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Skiing vs Snowboarding

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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
In your opinion, which one is harder to learn and which one is harder to master? Elaborate and/or take this thread off track if you wish.

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Sep 3 2013 2:25PM
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LiquorLanch
Posts: 1909 - Karma: 1,046
it really depends, though if you love it i believe both are probably the same difficulty.
Sep 3 2013 2:27PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
Totally! But what do you think those variables are that make it change from one individual to another?
Sep 3 2013 2:28PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
I've snowboarded once on a powder day and it was so fun. But with freeskiing, there's so much style with the tricks being thrown compared to snowboarders twisting and flailing their arms after they stomp a trick.
Sep 3 2013 2:34PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
*IMO
Sep 3 2013 2:34PM
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Mkvackay
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 5,465
i can barely stop on skis
Sep 3 2013 2:38PM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
They're very similar. We both clip/strap into things on our feet. The only difference is I step into one piece of wood with more comfy boots and you step into two with less comfy boots. They're of very similar or the same difficulty and I love them both, but I couldn't ski again after snowboarding as snowboarding is just for me. I do like watching skiing more and taking style from it like heavy head and tranny finding from features. Both take inspiration from a bunch, like I treat my snowboarding with a park skiing style mixed with surfing, and some skiers have a clear inspiration from snowboarding or other sports or other skiers/snowboarders style, like Dylan Thompson clearly taking from Henrik Harlauts older segments and 4bi9 plus his Technine teammates. I wouldn't say one is harder than the other but some people are just built to go down a hill sideways.
Sep 3 2013 2:41PM
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cultrara
Posts: 5147 - Karma: 46,850
As far as style goes, a skier and boarder can do the same trick, and I think it almost always looks better when a skier does it. I may be biased, but I think its because it looks more complex since there are two skis, instead of one board.
Sep 3 2013 2:42PM
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TotalNan
Posts: 147 - Karma: 339
I've been a ski and snowboard instructor for five years, and snowboarding is exponentially harder to learn initially than skiing. That is more or less a fact in the ski school industry. Skiing is easier to get the basics down, but harder to get VERY good at. People say it takes a lifetime to master. Snowboarding, on the other hand, is much harder to learn. Classes of first time snowboarders will progress much slower in the beginning than skiers. But once snowboarders get the basics, they progress much faster than skiers. They have totally different learning curves
Sep 3 2013 2:43PM
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GRouseee
Posts: 37 - Karma: 43
I've noticed a few of my friends that have tried snowboarding have a really hard time mentally getting over the fact that they're supposed to stand sideways while moving down the mountain. So I guess for some people it may be more natural to ski because they are directly facing the way they're moving.
Sep 3 2013 2:44PM
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Benson.
Posts: 2739 - Karma: 3,787
Snowboarding is def harder to learn and they are probably equally hard to master.
Sep 3 2013 3:13PM
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milk_man
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 5,983
Snowboarding is harder to learn, not sure which one is harder to master because I haven't mastered either
Sep 3 2013 3:15PM
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matoco
Posts: 35 - Karma: 69
As someone who has experience with both sports, snowboarding is much harder to learn to the point where you can go down a mountain. So many beginners struggle for long periods of time with basic heel to toe turns and a lot of beginners will ride with a falling-leaf style (always staying on heel edge).

As far as park is concerned, I think that it depends so much on the style of the rider. Stylish skiers and stylish snowboarders will always make their tricks look sick. I think that park snowboarding may be a little bit harder though, especially for rails. On a snowboard, you cannot lock onto a rail by angling your edges like you can with two skis, making it harder to do difficult rails and various spins/switch-ups. I do think that skiers more often than not look more stylish in the park and can do more technical tricks. But there are exceptions on both sides so its hard to say.

For backcountry, skiing will always be king in my opinion. Splitboarding is progressing and becoming more convenient, but will never be as fast and easy as touring with an AT setup and skins. Having poles is also very helpful when hiking, and you can have telescoping poles that can be put into a backpack for snowboarders, but overall, the backcountry is a much better environment to be a skier. Not to say that it can't be done without a snowboard. I've done lots of backcountry using a snowboard and snowshoes, but I am always slower than my friends who are skinning on skis, and I have to carry big snowshoes on my backpack after.


Sep 3 2013 3:42PM
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Pigbearman
Posts: 61 - Karma: 13
You're not serious about Dylan taking inspiration from Henrik right? Henrik is the one taking inspiration from Bradshaw and Thompson and the technine team in general. Get learned.
Sep 3 2013 3:47PM
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DMA_Studios
Posts: 464 - Karma: 967
IMO skiing is a lot harder to master.
I've skid for 3 years and boarded for 11 years, and learning how to board was so much easier and a lot less painful.
Yah you fall on your butt a lot, but with an ass like mine, it's not that painful.
Sep 3 2013 3:51PM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
No, not Dylans earlier tall tee days, but his part in Familia 2 is just defo inspired by Henriks street seggys plus the song, Cmon.
Sep 3 2013 4:00PM
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wiglaf
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 141
I'm in 5th grade and Snowboarding RULES!
Sep 3 2013 4:00PM
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Potguy
Posts: 125 - Karma: 147
Snowboarding is harder to learn and skiing is harder to master in terms of the park. But thats just my opinion.
Sep 3 2013 4:07PM
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Gnaruto
Posts: 521 - Karma: 435
I prefer wutang
Sep 3 2013 4:08PM
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Gr0mo
Posts: 707 - Karma: 3,663
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Sep 3 2013 4:09PM
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Pigbearman
Posts: 61 - Karma: 13
How is it inspired by Henriks streetseggy? Because he used a fucking Wu tang song? You do realize that Dylan has had "that style" since before Henrik was pro and most of those spots are famous so how the fuck is he taking inspiration from Henrik?
Sep 3 2013 4:14PM
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Aladeen
Posts: 257 - Karma: 412
I thought snowboarding was really EASY to learn.

