 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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CaravanSkier,  Nice try. Rule 5 applies.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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There was/is a magic carpet system somewhere which has it iirc!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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How about getting a Zorb ball and wearing it with your feet sticking out the hole and riding that way?
Frankly if you are always riding paranoid about falling over, you'll hate snowboarding and won't progress beyond creeping about on bunny slopes. Take the knocks, pay your dues and the end result will be worth it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Richard_Sideways speaks the truth.
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Get private lessons instead of group or teaching yourself. You will get (literally!) a lot more hand-holding from the instructor and will avoid a lot of the early falls.
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| stevomcd wrote: |
| Get private lessons instead of group or teaching yourself. You will get (literally!) a lot more hand-holding from the instructor and will avoid a lot of the early falls. |
And if you learn in the Summer you can pay for 'group' lessons and end up with 1 - 1 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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CaravanSkier, honestly, it doesn't sound as though snowboarding is for you! I enjoyed the learning I did, and got to the stage where I could do linked turns down a blue piste (and even one or two rather easy reds) but I did have some very big crashes en route - and decided, at 66, to give it up (after fracturing my pelvis, though that was skiing). I too am becoming more of a wimp in old age; it goes with the territory, I think. I like to think that the boarding I did has given me some insight into how snowboarders look at the world, and an understanding of why they sit in the middle of the piste.
I am going to do more cross-country skiing, especially as my apartment is in an area with terrific XC - including some very challenging "black" circuits which will take me a long time to master. It's exceptionally good exercise. You do fall quite a bit, I find, especially on descents or when the snow is icy, but probably not so violently!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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pam w, The trouble with XC skiing is that it seems to take all the hard work of downhill skiing but with few of the benefits? Not that I have tried it! Maybe I should!
I think you are probably correct that boarding is not for me but it was another thread, on snowboarders age, that made me think about it. Comments that it was easier on the knees etc just got me wondering! 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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CaravanSkier, it might be easier on the knees but it can be harder on other bits. My younger son is very good at both, but reckons the latter is harder work. He would always choose a board when the snow is plentiful, though.
XC skiing is just completely different. It's more like hill walking - not to be compared to downhill skiing. When I get better at it I'd like to try one of the Norwegian XC holidays.
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I don't really get the big falling thing. I fell much more, and with more sharp edges and spikey poles when learning skiing as opposed to boarding.
Sure, if you're going to their yourself off huge kickers... But almost no one does that, and anyway the risk is similar with skis.
If you're not athletic maybe you would fall a bit, but if you can ski... Well I think it's way over played here. The idea of people wearing body armour and all that...learn to ride, learn to fall, its a sport not a consumer activity.
On the OP, yes, treat it as something to learn. Most people don't bother with practicibg, for example. If you learn best from teachers, then hire one of those. Do not spend money on toys, spend it on learning. It's actually a quick transition from skiing.
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You know it makes sense.
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philwig, Interesting. I think that because I learnt to ski as a teenager way back in the 70`s I don`t really remember much falling, and maybe its a matter of perception but I always seem to see far more snowboarders falling than skiers. On here you certainly hear lots of talk about about falls.
pam w, Lots of folk seem to enjoy XC, I remember it being very popular in Bavaria and in the Jura.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| CaravanSkier wrote: |
| ... I think that because I learnt to ski as a teenager way back in the 70`s I don`t really remember much falling ...I always seem to see far more snowboarders falling than skiers |
Perhaps it's because I learnt both skiing and snowboarding so long ago I forgot the down sides, but I don't think that's it.
I'm learning to no-board at the moment, which I'm sure the internet naysayers would suggest needs even more protection and insurance and legal support. But there's nothing to be afraid of - it's just like sledging, only you stand up. If people wittered on the internet about learning to cycle, they'd probably decide not to, but it's actually just like riding a bike.
At resorts the average ability level of snowboarders appears less than that of skiers, which may be why you see more of them falling. Many of those are the people who decide that it's better to wear padded clothing and buy insurance than to learn how not to crash.
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Poster: A snowHead
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You can only be a snowboarder if you accept and then relish the pain.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In my experience, boarders do fall more than skiers, especially when learning and also once experienced, but for different reasons.
When learning a lot of beginners lean back up the hill when the board gets onto the fall line and the board shoots out from under them, or they catch an edge and slam, you see it time and time again with beginner classes. You just don't see the same number of slams with skiing classes.
Once you are experienced and for instance heading down an icy piste, if your edge slips for what ever reason, on skis you have another chance to save yourself on your other ski, on a board you don't.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| stevomcd wrote: |
| Get private lessons instead of group or teaching yourself. You will get (literally!) a lot more hand-holding from the instructor and will avoid a lot of the early falls. |
Best advice ever. Though there comes a point further along the learning scale when you just need to play around on your own and take the falls. Yeah, it hurts sometimes, but all you do is do some swears, laugh at yourself and get back up again and carry on.
If you're scared of falling then wear protective gear - crash pants, gloves with built in wrist guards and take some paracetamol and ibuprofen before you even start. Then at least hurting yourself enough to make you want to give up is going to be far less likely.
And when you get going, stay relaxed. Try not to always be braced for the fall. If you're tense and don't relax then you catch more edges and spend too long dusting yourself off!
(It's so much fun, honestly. Even on an icy piste...)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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CaravanSkier, ouch. Well, to be honest the bits that hurt me the most were the bones I kept landing on (bum and knees), and the flip over and try again muscles (stomach and core). The ibuprofen now is mostly to stop my feet giving me grief (should be buying new boots, not flights to snow). It's more of a precaution than a necessity!
Have a go. Go on. Listen to the spirit.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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