Any skiers ever try snowboarding?

[highpeaksdrifter]

Here's my one experience.

About 15 years ago my youngest kid was in a race at West Mt. I had the flu and felt like chit so I just went up late to watch him race. I was getting board waiting for his second run and they had a snowboard demo going on and decide to give it a try. This was back in the day when they were looking for converts, so I even got the boots to use. Off I head for the lift when one of the guys at the booth says, “Sir, you really should move around a little on the flats, and I’ll be happy to give you a few pointers to get you started.” I say nah, I’ve been on the snow since I was 6 years old. I’ll be fine. So up the lift I go, getting off I fall. I get up and fall. I can’t turn and fall. Get up and point in a different direction and fall and fall and fall. I was clueless. Finally I take the board off and walk down the rest of the way. The kid at the both sees me coming and just smiles. I can here him and the other guy with him laughing as I go. At least I walked away with my dignity. NOT.

 

[Zand]

My first experience was similar to yours. I rented a board at Wachusett, took a beginner lesson, and went straight for the lifts afterward. It was 60 degrees out (during February of 2002, sh8tty year) so everything was wet. I made it halfway down Sundowner and that was it, I was soaked head to toe and walked the rest of the way.

That was my only experience. I'd like to try again someday (don't worry, I'll never turn away from skiing ) with better weather and see if I can do anything this time.

 

[bvibert]

I tried it years ago, I think I went twice. The first time I rented and it went alright, no lessons or anything. The second time I had bought a used board off of a buddy that I think was a piece of crap, I had a miserable time. I did several face plants and spent most of the rest of the time on my ass. I attempted using the board on one other occasion but the binding broke or something. I remember riding the thing down the hill like a sled and going in to rent skis, I've never been back on one. I was probably 14 at the time and was a mediocre skier. Someday I'd like to give a shot again...

 

[dmc]

I skied for years and years..
Was in Jackson Hole - it was a misty day abd the upper mountain was on wind hold.. We rented snowboards and took a lesson... We had to use our ski boot liners in Sorell boots...
We rode the bottom of the mountain.. Our instructor showed us that basics and had us going up the sides of natural 1/4 pipes on the side of the trail in a couple hours... We loved it and actually rented them the next day...
When I got back from the trip I traded at mountain bike for an old snowboard...


DMC first snowboard adventure Circa 88

Then in 10 years of so at Sugarbowl(CA)...

And of course - Hunter

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

DMC, do you have a personel photographer follow you around? :wink:

 

[thetrailboss]

Great to see dmc is back.

Yes, I've tried snowboarding and I sucked...did a free two-hour clinic at Jay and then headed to the top with my skis. It hurts when you fall :x

 

[ga2ski]

I tried it a few times. I got good enough to link turns ina few hours, but I stopped after I "mousetrapped" and knock myself out while wearing a helmet.

The only time it looks fun to me is in powder.

 

[tm07]

I think that most skiers who try snowboarding are thrown off simply because snowboarding is a much different experience than skiing. People expect it to be similar to skiing--but it's not, really. Personally, I'm still working on my boarding skills. But I'm not giving up. I've made it a goal to become proficient at skiing and snowboarding.

No use siding with one side of the eternal argument when both are quite fun in their own right.

 

[dmc]

DMC, do you have a personel photographer follow you around? :wink:

I've taken THOUSANDS of ski photos over the last couple decades..
I have maybe 20 pictures of myself...

I always have a camera... Was lucky to have those old shots from JH..

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

DMC, the pix of u dropping off a ridge, was that taken from The Cliff? BTW that is a great shot.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Tried Snowboarding?

No. I am 59 and while I can see that "riding" could be a lot of fun (my middle son switched about ten years ago due to knee problems from skiing) I just don't like the "learning curve." I would have to endure at least two days of severe body pounding to develop even modest technique. I just don't want to spend good skiing time/conditions recuperating from the pain and possible injury that I would likely experience.

 

[dmc]

DMC, the pix of u dropping off a ridge, was that taken from The Cliff? BTW that is a great shot.

It the high left side of Hellgate. It's my shortcut..

 

[nancie2k]

i took a lesson with a friend who never did any snow sports before so we could be together for the day. we did nothing but fall down for 2 hours!!!! i did get the front turn, but was afraid doing the back, i thought i would get a helmet if i ever tried it again.
we were sore for 4 days afterwards!!!
i figured i still have a lot to learn in the skiing department,less pain

 

[Over40Rider]

I was a skier for a short period of time, and never much good at it, when I decided to give snowboarding a try. Rented a board and proceeded to beat myself up for the next six hours on some pretty icy conditions. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I still had fun. The next time I was linking turns and now, after 5 years, don't fall nearly as much as I used to.
I heard this somewhere, "Skiing is easy to learn and hard to master and snowboarding is hard to learn, but easy to master." sounds right to me.

 

[amf]

My first time was this past MLK weekend. After trashing my daughter (who is an avid boarder) on a section of the Catamount Trail, she vowed revenge - I would have to try boarding. We headed over to Waterville the next day, rented me a setup, & headed for the bunny slope. Should have saved my money & not gotten the lift ticket - did one ride up & walked the rest. Suffice to say, I fell. I fell alot. I wanted poles. I wanted my feet to be free. I finally made a twisting fall & landed on my knees, later diagnosed as microfractures to the tibial plateau. Missed a good 6 weeks of ski season, manageing to squeeze in a couple of days late in the season which I took VERY gingerly. Now, I will try most anything on skiis - they're as natural to me as walking - but snowboarding is one thing I know I won't be trying again!

 

[Brettski]

No

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

snowboard at least 1 day a year every year for the past 5-6 years. it sucked (read:hurt)when I started but now Its cool. I have a board and everything so if I know I'll be skiing with newbies, I just take out the board and hang with them instead of standing around on skis all day.
I'm planning on boarding when my knees go. but as long as I can still bump, I'll be a skier.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

but as long as I can still bump, I'll be a skier.

Wicked, do u compete?

 

[Sparky]

NO

 

[WICKEDBUMPER]

I'm way too old now to compete.
I never was able to pull a good 'copter or a double at will anyway. so I never would have made it very far. speed and style didnt count for much when I was young enough to compete. "air" was pretty much your score. it was who-ever pulled out the better trick. and I was/am just not very good at the tricks. I have my 2 or 3 BASIC old school tricks that I can still pull off and thats about it for "air".
I can still get in a line and rip it straight as an arrow for a hundred yards or so all day long. I dont think that would get me far in a bump competition now-a-days.