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+1. Always wanted to learn to Ski not having been exposed to snow early on but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. Perhaps

+1. Always wanted to learn to Ski not having been exposed to snow early on but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. Perhaps this time i can actually get some proper lessons. Timing couldn't be perfect!. Thanks.

clmckinley 8y ago
My experience has been the opposite. Skiing is easier at slow speeds and has a shorter learning curve, but takes a lot longer to get good. Snow boarding has a higher learning curve and is harder at slow speeds, but once it clicks you can do most anything on the mountain in a couple of days. Skiing was intuitive and my body wanted to do enough of the right thing to get me down most of the beginner slope with little "learning". Snowboarding felt unnatural so i had to fight my bodies natural instincts. The trick with snowboarding is to go faster than feels comfortable at first because it is much easier when you have momentum.
- dominotw 8y ago
  > way you have to lean with snowboarding felt unnatural so i had to fight my bodies natural instincts. I had the same feeling with skiing. 1. Lean forward to stop and get control when ur instinct is to lean back to stop the glide. 2. lean on the opposite side of where you want to go, you want to lean in the same direction. etc
stephen_g 8y ago
I don’t think it actually is easier, from my experience based on learning years ago on a school trip, where a lot of people skied and about a dozen of us boarded. It seemed that the beginner skiers were able to navigate more of the resort faster than us boarders over the first two or so days. But after about three days with a lesson in the morning and riding on our own all afternoon, the difference had pretty much disappeared, and the more adventurous of us of either type were doing intermediate difficulty runs pretty easily. So apart from the first couple of days, I don’t think it really makes that much difference. The biggest difference to me, I have to admit, is that once you get the hang of it, snowboarding feels cooler and more fun than skiing looks (to me), but I’m sure skiing is a lot of fun too (especially if you want to go very fast, which is a lot easier on skis)! But for the first day or two of boarding, you spend a lot of time on your butt and falling over!
jasode 8y ago
>but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. I think the "easier" depends on the target skill level. Skiiing is easier to achieve a beginner skill level. Absolute beginners can point their toes inward and ski "pizza wedges" down easy hills rated as "green" within a few hours. Indeed, many skiiers including adults never leave this stage. But upgrading the skills to intermediate level requires changing the technique to shift the body weight to the edges of the skis. This shift can take weeks. Snowboarding learning curve is the opposite. It's harder to get going as a beginner because you must balance on alternating edges of the board to even make the simplest basic turns. But the payoff is that you can graduate to intermediate and advanced slopes (the blues and black rated trails) much faster.
- PascLeRasc 8y ago
  Would you say knowing how to skateboard makes snowboarding easier? I'm planning on trying one of these this winter for the first time and I'm hoping some biking/skateboarding balance transfers over.
  - leetrout 8y ago
    The way you lean to carve and drive with your feet and let your body follow is very much like long boarding IMO. I never skated on a regular board but I'd say yes you will have it easier.
  - aplc0r 8y ago
    When I first tried snowboarding after skateboarding for many years, the hardest part to get used to was being strapped into the board. I instinctively wanted to adjust the position of my feet and run out of falls.
  - jasode 8y ago
    In my unscientific opinion, I think there is some skills overlap with skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. They all put your body at a 90 degree angle to the direction you're heading and you have to adjust your center of gravity over the board to turn. So it's very possible your skateboarding skills will help you learn faster than people who don't surf and skateboard.
superhuzza 8y ago
Just a warning, snowboarding is traditionally considered more difficult for beginners than skiing. This is mostly because your legs are in fixed positions, so you have fewer independent points of contact with the ground (so balance is worse).
- DBYCZ 8y ago
  It's way easier for a beginner to crash on a snowboard than on skis. The difference is that it's way easier to crash really hard on skis than it is on a board. Once you catch an edge or slide out on a board, you're on the ground. I've seen skiers fall back on to their skis and rocket down the hill uncontrolled.
