I have a new found respect for snowboarders

[Sheena]

I had three (non-skiing) friends from DC come to Utah this weekend. Still they wanted to get a ski resort experience, so we rented a condo near Snowbasin, and spent the day on Saturday doing various activities. One of my friends wanted to try snowboarding so Tim and I decided to take a beginner lesson with her. I forgot how terrifying the green runs can be when you have no idea how to stop.

Hoooolly crap am I sore. I am sitting here on my big cushy chair and feel like I was run over by a truck. Every single muscle is sore.


Now, I have never been a snowboard hater, but I have to admit, I do find it annoying when I see a boarded sliding heel side all the way down a nice soft bump run. After taking just one lesson, I have realized how challenging it can be to keep your balance while on your heel edge.

I did have one brief shining moment where I did actually make turns on both my heel edge and toe edge for quite a good distance. Then I got up to ski the next portion (which was actually flatter) and after losing my balance on my heel edge and slammed my head into the slope. I had decided to leave my helmet at the condo because I did not think I would need it for such easy terrain. Unfortunately, now I have a neat little bump on the back of my head. (ow)

All, in all, it was really fun, and may get out there to try another boarding lesson. I still think I prefer two planks to one though.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I hear ya - I tried as well. Got coached by my son, who is a snowboarding instructor and coach, and boy, was I sore (and boy, did I stink!). Darn, but it was just too punishing at my even-then-age to go through the repeated, multiple falls. (Helmets not optional!!)

And kind thanks for using the word "respect." Trying to learn kind of sheds a whole new light on one's appreciation for what is being accomplished on boards these days, doesn't it? My son skied for 10 years, was bored, tried riding, loved it. And turned out to be very talented in terms of progress. It just was a better "fit"for him.

So I'm sure when you see something like this now, with a "stuck" landing, it is all the more awesome (shot at Breckenridge):

 

[ski now work later]

Is that your son?

 

[SuperMoe]

WOW

That is some GREAT air!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Is that your son?

YEP -
And that was indeed one serious booter - he was at 30 ft off the ground relative to the jump landing in that one. As a parent, I try not to grimace. He's a grown man. Still....

 

[ski diva]

VERY cool.

 

[Jenny]

Trying out the snowboards must have been the thing to do this weekend! I spent an hour and half on the bunny hill and got down it four/five whole times, I think. And have the video to prove it, so I never have to do it again!

Myth busted? It's easier to get up after a fall on a snowboard than skis. I didn't even think my butt was that big, but I still couldn't hoist it all the way up!

It was fun, but I'm a ski girl.

 

[Sheena]

My knees are sore from #1 landing on them multiple times, and getting up from a kneeling position. My right knee has a giant bruise.

At one point in the lesson after a fall, the instructor asked me what was wrong, I told him my tailbone was killing me.. his response? Thats why I told you to aim to fall on your butt cheek. I just did not have time to think that fast and control the direction of my fall.

After picking myself up from the kneeling position many, many times, I feel like I got a pretty good upper body workout!

 

[SkiNurse]

I primarily ski w/ boarders and a couple of them kick my rear end consistently! Especially in the BUMPS!

And, I'm a purist. I have no desire ever to strap a board my feet. I sucked at skateboarding & surfing growing up. Plus, I truly LOVE to ski. My boarder friends are also purists. They have never skied and have no desire to. I don't hastle them about what they choose to ride and vice versa.

As much as I love my friends, I really enjoy the rare opportunities to actually ski with skiers!

 

[abc]

I had decided to leave my helmet at the condo because I did not think I would need it for such easy terrain. Unfortunately, now I have a neat little bump on the back of my head. (ow)

Did you not know snowboarders were largely responsible for popularizing the wearing of helmets...? ;-)

 

[Sheena]

Trying to learn kind of sheds a whole new light on one's appreciation for what is being accomplished on boards these days, doesn't it?

Most definitely. I always loved watching a really skilled boarder make beautiful carved turns. I now am even more impressed with the skill it takes to do that.

