So who's tried snowboarding?

[ski diva]

Even though this is a ski forum, I'm wondering if anyone here has given boarding a try. My daughter snowboards (only a few times a year) and has been after me for the longest time to give it a try. I've been reluctant to take any time away from skiing. Plus I understand there's a LOT of falling when you're first learning, and I just don't have it in me right now to deal with that.

What about you?

 

[Gloria]

Easy learning curve

I snowboarded for about 10 years. Pretty much through the shape ski revolution. I started after I got patellar tendonitis from skiing. It was really fun especially going from long straight double camber skis!
At that time I found it opened up new lines and body angles that were not as fun or as accessible on skis. The learning curve is severe yet really short, the first day you fall alot predominantely because you are not used to having both feet attached to the same object. After a day you are pretty good to go with minimal falling. I found I was boarding the same terrain I could ski after 15 years within a few days. Of course we at that time had less than 5 blue and green runs combined and only one takes you to the bottom which requires an awful traverse that you pretty much had to take your board off and walk across. ( once was enough for me )
I would reccoment trying it if you are interested, but I do think it is losing some popularity due to the fact that new ski equipment opens up the same lines and makes the learning curve shorter for beginners in the same way. Although I do it from time to time, I have decided that it is a clumbsy way to get around the hill. And the new school snowboarders are flat out punks! The most positive aspect is the light boots and one piece of equipment to carry. And they are the bomb in powder absolutely fun.

 

[Jilly]

I took a 1/2 day lesson a few years ago. I have never been so black and blue. But it was good experience. It really makes me recognize a good snowboarder - one that carves arcs and not just slides down the hill. Also as an instructor it brought back in real time how a beginner skier must feel that first day. I was standing on the board with only the front foot tied in. Looking at what on skis would be a flat surface, only to think if I get enough speed here I could hit that snowbank (from the parking lot) and became a hood ornament. I wouldn't even think about it on skis. So that was a good reminder for me. I have a friend that hasn't been on skis in 10 years. Last weekend she was out in her husbands old boots (like last years!)and a brand new pair of Nordica Victory's. She's absolutely loving the sport again. I think that Gloria has same the thought pattern that Caroline (my friend) has. These new skis make a difference and its fun again.

 

[volklgirl]

10 years ago, I used to teach boarding - being able to teach skiing and boarding made me a hot commoditiy (sp?) (especially being a woman). Once I discovered shaped skis and racing, the board was put up.....the new skis were just too much fun! I actually bought a current rental set-up and got back on it last year a couple of times, but it was like re-learning all over again . I managed 1 run on my new board this year :o .

 

[Kimmyt]

My boyfriend snowboards so when we go to the small hills around where we live we will usually switch gear. My boots last year were too big for me and so he could fit in them, and i just strapped myself down in his slightly-large boots. It was pretty fun, and a good way to spend a day at a smaller hill that I would not find as challenging on skis.

But I do tend to fall alot, and take hard falls, and so I worry that I will break something so I don't really do it that much.

K.

 

[SnowGlider]

Never again!

I took a snowboarding lesson once to familiarize myself with the boots and board because I was working in an instructional program and wanted to be able to help children get the right rental equipment. I found it incredibly difficult. I made virtually no progress during the lesson. I spent far more time lying down than standing up.

I admire people who can snowboard, because it really is not inate to humans in terms of our biomechanics. It's a sport that might come more easily to brachiating primates, but not to those who are genetically suited to moving forward facing the direction of travel.

 

[abc]

Yes, I tried and came back.

OK, that was the short verson.

I learn to ski the old fashion straight ski. Carving was reserved for the experts. So, after a while, it was not much fun any more.

That's when I tried boarding.

First attempt was miserable. My shoulder hurts, my wrist hurts, my bum hurts. (I was trying to protect my head by using my arms to brace my falls) I was a bit concern about injury to my upper body so I quit.

Then I watch my friend learn to board. He never skied before but skate board. He got the hang of it pretty quickly. And I figured out: learning to ski was all about learning to slow down, but learning to board is all about learning to carve!

Too much time of boarding school were spend on side slipping! You fall just as much and, where the fun? (ok, we skiers already knows how to side slip to slow down anyway, where's the fast forword button?)

Anyway, I gave it another go. Like it much better. I could carve! But then I also realize, I could probably do the same thing with the shorter ski with more side cut!

So I came back. End of story.

OK, the moral of my saga being, think about what you may like about boarding. If you can't find any, you probably won't stick with it.

p.s.

