Should i consider snowboarding? is it right for me?

I am a guy, Eighteen, in Vancouver, Canada (near whistler) and am an accomplished skier since i was four years old and was mostly forced into it, always having to take lessons. I became good at skiing but despite being a winter person, never really enjoyed it %26amp; hated being forced to take lessons. The boots ended up giving me foot problems.





Anyway, i skateboarded for 4 years from age 13 to 17 and was pretty good at the basic aspects of that, and i enjoyed it. Then i met some friends who enjoyed snowboarding and have started skiing with them and enjoying it a little more.


They tell me to try snowboarding.





I have always wanted to.





does it sound like something that would fit me? or be very difficult for me?





i have wanted to learn for quite a while, and am the best person on the mountain of our group. of course that would change if i snowboarded.





Also, is it better to rent or buy? people tell me to get staff assistance %26amp; just buy. I'd like to but others stress to always rent. TY

Should i consider snowboarding? is it right for me?
If you loved the snow, and love skateboarding, then snowboarding would probably be perfect for you.





Also, if you are good at skiing, and you are good at skateboarding, then you will probably pick up snowboarding pretty fast. The basics in skateboarding are similar to the basics in snowboarding.





It sounds as if you would probably be ok buying. I would suggest buying decent gear you can grow into. Try to get good gear on sale from last year.





For reliable reviews on snowboards and gear, check out Transworld snowboarding. They have a "Good Wood Test" every year for snowboards.





www.transworldsnowboarding.com





Most the snowboarders I ride with were originally skiiers, and have never put on a pair of skis again after they first snowboarded. Many of them were really good at skiing too, and skied competitively. Snowboarding is just a lot more fun :)
Reply:you should try for sure. i used to be a junior skipatrol but now i snowboard because skiing got boring. if you ski i would recomend trying to snowboard because the way of sliding while you turn.now i am fourteen and this will be my third year snowboarding and i love it way more than skiing so give it a try man.





definitely get your own board
Reply:Make sure if you do choose to rent you get the highest quality demo board. You don't want to decide you don't like snowboarding based on a crappy board that made you ride poorly. But you should like snowboarding I think...I'm not too sure why you're even asking.
Reply:the first time you snowboard is always hard. You'll probably be in pain the next day, but once you learn it, it's a lot of fun. Since you skateboard, it sounds like you would probably enjoy it a lot. I used to ski, but i wasn't really into it and now i board and I love it. The first time though you should probably rent, just in case you decide it isnt really your thing. It never hurts to try.
Reply:Your love of both winter and skateboarding suggests that you definitely might enjoy snowboarding - give it a try.





I'd recommend you rent your equipment for at least the first few times you go. First of all, you want to make sure you like snowboarding before you go and spend all this money on equipment. Second, you'll want to try out different lengths of boards to find one you're happiest with before purchasing.





Happy riding!
Reply:Sounds like you have a good reason to want to learn to snowboard. As an instructor of both skiing and snowboarding, I always get the question, which is harder to learn? I think if you really want to learn to snowboard, and you can give it a couple of days on the beginner hill then go for it! I'd reccommend that you take a lesson, but you said how much you hated being forced to take lessons. However, with a lesson, you will probably get the hang of it much faster and have much less pain the first day. With your background of skiing and skateboarding, I bet it would only take one lesson and that way you won't develop the bad habbits that many self-taught (or taught by a well- meaning friend) snowboarders develop. As far as renting, if you are sure you are going to give it a good try (and by that I mean more than just one day), I would suggest buying something. You can get used boards pretty cheap on eBay wich would work for you until you figure out what you really want to do. I bet your friends could give you some advice too on what kind of board to get. Also, you could take your skiis with you still. That way if you get frustrated or just want to get off the beginner hill for awhile, you could, just make sure you go back to it later in the day. Make sure you can link turns on easier terrain before you move up to harder slopes. I've seen a lot of people (myself included) that get on steeper terrain then don't have the confidance to make turns and end up side-slipping the whole way down (where you stay on one edge and slide on it instead of changing edges and making turns). Good luck!
Reply:I just picked up snowboarding last year. I have never tried skiing, but my friend has tried both and tells me snowboarding is much harder. You have to balance like you only had one ski, and it is kind of hard to pick up but once you learn it it is well worth it. Personally, I always thought snowboarding was cooler than skiing. If you can learn to snowboard, you would be able to have a lot of fun with your friends. Besides, if you're good at skateboarding, snowboarding will probably be easier. I'd go for it, take the chance. The worst that can happen is that you don't like it and go back to skiing right?





Good luck choosing!





P.S. I think buying one is more efficient if you go snowboarding a lot. The rent prices are so high that I just bought my snowboard the second time I went. It is my favorite thing in the world. I would recommend buying one.
Reply:i have been snowboardin for 3 years. snowboardin is good for any1 any age if the dont mind gettin bruised the first few times out. it is harder than sking.



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