Blades or board?

I am off on my annual ski trip next Monday. Having only learnt to ski four years ago and only last year managing to successfully leave a chair lift without landing on my backside [xx(],my lovely 16 year old Niece has suggested to me that this year she teaches me to snowboard[:0]Living in Switzerland she has been ski-ing since she was a toddler and is a natural on skis and snowboards. I'm a bit worried about smashing my knees up and looking like a complete idiot so I haven't taken her up on the idea just yet.

Should I stick with improving on the skis or give this snowboarding thing a try?[?]

[Darren Wheeler]

Or just stick with the warming effects of alcohol in front of a fire in a bar somewhere.

[Darren Wheeler]

Or just stick with the warming effects of alcohol in front of a fire in a bar somewhere.

Yeah, thanks Darren. Strangely enough, that is one area where I don't have any inner conflict [;)]

Yeah, thanks Darren. Strangely enough, that is one area where I don't have any inner conflict [;)]

Snowboarding is worth a try, as it has a great learning curve, BUT, please keep a few things in mind. You WILL fall, many times, and when attached to a snowboard there are only 2 ways to fall, forwards onto knees and hands, so watch bruising of knees, and broken wrists (get gloves with supports and you should be ok) and the backwards, onto your backside. with padded trousers you should be ok without bruising tailbone etc... I know nature often provides ample padding for most things, but you WILL want something for the occasional shock. It is brilliant fun, if you are not pushed too fast at the beginning. Just remember keep your weight FORWARD/Down the hill. I must say, after learning, I went BACK to skis, but had a good time learning to snowboard.

Snowboarding is worth a try, as it has a great learning curve, BUT, please keep a few things in mind. You WILL fall, many times, and when attached to a snowboard there are only 2 ways to fall, forwards onto knees and hands, so watch bruising of knees, and broken wrists (get gloves with supports and you should be ok) and the backwards, onto your backside. with padded trousers you should be ok without bruising tailbone etc... I know nature often provides ample padding for most things, but you WILL want something for the occasional shock. It is brilliant fun, if you are not pushed too fast at the beginning. Just remember keep your weight FORWARD/Down the hill. I must say, after learning, I went BACK to skis, but had a good time learning to snowboard.

[preiffer]

Indeed - MANY female snowboarders I know adapted very well to their need for 'rear-end-padding' in an extremely short period of time.... [:w]

[preiffer]

Indeed - MANY female snowboarders I know adapted very well to their need for 'rear-end-padding' in an extremely short period of time.... [:w]

[RichardMannion]

Screw that snowboarding lark. They seem to spend half the time sat on their arse right in the middle of the run. Stick to skis, anyone under 25 on a snowboard is just plain wrong.

[RichardMannion]

Screw that snowboarding lark. They seem to spend half the time sat on their arse right in the middle of the run. Stick to skis, anyone under 25 on a snowboard is just plain wrong.

[preiffer]

Whereas keeping everyone over 50 on skis is just about right. [y]


(Interesting use of the word 'run' there, too - suggesting ski activity is limited to where the piste bashers DICTATE you go. Now, to some more adventurous types - often on boards, the off-piste snow is somewhat more appealing [:w])


Oh, ooops - sorry Richard [:w]

[preiffer]

Whereas keeping everyone over 50 on skis is just about right. [y]


(Interesting use of the word 'run' there, too - suggesting ski activity is limited to where the piste bashers DICTATE you go. Now, to some more adventurous types - often on boards, the off-piste snow is somewhat more appealing [:w])


Oh, ooops - sorry Richard [:w]

so watch bruising of knees, and broken wrists (get gloves with supports and you should be ok) and the backwards, onto your backside. with padded trousers you should be ok without bruising tailbone etc...

Thanks for the tips Juliet. Ample padding and good balance seem to be the key I suspect [:)]

Preiffer and Richard - What's age got to do with it? At 37, am I too old to snowboard, too young to ski??[;)]

so watch bruising of knees, and broken wrists (get gloves with supports and you should be ok) and the backwards, onto your backside. with padded trousers you should be ok without bruising tailbone etc...