Oh, after the falling. Yes, I did a lot of that. No, it didn't bother me. That is, once I GOT A HELMET!!!

 

[Native Vail Gal]

I've tried it!

Here's the summary:
1) I can go one way then I have to kick the board off and walk across the hill so that I can go that one way again! :D
2) I have never been more sore and bruised in my life!

I never made it to Day 2! :D

Conclusion: I'm DEFINITELY a skiier!

 

[lil mountain girl]

confessions . . .

ok divas, i have a confession to make.
i am a snowboarder turned skier.

i started snowboarding 10 yrs ago and before that?
nothing . . .
it wasn't until a couple of yrs ago where i decided i wanted to learn to ski. this has been my 3rd full season on skis . . . and it's been awsome -- especially watching my ability skyrocket in a relatively short period of time (instant gratification)!!!

i was doing a lot of backcountry on my board and decided skis would be more versitile and easier to get around -- they are!!!
i also got to the point in my riding where if i wanted to challenge myself more i'd have to start dropping bigger things and riding crazier lines (ie: increase chances of severe injury and/or death!) . . . so i switched the focus to skiing -- wow! what an awsome challenge!! skiing is difficult and humbling.

to me the main difference is, (besides practicality) the feel and fluidity of both sports -- they're very different.
i think skiing is more difficult -- especially in powder.
on a snowboard, well just think of fat skis, you've got flotation and you surf the snow . . . a VERY cool feeling :D

so for those of you who are curious, i'd suggest giving it (snowboarding) a try -- on a soft day! --
yes, the learning curve is steep, but once you've got it, you've got it!

in the past few yrs. i've only spent a handful of them on my board. :(

i have to say as much as i love my skis and where they take me, i do miss my snowboard sometimes.

there's nothing like the fluidity and grace of riding a steep tree line whilst being totally in "the zone" . . . ah, yes . . .

 

[Pequenita]

yes, the learning curve is steep, but once you've got it, you've got it!

I've heard this from many people - steep learning curve for boarding, but once you get it, you get it. Then you kind of plateau, where everyone looks pretty good. Then there is a teeny tiny group of really awesome shredders.

Compared to skiing, which someone has described to me as being easier to learn, but taking longer to look good.

As for me, I think I'd like to learn how to tele while I still have knees, before learning how to board.

 

[Lori_K]

Several years ago, the hubby and I went out for a day and tried snowboarding. He was a good skier, I had only skied a handful of times, but we both had some skateboarding experience from our youth.

I never made it off the bunny hill. Hubby got the hang of it enough to go down the main slope a couple times. (Probably should have taken a lesson, in retrospect.)
The next day we were so sore and bruised from being smacked around that we didn't want to do it again! Got back on the skis and haven't looked back since.

 

[Greeley]

After much prodding from some friends I learned how to snowboard about 8 years ago. I have been wakeboarding since the old surf style boards & bungie bindings.
The guys who taught me said I caught on better than anyone else they had taught. I then took 2 private lesssons later that season. I got to the point that 1st year where I could handle most blue runs that weren't busy and never improved much past that point. I hated & still hate cat tracks or any type of flat area so I am very picky about where I board. The 1st few years I went out about 1/2 dozen times but started to taper off after that. I got to the point where I went 1 or 2 days a year. Usually boarding as opposed to taking a day off the snow on a long trip.
I broke my ankle 2 years ago getting off a lift at Breckenridge and haven't been on it since. I think I will need a very good instructor that can get into my head to get me going again. Although I have decided that I could ride a gondola for my boarding.

 

[Jumpymostly]

I started boarding about 2 years ago to get a little more challenge/excitement out of our tiny Minnesota hills. My friend helped me on the bunny hill for about an hour, and after 2 more hours of practice I had the hang of it before I even took my free beginner lesson! The mechanics of transferring from one edge to the other are really just like skiing, only you have one big fat ski instead of two smaller ones. I was prepared to spend the whole day on my butt, but I really didn't fall all that much. One cool thing about a snowboard is a lot of times when you fall you can just flip right over and be right back up. Snowboarding did inspire me to finally get a helmet, though, just in case. I should have been wearing one on skis anyway. This winter I took my board out west and did a couple groomed blacks at Snowmass and Steamboat! I'm definately not ready to give up my skis, and I don't think I ever will, but I find snowboarding a lot of fun too, and a good way to add some variety, especially if you only have limited areas to ski close to home.