Snowboarding vs. skiing

[TxJasmine]

I need some honest opinions! We only go skiing once a year for 2 days. Usually we go to a place that has skiing only. This year we're going somewhere that also has snowboarding. My question is this - how hard is snowboarding? I am comfortable skiing greens and some easy blues. I am in my mid-40s, about 25 lbs. overweight, and in fair shape (not good, but not poor either). Both DH and I are very curious about snowboarding, but neither one of us is athletic, and I feel that the extra weight would make it much harder. Since we only ski 2 days a year, I'm almost afraid to learn something new and waste my 2 days doing nothing but falling!

Anyone have any ideas, input, pros, cons, etc?

Thanks!

 

[clh2]

My personal opinion is - I would stick to skiing.

My DD (6th grade) was in ski club this year at her school. ALL the injuries this year came from snowboarding. Including 1 that needed a surgical repair of something in their shoulder.

 

[DawnCt1]

Two of my DSs ski, two snowboard. The youngest had tried snowboarding for a year but prefers skiing, so he sold his snowboard but he is good a surfing, and usually picks it right up when given a board. In my opinion, snowboarding is harder to learn. You will spend a lot of time on your butt so you need to be good at getting up from a seated position. Accidents at ski resorts are way up, including accidents to skiers who get hit by snowboarders cutting down the slopes. DS #4 sustained a cervical injury and a fractured clavicle from a snowboarder leaping over a mogle and onto him. Once you are a snowboarder, it takes a lot of effort to relearn skiing. In boarding you lean back. In skiing you lean forward. If I didn't do the slopes that much, I wouldn't waste my precious vacation time learning to board.

 

[mookie]

I've been skiing for about 17 years now, and I tried snowboarding about 8 years ago. I hated every minute of it. I think it was just because I'm so used to skiing...you get off the chairlift and go. I felt like snowboarding was too cumbersome, and that I couldn't do as much as I could on skis. When I would see skiiers wiz past me on my snowboard, I would get frustrated. You do spend a lot of time on your butt and your wrists tend to take a beating, too.

Obviously, this is just one girls opinion. My sister and I took our first snowboarding lesson together, and she loved to board. I guess it's just a matter of taste.

You could always just take a 1/2 day lesson to see if it's for you. Who knows? You might enjoy it more! Good luck in whatever you decide!!

 

[marydmjj]

I used to ski when I was younger and hated it. My legs would ache from the boots and I just wasn't comfortable. So I tried snowboarding and I love it. My legs and feet don't ache but the rest of my body does. You do spend a lot of time on the ground the first couple of times you go. If you are only skiing 2 days each year you probably should stick to skiing. It will take you at least 2 times to get the hang of snowboarding and then you won't try it again for another year. Seems to me you would be starting over new each year...but snowboarding is a BLAST!

P.S. If you do try it, make sure you practice the language first "Dude, sorry"

 

[MoniqueU]

My 2 older kids snowboard and my youngest skis. It was alot harder for my oldest kids to learn how to board. We had a lot more time to devote to the slopes then you do. I would suggest sticking with Skiing.

 

[LindaG4458]

Funny thing, I was discussing this exact topic with a ski instructor who also snowboards. She says that snowboarding is much harder to learn than skiing. She severely injured her leg last year while snowboarding and had to be out of work during the school vacation "rush". Her boss was not happy!

Another friend was skiing and struck by a boarder. She is afraid to go onto the slopes again.

It looks like fun but, at my age (57), I like my feet on SEPARATE boards! Also, the bones are a little brittle to fall that many times.

Whatever you decide, have fun on the slopes.

 

[skiwee1]

We've been skiing for years. We did attempt snowboarding for a couple of years and just didn't get the hang of it like skiing. We were in our late 30s and good shape at the time. Snowboarding was too hard on my knees.My oldest DD stuck with snowboarding though and enjoys it.