So I tried snowboarding this past weekend....

[iceman]

ski injuries =...deaths from hitting trees with cranium.

Snowboarders don't hit trees? What?

[Cyber Cop]

Snowboarders don't hit trees? What?

It's because of the superior intellect and the larger reproductive organs.

[StingTaco]

I normally snowboard, but I gave skiing a try for the first time last year and I have been dying to go again. I had a lot of fun my first time out on skis. Lots of people seemed surprised I'm making the board to ski transition.

[iceman]

It's because of the superior intellect and the larger reproductive organs.

So that pulls us into the trees, while you guys don't have those worries? Got it.

[Shepherd Wong]

I'll never understand this arguement. Anyone arguing which is more fun is not an expert at both. Skiing has it's days, and boarding had it's days.

I learned to snowboard because I was stuck at a small hill that I was bored skiing. I rode about 80 days for prolly three years, one of those in Boulder. This was before the fat ski was around. Boarding had skiing beat in powder. I also preferred it on groomers. There is no feeling like a well executed frontside carve on corduroy, where your body is scooped up by the g's and held almost perpendicular to the snow for a split second. If you don't know what I am talking about, then you haven't gotten good enough yet.

Skiing was always my go to on those days after a powder day, where everything is pretty chewed up, but not groomed out yet. Skis were more stable on this, and I was more confident on my skis. Also, skis were much better for areas where I would be traversing a lot, like Jackson. I couldn't imagine boarding at Jackson. My calves hurt just thinking about it.

Nowadays, fat skis and long boards have come a long way. I feel just as confident in powder on my skis as I do on a board. I also feel confident maching through chewed up snow on a 163 NeverSummer. The boards and skis are just made better, and made for specific types of riding. It is a toss up as to what to use each day. I feel like I could have fun either way. Usually, it depends what the rest of my crew is doing.

No matter what, though. Nothing in skiing beats that frontside carve. Go get some of that, and tell me different.

Wow well said. I do both a lot and can say that skiing is much harder on my body. Knees, upperbody, everything. I do think of myself as an expert at wiping out on my snowboard though. Don't know if such a title exists on skis.

[jahoney]

20-30 days is not enough time. give it a few years and report back,

it was a few years... maybe thats why. It was a big guess those numbers too, but I would snowboard more if I didn't like skiing so much haha

Bend your knees and go faster - it gets easier.

I'll try that next time

try step-in binders

strap ins are better, aren't they? Flows are cool too, but I'm just using the leftover stuff from my brother that boards, which is not bad at all

[RootSkier]

This is dumb.

Everyone should snowboard, then I wouldn't have any competition to my stashes that require uphill traverses.

YAY snowboarding!

[Flaskman]

I'm 46, been skiing for 43 years but mainly snowboarding for the last 11. They both definitely have their advantages in certain conditions, but I find myself grabbing for my snowboard 90% of the time now. If it's firm, then the skis become much more tempting. It took me 11 days before I could really say I enjoyed snowboarding, took another 4-5 years before I could say I was "more" comfortable in the gnarl on my board, than my skis...but now I most certainly am.

I worry about my health far less on my board. I don't worry about a pre-release on my board, no surprises like crossed tips, caught edges, soft snow catching my downhill ski and instigating an "over the bars" situation. Now that I snowboard so much more than I ski, my skiing skills have suffered, that's for sure. But that's ok...I'm happier on my board most of the time anyway.

It does suck when I'm with a bunch of skiers who are going on an adventure run that involves hiking off and on, then I wish I had my skis.

Carving is good on both, but I prefer the single-edge snowboard carve over the ski carve anyday. There is just something about laying out a fat trench, back and forth, over and over that just soothes my soul much more than anything I can do skiing. But that's just me.

There is really no comparison in powder, in my opinion...even with fat skis. The ability to surf the snow and weave in and out of the trees is just far more enjoyable and much more rhythmic on a board than on skis. I'm sure a lot of people disagree...but a lot of people can't snowboard very well and don't really have a valid opinion cuz they can't do both equally as well.

