Skiing/Snowboarding

rascal14

rascal14

Well-known member
I'm going to Colorado the beginning of January to ski for the first time. I'm still unsure whether I'll ski or snowboard, I see the doctor for my last follow up after shoulder surgery tomorrow and so I'm going to talk to him about it.

I would rather snowboard. I used to skateboard so i feel like it may be easier and it just seems more fun, but I understand skiing will be easier on my shoulder.

How bad are the falls on your shoulders? Is it easy to avoid catching yourself when falling? I always see guys supporting themselves when turning with their arms extended and I have a feeling theres a lot of falling and catching with your arms out.

Also, how easy is it to learn skiing by yourself? Could I have our friends show us the basics in the first hour or so? Ski lessons are pretty expensive where we are going.
 
Alright, my kind of questions.

So first off, I would highly recommend getting a day lesson at minimum to get the very basics down or you will have a frustrating, unenjoyable time having never skied or snowboarded before. If you are remotely athletic and it sounds like having past skating experience you do, a full one day lesson should be adequate.

Second, the learning curve for snowboarding is much faster in the beginning and you can get to the point of linking turns in a couple/few days. However, once you have the basics down, skiing becomes easier to "master". So there is a point where they intersect and people that ski tend to get much better faster over time and then the rest comes down to personal athleticism, frequency of riding/skiing, type of riding/skiing, etc.. So I would recommend snowboarding for a vacation based on that. My 8 yo daughter was linking turns her 3rd lesson after never strapping on a board before. My 4 yo started skiing and it took until the end of the season to do so, but then immediately was advancing up and riding blues almost exclusively. There is no such thing as cheap anything with skiing and snowboarding, so don't bother looking or expecting a "cheap" route. Every year we drop $6k at the beginning of the season for passes, equipment refresh, lessons, etc.

Now, the issue is your shoulder. Both sports have inherent risks, but snowboarding will emphasize shoulder, elbow, wrist injuries when falling. It's just the nature of how you are set up and will fall. Skiing will have more ass first and face planting. With snowboarding you will naturally put a hand down to catch yourself and that is where those injuries occur. So, that is going to be a risk you have to look at. You can obviously get hurt doing either.

Where are you going? We have passes to 9 mtns so I can help steer you a direction if not already booked.
 
kisaj said:
Alright, my kind of questions.

So first off, I would highly recommend getting a day lesson at minimum to get the very basics down or you will have a frustrating, unenjoyable time having never skied or snowboarded before. If you are remotely athletic and it sounds like having past skating experience you do, a full one day lesson should be adequate.

Second, the learning curve for snowboarding is much faster in the beginning and you can get to the point of linking turns in a couple/few days. However, once you have the basics down, skiing becomes easier to "master". So there is a point where they intersect and people that ski tend to get much better faster over time and then the rest comes down to personal athleticism, frequency of riding/skiing, type of riding/skiing, etc.. So I would recommend snowboarding for a vacation based on that. My 8 yo daughter was linking turns her 3rd lesson after never strapping on a board before. My 4 yo started skiing and it took until the end of the season to do so, but then immediately was advancing up and riding blues almost exclusively. There is no such thing as cheap anything with skiing and snowboarding, so don't bother looking or expecting a "cheap" route. Every year we drop $6k at the beginning of the season for passes, equipment refresh, lessons, etc.

Now, the issue is your shoulder. Both sports have inherent risks, but snowboarding will emphasize shoulder, elbow, wrist injuries when falling. It's just the nature of how you are set up and will fall. Skiing will have more ass first and face planting. With snowboarding you will naturally put a hand down to catch yourself and that is where those injuries occur. So, that is going to be a risk you have to look at. You can obviously get hurt doing either.

Where are you going? We have passes to 9 mtns so I can help steer you a direction if not already booked.
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We're staying in Silverthorne and planning on going to Keystone. I was looking at the different mountains some and I thought about starting out at Arapaho basin cause it is a bit cheaper for the lessons and it include the lift ticket for the day, whereas Keystone you need a separate lift ticket and the lessons are more expensive. We haven't bought anything yet, our group was just planning on Keystone.

I wasn't really planning on it being cheap, but I also was very cocky thinking we could teach ourselves until recently. So I wasn't really expecting the extra cost on lessons until now, but it's fine. I'd much rather get the lessons than spend days failing trying to teach myself. I still haven't checked into A Basin vs Keystone lessons.
 
Abasin is right up the hill from Keystone about 10 min away. I would get a lesson there and then spend the day(s) at Keystone. Abasin is smaller and you will get in many more runs and likely have a better experience for a one day lesson. Keystone is fairly steep, but has a few really long beginner/intermediate runs that will be more than enough. Schoolmarm is the longest run there and is considering beginner- it is almost 4 miles long so your legs will be burning by the end.

Since you'll be in Silverthorne, get up into Breckenridge for a good night life. The mountain is flat, for those of us used to riding here, but the town is fun and there is a lot to do up on the mountain as well.

We went through a very dry early season, by have been getting pounded with snow lately, so hopefully the conditions are great for you.
 
Sounds like a plan. Good to know it'll be a better lesson there as well. I see the surgeon tomorrow so I'll talk to him about snowboarding and I may stop by and see my physical therapist as well and talk to her.

Do you recommend my girlfriend snowboard too since we won't be going too often? I have a feeling I'll love it and want to start going all the time, but probably won't be able to go more than 1-2 a year for a few days each time.
 
Hell yes I recommend your girlfriend go. I've been riding with my wife for 20 years now and when we first started dating, have some of our fondest memories snowboarding. Now we are going as a family and always look forward to the season because it has come full circle.

Even if you can only go a hand full of times, it's like riding a bike, you can be away for a long time and jump right back on.
 
kisaj said:
Hell yes I recommend your girlfriend go. I've been riding with my wife for 20 years now and when we first started dating, have some of our fondest memories snowboarding. Now we are going as a family and always look forward to the season because it has come full circle.

Even if you can only go a hand full of times, it's like riding a bike, you can be away for a long time and jump right back on.
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I meant as in her snowboarding Instead of skiing as well? My parents want to move to Colorado so that'll make it easier for us to get out there more often once they do.
 
Well yeah, for all the reasons I originally stated. When/if, you have more time then I would look to learn to ski if that is of interest.
 
I figured, I wasn't sure since she had no background in anything similar to it before. I had always heard that skiing was easier and better to start with it. I appreciate it!
 
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