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Is it easier to learn to Ski or to Snowboard?
It’s time to settle this debate once and for all. It is a question I get asked time and time again in many of my lessons, and by many of my inspired friends.
If you’ve never tried skiing or snowboarding before you’re probably wondering which one to start with. Perhaps you’ve tried one and had a hard time, and you find yourself wondering if the other might be more suited to you.
There are so many stereotypes and myths out there about these two great sports. One of them being:
“Skiing is easier to learn but harder to master, whereas snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to master”
Is it really true? Let me tell you all about it.
First I’d like to tell you that your enjoyment of each sport very much depends on your previous experiences, your fitness and your general personality! Just like anything new you’ll try in your life! So to help you decide which sport you should try first, (because of course you should learn to do both before you decide one over the other) I have dissected some of the factors I think you should consider.
Learning to ski compared to snowboard
Generally, it is true. As a beginner snowboarder, you’re likely to spend much more time on your bum than a beginner skier. It’s more difficult to be able to stand on a snowboard than it is to stand on skis.
Once snowboarders have mastered the basics, snowboard progression is thought to be quicker than that of skiing. With either sport, the learning journey has its pros and cons and is always very much an individual one. Both can be very rewarding and enjoyable.
I’d also like to add that once you have got a handle on the basics of one of these sports, you are much more likely to get along better and progress quicker in the other. Why might this be? It’s because you will be used to sliding on snow, you will have gotten over the fear of being at the top of the hill, you may have even ridden a lift, and you will more than likely feel much more comfortable falling over in the snow! All of which will help you progress faster and have more fun learning your second discipline.
However it’s not always that simple. For example, I learned to ski when I was very young, aged 5, I learned in ski school with friends and family and I was used to falling over at that age. I learned to snowboard for the first time when I was 15, I had raging hormones which hindered my patience, I was fairly unfit from sitting on my bum studying, and I chose to let my dad and my brother teach me, safe to say I had fun but it wasn’t as smooth a process.
There are a few factors that help skiers and snowboarders when they’re getting started.
Core strength- It’s important for both, and without it, your progress will take longer.
Flexibility.- If you can’t touch your toes when you’re sat on the ground with your knees bent, it's going to be hard for you to do up your bindings as a snowboarder and it may be more difficult for you to stand up again after falling over without taking your skis off (of course this is handy but non-essential skill as a skier).
Coordination - both skiing and snowboarding involve muti-tasking. As we do one thing to one leg, we are doing something else to another limb in order for us to balance better. Therefore If you have previously played a sport, your body will be more familiar with changing muscle memory and you’ll progress much faster. Plus, elements of skiing and snowboarding are very comparable to other common sports helping you to understand what to do with your body.
Balance- If you happen to practice yoga or other balance focused sports at home, you’ll more than likely feel more comfortable and balanced when learning to ski or snowboard. I love to practice slacklining in my free-time!
Fear of speed- If you’re a fearful person and haven’t had much experience with other sports, it will probably take you longer to get used to the concept of gliding down a hill. You are the prime candidate for a lesson and luckily for you, us instructors have a few ways to help you feel confident so don’t let it stop you from giving it a go!
Equipment
This isn’t something many people consider when taking up a new snow sport but the differences in equipment is a deciding factor for some snow sports enthusiasts. The big one being the boots.
Snowboard boots are far easier to walk around in, they’re known for being comfortable which is perfect for those après ski parties when you have to keep them on your feet! This, plus the fact that carrying just your snowboard rather than two heavy skis and two poles makes reaching the après bar that much easier.
However on the slopes, us skiers are pleased we have our poles as we can use them to push ourselves past the snowboarders on the flatter parts of the mountain. Plus the click and go bindings make it much quicker to get going after getting off a lift.
What's your ski or snowboard personality?
If you love the idea of picking up some speed, skiing is probably better suited to your needs. Skis normally run over the snow more quickly than snowboards and racing down steep packed power is often more popular with skiers than snowboarders. That said, the more advanced you get, the smaller the differences become between what a snowboarder and a skier enjoys on the mountain because we love to do it all on both types of equipment!
Some people still think “you can only do that on skis'' and “it’s way better on skis” which simply isn’t true. Each style whether it be slalom speed, terrain park spins or fresh powder surfing can be fun on both skis and snowboard, it just takes learning how to do it the right way.
The equipment has a huge part to play in terms of how you like to glide down the mountain, especially for skiers. It can be really tough and tiring to navigate through thick powder on slalom piste skis and making big carve turns on fresh groomed piste is equally as difficult on big fat powder skis, take this into consideration when you rent and/or buy your equipment!
So whichever you choose there is plenty of fun to be had on one plank or to. If you still can’t make up your mind, consider taking a lesson in each snowsport. Sometimes this is possible in one day as part of a private lesson since many of us instructors can teach both!
I hope you found this article helpful. If you would like to add to anything I’ve said or would like to know more, feel free to ask in the comments below! If you’d like to chat further, use the chat icon in the bottom right corner to get in touch and we can organise a call!
TheSkiNomad
