Often a topic of contention amongst snowsport enthusiasts, the recurring, never-ending debate of what is the better sport between skiing or snowboarding continues to rage on.
It is not an easy or straightforward call for either as both sports give equal amounts of thrill, excitement and fulfilment in their own separate ways. There are several pros, cons and observations regarding both and we will aim to address all of these accordingly.
There is a famous saying that skiing is the easier of the two to learn but hardest to master, whilst snowboarding is the more difficult of the two to learn but easier to master in the long run. A lot of experts and seasoned skiers seem to agree with this statement and the logic behind it is that with skiing, the
techniques for learning are easily broken down into bite-size format, making it easy to grasp and apply immediately. The perfection of the technique learned, however, is what takes a long time to fully master. Snowboarding, on the other hand, is a more rigorous learning process with beginners required to quickly master getting on their heel and toe edges, however, once this fundamental part of the learning process has been nailed down, mastering it takes less time.
Not always mentioned in the classic debate between the two is the different equipment and how either could play a deciding factor in what sport is preferred by skiers in general. On the pistes, beginner skiers will find reassurance from having the ski poles which provide balance and stability when they start their lessons. The poles provide a sense of security should they be afraid of falling. The poles also help them push forward for momentum gain on level parts of the pistes. Snowboards on the other hand are more convenient to carry about. Imagine being on an apres-ski crawl and having to carry two skis and two poles. Ski boots are also not easy to walk around in ( which can make for a rather non-elegant spectacle) as opposed to snowboard boots which are easier to walk in when not strapped into the snowboard. Getting of the lifts are a lot easier with skis and one can jump off and head straight on the slopes, with snowboarders having to strap into the boards when they come off. Ski equipment is also a fair bit more expensive to purchase than snowboarding equipment. It’s really down to preference and how much these little details affect the way we see each sport.
Both skiing and snowboarding require a good amount of physical activity and can be quite demanding. To be a good skier or snowboarder will require a good level of fitness, however, both sports have a slight difference in what they physically require. Snowboarding requires core strength to deal with the turns and balance of the upper body, whilst skiing relies on strength in the thighs and legs. If you plan to visit the Alps and intend to ski, you can start preparing by cycling more to build up that lower body strength especially in the knees and other joints. Lower body exercises for strength are all acceptable and can greatly improve performance and prepare you for any rigours of skiing. General fitness plans that focus on the core and abdominal muscles, with additional focus on the lower back will prepare you for your snowboarding adventures. In either, a good level of physical fitness is required to be fully emersed in them and also as protection from potential injury.
Which is the more popular sport between the two? It greatly depends on geography. Skiers seem to be the majority in European Alps but that number might be a little bit more blurred abroad in regions like North America and Canada, where a lot more of the snowsports population are very much into snowboarding. There is no clear popular winner worldwide to be honest, both sports pass the “cool” test with flying colours as well.
What’s not to like about a high-intensity workout in the mountains, a breathtaking view, crips fresh air and surrounded by nothing but snow and smiles. It does not matter if you choose one over the other, as you can rest assured that whichever one you choose will provide you with more than enough thrill that you can handle once you get a grasp on it. If you are ever hooked on skiing and snowboarding, and you need to go away again to learn, we will be here waiting to hear from you and set you off on your adventure to the Alps.
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