[Closed] Learning to Ski or Snowboard at 63, which one?

I started learning to ski, before moving to snowboard. IMO snowboarding is easier to pick up the basics (especially if you have skated or surfed before), but more difficult to master.

If I were starting again I'd stick with the skis. If you are in to mountaineering then it can be combined more easily, it's easier to traverse flat areas if needed, and you are less likely to break wrists and coccyx's!

Before going on a dry slope, be aware of the ease with which you can pick up a thumb injury. If skiing (with poles) get someone competent to show you how the pole strap (with a half twist) should sit in your palm so it also doesn't snag your thumb in a fall.

I'd say snowboarding has an easier initial learning curve, but to get good at either is probably the same (by that I mean more than just competent).

However no way would I want to learn to snowboard on a dry slope.

I've never really skied (bar one lesson) but started snowboarding as an adult (although at 19 a very young one!). My take on it is similar to riklegge's, it's probably easier to pick up the basics of snowboarding but trickier to get to the point where you look like you know what you're doing. However, the initial few days of snowboarding have quite a painful learning curve - you will fall down, a lot, sometimes smashing your cocyx and sometimes catching an edge and going down face first and smashing your knees. As an older learner that may not be great for you - I know at 41 I wouldn't be too keen on it!

I'd say go for skiing, it doesn't look as painful to pick up and the button/t-bar lifts the dry slope are likely to have are much easier to use on skis than on a board.

At 63, skiing, no question.

Thanks for the quick replies guys, reading through them I think the way to go is with the Skis.

I shall report back when I’ve had a trip down there.

The other thing to think about is do you like facing where you're going (skiing) or do you like travelling sideways (snowboarding). I've snowboarded badly for years and have reached the conclusion that I should really be a skier. I just feel far more relaxed when I'm facing where I'm going and feel I have far more control.

Also snowboards feel amazing in powder but have more drawbacks when doing lift assisted piste skiing. Your chance of finding powder on your 1 week per year trip is slim.

As a snowboarder i would 100% say skiing.

The first few days of learning to snowboard are agony. Constant edge catching with hard 'pivot' type slams where you either smash face first into the ground or the dreaded heel edge catch where you smash back of head first into the ground. Not to mention the absolute battering your arse will take (matron!) the high chance of wrist injuries and the need to lift your head up with your hands when you get out of bed due to whiplash 😬

I can’t say I disagree with your decision to learn to ski over boarding at 63

I learned to snowboard in my late 20’s and agree from watching friends learn to ski the learning curve for snowboarding is significantly steeper so you take your falls and hits in a shorter timeframe

Don’t forget you’ll still risk coccyx and knee injury’s learning to ski, falling down at increasing speed it’s par for the course

The downside to skiing for me is the shallower learning curve leads to more of the mountain being off limits it takes much more time to gain the skills and confidence to tackle more challenging terrain and can lead you to being tied to the more crowed green and blue slopes, one or two weeks a year will make progression a challenge

+1 for skiing here too. Don't think you'll regret it cogglepin.

Not sure My backside has ever fully recovered from those early days snowboarding. I was about 30 and wouldn't wish it on anyone a day older.

Another one for skiing.
I cant remember any *massive* falls when I was learning to ski, I can remember some massive airplane accidents where I'd catch a toe edge and chin the piste whilst learning to board.
At least on a dry slope you'll have the fear element of knowing that the dendix will remove the top layer of what ever hits the ground first 😉

I know very little about this, but I would have thought if there’s anyway you can get to one of those snow dome places it’s going to be a hell of a lot nicer to learn on than a dry slope. I remember them being bloody evil from my visits as a kid (at an age when you are pretty much indestructible)

As a snowboarder I’d also echo the thoughts that skiing would be a better bet. Modern skis are much easier to control. As said the beginning of the snowboard curve is a painful one. My kids all learned to ski in a couple of days! 😉 I’d also learn on snow if at all possible. Dry slopes are ok but very different to snow IMO. How far are you from Tamworth?

I've snowboarded once. In my mid 30s. On ice.

Ski.

Skiing is much better for bimbling about the mountain, low snow days, travel, mountaineering.

