Heading to Copper with the kids (12,11,9) for spring break this year. I can hold my own on skis on just about any terrain ( I really suck on bumps) and really love to ski. I am on the “every other year” plan as far as being able to travel/ski out west from MO. The kids all want to take board lessons, so I was considering learning myself so we could all hang and board together. However, I really hate to give up my limited 3 days/every two years of skiing to spend a day and a half learning to ride. Conversely, so many people say that once they learn to ride its the most fun they’ve ever had.
Who has been in this same position, what would you do, and why?? Thanks!!!
PS, I also worry (and know) that the kids will pick this up faster than me, and be smokin me down the hill for the second half of the trip!
A few years back one guy in our group (all 30-40 somethings) decided to try snowboarding. First day he took a lesson, boarded all day. That night he raved about how much fun it was. Rest of the week he was on skis. Maybe it was because he couldn’t board while we were skiing cause he couldn’t do the harder slopes that we were all doing, but as far as I know he’s never boarded again.
But, if you’re learning with your kids and can then board with them, then maybe try it one year. And make it more than every other year…
Yep, I guess it’s all about frame of mind. As the guy in the next post suggests, I won’t be able to do the harder stuff. If I did blacks runs at all, though, then I would be cutting into family time. So maybe I make this my “learn to board” year, embrace it, enjoy with the kids, and prepare for bruises (as the third responder says). Still, gonna be tough looking at some of those steeps and not hittin’ them.
Absolutely try it with your kids for a day/lesson. But plan to ski too, to enjoy yourself.
Your kids will be hooked, and never look back. Get helmets…for you too. It’s not uncool anymore.
If you have an option, pay extra for the step-in bindings. Otherwise, you’ll be spending all day sitting on your cold butt.
I love skiing and can rip any terrain on skis. I’ve only boarded a fews times, but quickly got comforable on everything but the blacks.
Now…If it’s a powder day, I’d trade in the skis for the snowboard every time.
If you consider yourself an avid skiier and felt like spoiling yourself a bit, you could spend the time/$ on a half day private lesson to address what is causing you to struggle in the bumps. That used to be me, and after I took the lesson skiing bumps was all I wanted to do.
Personally, I’d save the board lessons for a time when conditions were crappy or I was at a rinky-dink hill.
I’ve skied since i was 5. When I was 29 or so, decided to take a day of boarding lessons after a bit of skiing. 1st half day was one of the worst times I’ve had on snow. 2d half, once of the best. I now do both when I go, but mostly boarding. It’s much more enjoyable than skiing for me, and having been a skier made the learning curve that much easier. You already understand fall lines, carving, etc. And, boarding has made me a better skier.
I guarantee that you will be sore. I know it sounds lame but wear wrist guards and knee pads when you learn. It will prevent undue pain. Helmets are good too. If you have a skateboard or surfing background it will help.
I started riding 20 years ago and never looked back. Unless its a powder day, nothing beats a race board with hard boots to carve up the fresh groomed corduroy.
If you have any sense of balance you should pick it right up. If you ever surfed or water skied you should have know problem picking it up quick. If it was me I would start off on a dbl. Black diamond, hey but that is just me.
Used to ski a few times per year, never fully enjoyed it as I never felt comfortable on them. Signed up for lessons 2 weeks ago at Snowbird (part time job there too) and absolutly loved it.
Went back yesterday for lesson #2 and still absolutely loved it.
Don’t waste your limited time snowboarding. Snowboards are fun in powder if you learn how to carve. They start getting fun at about 25mph. They are not fun going slow, or in bumps, chop, hardpack, when you have to traverse to get to the goods, skate across a flat or get off the lift. A new boarder on hard pack is a broken wrist waiting to happen or at least a black and blue a$$.
I’ve skied for 30-90 days a year for 30 years and boarded for 10 of those. Once fat skis came along boarding became superfluous.
A small percentage of boarders actually know how to carve and link turns, the rest of them do a great job of being a hazard or side-slipping down powder and ruining it for those who know what to do with it.
I skied a lot as a kid. I started snowboarding at 16. I’m 29, and I’ve only spent a single day on skis since.
You’ll fall. A lot. Took me three days’ worth of falls before I ‘got it’, but after that third day I was already linking turns on intermediate runs, and having a BLAST in the process.
A word of friendly advice: avoid falling on your ass or your wrists - instead, try to fall flat on your back or on your chest. More surface area to spread the impact (and yes, there will be many of those). Snow’s fluffy, but after the bajillionth fall it can get pretty painful if your body parts become ‘repeat customers’.
Also, and this is key: make sure the boots you get fit properly. You want to be comfortable, but you should not have too much wiggle-room for your toes. What you’re shooting for is snug but not tight, where the tip of the boot comes up when you lift your toes (leaving the balls of your feet down).
Step in bindings suck . I hate rental stuff . My kid gave me lessons . Started at 55 . Now do it 2 times a week. Never skied before. Lots of fun. Hard on the wrists when you fall. Just like skateboarding . Well kind of :0)
Have a great time with your kids. Thom
As a dude who’s wrist is FUBAR for life (work related) I second the fall on your chest or back. Do not try to catch yourself, that’s how many wrist injuries happen. Judo or Jiu jitsu helps with learning 'boarding I learned to snowboard in '99 and don’t get to do it enough. Only ski experience is XC skiing. I don’t get the skiing elist bs that’s even showing up here. If it gives you time with your kids, do the boarding and learn something new. It won’t be time wasted.
Never tried snowboarding due to my limited time on the slopes. I’m not willing to pay my dues, plus it looks painful to me. I usually ski about twice a year. I just got back from a 5 day trip from Mammoth about 30 mins ago. I skied with my daughters for two days one was on a snowboard and one just switched to skis from snowboarding. Good luck with your decision and have fun.
I learned to snowboard in '99 and don’t get to do it enough. Only ski experience is XC skiing. I don’t get the skiing elist bs that’s even showing up here. If it gives you time with your kids, do the boarding and learn something new. It won’t be time wasted.