One of the most recurrent questions we ask ourselves when we are starting in the wonderful world of snow is what to learn: should I learn skiing or… snowboarding?
Skiing is generally easier for beginners: your feet are spread apart, with a greater range of freedom, and your head and vision are aligned with the slope. The result is a more ‘natural’ position that makes it easier for our brains to adapt.
In snowboarding, on the other hand, our feet are fixed and we have to turn our heads to look in the direction of the slope.
However, the fact that in skiing we have our feet free, although it helps in the first few sessions, makes the progression in skiing more complex, thus equalising the learning curve between skiing and snowboarding as you take more lessons.
So the answer to the question “Which is harder?” could be summed up with the following statements: “Skiing is easy to learn but hard to perfect” and its counterpart “Snowboarding is difficult to learn but easy to perfect”.
For the youngest Skiing or Snowboarding?
This initial peak of difficulty is especially important if we consider the youngest members of the family. Generally, they are not ready to enjoy snowboarding until they are six years old, while for skiing we can start teaching them from the age of three or four.
Snow Sports Standards
In terms of demand, both sports are very good for getting in excellent physical shape, increasing both aerobic endurance and helping to build muscle in certain parts of our body.
Skiing is perfect for strengthening the legs and thighs, in fact, you get as good results as running but without the wear and tear on the knees of running.
Snowboarding, on the other hand, focuses more on the core: abs, lower back and glutes. Whichever you choose, your physical condition will improve and you will have a better body.
Equipment for skiing and snowboarding
The equipment needed for both sports does not differ much beyond the obvious. In skiing, we use skis with their respective boots and in snowboarding, we use a board with boots adapted to the board, but the rest of the material: clothes, gloves, goggles … is similar between both sports. With Blanca Nieve, you will be perfectly equipped for both sports with our equipment rental, both for skiing if you are an adult, snowboarding and even for the youngest of the house we have children’s equipment.
You should also bear in mind that certain terrains make it easier to ski while others make it easier to snowboard. However, this is not something you should worry about, as in the Sierra Nevada you will find a wide selection of slopes and routes that will make you enjoy whichever one you practice.
Another point to bear in mind is: what sports have you previously practised? For example, people who have practised skateboarding find it much easier to adapt to snowboarding than skiing, as both sports are practised on a board and certain mechanisms and movements already internalised will make it easier to adapt.
Whichever sport you choose, with Blanca Nieve you will be well equipped and advised by our magnificent instructors with the classes given.
Let the fun begin!