My snowboarder friend switched gear with me and my first day snowboarding I could get down the mountain without falling and hit a low flat rail (/claim)
Sep 3 2013 4:44PM
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-emile-
Posts: 6613 - Karma: 8,592
snowboarding is sick as fuck

Sep 3 2013 4:53PM
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JustForYou
Posts: 275 - Karma: 2,143
Way too many variables and undefined in that chart.
Sep 3 2013 4:58PM
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1772 - Karma: 2,951
both are equally hard to master. in my opinion snowboarders have a tougher time the first few days because they can't resort to a wedge, but they progress through the blue square stage much faster. skiers tend to have a tough time going from green to black because they resort to a bad wedge when they panic. but once your riding blacks the difficulty difference is negligible.
Sep 3 2013 5:01PM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 7,706
the majority of pro skiers mess around on snowboards a bit and throw down, that speaks for itself on a few levels. I think they're on a pretty similar scale for difficulty-- it's more just understand edge control and setting spins
Sep 3 2013 5:07PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,354
Skiing is easier to learn but harder to be really good at.
Sep 3 2013 5:29PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51645 - Karma: 162,278
Skiing is easier to learn. You have the balance on both your legs and the ability to wedge to slow down. Snowboarding you're pretty much worthless until you learn to turn or at least falling leaf.

In terms of mastery I guess I would say skiing harder. I would base that more off the fact that you see a lot more people today skiing that never get technically proficient. I think they're both hard to truly master but I feel like with skiing it's easier to fall into bad habits and never truly learn the sport. With snowboarding it seems a lot of the proper technique can be developed over time without really having to focus on it.

Park Skiing and Riding it varies a bunch depending on what area you're talking about. Snowboarding you don't have the option to grip the rail to help with balance or switch ups, but skiing you don't have the ability to 50/50 some features with the same ease like steep kinks. For spins I think it's much easier to learn spins on skis versus snowboarding.

The bottom honestly can all depend on preference, what other sports you did before etc. Either way they're both fucking badass and I had some great times over the years doing both.


Also fuck anyone who hates on either sport. I feel like the internet get's all johnny tsunami when these kind of topics come up.
Sep 3 2013 5:45PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
Skiing is easier to learn but harder to master.
Snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to master.

That is all.
Sep 3 2013 5:58PM
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YoungJ
Posts: 447 - Karma: 883
I came here to post the exact same thing.
Sep 3 2013 6:13PM
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,331
The main things I have noticed is it is easier to get up and get going on skis. But once you learn how to link turns on a snowboard you're golden. Then when it comes to hitting jumps and spinning its a fair amount more difficult. I realize a lot of skiers carve into tricks but it is not necessary. Where as in snowboarding you nearly always have to be on an edge correctly timing your carve and pop. And if you catch an edge snowboarding you're absolutely done.
Sep 3 2013 6:34PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
Ignorance is bliss eh?
Sep 3 2013 6:35PM
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Flowbear
Posts: 339 - Karma: 828
I just learned how to snowboard last year and within maybe 10 runs I was carving down every hill fine and was hitting small boxes (claim) and it now feels natural to me, so in my opinion skiing and snowboarding are the same difficulty. But this just might be me I've heard many people say snowboarding is harder and that it's easier than skiing, so I guess it all depends on the person, but I think no matter what once u learn the basics skiing and snowboarding are equal when it comes to progressing and mastering it.
Sep 3 2013 6:48PM
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.Rybak.
Posts: 9017 - Karma: 9,864
I don't think that answered anything.
Sep 3 2013 6:58PM
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FreeskiThe603
Posts: 861 - Karma: 1,409
I've always said skiing is easier to learn, and I still stand by that statement. It is just easier because you are facing down hill instead of sideways, and your body is more free instead of having both feet strapped to one plank. That being said, I've also always said it is easier to do park on a snowboard. By having one plank they have easier control on rails and what not and they don't have to worry about nutting themselves.
Sep 3 2013 7:03PM
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,331
I sort of feel this same way. I snowboard primarily but once a year or so I will ski for fun. I feel like if you do one a lot and understand how the skis/board actually works and makes turns you can figure the other out fairly easily. On hard pack both require you to lean down the fall line and put pressure on your edges to turn and slide the tail(s) around to slow down/stop.
Sep 3 2013 7:23PM
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coreyroy
Posts: 144 - Karma: 180
i feel that first starting off skiing is easier to learn. But once youve learned how to snowboard, tricks come easier while with skiing that transition from cruising, to jibs and jumps is a bit more difficult.
Sep 3 2013 7:28PM
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Spiri7o
Posts: 2163 - Karma: 1,100
Learning, it can depend on one's background and skills already attained. Mastering anything at that caliber can be equally as difficult
Sep 3 2013 7:34PM
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DMA_Studios
Posts: 464 - Karma: 967
to whomever compared surfing to snowboarding.. ahem.. Surfing IS NOTHING like snowboarding.
Sep 3 2013 7:44PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
I feel like a lot of people commented have little or no experience in one of the sports.
Sep 3 2013 8:12PM
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chubwagon
Posts: 63 - Karma: 923
I'm a snowboarder and I think that skiing can be easier in some aspects like hitting rails. As a skier, you have two skis, one that you can angles so you don't catch an edge and the other just to keep your balance. On a snowboard though you only have one board, so if you lean too far either way, you'll either fall on your ass or catch an edge. Jumps are pretty similar, I think the ability to move your legs closer or farther apart makes spinning on skis easier to control, while on a snowboard the only way to control your spin is with your body position. With all that being said, I have never skied, so I can't really say for sure which is easier but these are just my observations.
Sep 3 2013 8:12PM
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DjSLT
Posts: 31 - Karma: 263
Snowboarding is harder to master.  I have snowboarder friends who have swapped with me and were hitting 60 ft. jumps on skis.  As a skier, i probably would have died trying to hit a 60 footer on a snowboard.  Having 4 edges opposed to only 2 on a snowboard makes skiing much more forgiving imo.
Sep 3 2013 8:20PM
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division.bell
Posts: 2762 - Karma: 1,905
Fucking seriously. Shit gets old.

