Taking Up Snowboarding or Skiing?

I have an idea. Why not take up a sport because you enjoy it? Not just beating other people in it, at least not by itself. But actually because you like it? Stop trying to turn a hobby into a vocation.

what do you like? wrote:

I have an idea. Why not take up a sport because you enjoy it? Not just beating other people in it, at least not by itself. But actually because you like it? Stop trying to turn a hobby into a vocation.

I do not turn hobbies into occupations.

I suppose boarding looks more badass, but skiing is easier?

I dunno.

Skiing

Technically difficult. Not so bad once you figure out how to balance yourself properly.

Snowboarding

Not as technically as difficult as skiing. Much harder on the abs until you figure out the proper technique. You will get fitter snowboarding than skiing.

Cross-Country Skiing

Great workout sport. If you are a runner you will probably link this snow sport a lot.

RealTalk wrote:

I have ran some decent times, much faster than 90 percent of the population has and ever will run.

so you broke 22 for a 5k, time to master snow boarding

irony killed the cat wrote:

RealTalk wrote:

I have ran some decent times, much faster than 90 percent of the population has and ever will run.

so you broke 22 for a 5k, time to master snow boarding

Yes, I broke 22 for a 5k. That being said, how will I know when I have mastered snowboarding as well?

When your make your National team and get to compete at...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowboarding_at_the_Winter_Olympics

...and you win a friggin medal.

Winter Olympics wrote:

When your make your National team and get to compete at...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowboarding_at_the_Winter_Olympics

...and you win a friggin medal.

Good to know!

Do any other runners here snowboard or ski? Or do you just stick to running?

bump bump

any runners that bowl or like to fish?

I ski a little. Planning to go 4-5 times this winter. It is just a fun hobby for me, not a competitive endeavor. It does not take the place of running.

Skydiving is amazing, though. I saw you mentioned that in your first post. Go skydiving. If you want to you can get into competition there.

Skiing is easier to learn, harder to master than snowboarding. Expect to conk your noggin a few times on the snowboard. Both are a lot more fun that running.

I used to ski 3-4 times a week for many years, then I moved and there's no where around here to ski. I personally think skiing is a lot more exciting than boarding, but to each his own. There's really no need to choose between skiing and running. Run in the morning before work/school and then ski in the evenings and weekends.

Are you interested in doing something just for fun, racing, or hanging out in the parks? Whatever you choose be prepared to be humbled the first few months/years. Most competitive skiiers start very young. My younger brother started skiing when he was four... If you really want to get good in the parks you'll need to train during the summers for it. Also, I'm guessing you're a guy, but from a female's perspective it can be harder to get into freestyle skiing because parks are dominated by guys who are hyped up on testosterone.

I'm a runner who also participates in other sports. I used to be an avid skier (22 years - started when I was 3) then got bored of it and started snowboarding (4 years and then I quit to snowmobile). Skiing is easier to learn if you don't have experience wakeboarding or skateboarding. I had been wakeboarding for 15 years and skateboarding for 10 so snowboarding was pretty easy to pick up.

You want to see what level you will perform? You will suck. Even though I can throw down 720's on both ski's and a snowboard (at the park) there is always some 10 year old who can do it better than me (off axis or goofy). It's quite humbling how great these kids are. But if you do it for fun rather than competitive you will enjoy your time on the mountain.

As for throwing in the towel just to persue other hobbies, don't do it! Run AND enjoy other hobbies otherwise you'll get out of shape and won't be able to perform at a high level in your new sport. Like a previous poster mentioned, do both.

And to the guy a few posts above me... I fish a lot but I don't bowl.

snow bunny wrote:

Snowboarding

Much harder on the abs until you figure out the proper technique. You will get fitter snowboarding than skiing.

lot.

Ha! Clearly you don't snowboard! it isn't hard on the abs at all- you'll blow out your calves, quads and glutes, though.

To the OP, I love running but would happily trade any day on the trails for a day in the half pipe rocking tricks.

Devil in the detail wrote: Ha! Clearly you don't snowboard!

Wrong fool. Why do you assume your experience was my experience? I do snowboard. When "I" first snowboarded it was hard on my abs, not so much on my calves and quads.

Thanks for the feedback all.

Skiing looks like something you could do well into your older years. I did wakeboard when I was younger during the summers for about 4 years. That leads me to believe snowboarding would be easier for me to pick up. I must admit, it also looks like more fun, if you can do the tricks.

As for replacing running, perhaps I am just over the 50-60 mile weeks. I mean...that leaves a lot of time for other activities...but being fit and running fast is pretty fun.

Quite the conundrum

Ski Randonée (Alpine Touring). I'm going to give this a try this year. Does anybody else do this?

When the snow comes every year, I stop running and take up cross country skiing, which combines the aerobic conditioning of running with the all body stress of rowing, without impact on the joints. During the winter all nagging injuries heal and I begin the spring ahead of my age group in running condition.

I find the skating method of xcountry skiing the most interesting. It is 20 percent faster than classic and gives the better aerobic workout. I go to ski areas, local and national such as Beaver Creek, and ski up hill to the top and then ski around the trails high in the mountain and then ski down. It is a full scale workout and tremendously challenging and fun.

I discover, however, that taking up xcountry skiing in my late fifties, my running condition did not translate into victories in skiing as I expected. There is alot of technique in xcountry skiing. But the races are exciting.