 Poster: A snowHead
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What’s people experience? Converted fully, reverted back, keeps a hand in at both? Done well over 20 weeks on a board, but want to be able to do both for versatility. I had a couple of ‘learn to ski in a day’ at Chillfactore. Couldn’t get the hang of Snowplough at all but was getting very bad parallel turns by the end of the day. I never found the instructors to be that great. One of them commented I don’t know how you’re getting away with those turns learning that far back. I probably need to commit to a full week away on planks. Just thought I’d ask for people’s thoughts, TIA.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Are you “learning back” while on board?
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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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My husband was a boarder who learnt to ski and now mostly skis. He did a whole week of morning lessons (ski) on a ski holiday to Saalbach and had his board in the afternoon if he wanted to. Seems to work as with the odd private lesson here and there he is a decent skier.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Following this thread with interest.
As I'm doing two bashes this year on my board w/o wife or kids, I've decided to ski on our family trip to VT so as to spend the time more with @EmmaJ.
I haven't been on skis since school ski trips in the early 80s. Cue up the silly music for the inevitable bloopers...
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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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I was an intermediate skier as an early teen when I switched to a board. 35 yrs passed by and I had only ever once got back on 2 planks once for a drunken race.
Most of my boarding is off piste, the icy hard pack on piste is not as gentle as the body ages. So 2yrs ago I got some skis for piste bashing with the kids.
Great laugh, they are way better than me. One of their instructors saw me ski and said straight away - you are a boarder non?
I found, most importantly- forget the snow plough!! Just put your skis across the slope to stop, not unlike snowboarding. Jumping around moguls on a red seemed easier than pointing it down a blue, because after a lifetime of standing sideways, pointing straight down hill is frankly, terrifying !!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Skiing is much more technical. Took me about 10 years to get to the same snowboarding level offpiste.
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| ed48 wrote: |
| Skiing is much more technical. Took me about 10 years to get to the same snowboarding level offpiste. |
But very few snowboarders are actually expert at it. I still encounter skiers who aren't used to having their asses kicked by snowboarders, so I think it's harder to master than most skiers think 
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| Ro63rt wrote: |
| What’s people experience? Converted fully, reverted back, keeps a hand in at both? Done well over 20 weeks on a board, but want to be able to do both for versatility. I had a couple of ‘learn to ski in a day’ at Chillfactore. Couldn’t get the hang of Snowplough at all but was getting very bad parallel turns by the end of the day. I never found the instructors to be that great. One of them commented I don’t know how you’re getting away with those turns learning that far back. I probably need to commit to a full week away on planks. Just thought I’d ask for people’s thoughts, TIA. |
I did the switch this year, albeit after a long gap from taking snowboarding seriously.
The first thing I'd say is on wider pistes abroad you get a lot more time to implement the things/drills you're learning during lessons.
The dry slope I'd went to before going on holiday was so short you had 3 short turns before you were at the bottom, if you fluffed up a few of them you didn't come away feeling very confident!
Alot of things I was taught on the dry slope suddenly made sense as to why with that extra space and steepness.
As soon as you start tackling steeper runs (even blues) you'll quite quickly learn you need to correct how you're leaning, that made the biggest change to my confidence as you're not getting down the run otherwise as your turns just won't work.
I'm definitely fully converted, just wish I'd made the change long before my fast approaching 40th!
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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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| phil_w wrote: |
| ed48 wrote: |
| Skiing is much more technical. Took me about 10 years to get to the same snowboarding level offpiste. |
But very few snowboarders are actually expert at it. I still encounter skiers who aren't used to having their asses kicked by snowboarders, so I think it's harder to master than most skiers think |
Snowboarding is easy to pick up and tough to get good at.
Skiing - I've two hours of my legs constantly pointing in different directions and not being able to stand up to make me think it's probably harder to pick up. I've seen lots of crap skiers who can get around way more comfortably than crap boarders though. Good skiers look ridiculously elegant to watch though.
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I’m a much better snowboarder than skier. Been on a board since 1996 but only on skis since 2014. I tend to ski now with the wife and on the board with lads trips.
I found skiing pretty straightforward to pick up but I’ve hit a bit of a limit in terms of what I’m prepared to try.
