Skiing vs. Snowboarding

Dionysus · #1 12-31-2003, 12:03 PM

Few weeks from now, I am hitting the slopes for the first time in my life and I don't want to kill myself...

Which one is the easiest?

DolphinChicaDDD · #2 12-31-2003, 12:34 PM

I ski and snowboard, and I really think it depends on your previous sports ability.
For example, I played basketball and softball and ran track my entire life. From basketball and softball, I had all this lateral movement ability, so I was able to pick up skiing very quickly.
I also surf, so I was able to pick up snowboarding, but not after much brusing. It took me a day to ski, and about a week to get good a snowboarding.
My cousin on the other hand, is a very good surfer, was a goalie in hockey, and skateboards alot. All of these things require you to lower your body in a crouched position for extended periods of time, plus surfing and skateboarding require many of the same skills as boarding, so he was able to pick up snowboarding in a day, but fell ALOT on skiis.

Overall, I think skiing is much easier, because your in a position you are used to; compared with having your feet strapped to a board, couching down, and trying to put just enough pressure on your front or back edge to keep from falling.

PhiPsiRuss · #3 12-31-2003, 02:23 PM

It took me an hour to pick up skiing, but echoing DolphinChica's post, I had ice skating lessons when I was young. I also roller skated a lot as a kid. When I went skiing for the first time, it felt just like ice skating, only going down hill.

I've never tried snow boarding, but everyone I've spoken with says it is much more difficult.

AchtungBaby80 · #4 12-31-2003, 02:42 PM

I would agree and say skiing would probably be easier. Granted, I've only tried skiing and not snowboarding, but my cousin snowboards and he says it's difficult. I thought skiing was pretty hard, too, but I personally feel more stable when my feet are separate than when they are on something like a snowboard or a skateboard. I'd try skiing first.

Kevin · #5 12-31-2003, 02:45 PM

I was skiing blues within two days and blue/blacks within 4 days of skiing experience. Never was really athletic. From what I see on the slopes (just got back

) new snowboarders are generally out of control and spend a lot of time on their butts (buy some very good pants).

With skiing, you can generally become fairly proficient in a short period of time if you get lessons -- do get lessons at least until you feel comfortable and in control parallell skiing as opposed to skiing in the 'snowplow' with both tips pointed together.

Of course, this is an Oklahoma boy giving tips on alpine sports, so maybe you should take me with a grain of salt here

DeltAlum · #6 12-31-2003, 02:51 PM

If you decide to ski, you are a couple hundred percent less likely to ever have a serious injury if you take a week's worth of ski school lessons.

This old thing of just going up to the top of the hill and pointing your skis dowhill is stupid. And it's dangerous for you and everyone else on the slopes. An out of control skiier who crashed into and killed another skiier here in Colorado last season was prosecuted -- for manslaughter as I recall.

That worries me about snowboarders as well as new skiiers.

Be smart and do it right.