Have you ever tried to switch from skis to a board or v-v?

[billski]

If you've skied or boarded for several years and then tried to switch, I'd like to hear how it went.

Two of my girls went from skis to a board and didn't like it. A middle age-friend switched from skis to a board and never went back.

I've toyed with trying it, with these great learn-to-ski/board packages, but I'm afraid to give up days in good snow. Maybe I should try this during the holidays...

Thoughts?

 

[Skimaine]

I have toyed with the idea of Snowboarding, but like you, do not want to give up the ski days. Maybe when I can regularly ski 50+ days per year, I will give it a go.

 

[deadheadskier]

1984

through much pleading my parents got me a Burton Elite 150, split tail, metal fin on the bottom. At the time the only areas in VT that allowed snowboarding were Stratton and Magic. I learned at Magic with Sorel boots on. You had to get 'certified' to ride the upper mountain lifts as skiers were so afraid of the out of control snowboarders. I went a few times and practiced in the back yard.

The next year, most people were putting ski boot liners in Sorels. It was either the following year or two years later that Okemo started allowing boarding. At that time, I had become very fond of skiing bumps. Everyday I'd be out struggling on the snowboard, I wished I was skiing bumps.

So, never really got into it. I've probably strapped on a board a handful of times since, but not once in the passed ten years. Doubt I'll ever pick it up again. I'm perfectly satisfied skiing and really have no desire to spend my limited time on snow learning a new activity.

 

[MommaBear]

Have thought about trying snowboarding, but know I'm not in good enough shape to get myself back up off the ground...lol! Rode the lift with a woman in her forties that had just switched to snowboarding - she said it was tough, but that she enjoyed learning something different as she was getting a bit bored with the skis.

We started out all 3 of our guys skiing. All 3 then went to snowboarding a couple of years in. The oldest was pretty good at both, but has gone back to skis - switching back to the board a couple of weekends out of last year, but still preferring the skis. He makes both look so easy. Middle one has stayed with the board. One weekend last season, he decided to try skiing again (think it was the same weekend his brother went to the board) - he strapped his board back on by lunchtime and has not looked back The youngest pleaded to go to a board for a full season, but we didn't think he (we?) was ready yet - he had gotten really good on the skis and we were enjoying being able to ski the whole mountain again. But following season, we allowed him to switch to the board. He struggled for a few weekends, then called it quits and went back to his skis.

 

[gorgonzola]

when the kids were small and had been on the snow a few seasons i rented a board a bunch of days to level the playing field and keep my time on the greens and blues fun/challenging. i had boarded in the early days as well with a wood/metal skeg burton before any areas let them on the hill. picked it up pretty easily since i skated and surfed, always came back to skiing. skis are just a better tool espcially for the east. even more so with fat skis

 

[jaja111]

Tried a board in the late 90's, felt like I broke my tailbone and both wrists, and gave it up. A good comprimise to switch up for entertainment is a monoski, a new shaped monoski that is. Plug for www.codaboards.com!

 

[deadheadskier]

when the kids were small and had been on the snow a few seasons i rented a board a bunch of days to level the playing field and keep my time on the greens and blues fun/challenging. i had boarded in the early days as well with a wood/metal skeg burton before any areas let them on the hill. picked it up pretty easily since i skated and surfed, always came back to skiing. skis are just a better tool espcially for the east. even more so with fat skis

that I might actually consider when the little deadheadskiers come along

 

[BigJay]

Started snowboarding in 87. I have stopped skiing until 1998... and then, working in a shop, i picked up many demos to compare them. I was selling them... so i figured might as well use them...

Now, i pick up a pair of skis once or twice a year... don't miss it... but it's sometimes fun to do back... i've tried Tele... maybe i should give it a try again this season...

It's pretty much all the same... but to me, boarding feels a lot more natural. When i ski, i have to think a lot about every detail/position/angles and all... on a board, it's simply all programmed on the "main board"... so a lot easier!

You should give a try... helps seing the challenges in all the different types of sliding... except for snowblades, they're all worth giving it a try!

 

[gladerider]

i skiied for about 16 years. i used to ski pretty much in glades. then, about 3-5 years ago i switched to snowboarding. over the last few years, i tried to ski at least a couple times a year. every time i go back to ski, i regret. what i hate the most is the boots. over the 16 years or so of skiing, my knees took a lot of beating. now i am snowboarding, my knees are fine. some of my friends hate the buckling up, but if that's the case, you can go with the flow bindings.

 

[crank]

Like Gorgonzola. I switched to boarding when my son was smaller. Probably about 6. He was at the point where he could ski with poles and get himself around so I learned to board and had fun at local hills like Mohawk, Sundown, Catamount. On a board I found trails that I would have been bored to tears on on skis challenging. I got a lot of mileage for my son and learned a new skill while hanging with him. I also would take him and his friends to some really great sledding hills and bring my board along and earn my turns there.

Nowadays I mostly ski. My son is 17 an dskis steeps and trees and I can't keep up with the kid on a board . I never got good enough to trust myself ripping through the trees. Plus, I find skis are a lot easier to get around the mountain on. I bring my board with me on ski trips and have been averaging a couple of half days per season on it. They are a blast in powder, but that's when I usually head for the trees and there I need my skis. However I do have 2 friends, both life long, excellent skiers who switched completely to boards.