yodsanklai 8y ago
I used to be a snowboarding instructor (I don't ski though). I'd say you can quickly be able to go on all kind of slopes. Beginner/intermediate skiers tend to have a harder time in powder or steep slopes. However, snowboarding beginners tend to fall much more often, the first days can be very tiring. I'd recommend avoiding learning on hard snow. If you can, make sure you you go in the mountain when the snow is fresh. And much much better to have an instructor.
arethuza 8y ago
You might want to consider where you'll be learning - if the area has a lot of drag lifts then they can be miserable for snowboarders.
hnal943 8y ago
I skied for 15 years before I learned to snowboard. I have never fallen so hard as when I was first learning to snowboard! The other downside is not being able to traverse flat terrain, which is more or less important depending on the resort you are at.
lui8906 8y ago
A general rule of thumb I've heard many times is: 'Skiing is easy to learn but hard to master, Snowboarding is hard to learn but easier to master'. You're likely to fall over more learning to snowboard but will become competent and able to carve down the mountain faster. Other elements to consider, Skiers are usually able to go faster than snowboarders down the hill. Snowboarders will have to unstrap and strap into their back binding when entering and exiting the chairlifts. Snowboarders have many more easy trick options available. I know hardly any skiers that can do any tricks, most of my competent snowboarding friends are able to at least do small jumps of sidehits (mounds of snow on the sides of the slope). I'm a passionate snowboarder and cannot recommend the sport highly enough, there is just no feeling like riding down fresh powder snow on a cool winters morning!
- volkl48 8y ago
  I'll note that skiers seem have a much easier time learning to handle difficult terrain/higher typical skill cap in that area. I don't see many boarders who can handle mogul fields without looking miserable. Likewise, when you've got some vertical ice skating going on a double diamond, the skiers usually have a much easier time maintaining control (two edges and all that). I'll also note that a flat traverse is way more miserable for a boarder, skiers can "skate" along. All depends on what you want to do any your interests. Either way, it's a great hobby.
  - altec3 8y ago
    I think the reason moguls suck for snowboarders is because they're traditionally made from skiers carving.
    - beezle 8y ago
      more specifically, from bad skiers not carving.
  - beezle 8y ago
    Most of the boarders complaining about flats do so because they never wax their boards. If you regularly wax with the right stuff you'll be able to fly by skiers on all but the stickiest of spring crud. And when I say waxing, I mean doing it yourself. Too many shops do really inferior work. If you must use a shop, keep a small structure brush with you. A credit card can be used in a pinch as a scraper. The bane of speed is wax left on the board.
mylons 8y ago
on skis, it's very possible to go down a blue confidently on day 1. on a snowboard, that's very unlikely.
- jessaustin 8y ago
  I know people who have skied for years and aren't confident enough to do that.
  - mylons 8y ago
    ok. it doesn't mean it's not very possible
jasonkester 8y ago
Snowboarding is faster to pick up because the approach you take to the sport is different than for skiing. Skiing is all about not falling. Falling on skis is no fun and results in having to walk up the slope to find your skis. After your first season, you'll often go entire years with only a fall or two. And those hurt, so you avoid them. Snowboarding is a sport where you fall all the time, even as an expert. There are no consequences to doing so, apart from maybe picking your hat up, so the best plan is to simply go for it and see what happens. If you bite it, you bounce back up before you even come to a complete stop and keep going. Naturally, it hurts a lot the first season. But you get good fast. I skied for like 10 years before picking up snowboarding. And I was better at snowboarding within the first season.
- robnagler 8y ago
  I disagree there are no consequences. Broken ribs have been known to occur.[0] [0] https://www.viarob.com/my/page/Snowtorturing https://www.viarob.com/my/page/Snowtorturing
mattnewport 8y ago
This may be true if you're in pretty good shape and have pretty good balance. If you're not fitter than an average 20 something I think skiing is probably easier as a beginner.
drblast 8y ago
Snowboarding is the best, but whoever told you that is steering you wrong. Skiing is much easier to learn. Lessons will definitely help shorten the learning time but be prepared for your first 3-5 days to be a painful experience if you're snowboarding. If you only go 3-5 days a season you're probably going to have a much better time on skiis.

