Skiing vs. Snowboarding
The old rivalry is caving in big time. Most of the last and longest holdout resorts in the US are allowing snowboarders to grace their slopes. In fact, more and more skiers board on occasion, and vise versa. If you look around any Tahoe resort, you’ll see plenty of both.
If you’ve never skied or boarded before you’ve got a decision to make. Since both are about movement and grace, the best advice is to go find a bunch of skiing and snowboarding videos and see which style appeals to you more. Skiers will tell you it is easier to quickly ride off the lift and drop in, as well as traverse out to hard to reach and often untracked terrain. On the flip side, snowboarders are quick to comment on the comfort of their boots and the tricks they can do in the park. Either way, it is all about having fun.
If you are thinking it is too late to pick up skiing or snowboarding think again. In fact, as conditions get a little friendly and spring moves in, it could be the perfect time for you to get out there and have a go learning the sport. Enjoy warmer, sunnier mountain conditions looking out over beautiful Lake Tahoe, and try both skiing and snowboarding. Maybe take a couple of ski or snowboard lessons. Then you can take the summer to decide which one you like better, as well as work on getting the right gear together so you are ready to go next year.
No matter how you approach it here are a few things to think about:
Whichever you choose you’ll want a helmet. Not to freak you out, but there’s about a million opportunities for novices in snow sports to take a blow to the head. Sure it’s "extreme" and that risk makes it exciting, but if you must take chances, take them with less sensitive body parts and leave your noodle protected.
Snowboarders will want knee pads, butt pads and wrist guards when they’re starting out. You’ll find out quickly enough, but those are your three points of contact when you go down, and you will go down repeatedly.
Learning Curve
Snowboarding and skiing are about equal in difficulty and the time it takes to fully master. It can take years to become an advanced skier or boarder, but becoming a novice seems to be a tad easier on a snowboard. Either way, taking a private or group lesson is the best way to get up and running fast.
Snowboarding is kinda brutal the first day for most of us. But the learning curve is steep. After a half-day on the bunny slope, most shredders venture up a lift to begin learning how to crash-while-unloading. They quickly move on to learning how to crash-at-speed, and the slightly more advanced, crash-while-attempting-the-first-jump.
Skiing can be much less painful to learn at first, though most people find the learning process to be a bit more time consuming. With two points of contact with the snow, as well as poles, it can be a coordination challenge until you gain some muscle memory and basic skills. Skiers usually begin to master the “Yard Sale,” a crash involving being completely stripped of all gear, in the first few days on the snow. At the same time, without both feet attached to one board, it can be easier to control a fall and FAR easier to get up after a fall, get around the mountain and navigate lift lines without having to adjust your equipment.
The Cool Factor
A number of years ago, snowboarding was new and fresh and perceived by many as far cooler than skiing. Snowboarding is mature now, and you see about as many old dudes shredding as youngsters. And with the advent of freeskiing and the park and pipe events it’s cool to ski again. So you won’t get much help from us on that one. Both groups are wearing their ski pants equally low these days too…
What Looks Good Feels Good
At their best, skiing and snowboarding are motion sports where you can show style, skill, grace and fluidity of movement, not unlike dance or music. Some people say skiing or riding powder is the closest you can get to feeling like you’re flying or transcending your worldly limitations. So to really decide what you want to do, check out the pics and video; watch the pros show their skill and see which stirs you more. Which can you see yourself doing? What appeals to you more on a purely visual level? When you’re sitting at you desk, do you dream about one more than the other?
No matter which way you go the advancements in boots, bindings, and boards for both skiing and snowboarding have all been geared towards making it easier to learn and experience the fun these two sports have to offer. In short, snow is awesome and you’ll love it!!!
Feel free to comment and tell everyone which setup you like more and why. Otherwise, see you on the hill!
March 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I’ve skied and snowboarded and I can say that skiing was definitely “easier” to learn right off the bat then boarding was. True that with skis the multiple points of contact will take some getting used to however, towards the end of my first day skiing, I was already hitting the intermediate slopes without falling once.
Snowboarding, on the other hand, is still a work in progress sad to say. I’ve only been out 3-4 times and just now I’m starting to get the hang of it. With both feet strapped onto one board, balance, coordination and flexibility are a bit harder to learn. I will say that snowboarding is more fun than skiing for sure however, if you decide on taking the first steps in snowboarding, I’d HIGHLY recommend knee, wrist and ass pads. Sounds stupid but if you go first time without them, the regret will be almost as painful as the bruises and muscle spasms you’ll get later that night.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:29 am
My first day of snowboarding came after almost 15 years of skiing. It was hard. My body didn’t work that way. I gave up after a few days of it and swapped gear @ mid mountain with my dad. He took off from there FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER linking turns. So I guess it’s different for everyone…
-M
March 20th, 2008 at 9:36 am
For me it was snowboarding first because of my background in skating and surfing. Still love it. However, as time went on I gravitated towards skiing because I wanted to try something new. Also, I was becoming more interested in backcountry, and all of my friends were on ski setups. I came to find that I really enjoyed the options skiing provided when it came to hiking or traversing at the resort. Plus, with the fattie boards they are making now, it can be a lot like snowboarding when you are in the pow.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Skiers don’t create problems for snowboarders, but snowboards sure do create problems for skiers — this is why the demise of skier-only resorts are cause for mourning by many skiers.
