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switched to snowboarding at 14 and for the past 8 years I have never looked back.
Skiing is more difficult and time consuming to learn, but perhaps more rewarding. As an experienced skier, to have fun, I find that there must be a certain element of challenge involved. It is exhilarating to blast down steep, powder covered moguls. It justifies the long days you have spent crossing your tips and tripping over your poles etc. No feeling quite like it. However, on flatter less interesting terrain, skis get pretty boring. You simply stand there, turn occasionally, maybe hop around if you are feeling energetic.
Snowboarding is a little different. Steep bumpy slopes become a lot more challenging, and require you to be in pretty good physical shape to not look like a wuss. But the simple motion of snowboarding is so fluid, so gratifying, so natural, that laying down a good carve or two on a gentle slope could be the highlight of your season. No kidding. Not to mention, terrain parks and the like are just undeniably cooler on a snowboard. Case in point: I spent 4 days in Snowmass last spring break visiting my parents house, and riding with my friends. We like variety (steeps, trees, parks, blaring, bowls, and love the stuff that the lifts do not serve). We stayed on just 5 runs in those four days. That is how addicting the right slopes can be. We all ride quite differently, but nobody wanted to go elsewhere. We didn't even hit the park, or the hike-to stuff.
Snowboarding took me one day to figure out the basics. I had however ridden ski lifts many times and knew what to expect. I also knew the mountain pretty well and how to avoid spots that would give me trouble (slow, flat areas and really fast, not so flat areas). A good lesson will not steer you wrong.
Snowboarding is far more physical. I used to be able to ski from sunrise to past sunset, wanting more. I now frequently get tired after 3/4 days, but I am pushing myself on difficult slopes, or taking my usual beating in the ongoing quest for the frontside 7 in the park.
Your first day of snowboarding will bruise your ass like a bucking bronco in an earthquake. It is something that must be taken in stride and most learn to avoid it rather quickly. Once you have the skills to venture beyond the bunny hill, the trauma begins. You get confident enough to elevate your speed a little, then you get uncertain and catch your edge, falling HARD on your face or ass. You do this several times. There is no way around it, but you learn to stay up pretty quickly. After you have run this gauntlet, all that is holding you back is experience and confidence. Keep the latter high and the former will build quickly.
Best of luck,
Andy
Boulder, CO
91 Red SPG
posted by 63.253.66...
, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 19:20:21
, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 08:06:45, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 17:34:04, Mon, 22 Dec 2003 07:00:29
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