Thanks for the tips Juliet. Ample padding and good balance seem to be the key I suspect [:)]

Preiffer and Richard - What's age got to do with it? At 37, am I too old to snowboard, too young to ski??[;)]

[preiffer]

EVERYone's too young to ski. Skiing's what you do just before you die. Get your a**e on a snowboard, dude (ette).... [y]

[preiffer]

EVERYone's too young to ski. Skiing's what you do just before you die. Get your a**e on a snowboard, dude (ette).... [y]

Originally posted by preiffer
EVERYone's too young to ski. Skiing's what you do just before you die. Get your a**e on a snowboard, dude (ette).... [y]

Seeing as I have no intention of passing from this life just yet, I reckon this dudette ought to get her amply padded a**e on a snowboard?[8D]

Originally posted by preiffer
EVERYone's too young to ski. Skiing's what you do just before you die. Get your a**e on a snowboard, dude (ette).... [y]

Seeing as I have no intention of passing from this life just yet, I reckon this dudette ought to get her amply padded a**e on a snowboard?[8D]

[preiffer]

Damn right - NOW we're talkin'... [;)]

Juliet - yours from here [y] [:D]


PLUS - one other *small* thing that's helped me win MANY an argument (ahem, 'discussion') with a skier:
Ask most snowboarders - they CAN ski (and usually pretty well).
Ask most skiers - they CAN'T snowboard (and if they CAN, pretty badly).
Kind of takes the wind from their sails a bit when b*tching about snowboarders not knowing what they're doing [;)]

As someone who can do both, I'd say 9/10 I'm glad I'm on a snowboard rather than skis. The 1/10 is when I'm looking at a flat or uphill... [:0]

[preiffer]

Damn right - NOW we're talkin'... [;)]

Juliet - yours from here [y] [:D]


PLUS - one other *small* thing that's helped me win MANY an argument (ahem, 'discussion') with a skier:
Ask most snowboarders - they CAN ski (and usually pretty well).
Ask most skiers - they CAN'T snowboard (and if they CAN, pretty badly).
Kind of takes the wind from their sails a bit when b*tching about snowboarders not knowing what they're doing [;)]

As someone who can do both, I'd say 9/10 I'm glad I'm on a snowboard rather than skis. The 1/10 is when I'm looking at a flat or uphill... [:0]

Its worth it, if the FIRST thing you do is try snowboarding - for a few days. They you can always go back to skis if you need to (or are too bruised!!) LEarn something new at the start of your holiday, when you are fresh. Oh, and has anyone mentioned that snowboard boots are actually COMFORTABLE???!!!! You can actually walk around in them, so that's always a plus. Go on, give it a try!

Its worth it, if the FIRST thing you do is try snowboarding - for a few days. They you can always go back to skis if you need to (or are too bruised!!) LEarn something new at the start of your holiday, when you are fresh. Oh, and has anyone mentioned that snowboard boots are actually COMFORTABLE???!!!! You can actually walk around in them, so that's always a plus. Go on, give it a try!

Ive just returned from a weeks skiing in Italy with my son. He made the transition from Ski's to Board this year and is now a convert !

He is very competent on skis and found it a little frustrating to start with going back to being a beginner, but once he got to grips with it, loved every minute. The big advantage you may find of having skied before and then learning to board is confidence and an appreciation of whats going on around you on the slopes rather than the whole experience being new.

If you want to try something really fun .... have a go on snow blades for a day !! .... scared the pants off me !!

Im going to stick to ski's for the time being until I stop having fun, then I may make the change ....... whatever you decide to do have a brilliant time [;)]


Cheers

Mark [:D]

Ive just returned from a weeks skiing in Italy with my son. He made the transition from Ski's to Board this year and is now a convert !

He is very competent on skis and found it a little frustrating to start with going back to being a beginner, but once he got to grips with it, loved every minute. The big advantage you may find of having skied before and then learning to board is confidence and an appreciation of whats going on around you on the slopes rather than the whole experience being new.

If you want to try something really fun .... have a go on snow blades for a day !! .... scared the pants off me !!

Im going to stick to ski's for the time being until I stop having fun, then I may make the change ....... whatever you decide to do have a brilliant time [;)]


Cheers

Mark [:D]