surfing vs sking/snowboarding

front piece vs back piece

 

On a surfing website obviously everyone is going to say surfing.
It just depends on what you like more.


As far as which is more tiring, surfing tires my arms. There's been days when I could barely paddle any more. However skiing there have been a couple of times where I literally couldn't get back on the lift because my legs were nearly collapsing every time I turned.

You can stand up and go but you are going to fall and not be able to do it until you learn.
And 3 hours flying down icy double diamonds is about equivalent to 3 hours of surfing head high in my opinion.

However I can't speak too much for snowboarding as I haven't done it in years. I used to ski and snowboard, then I started skiboarding(snowblades, the mini skis) and never looked back. One thing I have noticed though is snowboarding is much harder to learn at first then skiing, but skiing is a constant progression of learning for quite a while as you graduate from the easy to learn beginner style to the more advanced style required for real slopes.

In the long run skiing is a bit harder in my opinion. But really either way you put someone on skis or a snowboard on a bunny hill and theyre gona fall quite a few times.

First time I ever surfed I caught the first wave I tried for. So go figure.


Come to think of it though the skiboards(mini skis) are quite a bit more tiring then skis and snowboards. But I still think no matter what you're riding if you're riding hard trails and you are going FAST(which puts far more strain on your legs) they are about equal workout wise.

 

Iam as happy skiing on a perfect field of moguls or surfing on a clean head high day...get goose bumps from just thinking about it...get the same amount of stoke from either! It would be awsome if I could do both in a day, but the closest ski area is now 5 hours+ away.

 

^ This

I have had the opportunity to snowboard morning pow in Sunday River, and then get shacked with evening ME barrels. Such a surreal experience going from snow to ocean, even in cold water. My present location limits the possibility to do that now though. Now the best I can get is one day on the mountain and the next day in the water or vice-versa. One of the few things that makes me jealous of the west coast that you can charge Tahoe in the morning and be in the water later that same day.

While they have their differences, there is common ground. Carving in more than 6" of fresh feels alot like riding a quad IMO. The action of carving is the same basic motion no matter what kind of board you are riding. Adrenaline is similar too, I definitely get the same kind of rushing from dropping into a deep face as I do cruising through some thick woods slightly out of control. I think the biggest difference is the speed. Bombing down a mountain is way faster, and I think what makes it way more dangerous. I've had all kinds of injuries from snowboarding cause icy ground doesn't give like water, especially at high speeds. Not saying I've never been injured surfing, but the more serious ones have been from snowboarding.

And as far as surfing being a better workout, I'd have to respectfully disagree. With riding mountain you've invested a 2-3 hour ride, and the price of a 50-100 dollar lift ticket so you're gonna ride hard all day. Not just for 3 hours, but for 6-8 hours. Typically after a hard day of riding you're whole body is sore and you're not gonna be very productive the next day. Surfing three hours is definitely tiring and will leave you sore, but not on the same level unless you're doing 3 sessions in a day of head high or bigger.

Too me surfing can be more fun because you've only invested a 30 minute or whatever ride to the beach, can paddle out, and if it sucked you can come back tomorrow. With the mountain you've invested a 2-3 hour ride, and the price of a 50-100 dollar lift ticket so you're gonna ride hard all day. But when the conditions are right, it can be way more satisfying. I'm still pretty stoked from the last winter as it was one of the best we've had in the east in 5 years.

 

I can surf or ski/snowboard most any day during the winter...surfing trumps most anything if the swell is good. Nothing like it. Snowboarding is very fun, but it's still not much like surfing nor as enjoyable.

 

I've Surfed, Skied and Snowboarded. Surfing wins by a mile. Skiing comes in a solid but distant second. Snowboarding is way way way behind skiing.

As a surfer, snowboarding is just incredibly lame. Chattering and sliding sideways down a ski slope sucks. Perhaps if I lived out west and had access to good ski slopes and powder I'd think differently but here in the Northeast its packed snow and ice. I'd much rather be carving on skis than on a snowboard given our conditions.

 

Combined them all into one epic (but extremely difficult) water sport:

[video]http://www.epictv.com/player/embed-player/276425[/video]

Link to article:

http://www.theinertia.com/surf/fren...oarding-and-sup-into-new-way-to-get-barreled/

 

surfing is the ultimate...but it takes years, if not decades, to get really good. There's so many things to know and deal with like: timing the right tide for the break, duck diving, paddle strength, lining up at the right spot, "reading" waves and selecting the best ones, chasing down drifting peaks, dealing with crowds and kooks, competing with other surfers for waves, etc, etc. You have to be in pretty good shape before you even paddle out and tons of endurance to keep paddling back out for hours at a time.

