[axl911]

I don't understand the appeal of skis over snowboard. Skis looked so much more graceful, but it seemed there is so much more control and maneuverability with the snowboards.

Clothing is different for snowboard than skis. SB pants are like overalls. SB gloves are different, longer. I wore ski pants and at the end of the day, it was loaded with snow and ice. Same goes for the gloves.

You must have a helmet. Catch a heel edge and your head will smack the ground backward hard enough to give you concussion. Wrist injury is common. I actually use a roller blade wrist guard worn outside the gloves. It would also get knee guards since you can smack them pretty hard very often when learning how to SB.