Hey, it's tough to decide to spend the time to learn to snowboard proficiently when you can kick ass on skis. There is nothing more frustrating than going back 20 years to the blue/green runs where you will struggle while your friends are out kicking ass on their skis. But in the end, if you are on the mountain a lot, and have an interest...it's worth the effort.

[bigsugar]

Bigsugar, cool to see others out trying. Link some turns and the world opens up on a board. Keep at it!

I actually did link turns, I was kidding earlier. I even managed to carve some at the end of the day. It is a neat feeling, especially the toeside. I was thinking about this all day at work, and I guess I;m getting more excited about boarding.
Not boner excited, but close.

[Cyber Cop]

you gotta boner. admit it.

[bigsugar]

you gotta boner. admit it.

Right now, yeah.

But not earlier.

[jibij]

But in the end, if you are on the mountain a lot, and have an interest...it's worth the effort.

Flaskman's post expressed my feelings almost exactly. I still jump back and forth between the skis and board, but lately when I'm on the skis I'm wishing I had the board.

Just picked up a used Arbor Legend 62 tonight, for cheap, and can't wait to give it a spin.

[willywhit]

not saying either is better but I saw a bunch of ski instructors at Vail learning to ride carving/hardboot snowboards on thier day off ie freeskiing time.
If ya love big fast GS turns, getting good at carving a long stiff snowboard is pretty fun.
http://www.extremecarving.com/photos/photos.html

[jfost]

Snowboarders don't hit trees? What?

heheh, well... I guess Sonny Bono and the Kennedy Fam are the obvious ski vs. tree victims... I couldn't name a snowboarder who met their demise that way! I'm sure it happens though...

[Deep Days]

Um, broken neck? Nuff said.

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I ride soft boots and no bang problems. However, first run of the season, foot cramps from hell.

Park to hardpack and hucks to hardpack are totally different things. Having to start from the EXACT correct zone in the park is what scares me. Hucks don't bother me so much, even on hardpack days. Z ENJOYS hucking to bumpfields. Ha!

Re: boot bang, if my boot bang keeps up after countless visits to Larry, I might be inclined to give the Dark Side a try... That's cool news there, Buzz.

Wonder if I'd get hurt any less snowboarding...

[Demolition Woman]

I've never skied in my life, but after riding/splitboarding for a while, I can definitely see the convenience of having skis instead. And the decreased weight while touring is also tempting. Been thinking about trying the dark side lately... *insert halo here*

I actually skied downhill on my split the other day (for more than just a few feet), and it was kind of fun. I think I still like the tele feel better, but I have difficulty dropping my left knee for some reason.

anyway, back to topic, glad people are more willing to try both and have fun. hope you can link some turns in some steep, deep powder. you might be hooked.

[William Murderface]

I ski, but almost exclusively ride with snowboarders, because thats what all my homies do. The whole skiing/snowboarding hatred is so early 90's.

You gotta admit the convienience with skis though.

[Demolition Woman]

I ski, but almost exclusively ride with snowboarders, because thats what all my homies do. The whole skiing/snowboarding hatred is so early 90's.

You gotta admit the convienience with skis though.

Funny. I ride almost exclusively with skiers.

[raj]

I skied, then got bored, switched to boarding and did that exclusively for more than 10 years. Then got more interested in backcountry/ ski mountaineering and started doing both for the last 3-4 years. This year mostly skiing.

1) Carving: I have a fair bit of experience on alpine/ hard boot snowboarding and this is the purest carve you can feel on both the front and backside turns. Soft boot snowboarding or skiing will not get you even close. The G forces you can get are stupendous. Unfortunately hard boot snowboardign is the least popular for some reason.

2) Speed: No question on hardpack/ ice/ crud stiff/ damp skis win hands down. Not close. Followed by hard boot snowboards, followed by soft boots.

3) Steeps: boards do surprisingly well but I feel in more control on skis in super steep/ icy terrain. I think this one is close adn not that much difference.

