They both involve getting out on the snow and possibly falling over – at least as far as beginners are concerned. So which is better? And does it depend on what sort of person you are?
There is no doubt that snowboarding appeals more to some people than others. In contrast to skiing it is viewed as more of an extreme sport. Skiing can fall under that banner too of course, but it is a rather different beast to snowboarding.
Beginners usually opt to try skiing first, mainly because it is more stable. For starters you have got two ski poles to hang onto. These are great for sticking into the snow to help you with your balance, which is good news if you are a bit unsteady on your feet! You have also got the benefit of being able to face the direction you are going in when you are on skis. Snowboarding requires that you stand at right angles to the direction of travel. Anyone who isn’t pretty confident from the get-go might have trouble with this.
Perhaps surprisingly the type of snow you find yourself on will also affect the ease with which you can ski or snowboard. If you take lessons to get started – which is a definite must if you have never done either before – you will see which types of powder or snow are preferable for each.
Confidence on slopes is definitely a pre-requisite to snowboarding. After all, you won’t get very far on flat ground. But with skiing you can push yourself along with your ski poles if you travel across a piece of flat snow. You can also use your feet independently of each other, which of course you cannot do if you are on a snowboard.
You need to consider the strength you have in your upper and lower body as well. For example, it is well known that if you have dodgy knees you will find snowboarding easier than skiing. However you may well fall more frequently too as you won’t have your ski poles to support you and help you prevent falls. As such you might find that you prefer skiing – at least for starters.
Many people do try both at one time or another. But you should probably go with your gut instinct when you set foot on the snow for the first time. Your level of patience should also be taken into consideration. You can be seeing results reasonably quickly with skiing. But it can take a lot longer to get used to snowboarding to the extent that you have a good degree of ability.
In the end only you will know which is best for you. If you aren’t sure try both and see which one you prefer. But whatever you do, give yourself time to learn and enjoy each sport. Only when you have a basic level of knowledge will you really start to realise what skiing – or snowboarding – has to offer you.