Ski or snowboard - that is the question! And we will help you make up your mind and let you know a bit more about skiing and snowboarding.

Whilst zooming down the side of a mountain is exhilarating, whether you’re on a tray (board) or planks (skis), there are a few differences between the two sports that you need to be aware of in order to make an informed decision on which sport is the most suitable for you.

On the mountain, some slopes or terrains are more enjoyable for skiers, and others can have greater appeal to snowboarders. If the social side of snowsports is important to you, and you’re planning to hit the slopes with a group of skiers,you can agree on which runs to do together. Alternatively, if all your friends are snowboarding, perhaps picking up a board is a better bet for you.

No matter what your friends prefer you must know that there are also different snow conditions to consider. If the idea of adrenalin buzzing from slashing powder (thick, heavy, ungroomed snow) and making the most of every bump with a few flatland tricks on the way down sounds like your kind of fun, then cruising on a snowboard is for you. Although you can also do this on skis, snowboarders tend to be known for this kind of riding.

If you love the idea of picking up some speed and speed gets your heart beating, skiing is better suited to your adrenaline needs. Skis run over the snow more quickly than snowboards, and racing down steep, packed powder is often far more popular with skiers than snowboarders.

It’s a tough choice because both sports can be exciting, adventurous and social. To help you make up your mind, we’ve listed a few things you should know before you decide which snowsport to take up. 

 

 Let’s start with something important: 

Skiing equipment vs snowboard equipment

The differences in equipment can be a deciding factor for some snowsports enthusiasts. For starters, snowboard boots are far easier to walk around in than ski boots. Plus the fact that carrying just your snowboard, rather than two skis and two poles makes reaching the Après bar that much easier, is definitely a selling point.However, on the slopes, skiers will be pleased they have their poles, as they use them to push themselves past those snowboarders on the flatter parts of the mountain. And it's much quicker to head off after getting off a lift, as skiers weave their way around snowboarders who need to strap in.

 

What is more fun and which is easier to learn?

• Skiing is easier to learn but harder to progress. Snowboarding is harder to learn but once you have the basics down, progression is pretty fast. 
• Skiing is more intuitive for beginners. In skiing, your legs are apart, so you’re able to move each leg independently. At slower speeds, you’re able to balance faster and stay up off the snow.
• Skiers face forward with their legs parallel in a straight-on stance. Many beginners feel it to be more natural and easier to adopt.
• Both sports are fun and once you are good enough, they can be extremely fun.  

 

Let’s continue with the body position

Skiing is easier to become accustomed to as both legs move independently and you travel with your body facing the same way as your feet. Facing forwards also gives you a much better view of the slope ahead than a snowboarder.

Having both feet attached to a single board can be unsettling at first and takes some time getting used to. Also you travel at 90 degrees to the way your feet point. So it is important to remember that on a snowboard you won’t be facing the slope, which can make it a bit difficult to stay aware of your surroundings.

 

Here come the injuries… 

You might think that your feet separated can make it harder to fall, it can also increase the risk of injuries through twisting motions. Skiing tends to be harder on your knees than snowboarding. There’s always a risk. With snowboarding both of your feet being attached to the board means snowboarders are likely to experience more injuries when at the beginner stage than skiers because they tend to fall much more often. The most common injuries for snowboarders are wrist, shoulder and ankle injuries.

And what about the lift?

Although lifts can be daunting for a beginner, skis don’t need to be unclipped on a lift and facing forward makes the experience a lot more comfortable than on a snowboard.

Ski lifts are a challenge for boarders as they need to ride with one foot unclipped. They also don’t have ski poles to help them move on and off the lift and must learn to ride off with one foot removed from the board. Once you master that, you are ready to hit the slopes and enjoy the ride. 

So far we are talking about beginners. When we talk about extreme sports both skiing and snowboarding can be great fun and get your adrenaline going. 

Extreme snowboarding is a freestyle on uneven terrain, otherwise popular as 'off-piste'. Riders have to avoid or travel over mountain obstacles including, but not limited to, rocks, trees, cliffs, gaps, and snow mounds. 

Extreme skiing is also when you get away from the groomed runs and head for the steepest area you can find off-piste, involving slope angles of at least 45-degrees or a good-sized cliff drop. 

You must really master skiing and snowboarding before going off-piste. Before that, here are some pros & cons for both sports: 

 

Skiing Pros

✓ Easier to learn the basics 

✓ Easier to get on and off lifts

✓ Straight-on stance feels more natural 

✓ More visibility of the mountain facing downhill

✓ Balance learned from other sports transfers more easily 

✓ Stay off the snow – no need to sit down to remove or put on skis

 

Skiing Cons

✘  New skiers easily trip over their skis 

✘  Mastering the technical aspects of skiing takes many seasons. 

✘  Must learn how to carry two poles and two skis without knocking someone out or yourself

✘  More things to drop when you’re on the lift 

✘  More difficult to stop for beginners. Leaning back doesn’t help, you have to turn to the side and angle your skis.

 

Snowboarding Pros 

✓ Once you have the basics, it’s much easier to progress fast. 

✓ Easier to stop as a beginner, by failing backward

✓ Boarding on powder  

✓ Easier to go off-piste on a beginner board. 

✓ No ski poles to hold and just one board to carry

✓ Snowboard boots are easier to walk in and renowned for comfort. 

✓ Ski buddies can pull you on the flat

✓ Less likely to suffer leg injuries. 

 

Snowboarding Cons 

✘ It takes longer to learn, so don’t expect to stand and board right away.

✘ You spend lots of time falling when you’re learning to board. 

✘ It’s harder to make sharp turns as a beginner until you learn to carve

✘ You’re always strapping in or out of your boots to get on and off ski lifts.

✘ It’s harder to move on flat ground without poles. 

✘ You need more determination and grit to learn to snowboard. 

✘ Upper body and tailbone injuries are more common. 

 

No matter which one you take up don’t forget to have fun, be safe and enjoy the ride!