4) Powder: Soft boot snowboarding. My ~100 mm waist skis don't get me even close to the surfing/ slashing feeling. Powder on a soft boot snowboard is the most natural thing. Maybe the 140 mm waist reverse camber skis will finally feel the same but I haven't tried them yet.

5) Pipe: I actually feel more natural on skis. weird.

6) spins: feel much safer with board. Much less chance of gettign serious knee injuries.

7) switch: duh. obvious a soft boot snowboard with duck stance.

8) injuries: serious injuries much worse on skis in my personal experience. Lots of ankle sprains and wrist sprains on boards but my really serious injuries have been on skis: higher speeds + legs not tied together = really bad injury potential for legs, knees and hips.

I am out right now with a hip injury from skiing. Hope it mends soon.

[4matic]

Unfortunately hard boot snowboarding is the least popular for some reason.
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Too one dimensional.. All carving all the time. Looks dorky in the lift line too.

[String]

You can be way more playful with terrain on a snowboard in my opinion. Skiers can go fucking huge and ass check their landings and still get in videos. Why? I have no clue. haha.

It's apples and oranges and unless you understand the skate and surf styles then snowboarding probably isn't as appealing. Skate the mountain and slash everything possible.

[raj]

Too one dimensional.. All carving all the time. Looks dorky in the lift line too.

You can actually ride all mountain with hard boots quite well. Give it a try before thinking it sucks. I have snowboarded from the actual summit of Mt Hood (not just from the hogsback) using alpine touring hardboots with vibram soles. As for the "dorky" look, someone posted earlier about people laughing at him for using Rossi Axioms in the nineties

I agree though that for softer conditions/ powder, I prefer soft boots. Doing all three: skiing, soft and hard boot snowboarding can only make you a more accomplished slider so do it all. I also think snowboarding makes you more playful with the terrain and even when you go on skis you think of slashing, rolling, wind lips and not just going down like a machine

[4matic]

You can actually ride all mountain with hard boots quite well. Give it a try before thinking it sucks. I have snowboarded from the actual summit of Mt Hood (not just from the hogsback) using alpine touring hardboots with vibram soles. As for the "dorky" look, someone posted earlier about people laughing at him for using Rossi Axioms in the nineties

I agree though that for softer conditions/ powder, I prefer soft boots. Doing all three: skiing, soft and hard boot snowboarding can only make you a more accomplished slider so do it all. I also think snowboarding makes you more playful with the terrain and even when you go on skis you think of slashing, rolling, wind lips and not just going down like a machine

Don't get all huffy.. I started snowboading because the humiliation of fat skis was too much (image is everything!) I learned in hard boots and rode hardboots on a freestyle board for a couple years. Still ride K2 Clicker which are basically hard boots in disguise. I also wasn't talking about all mountain riding using conventional stances and boards. I was talking about pure alpine carving with extremely forward stances. I've seen people ride steeps in those setups and it's amusing at best.

[raj]

Sorry 4matic didn't realize that you actually DID know about hard boots (plus hey I had a smiley see !). No worries. I agree that riding super stiff race snowboards with very forward stance in the backcountry steeps feels weird. I have such setups but use them only for carving. For something like Mt Hood summit, I use a Donek Incline 164 (freeride board with very good edge hold) + old Raichle 124 boots that are quite flexy + vibram soles + crampons on the way up. Using crampons with soft snowboard boots is possible but way sketchier than a boot with rigid sole.

Anyway, enough thread drift, do it all, its all good. Now the thing I don't get is telemarking. That does look stupid with no redeeming value :-)

[willywhit]

Skate the mountain and slash everything possible.

that pretty much sums it up.

hardboots on a 23cm wide 176 Coiler carver EX.

It took me years of carving at Stowe to keep up with my ski buddys.

On Gondolier fresh cord my ski racer buddy would ski behind me, really close at speed, and ride the rut I'd just put down with my board. Pretty trippy watching that from above us in the gondola.
Raj, good luck with the hip rehab. You sound like you've got the set up I'm working toward-hard boots , soft boots and some skis. IT IS ....all good.