clmckinley 8y ago

My experience has been the opposite. Skiing is easier at slow speeds and has a shorter learning curve, but takes a lot longer to get good. Snow boarding has a higher learning curve and is harder at slow speeds, but once it clicks you can do most anything on the mountain in a couple of days. Skiing was intuitive and my body wanted to do enough of the right thing to get me down most of the beginner slope with little "learning". Snowboarding felt unnatural so i had to fight my bodies natural instincts. The trick with snowboarding is to go faster than feels comfortable at first because it is much easier when you have momentum.

dominotw 8y ago
> way you have to lean with snowboarding felt unnatural so i had to fight my bodies natural instincts. I had the same feeling with skiing. 1. Lean forward to stop and get control when ur instinct is to lean back to stop the glide. 2. lean on the opposite side of where you want to go, you want to lean in the same direction. etc

stephen_g 8y ago

I don’t think it actually is easier, from my experience based on learning years ago on a school trip, where a lot of people skied and about a dozen of us boarded. It seemed that the beginner skiers were able to navigate more of the resort faster than us boarders over the first two or so days. But after about three days with a lesson in the morning and riding on our own all afternoon, the difference had pretty much disappeared, and the more adventurous of us of either type were doing intermediate difficulty runs pretty easily. So apart from the first couple of days, I don’t think it really makes that much difference. The biggest difference to me, I have to admit, is that once you get the hang of it, snowboarding feels cooler and more fun than skiing looks (to me), but I’m sure skiing is a lot of fun too (especially if you want to go very fast, which is a lot easier on skis)! But for the first day or two of boarding, you spend a lot of time on your butt and falling over!

jasode 8y ago

>but was told that Snowboarding is easier than Skiing for absolute beginners. I think the "easier" depends on the target skill level. Skiiing is easier to achieve a beginner skill level. Absolute beginners can point their toes inward and ski "pizza wedges" down easy hills rated as "green" within a few hours. Indeed, many skiiers including adults never leave this stage. But upgrading the skills to intermediate level requires changing the technique to shift the body weight to the edges of the skis. This shift can take weeks. Snowboarding learning curve is the opposite. It's harder to get going as a beginner because you must balance on alternating edges of the board to even make the simplest basic turns. But the payoff is that you can graduate to intermediate and advanced slopes (the blues and black rated trails) much faster.

PascLeRasc 8y ago
Would you say knowing how to skateboard makes snowboarding easier? I'm planning on trying one of these this winter for the first time and I'm hoping some biking/skateboarding balance transfers over.
- leetrout 8y ago
  The way you lean to carve and drive with your feet and let your body follow is very much like long boarding IMO. I never skated on a regular board but I'd say yes you will have it easier.
- aplc0r 8y ago
  When I first tried snowboarding after skateboarding for many years, the hardest part to get used to was being strapped into the board. I instinctively wanted to adjust the position of my feet and run out of falls.
- jasode 8y ago
  In my unscientific opinion, I think there is some skills overlap with skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. They all put your body at a 90 degree angle to the direction you're heading and you have to adjust your center of gravity over the board to turn. So it's very possible your skateboarding skills will help you learn faster than people who don't surf and skateboard.

superhuzza 8y ago

Just a warning, snowboarding is traditionally considered more difficult for beginners than skiing. This is mostly because your legs are in fixed positions, so you have fewer independent points of contact with the ground (so balance is worse).