Frequently snowboarders aren’t skilled enough to ride lifts and create disruption in lift lines when at the last minute they hold back so they can ride lifts alone or in two’s.
Beginning snowboarders can handle steeper terrain than beginning skiers by sideslipping down hills, but the result is scraped off, icy patches.
Snowboarders frequently gather in groups with their boards perpendicular to the slope — so skiers or snowboarders find an impenetrable obstacle in the middle of trails or slopes.
Snowboarders also frequently stop at the entry to lift lines, again with boards perpendicular so nobody can pass, while looking for buddies.
There would be a lot less tension if snowboarders would learn to carve turns and show a little courtesy by stopping where they don’t impede the movement of others.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Buddy,
Wow, what a narrow minded viewpoint. I have pretty much seen skiers doing everything you just mentioned. You basically have said that what you have strapped to your feet is what determines your mountain etiquette, and that is very unfair.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Let’s keep it nice and positive folks. They are both great sports.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Brad,
All buddy is tring to say, is that snowboarders feel like they have a sense of entitlement when they are on the slopes. Ski boots are not easy to walk-in, how many skiers do you see “jumping on peoples backs because their boots suck to walk in”. And how many snowboarders do you see sitting in the middle of the runs, because “it’s to hard to stand up when I am not moving”. All buddy is tring to say, Skiers and Snowboarders put your equipment on oustside the maze. Let people flow through and when you get your equipment on, join the rest of us in line!
March 20th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I think that I see it on both sides, but what I notice is that skiers or snowboarders do not have the courtesy with beginners out on the slopes. They get irritated and shout at the kids, who are just learning the sport, it is as if they have forgotten that they were there once.
March 20th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
It’s all about having fun.
You may fit in a little better as a boarder if you use the term “D-U-D-E” often. This, however, does little to dissuade anyone from thinking you are the highest primate available.
If the European Tyrolean look is more your style,pour a glass of wine and try skiing.
If you are the type of guy who wears bow ties,a and does not do the popular thing maybe you are a tele person
Monoskiers……geez………filll in the blank.
*****************************
The main thing is to get out there, have fun, and don’t get hurt.
SAFETY IS HAVING FUN CONSCIOUSLY
Richard Lubin, D.C.
The Snowboarding Chiropractor
Far West Ski Association Safety Chair
March 21st, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I AGREE, DON’T OBSTRUCT A TRAIL, EVER. GET OFF TO THE SIDES OF A RUN, BEHIND AN OBJECT. IT’S SOMETHING THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE DO ON THE HILL. BOTH BOARDERS AND SKIIERS. I THINK WE ALL GET IN SOMEONES WAY AT SOME POINT. IT’S JUST THE NATURE OF MERGING TRAILS,BOTTLENECKING LIFT LINES. JUST ACCEPT IT AS PART OF THE GAME. IF YOU SEE SOMEONE REALLY BLOW IT THOUGH LIKE BLOCKING A TRAVERSE WHEN YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR SPEED UP, A CLEVER SNIDE REMARK IS USUALLY IN ORDER.
March 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I’ve skiied and bob-skiid since ‘74 in Austria, and now snowboard. It’s all good!
I have to say though, you need to cut snowboarders some slack at Heavenly. I live 10 mins away, so I’d be mad to ride anywhere else, but BOY is this a resort designed for skiing!
I joke with my friends, that Heavenly has more uphil terrain than any other resort in Tahoe!
But there are a LOT of trails that are flat to uphill.
Have you noticed that the loading line to Powderbowl is ACROSS a slope? No big deal to skiers, but a recipe for disaster for boarders.
Also, some of the chairs are really low, even after only moderate snowfall. No biggie on skis, but tricky for a boarder. I wonder how many knee injurys result from loading?
I was at boulder lodge today. There were about a dozen ski racks there (mostly empty), and ONE board rack.
I’m good enough for these issues not to worry me, and on a powder day Heavenly lives up to it’s name. But if you’re just getting into Boarding, you may want to check out some of the more board-friendly resorts as well.
Heck, http://www.skiheavenly.com, says it all….
Richard.
“Deep Tahoe Pow!”
March 28th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I have been skiing for about 25 years. I have been a PSIA ski instructor for about 7 years. about five years ago the resort where I work needed snow board instructors so I decided to give it a try. As my son Mike mentioned in an earlier response snow boarding came fairly easily. The biggest challenge was looking over my shoulder(flexibility is a problem for many 50+ year olds) and going down the hill sideways.
I’m now an AASI snow board instructor and have been teaching for several years. I can tell you for sure the learning curve for snow boarding is definitely harder at the beginning than skiing. Once you get past the initial learning stages snow boarding is a lot easier. It took 20 years and new technology for me to be able to carve turns on my skiis. I got there on my board in a couple of years with used equipment I bought off a fellow instructor for $150.
The best thing about doing both is that the fundamentals techniques are the same. I get the feel of more advanced techniques on my board and then transfer what I learned to my skiis. Snow boarding has definitely helped me improve my skiing.
I’m still more comfortable on skiis especially on steeps and bumps. My next challenge is to get the board off the groomers so I can improve my skiing on off piste terrain.
November 27th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I started skiing when i was 4 and i skied until i was 10. I switched to snowboarding for 4 years. But just last year i switched back. After doing both i believe that skiing is better. You dont fall as much, you dont have to sit down everytime you go up a lift, you can go faster, and you can still go off hudge jumps