[Marc]

Welcome to the boards. I feel qualified to comment here because I only started skiing five years ago myself, as a freshman in college. So I have a pretty fair grasp on what the learning curve is like.

And that is exactly what it is, as Steve pointed out. Saying the snowboarding is harder than skiing or vice versa is saying far too little. They can't be compared like that, and really can't be compared at all.

The learning curve for skiing is shallow at first, but you will eventually find it getting steeper and steeper. I'm starting to get to the end of the really steep part of the curve just now.

In other words, I picked up some basic techniques very quickly and could ski some fairly difficult trails my first year on the boards. You will learn very quickly at first but then the learning slows way down. If you truly enjoy the activity you will just keep at it, and as I found out, you make progress. I basically just made the transition from a Level II to Level III skier the end last year and into this year. Now I feel comfortable tackling nearly any inbounds open slope I've come across.

So my point is: don't be worried about how difficult it is. Only whether or not you like it. Bottom line is, if you like it, you will stick with it and improve. If you don't, then you will view learning as a chore, become frustrated, upset and probably quit.

And good clothing is very important as Steve also pointed out. I no longer have any cotton products on my when I ski. Cotton performs terribly when wet. Do yourself a favor and invest in nice polypro thermals, acrylic wool/poly socks, fleece/synthetic shirt and anything else you need to stay warm.


And hang around the board too, if nothing else, just being here will get you pumped up to get out there.