Kids Ski vs. Snowboard

[North Coast Cab]

So my 8 year old has finally worn me down and is ready to snowboard. He's been skiing since he was 4 and is an excellent skier. We are able to ski almost anywhere as a family and I've got a lot of money invested in his equipment. So...how do I get him to snowboard and yet maintain his skiing or move him along quickly so we can ski/board as a family again?

Tia, John

[JavaBrewer]

Skiing is for the old folks, like me. My son whose also 8 has one season of skiing behind him. This season he moves to snowboard with his friends. Either you take up boarding too or teach him to respect his elders and board/ski as a family

[red-beard]

You have a lot invested in his gear? An 8 year will out grow his gear in just about the same time he out grows his shoes. Every year.

Snowboards come in fewer sizes and are designed for weight ranges. So he can start with a 4 series board, move up to a 5 series in 3 years and hopefully end up on a 6 as a late teen ager. The only thing you will change yearly are boots.

Snowboarding is very difficult for the first couple of times out, but then then the learning curve becomes much easier. Skiing is easier out the gate, but the learning curve to become an expert is much harder.

I can still ski, but I prefer snowboarding. I switched when I was 26, 14 years ago...

If you want him to learn quickly, get him into lessons with a good instructor. Semi-private are best. Giant group lessons are no good. 2-4 people is nearly ideal. If you can, interview the instructors and find out the ones with teaching ability.

[joehahn]

...wish I'd known your kid was moving on...I would have bought your old stuff instead of shelling out $$$ last Saturday for new equipment at Dick's sporting goods (Legacy Village). Boston Mills here we come! I really enjoy skiing and hope that my kids ski forever but really I don't care what they do as long as we can be out there together.

take care,

joe

[coloradoporsche]

Buy the snowboard. He'll be kicking your butt in no time, going everywhere you go now and more.

Yea, skiing is for old farts like us. Until it becomes "retro" and then it will be cool again.

[Tim Hancock]

No! No! Another skier being lost to the boarders! Sorry but when snowboarding was first getting going, I was into skiing big time and had one too many skateboard punks scratch my skis. I guess that makes me old school, but hey I did just buy some shaped shorter skis recently so who knows, someday I might just have to try a snowboard. (on second thought, I don't see it happening!)

Keep him on skis, anything you can do on a board, you can do on skis. You can't ski the the bumps on a board though and steep, fast and icy terrain is not very enjoyable for most snowboarders. Besides he is less apt to show up someday with tattoos and an eyebrow ring if he hangs with skiers rather than snowboarders!

Just poking some fun at the snowboarders, just joking (well kinda!).

[red-beard]

Tim, I was in a Mogul contest the first year I snowboarded. You can do everything on a snowboard that you can do on skis, except a "spread eagle"...

[Rodeo]

I got news for you guys. Skiing is back. It just looks a lot like boarding now. Short, fat, twin tipped skis are all the rage.

That said, at his age if you leave him with his friends and his board on the bunny slope, I suspect he'll be chasing you down on the black diamonds in 8 or 10 days

[89911]

Tell him you live in flat Ohio and there are no hills. That should keep him quiet. My kids have been asking lately also. The nice things about snowboarding is it is simplier and when you multiply that by three, simplier is better.

[Flatbutt1]

actually once he gains some proficiency on the board he'll spend most of his time in the terrain park. Thats where my kids spend their time, yes we're all mouth breathing, knuckle dragging boarders.

[slodave]

Originally posted by Tim Hancock

Keep him on skis, anything you can do on a board, you can do on skis.

Yup...

That's me 20 odd feet in the air...


That's me a little after landing...



10 months later and I'm still healing, but ready to get back at it. But I agree, anything that a snow boarder can do, a skier can too!

Dave

[GettinHeadStuds]

I first started skiing in Europe when I was 3. Raced all over... Austria, Switz, Italy...

Fast forward to when I was 14... I figured I would try snowboarding... I never went back to skis.

12 years later I'm still stoked about riding. Was on the club team at the Univ. of Oregon, rode a total of 43 days one year ()! Could have been a Snowboard Patrolman at the local mountain, but I was really too busy with my classes to be out there 4-5 days a week. Bottomline, you can do some things on a board that skiiers can't do and the true is same the other way around.

Learning curve for someone his age... I'd say 2-3 days. After 3 days he should be (with proper instruction) stringing turns together and staying off his behind. My brother picked it up in ONE day. It was incredible. So results definitely vary.

One more thing to keep in mind... There are more injuries involved in snowboarding... the good thing is that the injuries are less severe than ski related injuries. Boarders break/sprain their wrist, two plankers destroy/twist knees.

Rent him a setup, let him try it out. Get him one or two private lessons and see what happens. Just make sure he wears a helmet!

Equipment for an intermediate/advanced rider typically runs as follows:
Board $400-600
Boots $200-400
Bindings $200-300
Clothes <>


A few tips to first time snowboarders:
1) Don't fall on your hands, fall on your forearms. Why? B/c you don't want to break your wrist.

2) Best excercise to learn how to turn. Go down the hill making 360 degree circles over and over. Learn to do this clockwise and then counter clockwise. It'll teach you how to transition your weight to initiate a turn.

3) When getting off the lift... LEAN FORWARD. =)

Good luck, have fun, and be safe.

[North Coast Cab]

So the concensus is that his snowboarding is inevitable. I'll be heading out for some local skiing, BM&BM for Joehahn, Sunday morning. Once he gets his groove back I'll let him start the snowboarding thing. I hope to let him take lessons to board in the morning and then ski with us in the afternoon until he gets better. I'll be heading to Play it Again Sports tomorrow to look for used board gear. I prefer to own so we know what we have and found that reselling on eBay or to friends covers a good chunk of the costs and avoids the rental hassles.

John

[axl911]

If you snowboard, buy a helmet and wrist guards. Heel turns can whip you backward and mash your head hard! You would forward and back alot, wrist guard will prevent you from breaking your wrist. I use the kind you can get for roller blading and wear it over the glove.

[Rodeo]

I don't wear wrist guards, but a helmet is mandatory!

[Rodeo]

BTW, leaving for Killington at 5 a.m. tomorrow. There is a 18" of fresh!

[klaucke]

Rodeo, I frequent Killington, do you ever use a Motorola radio?

[Drago]

Snowboarders...

[stevepaa]

Really started skiing when I was 20. Snowboarding when I was 40. My 3 kids all started skiing when they were 3 and 4. Started boarding when they were around 10. I did it first to see what it was like. You must wear a helmet. I am 56 , my son is 22. It was only four years ago that he could go faster than me. My legs just don't cut it anymore.

If your son was a good skier and can surf or skateboard, this will be easy for him. Get the proper clothing, mittens, and helmet. Get him a couple days of lessons and he will fly.

Boarding in 4 feet of Utah powder is unbelievable. You should give it a try.

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by klaucke
Rodeo, I frequent Killington, do you ever use a Motorola radio?

I actually got one last year, but have been an infrequent user. What channel do you use?

We have a season rental at the Colony Club, right off the access road. I've had a pass at K for probably the last 15 years. Now on the kiddie program, one in Ministars the other in daycare. Times change!

Tomorrow, the wife and kids are staying home, will drive up with my buddy