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#1
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Snowboarding or skiing?
I'm planning to learn either snowboarding or skiing and would like a little
advice from enthusiasts about which sport to choose. I'm 42 and have no previous experience with snow sports. Also, I have no experience surfing or skateboarding. I can ride a bike, of course, and I learned to ice skate at age 36 and now enjoy skating quite a bit. I'm interested in taking up boarding or skiing because (1) they look like a lot of fun, (2) I could use more exercise in the winter, and (3) I love the mountains. (We were in Breckenridge this summer and it occurred to me that it would be nice to visit the place in the winter someday.) I live in Pittsburgh, so there are no high peaks nearby, but there are a good number of decent (I suppose) ski resorts within a short drive, the most famous probably being Seven Springs. The person with whom I would be learning is my 14-year-old son. He is vaguely interested but has not expressed a strong preference either way. My wife probably won't take up either sport, though she'll probably enjoy trips to ski lodges. I do not know anyone who snowboards. My younger brother took up skiing in his mid-30s and seems to like it. My brother-in-law has been skiing since his youth and is pretty good at it, I believe. Nevertheless, I'm leaning toward snowboarding (freeride, not freestyle), for a couple of reasons. First, it seems like a cleaner, simpler way of getting down a mountain. No chance of legs going in opposite directions. No poles to buy and no pole technique to worry about. Second, from what I've read it appears that snowboarding, though perhaps a little tougher to get the hang of in the very beginning stages, is ultimately easier to become good at. Third, there's just something about it that appeals to me -- maybe the sense of doing something "different." So, here are a few questions. Thanks very much in advance for any answers or suggestions you may have. 1. Am I correct about the learning curves of boarding vs. skiing? If not, what's the reality? 2. If you both ski and ride, which do you prefer, and why? If you ride but don't ski, do you have any sense that you're missing out on an important part of the winter mountain experience? 3. I understand that virtually all ski resorts now welcome snowboarders as well. But are there any "skiers only" trails or slopes? 4. If I took up snowboarding and persevered long enough to become a decent rider, would I be able to hit the slopes with the brother and/or brother-in-law (I mean the ones within my capabilities)? Or is there something awkward about going snowboarding with skiers? Does one get "left in the dust," so to speak? By the way, I posted my inquiry here rather than in rec.skiing.alpine because, contrary to the old stereotype about boarders being uncouth, this group seems like a friendly, helpful forum, whereas r.s.a. (at least the unmoderated version) is bedeviled by brutal flame wars. Thanks again, Joe Ramirez |
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#2
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Snowboarding or skiing?
Joe Ramirez wrote:
1. Am I correct about the learning curves of boarding vs. skiing? If not, what's the reality? I was skiing vor 15 years. Then I paused for 15 years and started snowboarding in 2002 at the age of 36. As a beginner it is easier to go down the trail without eating snow by ski. After your second day on the board you will understand what *real* muscular strain is. Skiing is easier but boarding is more fun. 2. If you both ski and ride, which do you prefer, and why? If you ride but don't ski, do you have any sense that you're missing out on an important part of the winter mountain experience? Now, in 2. season, I come down the hill on my board as well as I came down on ski 15 years ago. I will never go back to ski. 3. I understand that virtually all ski resorts now welcome snowboarders as well. But are there any "skiers only" trails or slopes? No, I never seen anything like this here in *Europe*. 4. If I took up snowboarding and persevered long enough to become a decent rider, would I be able to hit the slopes with the brother and/or brother-in-law (I mean the ones within my capabilities)? Or is there something awkward about going snowboarding with skiers? Does one get "left in the dust," so to speak? Yes, you can hit the slopes with skiers. But remember, skiers are not cool enough for a real boarder :-) -- Satisfy your thirst for life! NP: Limp Bizkit - Just Like This |
#3
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Snowboarding or skiing?
hello,
hmm, difficult question, i wonder if there is a real answer to that question... i am snowboarding for about 7 or 8 years now. before i was skiing, the only i reason i stopped skiing was that my boot was too small and i had to decide wheather to buy a new pair of skis or a snowboard. we did a snowboard course and i decided to start with snowboarding. i would say that today i can snowboard pretty good, and last year i had the feeling of no further possible advancement in snowboarding. i was only going faster and faster... and for that i wanted to try out skiing again. before christmas i bought a new pair of skiing-boots. its awesome, skiing is as well great fun. (i love snowboarding again as well..... there is always possible improvement.... know i know :-)) i dont know if skiing or snowboarding is easier, for me snowboarding was (but i knew how to ski). another thing is that, i learnd classic skiing, there was no carving at my time... and snowboarding was totally different at this point. things changed... i love both, at the moment i prefer my board for freeriding/backcountry and the skis for the slopes, but i want to learn that i can handle the skis in backcountry aswell (so that i can enjoy it). at the moment i dont know what carving with skis is like, because im not able to carve them, but i have a feeling that carving is better with 1 board : ) ---3. I understand that virtually all ski resorts now welcome snowboarders as well. But are there any "skiers only" trails or slopes? i as well never heard something like that. skiing and snowboarding, there is no competition.... and so there is as well no problem to spend your holidays with a mixed group, not at all a problem. --- I'm leaning toward snowboarding (freeride, not freestyle), for a couple of reasons. i have a question... what do you mean by freeride? snowboarding differs 2 different types of binding/boots... freestyle and alpine. is alpine what you mean by freeride? i dont know the expression freeride for alpine... never heard so long, enjoy your winterdays chris |
#4
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Snowboarding or skiing?