 

[SnowHot]

I spent the day on the hill with a kid from our church who wanted to learn to snowboard. Wow, it was exhausting just watching him learn. Can't imagine trying to do it with him.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Most definitely. I always loved watching a really skilled boarder make beautiful carved turns. I now am even more impressed with the skill it takes to do that.

i.e., this? Nice to watch, isn't it?

 

[Solincia]

That is nice to watch. BF stated when we were at the slopes last week "Effortless" as this boarder carved down the hill. It was a sight to see.

I tried it once in highschool. A friend had two boards, and we wore the same size shoe... He told me he'd teach me...yeah, he left me at the top of the hill and said "Have fun!" It was a trying day of falling on my bum alot!

I was amazed at how many people snowboard now. I remember in highschool that the "skaters" all snowboarded, but everyone else skied, and the boarders mostly hung out at the halfpipe at Brandywine. Now it seems at our local hill there are more snowboarders than skiers and they are everywhere!
It was just a different experiance having to ski around so many people sitting on the hill! But definately something to respect!

 

[SnowHot]

The truth is, its difficult to learn, and more difficult to make a lot of progress.
I recall spending some mind numbing hours with my nephew when he was learning, and pasting a smile on my face, clicking my poles and saying "good job"!
Now, a 20 year old handsome young man with some significant skill, I almost forget he's on a board, no waiting, no whining about sore butt or knees, no wet mittens, just crankin out turns and eating my left over french fries.

 

[smpayne]

I have been considering trying to strap on a snowboard, when my kids start to learn, but I forgot about the body abuse I would have to endure. No thanks! I'll leave it to the younger generation.

 

[Kiragirl]

2 planks, thanks!

 

[alaski]

As much as I love my friends, I really enjoy the rare opportunities to actually ski with skiers!

I agree! I just don't like skiing with boarders. I hate having to stop and wait while they fart around with their bindings after gettting off the chair, and it is just more fun to ski with skiers. There is nothing like it.

I just can't admire snowboarding at all - I just don't like it. I think it looks dumb (even good boarders have to flail their arms all around) and the half pipe stuff is the biggest yawn to me. Most boarders seem to do it because it's "easier than skiing" anyway, or that's what they all seem to say. I guess to me it's a completely separate sport from skiing. Perhaps I'm just cranky because snowboarders keep stomping up the skin tracks in their boots and wrecking them.

 

[Jilly]

I tried the board lesson too. And yes, the green runs with a board strapped to one foot was scary enough. Brought back what a rank beginner must feel when they stand in front of me to learn to ski. That said, I feel the learning curve is too painfull. I had black and blue knees for a week. I could not get my butt up off the snow, so every time I fell I needed to go to my knees to get up. Also one time when I fell the key ring holder in my pant pocket, dug into the snow and stayed, but the pants moved with me. Big bruise on my hip.
All said and done, I can really appreicate a good carved turn by a boarder. It is effortless and beautiful. Too bad that there aren't enough that can do it. Too many are "grooming" the trail for the rest of us.

 

[TsuKata]

I actually tried snowboarding before I tried skiing. I was a skateboarder as a teen, so I figured boarding would be more akin to what I was used to doing in terms of balance.

Having tried both and having watched many friends try both, I have to say that I think as a beginner that skiing is easier. I think you can get on the slopes faster by skiing at least. Boarding requires much more effort and a good bit of physical strength in terms of getting up after a fall. On the other hand, I think that there's a learning curve with boarding that once tackled puts you able to do most slopes, whereas with skiing, it seems like there's this continuous adjustment of technique based on skill level...not saying that there's not more to learn in boarding, but I just think the learning curve for boarding is probably steep to start and then levels out to a linear progression, whereas skiing looks more like a linear equation the whole way through.

To put it another way, I think of boarding like Bridge: there's a whole "language" you have to learn just to start out but once you learn that language, you can either stagnate happily or progress as you desire. Skiing is more like Chess: it's pretty easy to pick up, and you can stagnate at that very basic level if that satisfies you, but there's this whole other level of skill that you can progress to if desired. Both Chess and Bridge are complicated activities...same with skiing...but just about anyone knows how or can play Chess at some basic level (like skiing) whereas even though anyone *could* play Bridge at a basic level, it has this skill curve that daunts some people from doing it (like boarding).