What is best to learn first; skiing or snowboarding?

Question

I have suggested to my sons (ages 9 and 11) that they might like to learn to ski.

Both are keen, but my oldest only wants to learn to snowboard.

Intuitively, it seems best to me for them to learn to ski first and then snowboard after.

Is this correct, or does it not matter?

What are the arguments for and against and, on balance, what do you think?

Answer 1

Best bet is to learn one of them, then about a year 18 months later.... learn the other.

They are 2 different disciplines, with a different stance for standing on your skis or board....

If you try to for example, stand on your skis the way you stand on your board, you'll have problems, and vice verse.

So, get good at one of them, then do the other.....

No advice on which is best to do first.... but if you skate, try skiing.... if you skateboard or surf, try snowboarding

Answer 2

They should learn which ever one interests them the most.  Kids pick stuff up so fast, but only if it interests them :P

The reason most snowboarders today skiied first is because skiing used to be so much bigger, not because of any balance issues.  Most snowboarders I ride with skiied first, but because that was really the only option at the time.  But now its about 50/50, and I see kids learning snowboarding instead of skiing all the time.  The most important thing is that they love what they are doing.

Answer 3

Let them do what they want!  The skills don't transfer so if the older one doesn't want to ski you'll be wasting money on rentals/lessons and time up at the mountain forcing him on skis.

That being said if he's the only one on a board with you guys skiing he might want to ski a bit so he can keep up because of the learning curve of a board versus skis.

I don't have any solid argument for either, it's all preference in my mind and experience.

Answer 4

At that age I'd try and get them to do both, kids adapt really easy.  So I don't think it matters

Answer 5

I would tell them to learn both.  Personally, I started with snowboarding and then skiing.  I am much better on snowboards than skis.

Snowboarding has a steeper learning curve and skiing has a longer but gentler learning curve.  At their age, they will learn both fast.

In my experiences, a lot of really "good" skiers don't ever bother with learning snowboarding b/c they don't want to go through the learning phase.  The learning phase of the snowboarding can be tough and painful.  

I ski on icy days and snowboard on powder days.

Answer 6

sking and snowboarding are different so if your son wants to snowboard his best bet is to learn snowboardig a lesson or two will do just fine to learn then its basically just practice from there

Answer 7

i would say let them chose one and stick with it because though it is not too hard to change, once you learn one it makes the other a bit more difficult

Answer 8

i would say skiing!

snowboarding is bad for your knees