So, here are a few questions. Thanks very much in advance for any answers
or suggestions you may have. 1. Am I correct about the learning curves of boarding vs. skiing? If not, what's the reality? Boarding tends to involve more balance and coordination than skiing since you're only on one edge as opposed to two. Devloping in this area is probably what makes boarding a little harder to learn at first. If you're in decent shape and take a lesson the first day, you should be able to get down most greens and some blues on your own without falling much within a few days. Speaking of falling, it will happen, and catching an edge can slam you down hard enough to knock the wind out of you or worse. A helmet, wristguards, and possibly a butt pad to protect the tailbone are things to seriously consider, at least for the first season. 2. If you both ski and ride, which do you prefer, and why? If you ride but don't ski, do you have any sense that you're missing out on an important part of the winter mountain experience? I used to ski on occasion, maybe once or twice a season. Since trying boarding though there's been no looking back and it gets me out there at least once a week. I don't miss skiing at all. Never did like the poles, or skies being able to go in opposite directions. 3. I understand that virtually all ski resorts now welcome snowboarders as well. But are there any "skiers only" trails or slopes? Not in my area, however there is types of terrain such as mogul fields and some glades where I personally have no desire to go. 4. If I took up snowboarding and persevered long enough to become a decent rider, would I be able to hit the slopes with the brother and/or brother-in-law (I mean the ones within my capabilities)? Or is there something awkward about going snowboarding with skiers? Does one get "left in the dust," so to speak? There's shouldn't be any real issues but maybe some little things. One thing I've found here is that skiers tend to stop on flatter sections of trail to regroup. Getting going after stopping on a flat for a snowboard is a pain, whereas skiers can just pole along. Another thing may be just style, snowboards tend to make use of more of the trail, whereas most skiers tend to just go straight. Makes it a little more awkward trying to go down side by side. I'd say give it a try at least. Take a lesson, maybe request an instructor of like age, and don't give up after the first day. If after three days, say consecutive weekends, you still don't like it, then maybe try skiing instead. Steve |
#5
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Snowboarding or skiing?
As Steve says, it very much depends on your physical condition....if you are
carrying extra weight and really are not that flexible, then learning to snowboard at age 42 can be quite painful and you will really feel the aches and pains - just getting your straps done up around your boots and then getting back up on your feet can be quite energetic if you have a bit of a middle aged stomach....so be honest to yourself, how fit do you think you are, can you easily touch your toes, do you suffer from a stiff back quite often do you pull muscles / strain easily....learning to ski is much less physically demanding than learning to snowboard - I'm now 45 and have been on the mountains for over thirty years - when we go away with people fresh to the slopes, I advise them to ski / board based on what I perceive to be their "Sports" / "balance" aptitude - if they just want to enjoy the mountains, learn a new sport , but will not be busting a gut, then go with the skis - if they are more adventurous, mountain bike, wake board play soccer / run, and are generally all round "sportifs" then I'd reccomend boarding - one other thing, is the actual conditions - if the snow is rock hard / ice then go with skis!!! Hope that helps.. Regards WC |
#6
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Snowboarding or skiing?
"Joe Ramirez" wrote in message ...
I'm planning to learn either snowboarding or skiing.... I'm interested in taking up boarding or skiing because (1) they look like a lot of fun, (2) I could use more exercise in the winter, and (3) I love the mountains. I live in Pittsburgh,... 2. ... If you ride but don't ski, do you have any sense that you're missing out on an important part of the winter mountain experience? 3. I understand that virtually all ski resorts now welcome snowboarders as well. But are there any "skiers only" trails or slopes? 4. If I took up snowboarding and persevered long enough to become a decent rider, would I be able to hit the slopes with the brother and/or brother-in-law (I mean the ones within my capabilities)? Good for you. 42 is not to old to learn. Realistically, should you keep up with either skiing or boarding or both, you can expect to become someone who enjoys skiing or boarding as a social activity rather than someone who is in the top 1% of skiers or boarders. Either one is a fun way to get out of the house and enjoy the snow. Going down a slope by the light of the full moon is a blast no matter what you're riding. You, especially, are in luck, as January 8 is "Pennsylvania Learn to Ski" day. On this day, resorts all over PA will have blocks of tickets, for $10 each, that include the equipment rental and lift ticket. How can you go wrong? Google for "pennsylvania learn to ski" or "Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association". The PSSA website, http://www.skipa.com/events.htm , says little about the event, so visit a Pittsburgh ski or board shop or call a nearby ski area for more information. It's an unbeatable deal. Tickets may be limited, so don't tarry. I'm going to get flamed for this, but I'd start with skiing. As a beginner, you'll need to learn not only how to get down the hill, but how to get up the hill as well. Riding a lift chair while you are attached to skis is a much more natural activity than is riding a lift chair while you are attached to a snowboard. For one thing, when you are on skis, each foot is connected to some sort of a plank. Further, on skis, you are facing the right direction when you get on and get off the chair. In addtion, learning to board involves (requires?) falling. Much, much falling. It hurts. Yes, you'll fall on skis too, but learning to ski strikes me as a less painful experience. Skis, since they can be spread apart, provide an intrinsic stability not available with a board. Whatever your choice, don't forget the painkillers. I do feel that those who board exclusively and never get on skis are missing something. The opposite is equally true. Both ways of getting down the mountain are fun. There are some ski-only sites in the US. Taos NM and Alta UT (?) are two that come to mind. I wouldn't worry about the "expense" of ski poles. I see those things on trash piles all the time. Ditto perfectly adequate pairs of skis. All you need now is snow. Since it hit 68 degrees F in DC yesterday, the only K2 product is was using was my K2 inline skates. A blast of cold air is headed to DC and Pittsburgh, so maybe you can get out on Thursday and have some fun. Best wishes. |
#7
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Snowboarding or skiing?