Boarding is brilliant if there's fresh deepish snow, but horrible on icy or hard pistes.

Boarding on Dendex sounds like a nightmare.

Kids generally learn to ski at younger ages than they learn to board, so it's likely your grand grommets will start there. Following them around on the sorts of pistes they will initially do will be a nightmare on a board. With skiing, flat windy pistes are your friend. On a board flat pistes are a mare. Gradient is your friend boarding.

Boarding hurts wrists, arse, head and neck. Skiing hurts knees. Do you have any existing issues?

If you board then take your knee and elbow pads and buy a coxsyx protector/ impact shorts. DO NOT learn to board without wrist guards. My son broke his wrist on day one.

Timescales: why wait till the weans are bigger? Carpe canem. Do it now or next year, don't wait. Its amazing fun, get into it now.
Apart from anything else, the kids will probably learn faster than you, so you'll need a head start. On his second day boarding my son was happily doing quite steep off piste through the trees. Make sure you can keep up with the grandkids.

Someone posted in the Towwhee thread that there is nothing better than mountain biking with your kids. He was nearly right 🙂

https://flic.kr/p/2iyCgMu

My wife and I have in recent years learnt to ski but I boarded for a ‘winter’ once a week on a dry slope as a teenager.

I’d definitely say go the ski route - we barely fell on our week away learning.

Also, we got a weeks ski holiday to Bansko Bulgaria, 6 days lift passes and 6 days of 4hrs per day tuition in a small group, flights and half board for around £600 per person. Compare that cost to the tuition in the UK - Perhaps you and your wife can have a wee holiday as you learn to ski for overall similar cost..?

Sit on the ground - knees bent with feet flat tucked underneath your bum.

Stand up. Repeat 50 times.

If you can do that then learning to snowboard is a option. Otherwise definitely ski.

Skiing. Enjoy it @cogglepin

Earl is making a valid point. Although getting up can be done facing up the hill it's easier that way.

Try both I like ski's but I love snowboarding even on groomed frozen runs first thing in the morning. It helps I used to skate

Can ski and snowboard. Learnt snowboarding first.

They say skiing is easier to learn but hard to get really good at, conversly snowboarding is harder to learn but easy to get really good at.

Youll be on your ass lots in the snowboard learning phase, so if your not 'bendy' it wont be fun. Then when you start to link turns youll be falling all over the place. Cant imagine thatd be fun as 63

Skiing, least you face the way your going, and if the place has button lifts/pomas, MUCH easier on skis

Summary. Choose skiing

PS i prefer snowboarding

I snowboard and agree that the learning curve is painful, there is a lot of falling over to do on the way.

I also think that the design of ski's has long ago caught up with boards, so I don't think boards hold any real advantage these days. Apart from looking cooler obviously!

Skiing! Next…

Sit on the ground – knees bent with feet flat tucked underneath your bum.

Stand up. Repeat 50 times.

If you can do that then learning to snowboard is a option. Otherwise definitely ski.

Every year my bindings feel further and further away when strapping in 🤣🤣

I’ve been snowboarding for about 25 years but only learnt to ski 6 years ago aged 42. Without a doubt I’d stick with learning to ski at any age over 30. But it’s great to be able to do both, bimble around the hill with the other half on skis or get the board out when there’s a bit of pow. I do find myself skiing a lot more than boarding now though, not least as my other half can’t board so it levels our abilities for me to ski.

Thanks once again for all the replies folks, lots to think about and some cracking advice. My son lives in the Bournemouth area and we are in Yorkshire so when we visit him which is about three times a year we intend to have some lessons on the dry slopes near him but we were also thinking of a place a couple of hours from us that is proper snow for some practice in between visits.
I’m really lucky that I am still very fit and agile at my age, I think it’s in my genes, I still bike 3 to 4 times a week, run 5ks when I fancy a change and do Yoga every day.
I also have a very active job which also helps I think. On top of that I’m lucky that I never put on weight, been 9.5 st for as long as I can remember!
Anyhow all I can say is I’m really looking forward to it and at least no one has said stop being a silly old sod, your too old!

