Snowboarding comes of age

[catskills]

ive snowboarded for the last 7 years, but i never skiied. Ive been getting the hankering to learn to ski. Id love to try to ski a few times, i know id probably have to get lessons. I dont think i could teach myself. I guess whats holding me back the most is my desire not to "waste" days learning or the fact that i will prbabaly such for the better part of the year. What would my learning curve be? Im a pretty good water skier/2 ski and slalom. I really want to rip on skis

Npage, Since I lived in Buffalo many years ago, I got to try to help you out because people in Buffalo are just down right nice people. Since you live in NY state check out NY states SKI 123 program that most ski areas have. Its a great way to get started. In addition to the SKI 123 program take more leassons. Note a good ski boot fit is very important. After 5 ski days you might be able to get down an intermediate slope and after 10 days maybe an expert slope. No need to push it. Just focus on learning and improving your ski techniques. Buy some learn to ski videos.

Here are some nice on-line free videos Ski in Control PSIA and ski mecanics and exercise videos

Most important safety tip. With the new ski equpipment they almost drive themselves. This is good and bad. If you get going too fast and out of control fall down immediately before you get going way to fast and you hit something like a tree. With snowboards this scenario doesn't usually happen. With skis is can and does happen.

When I lived in Buffalo, the Anchor Bar just started the Buffalo Wing craze. Just about every bar in Buffalo had FREE Buffalo wings for about two years before they started charging for them. I remember the first time a bar wanted to charge me for wings. I could not believe they actually wanted to charge me for wings.

 

[Bosefius]

Re: Will Snowboarding Continue to Grow

Don't forget the Telemark freeheelers scene, which is kind of like a cult.

It is? Who knew? Do thay have a secret handshake too? C'mon, a "cult"? Me and my buddies ski - that's it. Some are on freeheel stuff some aren't. Nobody pays much attention.

I have to disagree with you here freeheelwilly. I'm a tele skier and I always seem to find myself talking and skiing with other tele skiers I've just met. Yeah, I get along with boarders and fixed heelers, but there just seems to be something a little extra between tele skiers. Most of my friends are fixed heelers or boarders, but if I'm alone, it always seems that I will find another tele skier or tele group to ride with...or they will find me!

 

[Bosefius]

I guess whats holding me back the most is my desire not to "waste" days learning

I know exactly what you mean. This is how I felt when I was experimenting with boarding. My suggestion, wait for "average" days. Don't waste a powder day on the greens learning to handle two sticks, but don't do it on a bulletproof day either, because that will sour you to something great. With your well rounded activity list, you should have a decent learning curve. Everyone is different though so nailing down a date before you'll be ripping the zipperline is next to impossible.