I'm planning to learn either snowboarding or skiing and would like a
little advice from enthusiasts about which sport to choose. Many good points made on this thread... I will not repeat them... ....one approach would be to try both and pick the one you like better! Most resorts offer lift/lesson/rental packages in both skiing and snowboarding. That's a great place to start. Perhaps try each one a few times and see which one you like better. IMHO it's always a good idea to rent or demo before buying your own gear... making sure to pay attention to what your renting so you have an idea what to buy. The same clothing can be used for both of course. Sure, pants and jackets are often marketed specifically to skiers or boarders, but if you go for function over fashion you'll probably end up with something good for both. Living in Pittsburgh, you probably have most of what you need already. For the record I skied for about 10 years, did no snowsports for 3, and then started boarding at age 27. I'm 33 now and I plan to board my entire life. -Mike T |
#8
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Snowboarding or skiing?
"Joe Ramirez" wrote in message ...
1. Am I correct about the learning curves of boarding vs. skiing? If not, what's the reality? The first 2 days are tougher on a board than skis (you *will* be stiff and sore). After that, snowboarding is a much faster path to intermediate skill. Once you're an intermediate, I'd say the learning curve to get to advanced/expert skill is about the same. Skis are ultimately the better all-round tool if your ultimate goal is conquering the whole mountain, but snowboards are a lot of fun. 2. If you both ski and ride, which do you prefer, and why? If you ride but don't ski, do you have any sense that you're missing out on an important part of the winter mountain experience? My skiing is rusty and my snowboarding pretty good, so with the limited time I now have in the hills I tend to ride. If I could get in more days I'd do both. If I could get in a lot of days I'd take up telemarking. Sliding downhill on snow == big fun, no matter the equipment. 3. I understand that virtually all ski resorts now welcome snowboarders as well. But are there any "skiers only" trails or slopes? There are 3 or 4 resorts in the US that are ski-only (Taos and Deer Valley come to mind), all the rest welcome both. 4. If I took up snowboarding and persevered long enough to become a decent rider, would I be able to hit the slopes with the brother and/or brother-in-law (I mean the ones within my capabilities)? Or is there something awkward about going snowboarding with skiers? Does one get "left in the dust," so to speak? The best solution to riding with skiers is to use step-in bindings, to avoid the main problem which is them having to wait around while you fiddle with straps. In fact, at your age and with your goals, I'd recommend hard boots with an Intec-compatible stepin and an all-mountain board. See www.bomberonline.com for more info on the hard-booting experience, and one of the friendliest and most helpful online communities. In particular check out the welcome centre (http://www.bomberonline.com/articles/welcome_center.cfm) and the forums (http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulleti...p?s=&forumid=2). Neil G |
#9
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Snowboarding or skiing?
"Jürgen Schmadlak" wrote in message ... Joe Ramirez wrote: 2. If you both ski and ride, which do you prefer, and why? If you ride but don't ski, do you have any sense that you're missing out on an important part of the winter mountain experience? Now, in 2. season, I come down the hill on my board as well as I came down on ski 15 years ago. I will never go back to ski. This is probably the most important consideration for me. Starting at a relatively late age, and with limited time to spend on the slopes, I want to able to achieve reasonable proficiency quickly enough to be able to enjoy it. I don't want to spend years working at something each winter without ever becoming more than an advanced beginner or low intermediate. Thanks, Joe Ramirez |
#10
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Snowboarding or skiing?
"Christoph" wrote in message
y.telekom.at... --- I'm leaning toward snowboarding (freeride, not freestyle), for a couple of reasons. i have a question... what do you mean by freeride? snowboarding differs 2 different types of binding/boots... freestyle and alpine. is alpine what you mean by freeride? i dont know the expression freeride for alpine... never heard Well, remember that I'm no expert, but from what I've read, "freeride" is sort of in between freestyle and alpine, though closer to the latter. The emphasis is on going down the slope rather than on jumping or doing tricks, but perhaps without alpine's emphasis on speed and race-oriented equipment. Thanks, Joe Ramirez |
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