The one thing in favour of anyone making a switch is understanding edge control (and the fact you’ve got two is a bonus) but also being able to properly read a slope topography to know how to make a slope easier. And obviously being able to read other slope users actions too.
I’m really glad I decided to start to learn to ski and it’s nice being able to switch between the two, keeps you on your toes (literally on the board).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I have never set foot on a Snowboard (and never will) - but it is my observation that initially, it is harder (and more painful) to learn. Then when you start getting the hang of it, you quickly(ish) catch up with and then overtake the skier in terms of skill.
Skiers can easily get stuck on the Intermediate plateau.....and it's difficult to get to a decent level.
I think both are very hard to get to an Expert level....maybe Boarding is slightly easier....but I could be totally wrong.
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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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Boarded between the ages of 20 and 40, with plenty of weeks per season, so to a decent ish standard. Started skiing with the kids at 40 and have done about 30 days per season and lots of lessons. In that time I’ve probably only taken the board out 5 times and have no interest in doing so.
I much prefer skiing, even though off piste I’m much worse at skiing. Found skiing pretty easy to get the hang of because of the boarding background, but have struggled to get to a good standard and think that I’m too old to ever improve.
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While I still think there is a steeper learning curve in boarding - about 3 days of hard graft to get competent I have come to realise that there is also a plateau of competence that many boarders get to without ever cracking true "free" riding where their board is essentially an extension of their body and they can slash or pressure etc at will.
So not just skiing where dedicated mileage is needed to be put in to get to real adaptability.
After a period doing lots of boarding I've gone well rusty now. Takes about a day to get some of the free feeling and a bit more confidence around different blind spots.
As for conversion to skiing I was a way better skier when I went back to skiing than when I stopped. But then sidecut and "fat" skis had appeared in the interim and the balance I'd worked on carving boards etc seemed to translate.
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You know it makes sense.
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I've taught a lot of ex snowboarders to ski. If you pay a lot of attention to basic stance, hand position etc in the early stages then the biggest remaining problem is upper body rotation. Time spent carrying the poles on the back of the hands largely cures that as it is virtually impossible to turn your shoulders without dropping them. After that the snowboarders feel for the edges is generally an advantage.
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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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| Quote: |
I found, most importantly- forget the snow plough
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Please please please do not forget the snow plough, it is an essential part of the skill set of a skiier. If might not look as cool as the parallel turn but it's useful in a number of situations where a parallel turn just would not be viable
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Poster: A snowHead
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| nbt wrote: |
| Quote: |
I found, most importantly- forget the snow plough
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Please please please do not forget the snow plough, it is an essential part of the skill set of a skiier. If might not look as cool as the parallel turn but it's useful in a number of situations where a parallel turn just would not be viable |
I would suggest that it's primarily a manoeuvring tool e.g. In lift lines or for speed control on forest paths etc rather than an essential building block for turns for boarders. Unlike never ever they understand edges and side cut. Notwithstanding that sometimes on a "must stick" turn a planned stem is the safest option.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Chris_n, don't worry - upper body rotation is a problem for huge swaths of the snowboard community too.
My brief inclination to ski never went beyond the theoretical stage when the kids were learning and I thought I'd be more use on skis than on a snowboard, but then I reconsidered after I had to get one of the kids off the mountain after he'd gone into shutdown mode, I could ride while carrying a small child but there is no way I would have ben able to do that if I'd been a relative newbie on skis. Not long after that they were both progressing at a rate which would have surpassed any ability I'd have on skis so I just stayed on the board. Frankly, I can't see me ever bothering now unless I ever get around to getting a splitty and maybe pick up some skills, but I don't see that happening any time soon.
We average types get so little time in the mountains, spend it doing what you love not beating yourself against an unobtainable perfect.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Definitely do it. Myself and the missus did a short trip to Andorra a few years ago; conditions and terrain were a bit meh so we ditched the snowboards, switched to skis and had a private lesson for a few hours... loved it. Since then we've done additional sessions at Tamworth plus two full weeks in the Alps on skis. She loves it, I do too. Never thought we'd take to skiing but it feels really smooth and casual.