Skiing is easier to learn, harder to master.
vs.
Snowboard is harder to learn, easier to master.
Sep 3 2013 8:32PM
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ECSkiier
Posts: 238 - Karma: 198
I have no experience on snowboarding, but what makes it different from skiing is that there are 2 stances, (goofy, regular) and when they are riding switch they aren't going backwards.
Sep 3 2013 8:32PM
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,883
Coming from someone who has done both, basic skiing vs snowboard (not park/big mountain), snowboarding is harder to learn, skiing is harder to master. Skiing is simple, even the average tourist can learn the very basics in a day, and can usually get to parallel turns in 2 or 3 lessons, snowboarding on the other hand is very hard for anyone who hasn't skateboarded or surfed (and even then it's still a bit rough). However, mastering is another story, once you get carving on a snowboard that's pretty much it (the main reason I switched back to skiing, got bored and sucked at park snowboarding), snowboarding in powder, trees anything is pretty simple once you get the basics down. But skiing on the other hand, if once you get the basics of skiing down there is still so much more to go, and it takes a while to be comfortable enough with skiing trees and powder. Add in park and big mountain, then it's pretty much equal...they're both limitless.
Sep 3 2013 8:35PM
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DMA_Studios
Posts: 464 - Karma: 967
Word. It's usually the immature tweens that take sides, spitten shit.
Sep 3 2013 8:38PM
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DsMoK3
Posts: 467 - Karma: 198
Tranny finding? I think skiers took that from boarders. I started out snowboarding in 7th grade, after moving to MN. It came really natural to me from skateboarding. Switched to skiing after being in CO for a year because all my friends were skiers. I head to push myself just to keep up, so I think I progressed a lot just from that pressure, no one wants to be left behind. I'd say that skiing is easier: 1. You're standing and going forward, easy to wedge to stop. 2. You aren't connected to one plank, easier to maintain balance 3. You have poles for help. (And less likely to break a wrist unlike snowboarding) That being said, once you get the basics of down, I think they are pretty much equal in difficulty. In terms of doing better tricks, bigger lines, deeper Pow, etc.
Sep 3 2013 8:40PM
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Crispy.
Posts: 6109 - Karma: 7,683
Can completely agree with this. As a young child I skied for 2 years then switched to snowboarding. It took me a solid 2 years to link carves well together and be comfortable (I probably would have learned quicker if I was older). However, when I switched to skiing I was somewhat comfortable going down blue squares at my hill after the first day (/claim). I think a lot of the skills carried over from snowboarding shit I just realized I'm rambling....

In general I have found most people find skiing much easier than snowboarding INITIALLY/

Sep 3 2013 9:06PM
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ski4real
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
Skiing is easier to lean because the stance comes naturally. but it is harder to master because it is much harder to stay glued to the rails on skis then a snowboard. Your feat do not take up as much surface area as a snowboard does. That's my opinion.
Sep 3 2013 11:36PM
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Logan.
Posts: 717 - Karma: 1,862
I learned how to ski at 3 and how to snowboard at 16. From all my experience on snow from skiing for 13 years before I snowboarded, snowboarding was pretty easy for me. I became an intermediate very quickly, but I hear from this thread and from friends, etc. that snowboarding is harder to learn, I just didn't find that for some reason.
Sep 4 2013 12:16AM
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