Switch from skiing to snowboarding

A snowHead

@Origen, I wouldn't advise them to start...but I would say that if they learnt to go backwards then they'd find forwards much easier wink

A snowHead

@SnoodyMcFlude, If you’re reasonably fit and have an aptitude for picking sports up you’ll pick it up relatively easily.

Edited to add; you mention you’re goofy (we won’t hold it against you) so you will have a directional bias if you surf, when you learn you’ll usually learn to do stuff in both directions. Just make sure you do things in equal measures. I picked it up really quickly, but went off chasing mates so spent about one percent of my time switch. It now feels quite unnatural.

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When I learned snowboarding many years ago as an already-competent skier (SCGB rep at the time, read into that what you will) I really wanted to focus on the idea of a front and a back end of the board, none of this sliding sideways which at that time seemed to be what the majority of boarders were doing. My wife and I took a couple of hours with an instructor we knew very well, on a day when we had no members to ski with at all, and worked hard. I'd previously tried self-teaching with not too much success a couple of times.

So yes, I had a number of spectacular, and painful falls from front to back edge, no helmets in those days but didn't bang my head so obvs didn't need one Eh oh!

. By the end of the day I was able to negotiate a red run (Jade, IIRC, in Flaine) with more or less linked turns all the way down. So it can be done. I boarded only a few times after that, then smashed up my back in a motorbike accident so gave it up after that. But in any case I'd achieved what I'd set out to do, another box ticked, sorta thing, and it was clear that I would never get to the same level as I could on skis. Or indeed, wouldn't really want to. Horses for courses.

So I don't really have any advice for the OP here - give it a go, basically, wear lots of protective gear, be prepared to fall hard and not be scared of it, but most important for me, I think, was the understanding of what the edge was doing, the same physics as skiing, and the focus on trying to keep it moving lengthwise across the snow.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Wouldn't advise going to the darkside.

But, if you do, take a 2-week vacation, and practice hard (every day).

Few people master both skiing and boarding.

It's harder than you think.

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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I was 36 when I first tried a board, as I wanted to spend the week with my gf who was a total beginner; so both start from scratch.

I picked it up very quickly, which surprised me (could get down easier Reds without much aggro at the end of a week), I also found that I would swap goofy and regular without thinking about it. There were twins in the group who were unbelievably good, but were both skate-boarders; never been on snow before though. Four of us were well ahead of the rest, the other was also a skier.

Going fast is scary, fast on a traverse is even less funny.
Catching a heel side edge and getting the full whip lash into the snow nearly put the lights out (pre helmet days).

What did annoy me was having to pick a route down, rather than just "that way" regardless of grade or an actual piste being there.

Following year we both (now upgraded to wife) went skiing, wife found that easier, and we`ve both just skied ever since.
Kids both ski.

After all it is free

Thanks for all the help with this.

As an update it turns out UCPA are not offering snowboard lessons the week I am there so I think I'll stick to skiing this year, will take all the comments "on board" for next year though.

Still deciding if I can face another week of the UCPA expert half day ski program. I don't really know if I get much out of a week of group piste lessons but that's another thread Smile

I’m glad I tried snowboarding. Had some fantastic days floating on powder.

My mistake was leaving it until I was almost 40 to start. I was fit and strong, but the falls hurt more than anything I’ve ever experienced skiing.

Found it relatively easy to get to feeling comfortable on blues and many reds in places like St Anton, Tignes and Verbier. Progression beyond that didn’t happen because I never committed another full week to it, just odd days.

Steep didn’t seem to matter so much. Crowded flat sections were gnot gnice.

Start as soon as you can.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

My 2 cents.

Dome rental boards are not ideal. Boards are ok but chances are they won't be freshly edged and waxed. Stance angles probably ok but might no be the ideal width for you. Some they will change for you - some they won't.

If you can, go with your own well prepped board. Plenty of good 2nd hand setups for £100. I'm sure plenty of folks here happy to help you look for something.

Or borrow a board off someone here. Something with a bit of rocker is easier to learn on for sure

If learning on real snow:
-don't learn when it's hard and icy. That's a ski day.
-learning to board on a green is tricky. It's easier to turn on a blue. As you already ski at a high level, you are already used to picking up speed during edge transition.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

learn snowboard. Have gear for both of them.
If the slopes/snow are hard packed icy etc, then go skiing
For powder days, choose which passed with the resort & the slopes
When the Spring comes, choose a snowbard for shlushy snow e.g. Capita Spring Break Shlush, and enjoy the shlushy conditions

snow reports

Agree with the above. Its great to be able to do both.
I'm a 50 year old woman and I prefer to snowboard most of the time (comfortable boots, light kit, proving to myself I'm cool/still young.. but not anyone else, because obvs the cool kids ski now)...Been skiing since my 20s but learned to snowboard about 10 years ago.
Snowboarding is easy after the first few days and much easier than skiing for steeper slopes, as long as they're wide, and off piste.
Skiing is better for high mileage hard piste days..and going fast.

Rocker boards help reduce the number of edge catchy nasty falls...there are plenty of great videos on where to put your weight, imagining headlights on your knees..just work out which is your front foot, keep your weight over it, hang like a monkey..you're away.

Shippo

My advice for anyone wanting to do this are:
1. Commit to it completely. By that I mean book a full week's worth of lessons and probably do a day in a snowdome in the UK before you go.
2. Understand that the first few hours, possibly couple of days will not be fun. It is punishing. You will fall far more than when you were learning to ski. Just remember that this was to be expected and the fun times are only a day or two away.
3. Wear protection.
4. Be prepared for rage at fellow skiers who stop on flats or make things difficult on lift exit (it's not their fault, you can't understand unless you've boarded).
5. Be prepared to fall in love to such a degree that you might never put on a set of skis again.

My experience was that I'd fallen in love with skiing at the age of 23 and did three holidays and half a season before seriously plateauing. To the point that skiing just became a means of transport rather than enjoyment. My technique was terrible and I was getting back ache.
My friend took my out on a snowboard, I linked turns after a couple of hours, fell a lot...and the rest is history. I have never once put on a pair of skis again. Just the action of snowboarding itself is enjoyable. It feels fun, and it still does 14 years, a couple more seasons and several holidays later. I'm pretty sporty-love football, squash, gym and running, but snowboarding is my favourite by some distance.

You know it makes sense.

@Ryunis, interesting point 4, not sure those things annoy me any less as a skier.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

You will pick it up faster since you know how to use your edges already. It is a lot of fun and definitely won't ruin skiing for you.

Help!!

Switch from skiing to snowboarding

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