By Paulina Leskow, ’24

Staff Writer

Winter is one of the most special times of the year. Many people associate winter with the holidays, no school, and warm hot chocolate by the fireplace. When others think of winter, they picture fresh powder and the mountains opening up for skiing and snowboarding. Debates over which is the better sport have been going on for decades. Some prefer whichever sport they mastered first. Others are unwilling to try the other because they have gotten used to one.

In an informal survey of about 20 HHS students, I found that more than half felt skiing was the better sport, while just 15 percent prefered snowboarding. But nearly a quarter of people surveyed couldn’t decide because they love them both.

Fans say thatboth sports offer great views from mountaintops and lots of chances to make fun memories with family and friends. And when you get going fast enough, whether on skiis or a snowboard, you can feel like you’re flying. The techniques and style of skiing and snowboarding are very different, though, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Below are some of the pros and cons for each sport:

Snowboarding Pros

• Less equipment so easier to transport and take on and off, boots more comfortable
• Easy to control falls and get back up faster
• Both feet are on the board, making it easier to steer
• Turning is simple and only requires the toe and the heel
• Similar to skateboarding, could be easier to learn for skaters
• Easy to get the hang of even at an older age
• Easy to do tricks, and it looks really cool on the slopes

Snowboarding Cons

• More difficult to maintain balance
• Hard to ride on a ski lift with snowboard on, and annoying to have to unstrap and restrap the board every time you get on or off
• Can get stuck in powder or snow very easily
• Difficult to learn to stay up; many elbow, knee and tailbone bruises will result

Skiing Pros

• Easy to maneuver, steer and control speed downhill
• Easier to ride on icy patches on skis than on a snowboard.
• Easier to get on and off a ski lift with skiis on
• Easier to balance
• Ski poles are beneficial and really fun to use.

Skiing Cons

• Takes a long time to learn, and harder to pick up at an older age
• Bad habits can be produced easily and are very difficult to rid of
• Difficult to get back up on two feet after a fall, especially if a ski falls off
• Ski boots are stiff, leading to sore muscles in the legs and bruising
• Gear and lift tickets can be pretty expensive
• Easy to lose control and crash if going straight down the trail

Whether you prefer skiing, snowboarding or both, it is important to stay safe on the slopes, and to have fun while the snow is still on the mountains!

featured image: https://trustcarehealth.com/blog/snowboarding-and-skiing