First time on the slopes - ski or snowboard?

[kstu]

skiing is easier to pick-up and become proficient at, harder to "master" (i.e. good for a beginner on a 4-day trip).

snowboarding is harder to get up to speed, but easier to "master" once you've reached a certain level of aptitude.

 

[Wyndru]

I personally don't like how snowboarding requires you to unstrap a foot every time you encounter flat terrain. I like to use poles when I ski and even relatively flat terrain can be managed by pushing yourself along with poles.

That's a very good point I didn't think about, getting around on the board in flat parts of trails and on (and off) the lifts is more difficult than skis.

 

[ss284]

Ski.

 

[kstu]

also, despite your "good athletic base", you WILL be exhausted by the end of day 1, and the rest of the days will probably require a fair amount of stopping/resting while you're out. falling and getting up constantly takes a lot out of you, in addition to normal energy expenditure skiing/boarding. combine that with the altitude, and you should expect to stop at least once or twice a run to catch your breath.

 

[RagingBITCH]

OP are you going with people who already ski or snowboard? or are you all first-timers or some other mix?

bdd - going with a group of mostly snowboarders with experience. The GF (only gone 3-4 times, likes skiing over boarding but will take lessons as if starting from new again) is leaning towards skiing.

Based on the responses so far, looks like skiing

 

[spidey07]

also, despite your "good athletic base", you WILL be exhausted by the end of day 1, and the rest of the days will probably require a fair amount of stopping/resting while you're out. falling and getting up constantly takes a lot out of you, in addition to normal energy expenditure skiing/boarding. combine that with the altitude, and you should expect to stop at least once or twice a run to catch your breath.

Lots of folks make the mistake of skiing/boarding ALL day the first day. You'll be sore as hell the rest of the trip no matter what shape you're in. Important to take breaks and don't over do it. Say ski/board for 2-3 hours, take a nice long lunch and/or nap, ski 3+ more hours stopping at the mid trail bar for some whiskey for a long break and you're done.

when picking a place to stay - ALWAYS stay at a ski-in, ski-out.

If you feel sore on the trail, stop, you over did it. Oh, and take plenty of ibuprofen with you.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Fall.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We skiers have a name for snowboarders, speed bumps.

 

[Wyndru]

when picking a place to stay - ALWAYS stay at a ski-in, ski-out.

I've always driven in then left the same day (sometimes 2.5 hours drive each way) and the last time we went we decided to try a ski-in,ski-out at okemo. I loved it, I don't think I'll ever be able to do anything else, unless it's a quick night skiing trip.

 

[skyking]

best posts are about the parallel sports. If you have a lot of time in these categories:
rollerblade, ice skate, two water skis ~ski easier
surf, wakeboard,skateboard ~snowboard easier
Good advice about not going all day. think quality time vs. quantity.
The worst crashes, bad times, injuries are late in the day.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

if you take a lesson I don't think it will matter much which you choose.

that being said take a snowboarding lesson:twisted:

 

[ViviTheMage]

That's a very good point I didn't think about, getting around on the board in flat parts of trails and on (and off) the lifts is more difficult than skis.

Not that big of a deal, super easy to strap in and out IMO.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Maybe you can try both. I've only done snowboarding and I enjoy it a lot. If you ever plan on going again I would just pick the activity you're most interested in. Not necessarily the easiest thing. Definitely get a lesson because most people are horrible at teaching.

I saw a good series of videos for snowboarding the other day. I think it's called Snowprofessor or something along those lines.

 

[blackdogdeek]

bdd - going with a group of mostly snowboarders with experience. The GF (only gone 3-4 times, likes skiing over boarding but will take lessons as if starting from new again) is leaning towards skiing.

if you try skiing you will probably be able to go on trails with your buddies and your gf by lunch time. if you try snowboarding this will probably not be the case.

i found that on the first day of snowboarding, before everything clicked, it was a frustrating, lonely experience. once i finally gained some level of ability i could finally go on trails with other people.

 

[911paramedic]

If you've ever skateboarded or surfed, go with the snowboard.

Skiing is easier to learn, but you will still be going very slowly for those three days if you've never done it before. I enjoy skiing because I've done it much longer, but my best experience was on a snowboard in a foot of fresh powder...omg.

You will fall less in skis but its really hard to maneuver around flat areas unless you take them off, while if you are snowboarding you take one foot out of the binding and "skateboard" around.

Oh, if you have ANY problem with your wrists DO NOT snowboard because when you fall forwards (1/2 the time) you will land on your outstretched arms. The other 1/2 of the time it will be on your ass/head. My brother-in-law nearly knocked himself out when we were learning to snowboard.

BTW, I found snowboarding pretty easy to learn after I took the short instruction class they offer - don't try it without that lesson or you will hate it. It is really quite easy after you learn how to turn correctly during the lesson, and it's kind of counter intuitive if you ask me.

tl;dr - My vote, snowboard after a short instruction class if you don't have any wrist problems.

 

[kstu]

Maybe you can try both. I've only done snowboarding and I enjoy it a lot. If you ever plan on going again I would just pick the activity you're most interested in. Not necessarily the easiest thing. Definitely get a lesson because most people are horrible at teaching.

I saw a good series of videos for snowboarding the other day. I think it's called Snowprofessor or something along those lines.

this is probably the best advice too, pick whichever one you can see yourself doing in the future.

 

[spidey07]

this is probably the best advice too, pick whichever one you can see yourself doing in the future.

All skiers eventually more over to snowboarding. So much faster and so much more to do.

 

[kstu]

All skiers eventually more over to snowboarding. So much faster and so much more to do.

not this one tried it once and went back to skiing. could see myself trying it again at some point, but I doubt I will ever fully make the switch.

 

[JulesMaximus]

All skiers eventually more over to snowboarding. So much faster and so much more to do.

I haven't.

 

[roguerower]

Snowboarding is a lot of fun, but like everyone else said, takes some time to progress into being decent. I took a bunch of lessons (had zero skateboarding or wakeboarding experience) and that helped with the basics, but it took me catching and edge and slamming my face on some ice to hit a decent sized bunny slope and just keep doing it until I learned/taught myself how to transition from edge to ege.

Do whatever interests you the most, not the one the rest of the people tink you should do.

 

[Fausto]

Skis. Learning curve is initially much steeper with a board.

 

[NetWareHead]

All skiers eventually more over to snowboarding. So much faster and so much more to do.

Not me