DBYCZ 8y ago
It's way easier for a beginner to crash on a snowboard than on skis. The difference is that it's way easier to crash really hard on skis than it is on a board. Once you catch an edge or slide out on a board, you're on the ground. I've seen skiers fall back on to their skis and rocket down the hill uncontrolled.

yodsanklai 8y ago

I used to be a snowboarding instructor (I don't ski though). I'd say you can quickly be able to go on all kind of slopes. Beginner/intermediate skiers tend to have a harder time in powder or steep slopes. However, snowboarding beginners tend to fall much more often, the first days can be very tiring. I'd recommend avoiding learning on hard snow. If you can, make sure you you go in the mountain when the snow is fresh. And much much better to have an instructor.

arethuza 8y ago

You might want to consider where you'll be learning - if the area has a lot of drag lifts then they can be miserable for snowboarders.

hnal943 8y ago

I skied for 15 years before I learned to snowboard. I have never fallen so hard as when I was first learning to snowboard! The other downside is not being able to traverse flat terrain, which is more or less important depending on the resort you are at.

lui8906 8y ago

A general rule of thumb I've heard many times is: 'Skiing is easy to learn but hard to master, Snowboarding is hard to learn but easier to master'. You're likely to fall over more learning to snowboard but will become competent and able to carve down the mountain faster. Other elements to consider, Skiers are usually able to go faster than snowboarders down the hill. Snowboarders will have to unstrap and strap into their back binding when entering and exiting the chairlifts. Snowboarders have many more easy trick options available. I know hardly any skiers that can do any tricks, most of my competent snowboarding friends are able to at least do small jumps of sidehits (mounds of snow on the sides of the slope). I'm a passionate snowboarder and cannot recommend the sport highly enough, there is just no feeling like riding down fresh powder snow on a cool winters morning!

volkl48 8y ago
I'll note that skiers seem have a much easier time learning to handle difficult terrain/higher typical skill cap in that area. I don't see many boarders who can handle mogul fields without looking miserable. Likewise, when you've got some vertical ice skating going on a double diamond, the skiers usually have a much easier time maintaining control (two edges and all that). I'll also note that a flat traverse is way more miserable for a boarder, skiers can "skate" along. All depends on what you want to do any your interests. Either way, it's a great hobby.
- altec3 8y ago
  I think the reason moguls suck for snowboarders is because they're traditionally made from skiers carving.
  - beezle 8y ago
    more specifically, from bad skiers not carving.
- beezle 8y ago
  Most of the boarders complaining about flats do so because they never wax their boards. If you regularly wax with the right stuff you'll be able to fly by skiers on all but the stickiest of spring crud. And when I say waxing, I mean doing it yourself. Too many shops do really inferior work. If you must use a shop, keep a small structure brush with you. A credit card can be used in a pinch as a scraper. The bane of speed is wax left on the board.

mylons 8y ago

on skis, it's very possible to go down a blue confidently on day 1. on a snowboard, that's very unlikely.

jessaustin 8y ago
I know people who have skied for years and aren't confident enough to do that.
- mylons 8y ago
  ok. it doesn't mean it's not very possible

jasonkester 8y ago

Snowboarding is faster to pick up because the approach you take to the sport is different than for skiing. Skiing is all about not falling. Falling on skis is no fun and results in having to walk up the slope to find your skis. After your first season, you'll often go entire years with only a fall or two. And those hurt, so you avoid them. Snowboarding is a sport where you fall all the time, even as an expert. There are no consequences to doing so, apart from maybe picking your hat up, so the best plan is to simply go for it and see what happens. If you bite it, you bounce back up before you even come to a complete stop and keep going. Naturally, it hurts a lot the first season. But you get good fast. I skied for like 10 years before picking up snowboarding. And I was better at snowboarding within the first season.

robnagler 8y ago
I disagree there are no consequences. Broken ribs have been known to occur.[0] [0] https://www.viarob.com/my/page/Snowtorturing https://www.viarob.com/my/page/Snowtorturing

mattnewport 8y ago

This may be true if you're in pretty good shape and have pretty good balance. If you're not fitter than an average 20 something I think skiing is probably easier as a beginner.

drblast 8y ago

Snowboarding is the best, but whoever told you that is steering you wrong. Skiing is much easier to learn. Lessons will definitely help shorten the learning time but be prepared for your first 3-5 days to be a painful experience if you're snowboarding. If you only go 3-5 days a season you're probably going to have a much better time on skiis.