What Is Easier: Skiing or Snowboarding? (2024)

If you’re looking to spend more time outdoors this winter, your choices largely come down to skiing or snowboarding. Both are thrilling activities that let you explore all kinds of snow-filled destinations. But they also require some training and practice. To start skiing or snowboarding, you don’t need to be a professional athlete. It’s all a matter of getting used to the equipment and wearing the right gear. Just about anyone can learn how to snowboard or ski if they are patient and willing to learn. You don’t want to be the only one in the lodge on vacation while the rest of your loved ones enjoy the slopes. So, which is easier: skiing or snowboarding?

Getting Started

Generally, skiing is easier to learn than snowboarding for most people, but it largely depends on your comfort level and overall balance and coordination.

Skiing tends to be easier because your feet are attached to two different boards. You can adjust your footing with the skis attached to keep your balance. Your body will also face forward so you can see what’s ahead of you as you go down the mountain.

Cross-country skiing tends to be even easier still, although it requires more physical endurance. When you are moving downhill, you can adjust your speed by leaning forward and back. The downward momentum carries your body down the side of the mountain while you steer to avoid obstacles. But cross-country skiing requires you to physically pull yourself through the snow while your skis glide on top of the snow. Expect to get a good workout while cross-country skiing and eat a big breakfast to keep your energy up.

Snowboarding tends to be harder to learn than downhill skiing because both feet are attached to the same board. You won’t be able to take a step like you normally would. Instead, you’ll need to lean side to side to move the board forward or left to right. Snowboarding also forces you to turn your head in the direction you’re going, cutting off a part of your peripheral vision.

There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. If you have done other sports that require you to balance on one board, such as surfing or skateboarding, skiing might actually be harder to learn than snowboarding.

Stay Connected With Ski and Snowboard Helmet Communication Devices

Getting Good

Skiing may be easier to learn when you’re just starting out, but snowboarding is easier to master. That’s because snowboarding tends to be less complicated than skiing. There are fewer parts to control and less moves to make when you’re traveling downhill. Once you find your balance on the snowboard, it won’t take you long to master the art of turning, stopping and even doing tricks.

Wear the Proper Gear

Regardless of which sport you choose, you should wear either a full-face or half-face helmet with goggles to protect your head from injury. Your goggles or the visor on your helmet will also block the glare of the sun to increase visibility. You may think that the snow is soft enough to break your fall, but there are plenty of hazards lurking just beneath the surface.

Use a snowboarding or ski helmet communication device to stay connected to everyone in your group. The communicator clips onto your helmet so you can talk directly into the receiver. It uses voice recognition so you don’t have to physically interact with the device to get a connection. It will automatically sync up with anyone in your group when they’re in range.

Keep your phone in your pocket when you’re on the slopes and use the Packtalk Outdoor instead. It connects wirelessly to your mobile device so you can send a call, check the weather or listen to the directions without taking your eyes off the trail. You don’t have to worry about ruining your electronics and you can keep your hands on the poles where they belong.

Use the Packtalk Outdoor to Stay Safe on the Slopes

Make sure you are wearing plenty of warm, waterproof layers when you’re having fun in the snow. Use a heavy jacket that will break the wind and long snow pants that go over your boots. Keep a bottle of sunscreen on your person if your skin is exposed to the sun.

Whatever sport you’re leaning towards, just remember these tips to find the right activity for your skill level.

What Is Easier: Skiing or Snowboarding? (2024)

FAQs

What is harder, skiing or snowboarding? ›

Generally, skiing is easier to learn than snowboarding for most people, but it largely depends on your comfort level and overall balance and coordination. Skiing tends to be easier because your feet are attached to two different boards. You can adjust your footing with the skis attached to keep your balance.

How do you know if you should ski or snowboard? ›

While on a snowboard you influence direction and speed by shifting your weight, a skier has to coordinate both arms and both legs. This is more difficult in the beginning. So easier to learn is snowboarding, especially for those who already have experience with skateboards or surfboards.

Are there more injuries in skiing or snowboarding? ›

While both skiing and snowboarding pose risks to winter sport participants, there are usually more injuries from snowboarding.

How many hours to learn to ski? ›

Getting into skiing all starts by booking your ski lesson. Here at Chill Factore, we believe that for a beginner to feel confident in their skis it can take up to three, two-hour long lessons.

How many days to get good at snowboarding? ›

It takes about 2-3 days to get down the basics of snowboarding, from how to strap in, get on the lift, stand up, carve and stop. If you're past that point, and you want to get good at snowboarding, it's going to take much longer, but the reward is worth it.

Is skiing an expensive sport? ›

I sincerely hope that they looked up prices ahead of time, because if not, they might be in for a nasty shock. Between rentals, lift tickets, lunch, and gas, they're likely to spend close to $1,000. The rising cost of skiing has been linked to consolidation within the ski industry, and to the rise of mega-passes.

Can you wear a snowboard jacket for skiing? ›

While there are slight differences in the style and fit of ski jackets and snowboard jackets, they contain many of the same technologies and can be worn interchangeably for either activity.

Does a better snowboard make a difference? ›

Different types of snowboards

Stiff boards can also absorb the heaviest of landings without buckling, whereas softer boards make it easy to manoeuvre and perform tricks at slower speeds. They are also much more forgiving of mistakes since rider input is not transferred quite so rapidly.

Is snowboarding safer for your knees than skiing? ›

What are the most common skiing and snowboarding injuries? Knee injuries are more common in skiers because of the amount of force and shock applied to one's knees.

Are you more likely to break your leg skiing or snowboarding? ›

Skiers are more likely to have knee injuries, while snowboarders are more likely to have wrist injuries. Other common injuries include shoulder dislocations, ankle sprains, and fractures.

What is more physical, snowboard or ski? ›

You need to be pretty fit to be a good skier or snowboarder. But to begin with, skiing is a bit more demanding on the legs and thighs, whereas snowboarding tends to need more core strength, as the upper body is more involved with turning and balance.

Can you learn to ski in 1 hour? ›

No. To ski off of a beginner slope with enough confidence and skill to keep yourself out of trouble requires about 30 days of skiing. Yes and no. It's possible (but not guaranteed) that after an hour you could get on and off a chairlift and slide down a bunny slope without falling.

Is 2 days skiing enough? ›

How many days should my ski trip be? For some families, one or two days on the slopes is more than enough. Other hardcore skiers and snowboarders may want to allow for a week or more. If you have the time and money for a longer trip, consider your fitness level.

What is more difficult snowboarding or surfing? ›

Surfing is more difficult to master than snowboarding. Learning to surf is more than just getting in the water and waiting for a wave to pick you up. You must learn to read the waves and know when a good one is about to form. That is not to say that snowboarding is an easy skill to pick up.

How to ride a snowboard? ›

Point your snowboard straight down a gentle slope and glide forward. Shift your weight to the front foot and over your toes. Move your hips over the toe-side edge as you flex your ankles and knees. Getting your weight over that toe-side edge should start to turn the board across the hill.

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