Why are you snowboarders sitting down to strap in? Stand up (presuming you can touch your toes of course) or get some step-on bindings

I can’t see the fun in having your first experience on a dry slope

Thumb injuries on dry slopes is nothing about holding the poles wrong, it’s putting your hand down to stop your fall and catching it in the dendix (if it’s a dendix slope)

I was away skiing about 10 yrs ago. Was chatting to a guy in his early 80s on the chair lift up to the top of a red. He was on a board , asked us to give him loads of room at the top as he'd never been on a board before !!!!!

He just though that after 60 odd years of skiing he'd give snowboarding a shot so rented one and was heading up to a red. Didn't wait around to see how he got on but I was impressed by his have a go attitude, especially at age 80+.

Pretty much all been said, but I reckon skiing is the way to go too.

If you do decide on boarding then I’d recommend learning in the spring, you’ll get wet from sitting in slush but your body will thank you for it. I reminded myself this morning just how much it hurts falling flat on your back on a hard piste. I was barely moving too 🤣

Learning to board on a dry slope sounds horrendous, treat yourself to the snow dome instead.

I do both to a pretty good standard and honestly skiing is better all round. Depends on the resort but just getting around some can be a right pain on a board, especially when you aren't confident to go really fast and maintain speed for flat sections.

Nothing beats a snowboard on a proper powder day tbh but how often does that really happen unless you are living in a ski resort.

Anyhow all I can say is I’m really looking forward to it

You should, it's an absolute blast!

I learned to snowboard at 41. Over extended wrists from toe side slams made the first few sessions a bit miserable. Became quite confident fairly quickly. A few winters with no opportunity to go saw me have a four year lay off. Had a weekend in Scotland at 56 and although fit, especially bike fit. Seemed to really struggle. Think that being able to go / train regularly would help. Knee impacts hurt now I’m older, so knee pads really help. Finally sold my board this year . At 61 now, I might hire kit if I really feel the need.
Good luck with whichever you go for.

I think it can go either way depending on individual. One difference when you start learning is snowboarding you lean up the hill to control speed, skiing you lean down which is a little counter intuitive. If you can get past that skiing can be more stable and flexible about where and what terrain you can easily traverse. Ultimately though it comes down to which one appeals and you are more likely to persevere with? Used to be skiing was seen as a bit stuffy so all the cool kids would learn to board, but I think twin tips, blades, freeriding has leveled the image up a bit.

100% learn in the UK, and on real snow if you can. Don’t waste money going to a resort to learn you’ll spend most of your time on nursery slopes.

Another vote for skiing. If you are based in Yorkshire why not try some sessions on the snow slopes at Xscape in Castleford which will be much better than learning on a dry slope. In resort being on skis is a distinct advantage on button and chair lifts, and also where the terrain is flatter. If you had a few lessons now and got the basics there would be no reason why you couldn't book a holiday in late March or early April this year. There's been several threads on here in the past recommeding family friendly resorts suitable for all levels. If you get the bug you will be booking next year's holiday as soon as you get back.

Never been on a dry ski slope.

Took my daughter in law to Glenshee between Xmas and NY there, to teach her to snowboard.
Lots of man made snow on the nursery and easy slopes. Or as someone has said, a snowdome.

I would assume snow is much better. Assume you dont live near a dome/ski resort.

Don’t waste money going to a resort to learn you’ll spend most of your time on nursery slopes.

WTAF 🤔

Yeah that would be the best place to learn! ☝️

Couple of intro lessons in a Snowdome if you want then book yourself a week in a beginner friendly resort!

If you've done any sideways sports to any length try boarding, in any other case you'll more probably be comfortable skiing.
It wouldn't hurt to have some lessons at an indoor snow slope, moreso as a confidence booster for a late starter, but the best place to begin is having lessons on a real mountain. The learning curve is faster on either board or skis when you have five or six half day lessons on the trot.
IMO I don't think you need bother with artificial slopes.

Aye we were thinking of some lessons at Xscape, it’s only 90mins away from.

If going for snowboarding get some padded under shorts.. Even when learning at a much younger (30 years ago) than I am now, I still wince from the thought of falling on my coccyx.

I'm 61 and can do both. Snowboarding was easier to mask the basics - but more difficult on everyday terrain. Great in soft snow, wet snow or fresh snow. Horrid in low snow conditions, icy, hardpack, narrow trails, mogul field and T bar lifts.

Skiing is more difficult to start with - but you have 4 points on contact to save any impact - plus two 165 cm edges to slice through ice etc.

Whilst one warning about knee ligaments - which seem to be a ski injury, I have had. colleague **** his up snowboarding.

At 63, I would ski ...

100% skiing!

With skiing you'll be able to snow plow on your first lesson.

With snow boarding, you're almost definitely fall, maybe even a lot.

I'd not recommend learning on a dry ski slope either. They're horrid things that poorly compare to snow but with worse consequences for when you do fall.

Best thing would be to book a holiday to the Alps and book yourself into a ski school. Or even a one to one if you can afford it. You'll be skiing in no time this way.

Or (if you can travel to one) try an indoor snow slope. These can however end up more expensive than an actual holiday in the long run (taking into account lesson costs, fuel, parking, ski hire etc).

At a resort I spent a season at in New Zealand, it was rumoured that they actively discouraged women over 40 from learning to snowboard because the incident rate of broken wrists in lessons was 100%. They have (had?) a unique accident insurance contribution scheme in New Zealand though so maybe that was a factor.

At a resort I spent a season at in New Zealand, it was rumoured that they actively discouraged women over 40 from learning to snowboard because the incident rate of broken wrists in lessons was 100%. They have (had?) a unique accident insurance contribution scheme in New Zealand though so maybe that was a factor.

Wrist injury is probably the most common snowboard injury among learners, maybe for all snowboarding, I wish we knew this when my wife learnt she now has metal plates in her wrist. When we looked into it people in the know suggest wrist guards should be mandatory for learners, there's a type of glove has them built in which are easy and cheap to buy.

Best thing would be to book a holiday to the Alps and book yourself into a ski school. Or even a one to one if you can afford it. You’ll be skiing in no time this way.

Or (if you can travel to one) try an indoor snow slope. These can however end up more expensive than an actual holiday in the long run (taking into account lesson costs, fuel, parking, ski hire etc).

It's £79.99 at XScape for a 2-3 hour lesson with ski hire is built into the cost. There's 6 steps they like you to get through to reach recreational level (ie without instructor to get some more practice) but you can get through a couple of levels in a lesson. I'd really recommend people learn the basics in the UK you'll get more out of your ski holiday. You can arrange more advanced lessons at a resort but at least you can get out and explore a bit from day 1.

I'm a broken record but if you want to learn how to snowboard start on a cheap two bare feet 360 surfskate..£79 Nothing comes closer.

Skiing as it's far easier to pick up and will help you to travel on pistes and make the most out of your time much sooner...

Once you can snow plough and turn that into a parallel turn you'll be away.

Whereas with a snowboard you'll be spending at least half your holiday sliding and terrified of catching an edge on green runs. And the trouble with easier grade slopes is they often flatten out and you need to be able to go straight, but as a learner that isn't possible so you end up catching edges and breaking wrists or walking. The steeper stuff is your friend as a snowboarder but that's also pretty hard when you can't turn!

Not sure why anyone thinks skiing is harder to learn to start with. It's just not. The old adage is that skiing is easier to start and harder to master as you get really good whereas snowboarding is harder to start with.

tbh if it hadn't been the amount of time i've spent in the alps i would have carried on skiing. I love snowboarding and playing off piste, side hits etc but even 1 week a year isn't really enough to stay decent.

My partner (had not snowboarded for 10 years and was pretty novice) broke her wrist on our last day of boarding a couple of years ago. Snowboarding is fine if you have time to learn. At her level i should have suggested she tried skiing. Would have made our week away a bit easier.

So for a potential weeks holiday learn to ski. much better on Pistes for novices. Dry slopes for ski's are fine to get an idea. You'll never go back on a dry slope after snow though. Just get a few lessons pencilled for your holiday.