Originally posted by: wiredspider
I went on a little shopping trip and ended up getting some ski bib (terrible fashion, but I figured at least they would stay on and less likely snow will make it to my butt), yellow tiny snow googles, some fleece gloves that offer warmth and good mobiity, and a knit hat that covers my ears. Also a few packs of toe and hand warmers just in case or at least something to sooth myself on the bus trip back.
Though now with some more looking I have found some higher quality ski pants on sale (I think they are HH brand), but I'll just have to do with my ski bib. Anything else one might recommend that I might want to get? I kind of think I need a scarf, but then that might cut down on neck mobility which could be bad... Besides the better ski pants, I've seen more water resistant gloves, and ski jackets. I'll probably make due with a jacket I already have. Though I'm not sure which one to wear. I have a loose jacket has fleece inside, the outside isn't the most water proof, but it should be ok if I'm not like sitting in the snow for 15 minutes. I have thinner jackets which definately are not waterproof, but they seem to hug the body more, more snug, would that be better for skiing?
And after all that I'm thinking of doing snowboarding instead, the trip is listed as skiing, but I think it was to draw a larger crowd than snowboarders...
Ok, I was at Tahoe over the weekend so this could be too late, but here goes my two cents.
I'd go for the more waterproof gloves and see if you can get a refund/credit on the fleece ones if the price difference isnt too great. Your hands will be the next most wet item on your body after your butt, assuming you are the average newbie. You will most likely be putting your hands in the snow every time you fall to push yourself back up.
I recommend you get some sort of neckwarmer, or just bring a scarf if you have one. The scarf is just more annoying to put on and keep secure, that is why I prefer the turtlefur type neckwarmers, as they are only about ten bucks. It's too late to order from here, but just to show that they aren't that expensive and to illustrate the point:
neck gaiter If your jacket has a collar you might not need the warmth in the neck, but its nice to be able to cover your chin and lower cheeks on the chairlift when the wind is blowing. Between the hat, goggles, and neckgear, you should only have perhaps a two inch strip of flesh on the head and face exposed to the air.
The jacket you won't really need to invest big in at this time, unless it is forecast to be snowing/raining at the time you plan to be at the mountain. As you opted for the bib, you are protected from wetness up beyond your waist, perhaps even up to the bottom of your chest or beyond, depending on the bib. Just don't jump in a pond and you will be fine. If it comes down to it, you can always buy a plastic poncho to put on over your jacket if it really rains. Make sure your jacket is windproof, as you could be sweating bullets at the bottom of the mountain, but the end of that ten minute chairlift ride will cool you down enough that wind getting through your jacket will feel very very cold.
Others may have better advice on whether bulkier is better or not. I am not preferring one or the other, as long as they keep the wind out and are comfortable enough. The only part to be careful of is a loose waist (sleeve cuffs too for that matter, but most are elastic or have buttons, and some gloves can be made to pull up over sleeves if necessary). If the jacket is too large so that you cannot get a reasonably good fit at the bottom and there is no way of cinching it tight, wind is going to enter and come up from beneath, somewhat negating the jacket. On the other hand, too tight so you cannot get enough warm layers on underneath could be disastrous. If the mountain tends to be warm, a lighter jacket/windbreaker + a sweater +shirt + undershirt (if it's very cold) will let you shed layers. As long as the jacket is decently windproof and the sweater is warm, you shouldn't need more than those four layers. You may even end up in only a shirt and jacket if a warm spell comes through, but it's always good to have the extra layers available if the weather turns.
As to whether you want to ski or snowboard, that's entirely a personal decision. If you have friends who do one or the other, that might be a way to go. Snowboarding is more "cool," but skiing has made somewhat of a rebound in terms of image.
In terms of differences in difficulty of learning, snowboarding is very tough the first day. Most people spend 3/4 of their first day on their butt, unless they have some sort of snowsports or skateboarding background. Riding the chair can be awkward, as the natural resting position of the board while sitting on the chairlift is sideways, so you will tend to bang boards with your neighbors. Getting off the lift is also somewhat more difficult to learn on a snowboard, as you have to rotate your legs/torso around to align the board in a forwards direction, and your unbuckled foot may slip off your snowboard if you have too much snow or moisture on your board as you get off the chair. (Think of how a skateboarder moves sideways, then think how if he wants to sit down on a chair that is pointed in the same direction as his travel, he has to rotate around). That said, once past the first or second day, most reasonably athletic and coordinated people will be able to get down any blue run on snowboards by sliding down sideways on the edge (side) of the snowboard. The learning curve is also much faster past the first day for snowboards than skis.
Skiing is harder and longer to truly master. You have two independent boards, and four metal edges that you have to keep in control. Most traditional teaching methods will have you start out with a "wedge" aka "snowplow," which is basically pointing the front tips of your skis together to form an inverted V in order to turn and slow down. This is somewhat of an unnatural and tiring position, and adds another layer of skill learning to conquer before getting into the parallel-skis technique that most more advanced skiers will be using. Your first day should be easier, as long as you aren't one of those people that keeps getting their skis crossed up, but to move past beginner status is a longer and harder road.
More advanced areas of concern will be the better flotation of snowboards in fresh powder, the better ability to quickly change edges on skis when negotiating a mogul (bump) field, the blind side that snowboarders have towards their back, and the complete and utter frustration that snowboarders will experience when stopped on a flat piece of real estate (poles and the ability, if coordinated, to skate on skis makes these places a bit more bearable for skiers but still tiring nonetheless). Also, snowboarders will usually have to stop before getting on the lift to unstrap one of their boots from their binding, and once after the lift to restrap that boot in. Skiers, if not having to adjust their boots and not using pole straps, can get on and off the lift without any extra work and be ready to go down the slope again.
