Comments on: Skiing vs. Snowboarding

By: Shaun

Shaun — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:32:42 +0000

FYI, beginners on both sides tend to cause trouble sometimes and too many boarders do try bumps and ruin them! This coming from a boarder that does bumps.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:31:21 +0000

I started skiing at 2 yrs old, switched to the snowboard at 11 or 12 have not gone back and have been snowboarding for 15 years. The guy who is an instructor is correct the technique after you account for the body orientation is quite similar. I actually first really snowboarded at Heavenly, I messed around 1 day at a tow rope, did some falling etc, but the second time I went I did intermediate trails with little falling. I also surf and skate so that combined with skiing made it pretty easy. Most beginners typically get the snot beat out of them for the first 3-5 days, much more so than beginning skiers.

I do think initially skiing is easier, i.e you don’t get bruised as much and you can generally turn on greens and easy blues more quickly. Also skiing is much easier when the conditions are marginal, twice as much edge=better grip on ice and granular. Snowboarders have a more rapid ascent to steeper terrain, but as with technique on skis snowboarding bumps is a skill that can be tough to master, it takes boarders years and requires excellent physical conditioning as it does in skiing.

I am thinking of going to skiing for marginal weather and the backcountry sometimes(tight trees are harder on a board), note that on a powder day NOTHING beats a snowboard, it is like riding on air.

My advice do BOTH, or either the experience is more similar than dissimilar, both have pluses and minuses and are about even when it comes to learning. Weigh the differences if you are to pick one, comfy boots vs. poles and ease of movement on flats(skis are alot less tiring),better in marginal conditions or powder, and what looks more fun?

By: Flint

Flint — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:39:52 +0000

Underpromise; overdeliver.

By: Amy Wagner Camping

Amy Wagner Camping — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:57:40 +0000

Great post and lovely read, I have not tried to do either so I wouldn’t be able to comment from experience, but knowing myself I don’t think that I would be able to either though I would prefer to to the snow boarding, that looks like so much fun.:)

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:48:16 +0000

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

By: John Henderson

John Henderson — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:06:45 +0000

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.

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:56:44 +0000

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!”

By: BRIAN

BRIAN — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:34:28 +0000

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.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:11:28 +0000

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

By: Connie

Connie — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:14:42 +0000

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.