Hey guys-
My girlfriend is getting a nice day long lesson when we are in Colorado this winter for Christmas.

She has never been on skis or a board, so well be renting that gear for her as well. Ive heard its easier for people who have never done it before to start on skis, but what do you all think?

I personally found Ski's easier, some like boards but it is a little easier to hold your edge on ski's. IMHO

I think Snowboarding is harder at first but easier after that. Just have to get past the initial learning curve.

Also I have been snowboarding for about 10 years, and no skis so I am a bit biased lol:D

Brian

My vote went to skis. I think if you've never had experience with either then skis might be a bit more intuitive since your feet aren't locked together. And maybe somewhere in the recesses if your brain you'll find you had tried something like ice skating or rollerblading so it'll be a little more natural.

I put in for skis as well. Only because you can get around in them easier + they are safer if you get stuck having to hike home in soft snow.

I believe in " Go With What You Know " . If you are comfortable on a board and don't have to learn it then a board would be best. Same with skiis and my background. Snowkiting came completely naturally to me. It was combining 2 things I was familiar with. The kite and the skis. Snowkiting with a board is probably still beyond me? I have never tried YET !

Ultra short skis will be an advantage ( only for the intro day ). They feel more like skates and a little less clumsy to a total beginer .

i take it that you are on about snowkiting.
if so, if she has any landboarding or kitesurfing experiance then go for a snowboard. if she has any buggy experience then id say ski's

One nice thing about skis is that as a beginner you can basically just let yourself get blown straight downwind. With a snowboard you really have to learn to hold an edge right away. And with skis you can move your legs when you start to lose your balance. Nothing like lying on your stomach with your feet locked to the board and the kite dragging you down wind.

So I vote skis.

If this has to do with kiting; boards and kiting seem to be the general consensus. If not, then skis are probably easier

Brian

Skis for sure:wee: take her downhill the 1st time out to get the hang of it, then snowkiting. As BR says, start on really short (138cm or less ?) skis or snowblades. If the rental shop is any good, they should be able to fit her out with the right gear for her height, ability, and snow conditions.

Hope you both have a blast.
Bill

ha, wow sorry guys, I just realized how vague this was. It will be a whole day of snowkiting lesson. No prior experience with skis or snowboards, no downhill or anything like that. And so far I think just about 10 mins flying the trainer kite. Before her lesson im going to try to take here to the bunny slopes around here (if we ever get any snow) for a day on skis and get her flying the trainer more. So when we put them together she wont be completely lost.

Thanks for the replies so far though. Looks like well lean toward the skis...

How about skating? If she can skate (ice, inline or roller but especially inline) skis will be easier. If she can surf or skateboard, snowboard.
If she's done neither then IMHO she'd be better off on a snowboard - less things to cross up and get mangled by

Well, if she hasn't been on either, i'd have to give my vote to skis. I tried a snowboard a couple times (I've skied for years) and i was all over the place on the board. My first snowkiting lesson, i was off and cruising with skis, although a bit out of control. My nephew on the same day used a board (he'd boarded before) and just couldn't get going without getting faceplanted or otherwise wiping out. He switched to skis and caught up to me, ability wise, in no time.

I have never boarded before and I am going to start out on skiis, I live out on the prairies where the snow can drift from 1 foot to 6 feet in some places, with wind packed snow. Alot of places you can walk on top of the snow some places I will fall through to my knees. What are the chances that the skiis will break through and get caught in the snow since the surface area of skiis is less than a snow board?

Wind pack is a bummer for either. The boarders will have to comment, but with skis I find it helps keep your tips up if you keep your weight back on your heels. If you break through, ride it out under the crust until you pop out. I look for a spot where I won't break through to turn at the end of a run.

It depends on how much of a crust has formed on the snow, and also how wide your skis are. I've got some mid fat skis that carry up pretty well in soft snow and as canuck mentioned, you can keep your tips up by keeping your weight back. if you are really sinking but can keep moving and need to turn, you may need to come to a near stop and lift and swing your skis around to get going in a different direction. Otherwise, if you redirect the kite too quickly when your skis are sunk into the snow, well, ain't gonna be good. Crusty, packed snow can definately be tricky.

The learning curve is much shorter to learn to snowboard than ski which is one reason it's become so popular.

For learning to kite the skis are a little more convienient.

It's going to be tough on her and the instructor if she's learning to kite AND ski at the same time. That's what I've been told by instructor friends that have been in that situation.

If possible I'd get her a basic ski lesson so she'll know the edging principles and have some basic ski knowledge going in and can focus more on the kite handling and not so much on her feet.

Just my opinion.