In comparison, snowboarding is sooo easy. It takes about a day to learn how to ride/turn. You don't have to be in that good a shape to do it. You get lifted up the mtn, no tide time limit, not much of a wind factor, no waiting, no competition, etc. You can snowboard in full sun to a full-blown storm and it's all fun (as long as the base and some powder is there).

I agree that snowboarding on ice isn't even worth it...and skiing on it isn't much better (although twice the edge is a lot "grippier")

 

I agree with you. only thing I would mention about the injury stuff is that sure, if you hit hard on a snowboard, or get involved in a tree collision, you will get very injury, maybe die....

But as far as surfing injuries go, I think surfing injuries can be way more catastrophic. I think being in the ocean during the activity creates an entire different level of potential injuries. I have NEVER been snowboarding anywhere, from Tahoe, to Big Bear to any slope I have been too (And no, im not johnny snowbaorder, I am just saying), that I have never feared for my life before hitting a slope. I have never thought, man, maybe a wolf or a bear is going to come flying out of the woods while I am about to hit this table top. I have never thought man, I hope I make it to the bottom of this slope.... I have had numerous situations while surfing, before, during and after where I have felt life threatening danger.... Point being, sometimes, in big wave situations, those feels are to be expected, you know that before going out, but once you are out, you are out. There aren't lifeguards at these spots, you can't just pull off to the side and try and figure out a different way down the mountain. There are a ton of things that can go very wrong, even on a small day surfing. Hitting your head on reef on a small day. Same thing with a barrel in shallow sand. Predatory animals. On big days, drowning, hold downs, you name it....

I think guys who do big air comps and the superpipes in Snow Boarding, that is the only really "dangerous" kind of time. Where when you step up to the plate, you almost anticipate something going badly in the near future.

I guess I am trying to say, you can pick your battles in Snow Boarding. You don't have to try a back flip off the table top, you can just do a little grab.... Its up to you how far you want to take it. Once you are out in the ocean, you aren't really able to make all the decisions you want to, you just have to rely on your gut....

 

He-Man vs. G.I. Joe vs. Papa Smurf.

 

This is why I haven't done it in years.

 

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not necessarily. The little mtn I go to is about 2 hrs away (2.5-3 during a storm). They only charge $250 for a seasons pass, so it pays for itself in about 5 days. Only thing that makes that any more a rich man's sport than surfing is having the flexibility to bail work any time it dumps...plus, spending the night up there can run about $100 at the closest hotels.

 

Yo, skiing is not a rich man's sport. The only thing ya got to buy is boots! It's the make or break of the sport. The right fit makes a world of difference. Ya can rent and borrow. It's a who ya know world! Resort towns have great deals. Sure, if ya want to go to deer valley or France ya it's gonna cost ya. Surf boards and wetsuits are not cheap either, but the waves are free! No lift tickets for the ocean ya.

 

...however, skiing is more expensive than snowboarding, if not just because you're basically buying two boards, poles, and ski boots (which have a lot more materials and a more complicated manufacturing process than snowboard boots)...plus, retailers bump up the price because of the usually older skier clientele

 

I run a shop bro and it's really not that bad. Like when I got into surfing years ago. Buy used stuff or borrow. If you go somewhere high end then sure ya gotta pay, but it's getting way better. The big dog company's are trying to buying up even small places in the east, west, Europe and other places. They roll a season pass for 800 dollars a season and ya can use them all. No I don't work for VA.( vail associates or what ever they call it now) I work for their competition in retail and our shops are in 2 of the best states, Utah and here in Colorado, 55 stores in total and hill side. Either ya can whine or take advantage that is out there. When ya got lemons, make a mix drink and enjoy. Not hating just wish to have fun!

 

To me surfing trumps skiing.Not even close.All depends on conditions thou.If your looking at a 3 foot closeout day compared to fresh powder you would have to go with skiing.I have to say as much as I like skiing I've never been stoked from it.

 

I hear ya on the powder. That's like a double overhead day of waves that's a mile long. We still have Arapahoe basin here open on weekends!

 

Nice,I skied Brek inJanuary and it was awesome.Its a totally different world out there.

 

Places like Vail, Breck, A-Basin etc. are great, but can get spendy in a hurry. I've always preferred places like Monarch in CO, Silver Mountain in ID and 49 Degrees North in WA. Hidden powder kegs with reasonable rates and short lift lines. That's what it's all aboot, mate.

 

My pass covers most what ya mentioned, yet Copper is my favorite here. Thank gosh for buds n hook ups. My favorite in state is Silverton . No lift lines yet a little pricey. Skiing 14,000 roughly peaks is never cheap. Balls in throat feeling,Priceless. Best views short of AK at 1/3 price. Still need my surf!