 

[skiboarder]

Had skied for five years, and tried boarding as a fluke. Bunch of friends were going snowboarding. So it was either ski alone on the blacks all day or try boarding and hang with them. I took a lesson, which was moderately helpful. Learned the bunnyhill in the morning; than my friend brought me to a blue. I fell constantly, was cursing and screaming at him. Than, I started to catch on and was actually enjoying the blues.

I was intrigued. My next 10 days were on a board, and I was better on the board than I had been after skiing for 5 years. Mind you, I think snowboarding really comes naturally to me. But many agree that snowboarding has a steep learning curve. The first couple of days can be painfully frustrating. However, if you stick with it, you may find that you progress much faster than you did on skis.

I would recommend a three day weekend, or 2 weekends within a month of snowboarding. 3-4 missed ski days is kind of a small price to pay to give it a go. In 3-4 days, you'll know if it is the sport for you.

Strongly suggest wrist guards for your first day (I bought them for my first day, not knowing if I would go again). Also, folding a large towel and sticking it in your pants can make those falls on your butt much easier to take. And you might want to go later in the season, when the snow is softer.

Now, I love both sports. I board on powder days and for spring conditions, and ski the rest.

Best of luck!

 

[abc]

Tried boarding on 2004, after skiing for about 10 years.

Actually, I tried in the late 90's first time. I got bored with skiing, stuck in "intermediate plataur" for half of that time. A couple of those 1 hr learn-to-board-for free didn't do it. The snow on the bunny hill was too hard and I gave up.

But by 2002, my then S.O. was a non-skier who wishes to learn. I figure everyone said boarding is easier to learn so suggested we BOTH learn to board. I also thought it'd be frustrating to wait on my S.O. on ski. Might as well struggle together on boards.

This was in California, where the sun is out and the snow is soft. So falling didn't feel half as bad as in Mt. Snow. After day 2, I was able to link turns and felt the rush of some G's while the board carve! But then, my S.O. gave up learning (I didn't realize it's still easier for skier to learn to board). And I reverted back to skiing.

While I enjoyed the few days of boarding, I don't feel it's "practical" for getting around. I like the freedom of skis. Since I also enjoy a bit of side-country action, skis are a lot easier.

 

[mondeo]

I figure I'll try snowboarding when I get old.

 

[2knees]

i'm one more blown knee from crossing over.

 

[Glenn]

Did a lot of boarding in high school when I was racing and on the mountain 4 days a week. I still have my Burton boots. I'd love to rent a board one of these days.

 

[Anklebiter]

Every year I plan on giving it a shot, but never do. Probably, because I know it's going to take time it get good, which means spending a lot of time on my a**. Maybe, at some point this year, I'll waste a day and give it try.

 

[HD333]

Skied forever, broke skis in bad fall. Bought a board picked it up quickly and didn't look back for 10 years until last year when I broke down and bought some skis. Now I pull whatever out of the locker depending on conditions (great day I'd rather be on the board). If I can't decide the twins tell me what I will do that day. They want to take boarding lessons this year, it will be their 4th year skiing so we may give that a go to see if they like it.

 

[Cannonball]

Growing up in New England I skied (a lot). I moved to CO in 1993 and seriously upped the level of my skiing. When I moved back in '95 (at 25) I was looking for something new and decided to try snowboarding. It was also a good time to start because my wife was only an average skier so we thought we'd both start at square one.

We took a few lesson, took a beating for the first couple of days, then picked it up very quickly. Within one season I was able to ride everything I could ski, which was pretty much anything. She very quickly outpaced her skiing abilities and would never even consider going back to skiing. She is now a part-time snowboard instructor.

About 5 years ago we both started doing more backcountry. We had both always done a lot of Nordic but wanted to up the level a little bit. She bought a split board. For some reason that I still don't exactly remember I got a tele setup instead of a split board even though I was a better rider than skier by this point. After a few years of riding on-piste and tele in the back country I decided to ditch the teles and get an AT setup.

Now I am ~50:50 boarding and skiing on-piste and 100% AT for backcountry. She is 100% boarder (+ Nordic days). .

Basic advice for making the switch:
- Take lessons
- Give it 3 days IN A ROW. A few attempts here and there won't get you over that painful beginning stage. But once you clear that first hurdle the learning curve is amazingly fast. Especially since, as a skier, you are already comfortable on the mountain.

Good luck!

 

[witch hobble]

Dabbled in both as a spoiled child, but riding was limited due to oppressive ski area policies.

Spent a decade with a snowboard as my weapon of choice, but never went a season w/out a few days on skis.

12+ years back, primarily on two boards, but still get out and ride some. It is fun to switch it up.

It was either the following year or two years later that Okemo started allowing boarding.

Winter of '87-'88, but only on the Black Ridge and in the base for those first couple of years. That is how the half-pipe wound up at the bottom of what was their greatest mogul trail.:wink:

 

[witch hobble]

Maybe I should try this during the holidays...

Thoughts?

You'll want soft snow!