learn to ski or snowboard first? (10 yo boy)

[momofmine]

Which do you think first? I used to think it was easier to learn to ski first, but now I hear differing opinions. My 10 yo, who has never tried either, has been really enamored watching the snowboarders on the Olympics, and wants to go. He says he'll do either, but I know he really, really wants to snowboard. Should I encourage him to try a few days of skiing first? Or do you think it's okay to start with a snowboard? We live in a climate with winter weather, so he has been "sliding" on snow in the form of sledding, and loves the "snowboard" type sled where you stand up and sled down the hill, but your feet aren't really strapped in.

Any opinions?

[Peony]

At age 10, he is fine to start off with boarding. With a younger child, it would be wise to ski first and then board just because boarding is harder to learn at first and really isn't for very young children. At least with skiing they are able to be a novice skier and do a "pizza" down the slopes, not the case on a board. A older child isn't as likely to get discouraged quickly.


My DD1 turned 7 in Jan, and we just finally got her up on the slopes starting at X-Mas. We had been meaning to get her on skis every winter before this, but something always happened and I never got around to it, and by now she was old enough to bypass skiing since boarding is what she really wanted to do. Now she is going down the blacks as I type this. DH picked her up early from school to hit the slopes since we have fresh powder, and a resort is 7 minutes from our house.

[momofmine]

Wow, cool thanks! That's amazing! Yeah, he really, really wants to snowboard. We aren't big TV people but he's been staying up late night almost every night watching the Olympics. I first told him he should learn to ski first, but then I thought, well, maybe I should let him do whichever has peaked his interest.

Thanks!

[Alyantavid]

Our oldest started snowboarding at 5. He does want to learn to ski but right now he's pretty happy with boarding. I don't think it really has much affect, learning one or the other first.

See if you can find a good kids' instructor. We have a friend who's "retired" from teaching kids and he's amazing. I really think that helps alot.

[redvlagrl]

I'm inexperienced with snowsports, however I am nervous about letting DD snowboard first. One of my best friends was a fairly good snowboarder and essentially twisted his leg (because the bindings are locked in) and broke his leg very, very badly (needed metal plate in and the leg was twisted/shattered).

I would be more comfortable with DD learning to ski first as at least the bindings are designed to break free (sorry don't know the proper term).

[Alyantavid]

You can get seriously injured skiing as well. But I may be the last person to give advice on that, my kids do lots of "extreme" sports.

[redvlagrl]

LOL, true! I suppose I'm just trying not to think about the realities of snowsports!

[SquishyKitty]

Ask him what he wants to do. I have done both, and they are very different.

There are injury risks with both. We snowboard now, and we love it. I don't plan on stopping any time soon.

That being said, the place we go doesn't allow kids in the snowboard class before age 12, so DS currently skis. If he wants to learn to board when he's 12, we'll let him. I've heard of people really hurting themselves on skis, and I've heard of people really hurting themselves snowboarding. The important part is to learn how to fall, and wear safety gear. There are going to be falls and bumps and bruises with either sport, I am not interested in skiing because it's easy to get a knee injury on them. On the other hand, I've given myself a concussion and a very sore butt snowboarding.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by SquishyKitty

That being said, the place we go doesn't allow kids in the snowboard class before age 12, so DS currently skis. If he wants to learn to board when he's 12, we'll let him. I've heard of people really hurting themselves on skis, and I've heard of people really hurting themselves snowboarding. The important part is to learn how to fall, and wear safety gear. There are going to be falls and bumps and bruises with either sport, I am not interested in skiing because it's easy to get a knee injury on them. On the other hand, I've given myself a concussion and a very sore butt snowboarding.

Definitely! My kid (and my dh as well) wear helmets, we even use the helmets to go sledding.

[SquishyKitty]

We all have helmets, and I'll be the first to admit it's probably saved me from some severe head injuries more than once. Once you really learn how to snowboard, your falls are no longer small and cute, they are epic, ass-over-head and hurt a bit more lol.

[rhiOrion]

My DH taught snowboarding one season and they had some really tiny kids learning. One dad even had his 2-3 year old on a board with a leash attached, and just let him practice moving on little tiny hills in the beginners' area (keeping in mind this is NC, so our beginning area is REALLY easy!)

We're already discussing how long we have to wait to get this upcoming kid onto a snowboard (dh) or rollerskates (me)

[34me]

My 11 yo ds just went snowboarding for a week with school. He is a totally jnathletic kid and had an awesome time. He's looking forward to next year.

[Momily]

My 10 year old son skied and now snowboards. We have season passes and since 5th graders can get free passes where I live I've taken a lot of beginners up to the hill this year.

Here's what I'd say:

1) Start with what you plan to have him stick with. My son skied for a few years, and was quite good before he began snowboarding -- but I don't really think it gave him an advantage when he started snowboarding, so if you're thinking start skiing and then switch, I'd go straight to boarding.

2) Snowboarding has a much steeper initial learning curve. I can take a first time skier and by the end of the hour lesson they are coming down the bunny hill without falling. By the end of the first day they're riding the longer easy hills easily, and by the end of day 2 or 3 they're skiing the intermediate hills from the top of the mountain. In contrast at the end of the hour long lesson the boarders are falling 5-10 times on every run down the bunny hill, by the end of day 3 they are maybe venturing on to the longer easy hills, but still falling . . . So, if you're thinking this is something you'll do once or twice a year, or for a one week vacation and then not again for a long time, pick skiing. On the other hand once they really "get" the boarding, then they pick up speed and they'll have a ball, so if you're looking to build a lifelong habit boarding is great.

3) Learning to snowboard requires that you be willing to fall, a lot. Like 30 times the first day. Most 10 year old boys are really OK with that, but if your child is timid or physically cautious then have him ski. You can actually learn to ski with almost no falling.

Either way he'll have fun!