Skiers or Snowboarders

[skidmarks]

Skiers or Snowboarders, who needs the least amount of snow to enjoy the sport of sliding?
Early season free day at Mt Snow shows a mix of skiers and snowboarders.

 

[icedtea]

I just know from riding a lot with a buddy who skis...he can hit jumps, cliffs etc with a smaller runout because of poles and the ability to "skate"

 

[dmc]

I can ride stuff that skiers can't so easily.. Or without damagjng the skis...
Before every alpine head comes after me... I do know skiers that can ski shallow snow... but they trash their skis...

 

[icedtea]

Skiers always say to me boarders have it easier in pow and choppy pow...don't know if that is true or they are just lazy..

 

[skidmarks]

In the near past it would have been mostly snowboarders. Looks like the skiers are coming on strong.

 

[bobbutts]

Skiers always say to me boarders have it easier in pow and choppy pow...don't know if that is true or they are just lazy..

it's true for the most part, but with wider skis it's less of a difference.. also I think it's alot easier to be a crappy boarder on choppy pow vs. crappy skier.. applies less for skilled rider/skier

 

[mondeo]

Whoever has the better attitude and cares the least about the condition of their equipment.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Skiers always say to me boarders have it easier in pow and choppy pow...don't know if that is true or they are just lazy..

maybe they're crappy pow skiers. Personally I've never looked over at someone on a board on a pow day and thought, "Damn, wish I was on one of those instead of these friggin skis" I like the ability to walk with both feet clicked in and poles come in pretty damned handy...

as for who needs less snow...I don't think it matters...though I'd say telemarketers as they are on the telephone, not skis.

 

[deadheadskier]

In shallow snow, I would think that a snowboarder would have an advantage in terms of not bottoming out due to a more even weight distribution.

interesting question about an activity that doesn't interest me much. I would have zero interest in spending a day at an early season jib park. Maybe if there was a decent jump there, but that's a big maybe. I really don't see the love affair people have with jib parks, but to each their own.

 

[Glenn]

Whoever has the better attitude and cares the least about the condition of their equipment.

x2

The only difference I see traversing flat terrian or a really big powder dump.

I've done my fair share of snowboarding back in the day.

 

[Riverskier]

Not sure I have an answer to the question, but I think the predominance of snowboarders in that photo is because it was a jib park, and not related to the amount of snow. A side note though, I think snowboarders have a much easier time riding on and breaking up crust on powder.

 

[deadheadskier]

. Personally I've never looked over at someone on a board on a pow day and thought, "Damn, wish I was on one of those instead of these friggin skis" I like the ability to walk with both feet clicked in and poles come in pretty damned handy...

agreed

again to each their own, but I think snowboarders are at a major disadvantage in areas that require a lot of traversing to get to the goods. Having the ability to pole and skate is something I would not want to give up.

 

[snafu]

Skiers or Snowboarders, who needs the least amount of snow to enjoy the sport of sliding?

Very subjective question but I would have to say snowboarders, since it seems they have more of a percentage who enjoy parks as opposed to freeriding, trees etc. All these types need is enough snow to slide down to hit a jump, rail, whatever, and enough to land and stop. Although it seems like more and more younger skiiers are taking to the parks and ripping them up too.

I think it comes down to age, the younger you are the more apt you will be to have fun on a spot of snow, while someone older like me would have more patience to wait until there is ample snow to enjoy more of the mountain - as well as the fact I have alot less free time these days.

 

[snafu]

again to each their own, but I think snowboarders are at a major disadvantage in areas that require a lot of traversing to get to the goods. Having the ability to pole and skate is something I would not want to give up.

This is the worst part of snowboarding, I totally agree. It becomes painfully apparent when I am with my skiing buddies at Killington when we come up to the umpteenth catwalk that I didn't anticipate. I have been thinking of buying some telescopic poles to see if it would help, but prolly a better idea is some of the newer bindings where I can pop my foot out quickly.

 

[dmc]

This is the worst part of snowboarding, I totally agree. It becomes painfully apparent when I am with my skiing buddies at Killington when we come up to the umpteenth catwalk that I didn't anticipate. I have been thinking of buying some telescopic poles to see if it would help, but prolly a better idea is some of the newer bindings where I can pop my foot out quickly.

Release binding... no way... thats insane... poles can work in a pinch...

 

[deadheadskier]

I notice the traverse disadvantage a lot at Stowe. There are hundreds upon hundreds of acres out in the notch that require long traverses to get too. On skis you can make it out to the deepest areas in under twenty minutes there and then back at the bottom. A snowboard would take far longer.

 

[Geoff]

Not sure I have an answer to the question, but I think the predominance of snowboarders in that photo is because it was a jib park, and not related to the amount of snow. A side note though, I think snowboarders have a much easier time riding on and breaking up crust on powder.

I think the answer to the question is more attitude dependent than what's strapped to their feet. Go to any ski area on closing day when most things are thin cover. You'll see equal numbers of skiers & snowboarders making turns on moss, mud, and grass when the ribbon runs out. I personally don't like skiing on the grass/mud/moss strips when the ribbon runs out in the spring. I'm one of the wimps who stops and walks or sidesteps to the next snow patch.

Snowboarders do indeed perform a valuable service breaking up the crust layer in the trees. Skis and breakable crust do not coexist very well.

 

[billski]

In the narrow context of the question "enjoy" is the operative word. I think anyone can enjoy, regardless of equipment. I don't think it's the equipment that holds people back, it's their attitude.

 

[faceplant]

back in April where the flat runout starts down on k27 I popped out to walk over a big grass patch- mebbe 25' long- when theres a noise behind me so i turn around to check for bears- just then this kid shoots by leaning way back on his boards just skiddin right across the entire grass patch to the next snow area- never seen anybody do that- that kid didnt need any snow atall- really thinking outside the box- course he coulda broke his neck if his boards got caught- & at least i still had my bases intact

so i'll vote skiers

 

[skidmarks]

back in April where the flat runout starts down on k27 I popped out to walk over a big grass patch- mebbe 25' long- when theres a noise behind me so i turn around to check for bears- just then this kid shoots by leaning way back on his boards just skiddin right across the entire grass patch to the next snow area- never seen anybody do that- that kid didnt need any snow atall- really thinking outside the box- course he coulda broke his neck if his boards got caught- & at least i still had my bases intact

so i'll vote skiers

F-Yah!!