Like @bigtuboflard says, having an inkling about edge control from years of snowboarding did help me in understanding what my skis should be doing (albeit controlling 2 planks is very different to a snowboard IMO) and especially on the last trip to Italy, I was thinking way less about the independence of each foot - trying to keep them in the same direction - and more about how my weight was centred, how much lean I got on a turn, stuff that I'd say means I've gone past beginner stage. The fact I managed to get reds and blacks skied was quite fulfilling.
Two and a bit weeks on skis compared to numerous park sessions at Tamworth and best part of 60+ days in the alps on a board, do I have a preference? No, not really. Learning to ski alongside my wife and daughter has been great these past two trips and although we're all at different levels, we're close enough that we can stay together, help each other and understand when we're having a bit of a wobble or a bad day. That's been one of the driving factors in wanting to ski.
My son (15yo) binned off skiing after one of those ski-in-a-day things at Tamworth, went over to snowboarding "because it's way cooler", so that's one of the other reasons why I'm contemplating snowboarding again, because I can probably teach him a few tricks and we can board a mountain together and enjoy the process. However, I have a dodgy hip so currently weighing up whether I go back to boarding when we visit L2A at Easter, but that's more to do with my current personal fitness (or lack of) than not enjoying skiing. I'll take my board and rent some skis so I have the option.
I think the only time I'd ever regret having just skis would be on a powder day; there's just nothing like the feel of floating on a snowboard for me. But as it stands, I'm happy I can kind of multi-task and seeing as I get so few days per year on actual real snow, I'll enjoy it whatever you put me on - ski or snowboard.
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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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I'm a convert from snowboarding. Bar riding on powder, I like skiing much better! Maybe I'm just getting old!? One year on holiday with my wife in Tignes we were snowed in, with only the bunny slope in front of the hotel open. Rather than stare out of the window we hired some skis and gave it a try. She took to it intuitively and immediately and wanted to continue. I was ambivalent, but went along with her. The next day we booked a private lesson, with a wonderful guy, who - in just a couple of hours bought skiing to life for me - and I've never stood on a board again since  .
Pluses of skiing (in my view):
A lot less buggering about strapping in an out of bindings, sitting down and standing up - you just get off the lift and go!
2 edges are a lot better than one for retaining balance - on a board I'd fall a few times a day, on skis I might fall once or twice in a week.
Facing forward and moving with separated legs is much more intuitive.
Long flat spots don't make my heart sink anymore.
Pluses of boarding:
The gear is a lot lighter.
The boots are a lot easier to walk in.
You cannot lose your board in a fall - trying to recover your lost skis and poles and get them back on after a fall on a steep slope is the absolute pits.
Safety - I've no fear whatsoever of breaking my knees.
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Thanks all for your responses, much appreciated!
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Absolutely do both if you can.
I learned to ski then quickly (after 1 year) learned to board and have been pretty much a boarder since, but I have always kept my hand in with the skis.
Now I take both on holiday and ride board when it's soft and skis when it's firm.
I know I'm missing out on skiing powder but it's just so wonderful on the board.
Skills are transferable - you can already read the slope and choose where you want to go so just think of a ski like a board and work out how to traverse, initiate and finish a turn.
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Totalled my board going over a rock in Tignes powder early 2020. Been renting skis since (partially due to my own procrastination re: buying a new board). The fridge lessons are only really any good for teaching you how to snow plough properly and get the bare basics on parallel. To really get the hang of it, if you're like me, taking a few days of intermediate lessons in resort with a good instructor (shout out to Marco in Schladming !!) can be a massive help especially with confidence in steeps technique (turning immediately on the fall line, weight down the slope etc), not being perturbed by an uneven surface and so on...
Skiing and snowboarding are both great fun - and sufficiently different that I'd encourage anyone to try both... 
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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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This thread has convinced me to bite the bullet. Not having strapped on two planks for more than 30 years!
I am going in the February half term and have left it too late for private lessons by the looks of it. In which case I am probably going to join a group. For context, I skied for 3-4 weeks until I was 11 years old and am now in my mid-forties with knees to show. I have about 20 weeks of snowboarding experience in the bank though.
Does anyone have any experience of what level of class you should join? Likely ESF Classe 1 or Classe 2 seem to be the options.
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