
JQ said:
Stu R said:
Easiest - Skiing I found.
Best - subjective, I prefer boarding
Really? Best - subjective, I prefer boarding
I should perhaps qualify it by saying I learned to board first. It had a much steeper learning curve and it was really the first board sport I got involved with, so as a bigger chap (bigger back then) my balance perhaps wasn't all that. Skiing I found a much more gentle learning curve, and more progressive. Perhaps I found it easier because I'd been boarding for years before I tried skis, but I definitely found boarding the more steeper learning curve! For long term development perhaps boarding is easier, I don't really know as I've not done a huge amount of skiing (I much prefer to board). My view certainly doesn't seem to fit in with the general consensus on this thread at least!
Asterix said:
Most skiers that think they're good are at best intermediate - it's only until you start attacking the serious stuff does your technique need to be at a different level.
This is very true...most skiers are very one footed in the turns and start to come unstuck when it gets bumpy, slushy or there is powder. The classic sign is lifting the inside ski when making a turn...that makes life very difficult anywhere but on a well groomed piste. Im no expert skier, but stopped riding a board after a proper "seeing stars" fall.
If the group youre with are all boarding then it can be great fun. If most are skiing then it can split the group unless everyones willing to wait for each other.
I went and wasnt totally enjoying it, fell and decided to get back on ski's. Bought a set of blades and had one of the most fun couple of days skiing ever.
I would also suggest having at least a couple of lessons before going out there, as you will waste a hell of alot of time getting the basics right.
If the group youre with are all boarding then it can be great fun. If most are skiing then it can split the group unless everyones willing to wait for each other.
I went and wasnt totally enjoying it, fell and decided to get back on ski's. Bought a set of blades and had one of the most fun couple of days skiing ever.
I would also suggest having at least a couple of lessons before going out there, as you will waste a hell of alot of time getting the basics right.
Definately going to have some one-on-one lessons first as i've heard the class lessons can be a bit hit and miss !! I will throw something else into the pot.
I've seen 10 day boarders go serious off piste - and get into trouble. Why? Because the board allows them to. Skis don't do that. You have to be a good technical skier to hit the bad stuff. When I mean bad, I mean the stuff that will kill you. On a Board, you can be there within 10 days. To do it properly on skis, you're looking years.
Name a place in Europe and I've hit it, I've heli-skied in Alaska and there was always a marked difference in experience between the boarders and the skiers. Experience, as in, knowing the mountain.
I've seen 10 day boarders go serious off piste - and get into trouble. Why? Because the board allows them to. Skis don't do that. You have to be a good technical skier to hit the bad stuff. When I mean bad, I mean the stuff that will kill you. On a Board, you can be there within 10 days. To do it properly on skis, you're looking years.
Name a place in Europe and I've hit it, I've heli-skied in Alaska and there was always a marked difference in experience between the boarders and the skiers. Experience, as in, knowing the mountain.
Asterix said:
I will throw something else into the pot.
I've seen 10 day boarders go serious off piste - and get into trouble. Why? Because the board allows them to. Skis don't do that. You have to be a good technical skier to hit the bad stuff. When I mean bad, I mean the stuff that will kill you. On a Board, you can be there within 10 days. To do it properly on skis, you're looking years.
Name a place in Europe and I've hit it, I've heli-skied in Alaska and there was always a marked difference in experience between the boarders and the skiers. Experience, as in, knowing the mountain.
This, you will need years to get anywhere with skis, but you can decently go down at a decent pace and have fun on a board within days.I've seen 10 day boarders go serious off piste - and get into trouble. Why? Because the board allows them to. Skis don't do that. You have to be a good technical skier to hit the bad stuff. When I mean bad, I mean the stuff that will kill you. On a Board, you can be there within 10 days. To do it properly on skis, you're looking years.
Name a place in Europe and I've hit it, I've heli-skied in Alaska and there was always a marked difference in experience between the boarders and the skiers. Experience, as in, knowing the mountain.
Like I said, I do both now, started about 20y ago, but boarding is deffo the easier to get the hang of. You just have to live with the fact that the first days you WILL fall. Quite often.
I've done 3 weeks skiing and a couple of days messing around on nursery slopes on a board. I personally find skiing much, much easier. I think it's the security of being able to move both feet, plus the fact that I could go pretty quick and get my confidence up without catching an edge and face planting all the time!
But I agree with the other comments, even a real newbie can get down something pretty steep on a board, where skiing will require a lot more commitment and technique. But I know some really good boarders who have basically taught themselves, yet with skiing it seems that you need an instructor to move you up a gear.
Another consideration is the resort. If there's a long walk to the lifts, you might be better off boarding (boots are SOOOOO much easier to walk in) If there are a lot of draglifts, you will be better on skis...drag lifts are tricky and tiring on a board.
But I agree with the other comments, even a real newbie can get down something pretty steep on a board, where skiing will require a lot more commitment and technique. But I know some really good boarders who have basically taught themselves, yet with skiing it seems that you need an instructor to move you up a gear.
Another consideration is the resort. If there's a long walk to the lifts, you might be better off boarding (boots are SOOOOO much easier to walk in) If there are a lot of draglifts, you will be better on skis...drag lifts are tricky and tiring on a board.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff