New to Skiing - boarder for 12 years

A snowHead

Hi, I've been a boarder for 12 years and have decided recently I want to be able to do both skiing and boarding, i.e.. when there's been a large dump I will take my board out, however when its anything else I will go on skis, I usually go as part of a large group and pretty much everyone else in that group skis, its been something I've been considering for a number of years now.

I've had my first lesson in the UK and the instructor advised me to stop wasting money and to go straight for recreational ski as I'm able to parallel turn (all be it hesitantly) and lots of practice is required.

I'm looking to get a complete setup of boots, skis and bindings. On my board I enjoy freestyle and natural hits all over the mountain and motoring with friends, ideally, I'd like to be able to do exactly the same regards of being on 1 or 2 planks.

My Plan is to go to EB or S&R and try on everything they have in stock atm and see how I get on, so with the boots it shouldn't be to hard to eventually reach a set I am happy with, but skis and bindings I am lost, I don't know where to start.

So with that in mind and my ability level, what would people recommend I look for? (I'm not interested in "ZOMG GET XXXXX WTFLOL") I am interested in peoples thoughts, pitfalls and tips. I'm 35, 88kg, 6 foot, size 10.5 snowboard boot and not an overly wide ankle.

Thanks in advance for reading and any comments

James

A snowHead

1)for the boots, take the extra time/effort to seek out a good bootfitter and get what they reccomend. Coming from a snowboarding background you will probably find all ski boots less comfortable than you are used too, but you will like skiiing infitinely more if you have good performing and confortable boots.

2) for the skis, i dont think you can go too wrong. Most shops will have some kind of deal with skis + bindings, just go for that.

The choice is more for the ski than the binding, as a beginner dont go for something too wide or long.

To be honest i think you would be better served buying the boots and then hiring your skis in resort as what is good or you now and in a couple of years will change a lot and the first skis will probably quickly end up being replaced.

Also, i find it hard to believe an instructor would reccomend after just 1 lesson having no more.... maybe you dont want to get loads of lessons, but having at least a few mornings per week will help alot.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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Ractys - why would I lie? odd, anyway that's what she advised, I plan to have another more advanced lesson in the next few weeks anyway, I tend to have a snowboard lesson at least once a year in the mountains anyway (usually freestyle) - thanks for the heads up on the boot fitter, I suspect I will take a trip to 1 of the 2 fitters that seems to get a lot of mentions

Clarky - I don't plan to spend much time off piste on skis. that's why I will take my board with me, however best laid plans and all that, thanks for the tips on the ski dimensions, I will take a look

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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thank you very much Clarky, appreciate it Smile

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

sorry, i diddn't mean to say you were lieing, just that i was surprised.

i hope you enjoy skiiing. i've done a bit of boarding but not got over the falling very hard and winding myself stage yet...

After all it is free

I would honestly try to at least try a few different kinds of skis before buying, if you like to board off piste why would you only want to ski on piste. at least try some fatter and rockered skis, they are a lot of fun in different conditions not just fresh powder.

Agree with that lynseyf and when I ski with boarders, I'm surprised how similar our lines and rates of travel are. I spent an afternoon skinning and sliding with a split boarder a couple of months ago and we took it in turns to lead/follow between the heather and rocks. Their line was the line I'd have chosen and vice versa, and we travelled at near identical pace. On the uphill though, the board was slower as his bindings, skins and 1/2 boards were about twice the weight of my kit. Toofy Grin

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lynseyf, Now the op didn't say they wanted to be an ex boarder which is the natural endgame from your advice wink

I'd get something pistey and general punter focused in the short term while I built my core skills then think about something fun.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Sandy77uk, even if you don't plan to spend any time off-piste on skis, you'll still be on skis, spot something nice off the side, and feel like diving in.

clarky999's advice is great if you want to be strictly a piste/slalom skier, but I'd split the difference personally and go for 90 to 100 underfoot. I'm less of a good skier than he is though, I'm pretty sure, so I'd go with his advice over mine on that basis.

I did things the other way round from you. Skier for a good few years, got to 'black run go anywhere except off piste and crazy moguls' level, the classic plateau I guess, and started boarding as well to mix it up a bit. I love getting into the deeper stuff now on both equipment. I'd say try to let go of the 'boarding when it's powder, skiing when it's sheet ice' cliche a little bit - because there's more conditions than those polar opposites, usually during the same week, often during the same day, plenty of times on the same descent. Just make sure you have fun on both.

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New to Skiing - boarder for 12 years

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