Skiing or Snowboarding?

Skiing and snowboarding are both great activities to enjoy during the winter months. Not only do they offer a nice leisure experience, but they are both beneficial to your health as they are both excellent forms of exercise for whatever skill level you may be. Deciding which activity to partake in should be thought with care and consideration. They are both costly activities but can result in a generous payoff for a person’s mind and body. When deciding which winter sport to participate in, first consider the various similarities and differences between skiing and snowboarding.

As with any other sport or hobby, the equipment used is a decision to consider. Skiing involves a pair of skis appended to boots by the way of bindings that clip in and the use of two poles to help keep balance. A person’s body is positioned facing forward with feet straight ahead, facing the front. Snowboarding on the other hand uses a single board which is attached to a person’s feet using special boots and bindings facing sideways with the body perpendicular to the direction of movement. The stance is an important factor when deciding which sport to participate in due to the abundant varieties of skiing and snowboard positions. The rider must determine which position feels the most comfortable for the direction in which an individual’s body faces as this is a primary aspect of both activities.

Some other factors to consider are the basics of the sport, such as how to maneuver. Skiing is relatively easier to learn for a beginner, but snowboarding is easier to master. Skiing permits movement of both legs so people don't feel as isolated in one stance as they might with snowboarding. Snowboarding is slightly more difficult because the entire body is used to navigate the slopes. When contemplating this, the rider must consider their own health as well. Skis can navigate slightly easier over bumps and ice but a fall is likely to injure the knees, whereas snowboards ride more efficiently on powder and through slush. Although snowboarding tends to create less strain on the knees, the snowboarder is more susceptible to sustain injuries to the wrists. If a person has weaker knees or wrists, these are things to consider before participating in skiing or snowboarding.

Now, when considering these two sports, people should ascertain their goals for what they want to accomplish by participating in these sports. There are different types and styles in both skiing and snowboarding within each activity. Skiing primarily consists of Telemark, Alpine, or downhill styles. Apart from these, there are a few other styles to consider: freestyle and Nordic. Freestyle uses aerial acrobatics and gives free reign for skiers to do tricks, flips, spins, and multiple other variations. It also allows more creativity and is done on steeper slopes and off cliffs. Nordic skiing, more commonly known as cross-country skiing, is the second main type of skiing; this style offers both leisurely and more aggressive ways to enjoy this activity. Nordic jumping is also a popular event where skiers go down long steep jumps and land on a long runway. With snowboarding, there are a few different styles as well. Freestyle snowboarding is similar to skiing with the same terrain and obstacles to perform tricks and go off jumps. Free carve, or alpine, is another type of snowboarding where riders go through hard packed snow, focusing on carving turns. This is a leisurely way of riding and is most common. This kind of riding is easily accessible, making it nice to ride down a variety of terrain. Lastly, you have your terrain park riders. This kind of boarding consists of tricks off different obstacles such as snow jumps, rails, boxes, and barrels.

Both skiing and snowboarding hold the same kind of expertise but with respect to sheer velocity, skiing is slightly easier. Snowboarding however, gives the rider a sense of being in control of their body with their board which is easier than maneuvering two separate skis and two poles. While both sports provide years of winter enjoyment it comes down to the individuals’ personal preference. . Getting out on the slopes and feeling the crisp winter air is a pleasure that both skiing and snowboarding can provide for a lifetime of excitement. They both have their own challenges and rewards, while providing great ways to enjoy the snow throughout the winter season.

References:
Skiing vs snowboarding. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Skiing_