The purpose of the article is to provide the necessary information for making a fateful decision. Skiers and snowboarders shared their experience and it seems that we managed to avoid stupid bias.

It is much more important for me that this year, by all means, stand on one of the equipment - skiing or snowboarding. It doesn't matter, as long as you start rolling.

Now everyone is in the submarine, we are sinking to the bottom. There we will find the answer to the question: what to stand on - skiing or snowboarding. It will be different for everyone, because it depends on the importance that we will attach to one or another review point.

Immersion…

Which is more convenient: skiing or snowboarding?

In this section, we will analyze what equipment is easier to live in, which lifts are more convenient to use, and what surprises await skiers and snowboarders while skiing.

Which boots are more comfortable - ski or snowboard

Ski boots are a curse compared to boarder shoes. If a skier is honest with himself, he must admit that he always and everywhere looks with envy at snowboard boots.

They are much softer than ski ones. The main difference is that the outer boot for alpine skiing is made entirely of hard plastic, while the boarder “slippers” are made of relatively soft (natural and artificial) materials.

Bold plus on snowboarding scales.

Equipment: skis, poles, snowboards

Let's imagine a novice skier who is trying to get from the rental to the lift, dragging on himself (on his shoulders and under his arms) four items - two skis and two sticks.

Skis keep slipping off the shoulder, the person constantly bounces to return them to their original place, the edges dig painfully into the skin of the hands, the ski-feet cling to the pockets (and annoy), and the poles poke others.

And if the shoes are also famously tightened (so it brings the legs together) or, on the contrary, dangle (they are about to fly off), then you won’t look at the poor fellow without tears.

After all, any self-respecting kid goes up the mountain for what? Right, to show how cool he is. And then unforeseen difficulties interfere with his public performance - he has to juggle a large number of uncomfortable objects.

The snowboarder, on the other hand, walks with a soft gait, his legs are not constrained by “Spanish boots”, and he has only one object under his arm - a board. Not a shadow of suffering on his face.

At such moments, seeing the skier described above, he feels that life is a success.

They also figured it out here: it’s more convenient to carry one board with you than four ski items. We add one more point in favor of snowboarding and go to the lifts.

Lifts

There are three main types of lifts:

• Tow ropes - you cling to the cable ( different ways) and slide up the snow.
• Chairlifts - everything is clear here: you flop into an armchair and dangle your legs with your neighbor.
• Cabins (and gondolas) - you enter the trailer, like an elevator, skis / board in your hands or special baskets

Yoke. A drag lift for a newly-minted snowboarder is a living hell, a test of endurance and courage. Each boarder, having conquered this species lift, albeit not publicly, but proudly lists this achievement in the list of the most significant events own life. Watch the video and think about it:

For the skier, the tow bar creates less problems, because his body during movement is in a natural position, as in normal walking. The snowboarder, on the other hand, has to move sideways, keeping his balance. True, even skiers on initial stage incidents happen:

In this competition, gold goes to skiers, but it must be added that there are fewer and fewer ski lifts in the world.

Chairlift. Landing a boarder from a chair lift, especially a multi-seat one, when you need to maneuver between neighbors on the left and right, is also not an easy task. After all, one of his legs is unfastened (one foot).

On the one hand, you can always put your foot back so as not to fall, on the other hand, it is not very convenient to control the board with one foot.

Skiers disembark in a more natural position - they just need to ride forward on two legs-skis. But they are often “removed”, a purely psychological factor destroys - there is too little space between the neighbors on the lift: “What if I can’t resist? Will I suddenly fall? That would be a disgrace!" And falls.

Let's see how it happens:

Landing on a chair lift does not cause any difficulties for skiers or boarders.

Cabins/gondolas. Neither one nor the other has any advantages when using gondola lifts.

Time for skiers (with a minimum margin).

Strapping on your snowboard/alpine skis

A skier always fastens his skis while standing, he cannot sit down during this procedure, even if he wants to, such is his fate. But the probability of freezing the back while fastening the skis is reduced to zero.

The snowboarder has a choice. He can do it standing up or place his ass somewhere. True, he can only place it on the snow, and the snow is cold, and if there is no protection, then this is a direct path to diseases, you know what.

Therefore, wise boarders wear protective shorts with inserts in the coccyx area.

Alpine skiing or snowboarding: Boarders often buckle their board while seated

Shorts in general are a necessary thing for both a boarder and a skier. After all, both often sit and freeze their asses on chair lifts that are not heated. And here protection is both warm and the family is stronger.

Draw? Or is it still a round for the snowboarders with a margin of half a point? Decide for yourself, you are the judge. I told everything I knew.

On the flat

Snowboarders hate flat places. If they went flat on the track, then this is not so bad. They just take off the board and go over hard to the point where the slope starts again.

But if it happened while riding off-piste, the boarder is expected serious problems. The size of the disaster is determined by the depth of the surrounding snow and the area of ​​the flat area. The more these parameters, the more tears and sweat he will shed.

Experienced boarders, knowing about such "ambushes", carry a pair of telescopic sticks in their backpacks. Yes, and they ride on splitboards (which is not cheap yet), which can be turned into two full-fledged skis in a couple of minutes. In such equipment, the snowboarder has no less advantages than the skier.

Skiers also do not like flat places, but there is no hatred, it’s easier for them - you don’t have to do anything extraordinary, just push off with sticks, move your legs.

By the way, a smart skier will always help a boarder out of a difficult situation. Someone gives a stick, someone pulls a border brother with a trailer. Grateful snowboarders, when the time comes, reciprocate.

Round for the skiers.

Education

Everything in this section is relative and conditional.

Much depends both on the talents and aspirations of the student, and on the skill and patience of the instructor. I know one girl who learned to drive on the tracks in two days, and after two months she confidently plowed the virgin fields of Cheget.

If we talk about me, then I rode the tracks correctly only a year later, and freeriding was given to me after another two years. What is the reason for my slow realization? own stupidity. I thought that the instructor was a waste of time, and when I realized that I was mistaken, it was already too late - the habit of incorrect technique was ingrained. Breaking what was already formed proved to be the most difficult. It took more than one year. And money.

A skier can be taught basic movements quite quickly, but it takes a lot of time to improve the technique.

On a snowboard, the first steps are more difficult, but if you master the initial technique, then everything will go like clockwork. Did you catch the difference?

On skis, a beginner quickly masters the technique of turning with a plow and already on the first or second day he somehow moves along the slope, and even smiles.

It is easier for a skier because the movements are (again!) more natural than on a snowboard. For example, legs, as in ordinary life, not connected. This means that at low speeds they can be moved, trying to maintain balance. The body and head look in the direction of movement, plus the work of peripheral vision - all this contributes to greater control over the environment.

Snowboarding is a little different. Skating (on the tracks) on this projectile is the alternate use of the front and rear edges. To turn, a person must deviate from the vertical axis back (turn on the back edge), then forward (turn on the front edge).

And since the snowboarder is standing sideways, what is happening behind him is for the most part hidden from his eyes. For people, these are not very natural movements and body positions, you need to get used to them.

Add here tightly fixed legs - if the boarder starts to fall, nothing will stop this fall, only the arms and body.

Not everyone masters these techniques quickly. This is where the delay in mastering the basic movements on a snowboard lies.

As soon as these difficulties are overcome, his star begins to rise rapidly on the horizon. As the skiing speed increases, it becomes easier and easier to turn (although the same can be said about skis). Further progress depends on the number of hours and days (we are not talking about tricks and jumps here).

What at the beginning looks like a minus - securing both feet on the board - becomes a plus. The legs of the boarder never go anywhere, which cannot be said about the legs of a skier. They then disperse to the sides at different angles, then run into each other. Both are at risk of falls and injury. It can take a lot of time to learn how to ski in parallel in any situation.

According to snowboard instructors, a beginner can confidently make simple turns after a week or two of training. Then you can start to get out for skiing off-piste or in parks.

When the skier passes Honeymoon” (usually it lasts two or three days), it is time for further development of the technique. After all, if he wants to ride beautifully on any slope and incline, he cannot do without it. This is the most critical time for beginners, because many believe that they have already achieved everything and now they need to ride, ride, ride.

But no! Now they are waiting for practicing turns from a plow, exercises on parallel skis, work on the position of hands and sticks (which almost all amateurs forget about - look at the track and you will understand everything yourself), honing a carving turn, a turn with slipping, etc.

Well, the training is over. Now let's talk about the tracks.

Who is more comfortable on the tracks

Initially, boards were conceived not for tracks - for virgin skiing (freeride). Therefore, the owner of the board on the track is not very comfortable, everything pulls him to where it is softer.

And if the track is hard and bumpy, then a beginner, having scraped off it a couple of times, can swear to himself more than a foot on the board. So unpleasant can be the slope in front of him.

The skier is calmer on the slopes, he has been in charge here for about 100 years.

And off the tracks

Freeride for a snowboarder is his element, real snow surfing. Sheer pleasure.

But there is one big problem that, in my experience, happens very often. If the boarder drove onto a flat and deep place, then disappeared.

If there is a lot of snow, then he or she may lose all the strength to dig, but there is no left for skiing.

Experienced boarders take telescopic sticks in their backpacks to help them get out of the fluffy quagmire.

Skiers are not far behind in getting high on virgin lands - thanks to the advent of snowboarding, the ski industry has received such a power pendle that if it had not started to invent new technologies, it would have lost to the board on all fronts.

But they came to their senses and now they sport different rockers and a significant increase in the width of the skis, which made skiing off-piste no less enjoyable.

It can be said that it is a draw, but I would prefer snowboarding - after all, skiers again need to keep their legs strictly parallel, and this does not always work out. If one ski goes to the side, a fall is inevitable.

What is lost more often - skis or snowboards?

Skis, by their very nature, must be detachable to protect the legs from injury in critical situations. And when they unfasten themselves, they have a habit of either leaving the owner, or hiding deep in the snow, so much so that you won’t find it.

Snowboarding doesn't have that problem. Stories when the boarder missed the board are rare.

Injuries: Alpine skiing or snowboarding

Here is a draw or a small plus sign for snowboarders.

Alpine skiers tear their knees and menisci because their legs move apart in different sides and the knees are absurdly twisted. The repair of this joint (ligation sewing) results in a round sum (I paid 150,000 rubles), and the recovery period stretches for many months. Therefore, if such a disaster happens at the beginning of the season, it becomes great grief for a passionate mountain lover - on ski season season put a huge and ugly cross.

Snowboarders have almost no problems with their knees - both legs are firmly fixed on the board and in order to turn them out, you need to try

But the upper part of the body suffers. When they "catch" the front edge and fall face down into the slope. If he managed to put his hands out, the face is saved, but the wrists suffer. Passes over to the collarbone.

When a snowboarder "hooks" the back edge, the blow falls on the coccyx, which, if the blow is strong, does not withstand. Painfully. Highly.

Even with such falls, you can put your head on a hard slope.

Almost all border misfortunes can be solved with protection - on the wrists, coccyx (we already talked about protective underpants) and on the head (helmet).

Protecting a skier's knees with knee pads is much more difficult. There are all kinds of brace, but these are half measures.

Another point in favor of the board.

Alpine skiing or snowboarding: which is more expensive?

The ski kit is more expensive than the snowboard kit.

From a marketing point of view, snowboarding started out as more of a boyish, folk view skiing, a kind of rebellion against the classic foundations of skiing.

Therefore, the price tag should be affordable for young people, it's like an entrance ticket to snowboarding. Further, the boarder will be able to spend much more on a snowboard than at the beginning of the journey.

Medium snowboard kit:

• Snowboard — 10,000 — 15,000 rubles
• Boots - 8,000 - 13,000 rubles
• Mounts - 10,000 - 15,000 rubles

Total: 28,000 - 43,000 rubles.

Medium ski set:

• Alpine skiing - 15,000 - 20,000 rubles
• Ski boots - 10,000 - 15,000 rubles
• Ski bindings - 10,000 - 15,000 rubles
• Sticks — 3,000 rubles

Total: 37,000 - 53,000

The figures are given taking into account sales, the full price is 30-40% more expensive.

Want to learn more about how to buy skis the right way? Read the article Properly buy skiing - how, when and where.

And if you overcome the difficulties of the first days of training, then there is an almost 100% chance that skiing or snowboarding will become the most important part of your life. You will want to grow, improve and develop, gain new knowledge and skills.

Let's float... no, one second...

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From time to time frostbitten heads appear in Astana, who come to me with the eternal winter question - Alpine skiing or snowboarding?

Today I will try to answer it, based on own experience. And I have had almost 27 years of formal experience. For the first time, I started skiing while studying in Novosibirsk, then there was a long break, and again the ski theme captured me in full in 1998. There was no snowboard in those distant years, so there was no problem of choice.

Far 1998. Skis Atomic pro 215 cm. A clear illustration of all the "beginner" sins.

The rise in popularity of snowboarding came in the early 2000s, it was at this time, under the influence of fashion, that people massively began to switch to mono-skiing. The process of the exodus of skiers at some point reached the point that on the lift 70% of those climbing writhed on the board. The skiers were looked at as a dying class.

The Neanderthals were losing the evolutionary battle. I had to make certain efforts, in a sense even voluntaristic, so that my two sons remained in the lodge of the traditional orthodoxy of skiing. No wonder - snowboards were defiantly brightly colored, the Internet is filled with videos with famously jumping boarders, sportswear manufacturers rushed to release special fashion lines, reaping the margin from the new market. Since then, more than 10 years have passed, the hype has passed, the number of boarders in the resorts has significantly decreased, in my opinion, having come to the inverse proportion of 40/60.

I'll try to explain why this happened. My opinion will be subjective, controversial and ventilatory, but ... why not have fun?

1. Motivation and professional growth. One of highest points skiing or snowboarding career for the average amateur is carving. I will give such a conditional comparison, everything you do before carving is a tricycle. Carving is a two-wheeled bicycle. The transition from a three-wheeler to a two-wheeler involves overcoming a number of significant difficulties, but as a result, you get a fundamentally different feeling. According to statistics, looking at the slope, you can see that there were always more skiers in the arc than boarders. And to see a boarder with a specialized carving board is also a rarity.

I conclude that carving on a board is more difficult than on skis. So, choosing Alpine skiing or Snowboarding, the first ball goes in favor of alpine skiing.
Ski carving:

Board carving:

2. Powdery. Someone may disagree with the first statement and say that the best top for an amateur is the ability to walk in powder. Yes, in the powder at an early stage, the competitive advantage of the boarders manifested itself, they easily left the ratted slope (on which they could not do anything special) into the forest, fields, to the envy of the skiers. However, this envy was from ignorance of the market. In those distant times, K2 already produced excellent virgin skis, which only a few knew about. What we have to thank the boarders for is that they pushed the industry of snow skiing to powerful explosion. Today the market offers skis for every color, taste and weather, and the presence of sticks and "pedestrian" opportunities add convenience.

From the point of view of powder and off-piste skiing, each projectile has its pros and cons. It's a matter of taste.

3. Safety. In this part, I would favor boarders, because unlike skiers, beginners are not able to accelerate on the board to speeds that can cause great harm to themselves or others. Yes, they can beat off their tailbone, catch an edge with their teeth, but this is not a problem for others. The problem for those around and for the boarders themselves is the impossibility of their vertical stay, so the boarders are laid out along the slope in the most unexpected places (if you are not like that, you are great, but you have little effect on the statistical picture of the world). Due to their horizontal location, they are not visible and sometimes this leads to sad consequences. As a minus for alpine skiing, I will attribute the injury risk in the part of the legs, whatever one may say, or rather, as soon as you spin it wrong - fractures, sprains, ligaments.

4. Speed. I'm not a fan of speed records, because maximum speed GPS does not indicate the skill of the skier, nevertheless, controlled speed in experienced legs is the pleasure for which we go on the slope. The speed of movement on alpine skis is significantly higher than on the board.

Unfortunately, the speed of the skier is also the main disadvantage. There is nothing more frightening than a reckless beginner rushing down with shaky legs. Well, if he kills himself, but if he hits someone else?

5. Convenience. In terms of landing / disembarking on armchairs, drag lifts, skis win by a large margin. But then they lose big because of ski boots, for an experienced skier the boots have an extension of the leg, but for the majority - a tool from the arsenal of the Inquisition. Skis are convenient in that they can be stuck in the snow and even made into a chair. Each side has its pros and cons.

6. Karma. Most of the people on the slope have a low level of skiing, beginner boarders cause more damage to the prepared slope compared to skiers, shoveling snow on a wide surface and causing fair displeasure of other participants.

7. Training. Considering the point about speed, I will give priority to the borders. Only with novice skiers can you see pictures moving the hair on the back of the neck, when, without calculating their strength, people climb the black-and-red slopes, and then fly down, tumbling and scattering their skis along their thorny path. It is safer to study on the board.

But not for small children, skis are better for them. Look at the 2 year old skier. Cool idea, tie ski socks! It will be necessary not to forget when the grandchildren go.

Bottom line Alpine skiing or snowboarding.

If you want to ski in virgin lands, the choice of skiing or snowboarding is a matter of taste. There are pluses and minuses.

If you want to grow in the direction of carving, statistics show that the likelihood that in five years you will famously cut the slope on a snowboard is much lower than if you choose alpine skiing.

If sport is just a non-irritating hobby for you, then by and large it doesn’t matter which “tricycle” you ride. Choose any tool with the above in mind and enjoy the wonderful scenery, blue sky, bright sun and friendly company.

What is healthier - skiing or snowboarding? How many calories are burned when training in the winter air and what muscles are involved in skiing.

Benefits of snowboarding over skiing

Despite the fact that alpine skiing and snowboarding are traditionally practically equated to each other, technically these are two completely different sports. Even if you are an expert skier, you may be a complete beginner in snowboarding and have to learn all over again. On the other hand, if you own a snowboard, then skiing will seem like easy fun to you.

The health benefit that unites these sports is that both snowboarding and skiing improve metabolism due to the huge amount of calories burned, increase joint mobility, affect the strengthening of the muscles of the body, and also activate mental tone - going down the mountain at high speed requires full concentration and fast brain work.

Skiing is an easy way to improve your health, boost your immune system and strengthen your muscles in winter period. Pros and dangerous cons.

Cons of snowboarding

The main disadvantage of a snowboard is that, unlike skis, both legs are tightly fixed. In fact, this significantly limits the ability to brake, turn and accelerate - in other words, if a skier can spread his legs wider or bring his skis into a wedge, then the snowboarder can only fall sideways. Not to mention the lack of ski poles.

The second fundamental difference between a snowboard is the constant movement forward sideways, which can provoke discomfort and neck pain. In addition, this type of movement significantly limits the ability to control what is happening around due to the insufficient viewing angle. That is why snowboarding is much more difficult than skiing.

Risk of skiing and snowboarding

The nature of the injuries received when falling from a snowboard is somewhat different from the nature of typical alpine skiing injuries. One of the reasons lies in the speed - skiers lose control and get into traumatic situations at such a high speed that it is almost unattainable for a snowboarder (especially for a beginner).

On the other hand, the use of protection when snowboarding can significantly reduce the risk of injury (special shorts with plastic inserts will help protect the coccyx in the event of a fall) - in contrast to skiing, where knee joints mainly suffer (the danger lies not in the blow itself, but in that the legs can twist).

Pros of snowboarding

If the main advantage of skiing is a powerful surge of adrenaline produced at high speed, then the pleasure of snowboarding is much more “internal” and “individual”. The snowboarder gets more pleasure from the most physical activity, as well as from the knowledge that he improves his technique by increasing control over his body.

However, the final answer to the question of which kind of winter sport, skiing or snowboarding, gives more advantages, always remains with a specific person - skiing is more suitable for someone, snowboarding for someone. The question of “fashion” is not entirely appropriate here - if you don’t like to constantly fall and walk in wet clothes, it’s stupid to force you to love snowboarding for the sake of beautiful photos.

What muscles work when snowboarding?

Both snowboarding and skiing require constant tension and conscious grouping of almost all the muscles of the body and legs. At the same time, the muscles develop both in a static mode (maintaining body balance) and in a normal dynamic mode (due to movements). The only difference is that when skiing, the muscles of the hands are also involved in the work.

The deep muscles of the body, which are little used in Everyday life. Recall that the abdominal muscles of the abdomen are divided into three layers (straight, internal and oblique). Tightly intertwined with the muscles of the lower back, they form a protective internal organs corset - all these muscles are involved in both skiing and snowboarding.

Improved posture and joint mobility

The mobility of the joints, perfect coordination of movements and control over one's own body are the first things that are required for a successful descent from the mountain at high speed. Muscles should be tense, and the mind is focused on the track. In this case, the muscles of the legs and knees experience both sufficiently large loads and the impact of forces at various angles to perform turns.

It is also important that snowboarding and skiing force a person to constantly be in a light semi-squat, ensuring a gradual return of the pelvis to the correct position. Such physical activity makes the ligaments more elastic, and the joints more mobile. This explains why snowboarders and skiers have excellent posture.

How many calories does snowboarding burn?

A man weighing 75 kg needs about 360-570 kcal for every hour of skiing and about 480 kcal for snowboarding. Considering that the average ski day lasts at least 3-4 hours, the calories burned by an athlete can be measured in the thousands. Such energy consumption not only burns fat, but also activates metabolism as much as possible.

Another factor influencing the acceleration of metabolism during winter sports is being in bright light - for health, you need at least 30-60 minutes a day in the sun. However, winter is a period of low solar activity and short days and people spend most of their time indoors. Outdoor sports make a difference.

Given all the benefits of snowboarding and skiing, it is extremely important to remember that these activities can be dangerous for unprepared people. Be sure to learn to ride with the pros and always use protective equipment. At the same time, the final choice between skiing and snowboarding must be made by a specific person based on their own preferences.

Quite often, a dispute arises between novice athletes and lovers of extreme sports: what is more interesting - skiing or snowboarding? How to learn what to choose for these exciting sports, how to decide to go downhill, save money on equipment? To solve all these issues, you need to carefully understand all the pros and cons of these types. active rest.

What is more difficult to learn for beginners?

First of all, in order to determine which way to move on snow is best, you need to consider the difficulty in learning to ski or snowboard. As a rule, all professionals advise to pay attention to what you are more prone to. That is, try both types of movement, and even then decide that you "go" better.

It is also important that the snowboard does not give a chance for incorrect skiing. You either ride or you fall. As for skis, you can ski for a long time without visible professionalism. Especially when there is no instructor nearby. This rule applies both to mountain slopes and to ordinary movement in a straight line.

A serious question is what is physically the most difficult. Here the answer is unequivocal - snowboarding. After all, success in snowboarding depends only on your legs, endurance, dexterity and vestibular apparatus, while alpine skiing has poles that will easily help you control your body on the descent.

Regarding the speed of learning - as many could observe for themselves, you can go skiing after the first lesson. Not entirely sure, but quite bearable. And for a snowboarder, this learning translates into multiple fall-and-get obstacles. Therefore, a week will be enough for skiing.

Summing up, we can safely say that there is only training, by trial and error to choose your own way of moving through the snow. But it will be physically easier to learn to ski.

What you need to know about security

What is safer for health - board or skis? Each of these methods of movement in the snow has its own vulnerable spot which should be taken care of as much as possible.

Snowboarding, in the first place, can lead to wrist injuries, broken fingers and hand bruises. After all, while skiing, falls are almost inevitable. For greater safety, before skiing, rewind the brushes with an elastic bandage, wear special protective gloves. And also try to avoid transferring all the weight only on your hands during the fall.

Alpine skiing can hurt your knees. They are the ones who suffer the most while riding. After all, the sticks protect the hands, and the whole emphasis is on the knee joints. The advice is therefore almost the same - an elastic bandage or special knee pads will reduce the chance of injury to the knees.

When it comes to falls per se, snowboarding seems less safe. But in fact, to get up with the board after a fall, you only need a few workouts. And after that, you will do such things quickly and deftly. There are problems with skis. After all, no amount of practice will help you get up when you fall if you have skis on your feet. And it will be necessary to skillfully “get out” in order to get back on your feet.

In general, skiers can be injured much more often, but the injury itself will be mild and insignificant. If the question concerns snowboarders, then a necessary attribute for skiing is a helmet. After all, craniocerebral injuries and bruises of the spine are rare, but extremely dangerous. Especially problem area- coccyx. You can injure him when a snowboarder falls on his back. Then it is quite possible to break your elbows and back.

What are the prices for the pleasure of riding the snowy slopes?

Prices for skiing and snowboarding are almost equal. Boards in the domestic market are less in demand, so finding a quality “transport” for sale will be problematic, given that you will need a complete set of lubrication, sharpening and edges.

Skis will not cost you less, but there are a lot of them on the market, and competing companies in the race for improvements spare no expense to upgrade equipment. Therefore, the amount spent on skis and boards will be about three hundred dollars. In this case, you will receive a complete set necessary to start skiing.

Regarding the lessons that are needed to start in this area, it should be noted that classes for snowboarders will cost many times more, but three or four lessons will suffice. At the same time, skiers must ski up to twelve lessons before they begin to actively use this type of movement on their own.

What is the best way to ski or snowboard?

This choice largely depends on physical training. For the board you will need more skill, endurance, physically strong legs. If you know how to control your body perfectly, then conquering the snowy slopes is for you.

If your hands are more developed, then it is better to practice skiing. This type of movement requires hard work of the hands and body, which coordinate your trip. Alpine skiing differs from snowboarding in that with the help of your hands you can completely control the process and direction of the ride.

But still, the main advice when choosing this or that type of outdoor activity will be to listen to yourself. What you like best will become your favorite pastime. It will be easy for you to learn what you like best.

Is it hard to “change direction” from skiing to snowboarding and vice versa?

Many professionals in one of these areas are concerned with the question - is it difficult to switch from board to ski and vice versa? Will it be convenient to get from one to another?

This will be another confrontation, who is cooler - a skier or a snowboarder. Skills acquired in one sport can help you master another more quickly.

Skiers who have embarked on a snowboard after years of skiing claim that it was easier to learn how to snowboard than beginners. But the training period is really much shorter than for ski slopes. However, serious exercise stress and the fear of falling without support makes itself felt, and the first trips can be quite uncertain. Although after the skiers who “switched” to the board, they say that they like the board much more.

Snowboarders who get on skis report that they feel rather stiff during the first descents and their boarding skills have no practical purpose other than to hold the body. All other knowledge comes to them only with an instructor and experience.

Thus, we can say that each of the types of descents has its own nuances, the choice ultimately depends on the character of each athlete. But still, mastering skis that have more equipment is more difficult, although this sport is considered safer.

The long-awaited snowy weather has finally come on the street and the best time for fans of snowboarding and skiing. Extreme lovers who this year for some reason could not go to ski resorts or, conversely, have already returned home after new year holidays, got a great opportunity to ride with the breeze again and experience pleasant emotions.

Despite the fact that ski slopes in Moscow and the Moscow region are relatively small, they are very popular and well suited for beginners. Professionals or just experienced lovers of these sports still prefer to go to the mountains in search of thrills and freeride opportunities.

And for those who have long dreamed of joining skiing sports, but have not yet done so, the fallen snow will be a good motivation to diversify their leisure time.

But the eternal theme, which not only worries beginner athletes, but also gives rise to controversy among avid fans, is it better to give preference to skiing or snowboarding?

The fact is that both sports are very interesting and breathtaking. They require good technical and physical preparation, as well as psychological readiness to overcome fear.

Snowboarders and skiers ride side by side on the same slope and almost always insist that their sport is better. But experts admit that the choice between snowboarding and skiing is purely personal preference, to whom, what is closer to their liking. In addition, if you wish, you can change your specialization at any time or combine two sports.

Many people make their choice under the influence of fashion, advice and preferences of others, others fall in love with this sport at first sight. And those who could not decide in advance what they like more, check both options in practice. What seems more convenient, easier, more interesting, then they choose.

But often the first impression can be wrong if you start learning to ride without the help of a coach.

Often this happens with beginner snowboarders who stand on the board on their own. They constantly fall, beat off all parts of the body and decide that this is not for them.

It happens the other way around: people get on skis and, immediately feeling more or less confident, gain courage and go to conquer a difficult track, from where they fly non-stop, because they don’t know how to brake properly. Such attempts also do not always end well.

Gazeta.Ru spoke to experts in the field of snowboarding and alpine skiing, who explained why people prefer this or that sport, which one is easier and how beginners can choose.

The snowboard coach, the head of the ski and snowboard training center of the All-Russian State Conservatory "SNEZH.COM" and the senior instructor of the Volen ski park near Moscow shared their expert opinion by answering the most common questions that are of interest to beginners.

- The eternal dilemma for beginners is the choice between snowboarding and skiing. On what basis do people prefer one sport over another?

Evgeny Shabanov: Skiers and snowboarders are two completely different categories of people both in terms of age and consciousness.

Basically, people decide for themselves what they like best. It's not a matter of love for speed or tricks, but rather to which the soul lies closer. Part of the choice of sport depends on the person who brings you into the sport. On the other hand, people who contact me already have a formed opinion about what exactly they want. I don't program a person to snowboard. For example, I used to go skiing.

Mikhail Volkov: This is not a dilemma for all people. Most of those who plan to start skiing correctly and safely come to the instructors and name what they have chosen for themselves for very different reasons. It is difficult to name one reason or principle why people choose skiing or snowboarding. Age, mentality, worldview, ambitions are taken into account.

Alexey Kostin: Indeed, mastering alpine skiing is easier for beginners. Snowboarding is a more youthful sport, therefore, the younger generation is attracted to this direction. Alpine skiing is more mass, it attracts both children and adults.

- There is an opinion that snowboarding is a youth and more fashionable sport than skiing, which is more interesting for the older generation. Do you agree with this?
E.Sh.: Snowboarding is a fairly young sport, so the number of young people in it prevails. Skiers are, of course, older people, as well as their children, who follow the example of their parents. Young guys who decide to become snowboarders are more likely to keep up with the times and pay tribute to fashion. Snowboarding is not only extreme and entertainment, but also a fashionable topic.
M.V.: Naturally, I agree. Snowboarding is young fun. It was invented 30 years ago by someone in a garage. Naturally, creative youth have shown and will continue to show great interest in this invention.

Adults are simply more experienced and practical in life. They are no longer very interested in "dressing up", jumping and squirming on "tied" legs. But snowboarders disagree. However, at the same time, you can meet quite mature people in the ski resorts, snowboarding very energetically and elegantly.

A.K.: Indeed, snowboarding is more of a youth sport. Directions that are very popular among young people are jibbing (skating in the park according to figures), slope-style. It is difficult to agree that skiing is less popular. In most cases, snowboarding becomes the second sport that a person masters after learning to ski.

M.V.: Most of the people who turn to the instructors of our Volen and Stepanovo ski parks have made their own choice between skiing and snowboarding. But some think about it when they already come to us. They ask instructors what is better to ride and what is easier to learn. In such cases, we, as leaders of instructor services, recommend starting with alpine skiing. But snowboard instructors whisper from behind us: “Start with a snowboard, it’s cool.”

A.K.: You can start with any kind, but as previously mentioned, alpine skiing is easier to master. In addition, skiing is allowed from 3.5-4 years old, and snowboarding is recommended no earlier than 6 years old.

Is it true that skiing is easier to learn than snowboarding? Do people often prefer alpine skiing precisely because this type seems more familiar to them, for example, from school, where they went skiing in a physical education lesson?
E.Sh.: I don’t agree, it’s just that on skiing the learning process is much longer and more traumatic than on snowboarding. A good snowboard instructor will be able to put a person on the board and teach more or less confident skiing in five to ten lessons. Plus, learning to snowboard is easier because the legs are fixed on the same plane. And on skis, the legs stand on two different planes, which are constantly trying to move apart.

Both snowboarders and skiers do not start going fast right away. Except for people who have not studied anywhere. It happens that if a person more or less keeps on the plane, then he immediately begins to fly down the slope without stopping, but the question is what the consequences may be. You have to think about this.

I can say for myself: when I first got on a snowboard, I didn’t like it much either. I didn't think I would be doing it. Here a lot depends on the instructor who brings you to the snowboard. As an active coach, I can say that getting on a snowboard is not so difficult and much less traumatic than skiing. The people I teach begin to stand confidently on the board by the fifth lesson, they do not fall and, in principle, have no problems.
M.V.: This is true. So it is in fact. Alpine skiing is associated with both cross-country skiing in PE and ice skating with parents or friends at the ice rink. Learning to ski is much easier because of the natural and more familiar postures and body movements. Snowboarding is significantly more difficult, but snowboarders will argue with that. But I, as a professional sports coach and psychologist, argue that snowboarding requires the development of the vestibular apparatus responsible for balance, since you must move in space on “tied legs”, since both legs are strapped to the snowboard. Agree, this is very unusual for ordinary people. It takes a long time for beginners to get comfortable and get used to these inconveniences, both physically and psychologically.

- Are there certain reasons, such as the physical characteristics of people, according to which you recommend giving preference to either snowboarding or skiing?
MV: As I said earlier, there are few people who ask instructors to help them choose between alpine skiing and snowboarding. But, if such a situation arises, then, naturally, instructors give recommendations, evaluating the physical data of a person.
A.K.: Due to the fact that when snowboarding, both feet are strapped directly to the snowboard, it will be difficult for people with a less developed sense of balance to quickly master the skills of skiing. Physical disabilities can also affect the timing of projectile mastery.

- They say that skiers and snowboarders have different skiing philosophies. That is, skiers strive more for speed, and snowboarders for freedom and virtuosity of skiing. Do you agree with this?
E.Sh.: Probably not. Snowboarding is an Olympic sport, it has various disciplines, like big air is jumping, and speed slalom is skiing. high speeds. In addition, there are different kinds snowboards - park, freeride and carving. The last category of snowboard is the hard ski, which comes with sturdy boots that look like ski boots. Carving boards develop no less speed than alpine skis.

And in principle, on a snowboard you can develop almost the same speed. It all depends on the style of riding and the sensations that the athlete enjoys. By myself I can say that I am not a big fan of parks and big-airs, I am a fan of freeriding and accelerating to maximum speeds.

M.V.: With this opinion, I think, any expert of my level will not agree. The philosophy of alpine skiing and snowboarding, of course, differs in terms of outlook, and hence it differs in the type of behavior and style of dressing. But skiing and snowboarding are similar in terms of speed and virtuosity. Both in skiing and in snowboarding there are racers and virtuosos. It all depends on the mentality and ambitions, regardless of what he rides.

A.K.: In skiing and snowboarding, there are identical areas, such as: passing sports tracks for speed, as well as performing freestyle elements.

Which of these sports is the most traumatic?
M.V.: If you try to learn by yourself or with friends who, in your opinion, are pros in skating, then this is already a risk to start skating wrong. And already as a consequence of this appears great danger injury. If you are trying to learn how to ski or snowboard without an instructor, then the possibility of injury differs only in that in most cases, snowboarders injure their hands on which they fall, because their legs are “tied”. And skiers injure their legs, as they are wearing heavy boots and skis, which, when falling with their weight, dangerously affect the limbs.

A.K.: Alpine skiing and snowboarding are extreme sports, so it is difficult to assess which of these sports is more traumatic.

How often do people switch from one sport to another? Or combine them?
E.Sh.: They don't switch often, especially from snowboarding to skiing. Depends on the category of skis, they are different. For example, there is a new school in alpine skiing, it is practically an analogue of snowboarding, you can ride these skis both in front and behind, do the same tricks as on a snowboard, ride figures in the park, in the half-pipe. It's not the same for everybody. At one point, for some reason, I got stuck on a snowboard.

- How long will it take to learn how to perform simple acrobatic tricks on a snowboard?

E.Sh.: For this, it is necessary to be able not only to stand on the board, but also to perform jumps correctly. They are practiced in trampoline schools with good coaches, as well as in a foam pit or on a special soft pillow. Only then can a person already try ski jumping.

The director of the store "Trajectory", spoke about current trends in alpine skiing and snowboarding, and also gave his professional advice newcomers.

What sport is more popular among beginners?
- Skiing, of course. For example, in Krasnaya Polyana, where I am now, the ratio is 70-80% of skiers and 20-30% of snowboarders.

- Snowboarding is more often chosen by the younger generation?
- Yes, you can say that, but now the age is already shifting. Snowboarding is not such a cheap sport; in principle, wealthy people can afford it. I would say that average age snowboarders - 25-35 years old.

- How much does a complete set of equipment for a snowboarder and a skier cost on average?
- Approximately the same. Everywhere there are folk sets from 20-25 thousand for a complete set, including skis or a snowboard, boots and bindings.

— The price range for skiing and snowboarding varies greatly. What is their difference?
- On average, skis cost 16-17 thousand with bindings, and boots - from 10 thousand. Now there is a wide range of prices due to the new course. Also, the cost of skis, of course, depends on their category.

If they are more professional and specialized for a certain level of riding, for example, for freeride, then they are more expensive. The price also depends on the stiffness of the skis, their material. The expensive ones have good fiberglass, carbon stringers. For any boards and skis with carbon, the price is much higher. Well, they have good gliding. A beginner should take inexpensive skis. They are softer and, accordingly, forgive mistakes, and their attachments are simpler, no a large number adjustments. But the more expensive bindings are more secure, have more adjustments in terms of weight, and should release in any fall.

- What kind of sport - alpine skiing or snowboarding - do you recommend beginners start with?
- Everyone compares what is easier to start riding. On skis, of course, it will turn out faster. I got up and left right away. Snowboarding requires skiing skills. Skiing is more familiar to people, everyone has ever skied cross-country skiing, for example, in school in physical education. Therefore, it is easier for them. Roughly speaking, you got on them and immediately went - and enjoy the speed.

Snowboard closer to people who ride a skateboard, surf. It's a certain subculture. Somewhere in the big mountains on puffy snow it is better to snowboard. I skied and snowboarded. When there is deep snow, do I feel like snowboarding? like a surf. Although new skis also allow you to get in deep snow very cool feeling. Therefore, who is closer. If your friends are skiing, then of course it will be more convenient to start with them. Even though I am an avid snowboarder, I would recommend trying skis first.

— Do you agree with the opinion that speed is more important for skiers, and snowboarders love the freedom and virtuosity of skiing? How different are skiing and snowboarding experiences?

- Probably, speed on skis is really the main factor. I recently went skiing and realized that snowboarding gets less adrenaline from speed. Although I enjoy snowboarding more. When you ride a board in puffy snow, you really slide like on a wave, only it lasts longer. But on a hard snowboard, you can also develop speed close to skiing.

Do people often combine skiing and snowboarding?
“Now more and more people are becoming universal. If we, for example, go skiing with the family, then we choose skiing, it is more convenient with children. But this is a matter for the company. But due to the remoteness of the mountains and the cost of equipment, people choose one thing. And if they change the sport, then when it is already boring, in ten years. Now there is a large flow of people both skiing and snowboarding. Children, as opposed to parents, try snowboarding. And avid snowboarders, on the contrary, go to skiing, because they are also developing very actively now.

What sport is best for young children?
- Children are put on skis from 2.5-3 years old, and on snowboarding from 5-6 years old, although you can start earlier. But to lay the foundations of skiing technique for children and the feeling of the mountains is definitely better on skis.

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