skiing/snow boarding questions
 

Two questions about skiing and snow boarding. The relevant background for both questions is that I'm a lousy skier, comfortable only on blue or intermediate slopes. But every Christmas, I go to Colorado because my wife is from there. Usually, that is our only ski trip of the year. Last year, I skipped our annual trip for work. Two years ago, I only skied a week.

(1) Do I need to get my skis "tuned up" this year? My wife does this religiously every year, but she cares about the performance. I only care about them being safe. Also, I don't think there has been any significant change in my weight since two years ago.

(2) The answer to this question might make the first question academic. Because I've made no progress in improving my skiing for years (either because I only ski one week a year, because I didn't start until I was 30, or because I just suck), I've often debated whether to give snowboarding a shot. A million years ago, I was somewhat competent at skateboarding. Should I give this a shot this year? How many days do I have to try it to make it worthwhile? (Oops, guess this question was a multi-part one.)

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

The first couple of days on snowboard isn't every exiting (basically you spend much of the time sitting on the hill wondering why you fall so much). When you get past that you will progress faster towards getting "good" than you will at ski for a while. This of course doesn't last forever [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
If you don't mind paying for an couple of lessons and falling a lot in the beginning, I think that you would enjoy giving snowboarding a try. You will however have to spend a little bit on protective gear so you don't end up with a broken wrist (boxers with padding is also nice, but not mandatory).

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

I've never been skiing and I've been snowboarding once. I have good balance so after a few tries I was able to stay up and manuever myself pretty well. Speed and balance were no trouble for me (I even looked like I'd done it before), but stopping was a big problem (ever seen someone do a full cartwheel on a snowboard? I'm pretty sure I did [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] )
I think with even a limited background in skateboarding you should take to snowboarding pretty quickly.

Just be prepared for some bruises.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

This thread might interest you:

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/52995

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

You should definitely get your skis tuned. Poorly maintained skis greatly affect the performance and could be why you "suck".

I do most of the work myself but I still get a stone grind every year, maybe every other year if I haven’t put that many days on my skis. The stone grind will make your skis perfectly flat on the bottom so they will track better.

I check my edges and clean up any nicks after every day out. Depending on my edges or snow conditions I will do a full sharpening. Sharp edges will allow you hold an edge and turn on the hard pack and ice.

The most important is wax. I wax before every day out. You want to have the right wax for the current snow conditions or your skis will stick to the snow. Wax does two things. It protects your ski base and it allows your skis to glide.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

How old are your skis?

I only go skiing on the once a year Killington trip with the guys, so I'm kinda in the same boat as you.

I haven't owned my own equipment in over 10 years and prefer to rent at a local ski shop. Usually their stuff is current or previous season, and tuned regularly.

For the extra $30-$50/year (depending on length of trip), I find this to be a very good alternative. If your skis are on the older side, you may want to consider this since the new stuff out there can really make a difference.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

I picked up skiing relatively quickly. I have only skiied maybe 4-5 times. Skiing is fun if you are good at it and like to get going pretty fast down the slopes.

Snowboarding is tougher to learn because of the balance and shifting your weight slightly to turn the board. I like snowboarding much more than skiing, but have only snowboarded 2 times at most.

The biggest problem I had with snowboarding is that since I felt more uncomfortable at first, I would slide down the hill horizontally and it takes a toll on your legs after awhile.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
This thread might interest you:

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/52995

[/ QUOTE ]

This thread is filled with pretty good information (as many Ask Metafilter topics tend to be), except for the person who recommends ski blades.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

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(1) Do I need to get my skis "tuned up" this year? My wife does this religiously every year, but she cares about the performance. I only care about them being safe.

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Yes. Untuned skis are not safe. They are harder to turn and to stop.

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Because I've made no progress in improving my skiing for years (either because I only ski one week a year, because I didn't start until I was 30, or because I just suck), I've often debated whether to give snowboarding a shot.

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Why not give ski lessons a shot? When I lived in Colorado, I would take a lesson just about every year, including an occasional 2-day clinic. You can't make any major progress without lessons.

Sign up for lessons with your wife. They take a big group, break you up into small groups according to ability, and spend a couple of hours teaching. The big resorts have ski schools that are great, and usually have standard lesson times, like 10am-noon. Then you can get back with your wife and ski the rest of the day.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

In response to a couple of posts:

My skis are about 4 years old, I think.

Also, I have had ski lessons, but definitely feel I have hit a bit of a plateau. I'm sure it's largely due to the fact that I ski one week a year, usually. Perhaps the same infrequency will make it hard for me to pick up snowboarding. But I just have the sense that my ceiling for improvement with skiing is very limited, and I'm hoping that I'll have a different impression with snowboarding.

One other factor: for better or worse, the rest of the family (including my kids now) are much better at skiing, but none of them snowboard. I suspect that they might be a little more patient with me if I commit to learning snowboarding, than they are with my slowing everyone down on skiis. But I could be totally wrong about that.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
One other factor: for better or worse, the rest of the family (including my kids now) are much better at skiing, but none of them snowboard. I suspect that they might be a little more patient with me if I commit to learning snowboarding, than they are with my slowing everyone down on skiis. But I could be totally wrong about that.

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If you take 3-5 days of snowboarding lessons in a row you will be able to keep up with most people on skis. Unless your family is made up of either skiing experts or insane people, you'll be able to keep up with them on most blue and easy black trails.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

By the way, I say go for it with regards to snowboarding... It sounds cheesy, but snowboarding has been the one thing I've found thus far in my life that I truly love. (I'm only 20, so I've got time to find a wife and stuff like that.) Give it a shot, it's an incredibly fun sport and you just might wind up loving it. What have you got to lose?

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

Just an idea. I go once a year, with occasional gaps. I tried snowboarding once, but even with lessons, it wasn't my thing.

About 5 years ago, I tried the snowblades (little short skis, no poles). Unless there is nice powder, it's mostly what I do. I usually will do one day of skis and two of snowblades on a trip.

I rollerblade a lot, so they are like those. I like to jump and stuff and they are AWESOME for that. The big reason I like them is, I don't get anywhere near as tired (because they turn so easy), jumping is awesome (I'm not a stellar athlete and a little 360 is no big deal on a small jump with these), and I don't worry about messing up my knee as much.

You might give them a try.. They look weird, but they are awesome.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

Been skiing and boarding since I was 5. I'm 26 now, and I've also taught a few different people to ski and/or board.
1) If you're going to ski, definitely get your skis tuned. There can occasionally be a safety issue, but if the snow conditions are poor, which even in Colorado in December is a possibility, you will be very thankful that you have tuned skis with sharp edges. Given your level, you can get away with having it done once/year.

2) Given that you're out there for a week and your current level, you probably should pick up snowboarding. Depending on your aptitude, you'll spend the first two days or so falling constantly and somewhat bruised. However, by the third day you should be able to get down the trails that you're currently skiing. By the end of the week you should be able to get down just about any non-mogul/double black run. It's much easier to learn to snowboard if you have a week.

3) (an addendum) If you ski, I'd suggest taking a couple lessons. While shaped skis have made things a lot easier, a few lessons will often make a big difference, especially at someone's level that you've described.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3...t6nhenunz1.jpg

No poor snow conditions this year.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

take lessons, they are great - you get to ski with people your own ability level, and you dont have any pressure to entertain your wife by going on runs you can't handle. on top of that you get to cut ski lines and you have a guide showing you the best tracks.

as for your wife,,, sign her up to ...not so much for the lesson, but so she can ski with people her own abiity level, she will have much more fun than skiing with you (no offense)

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Just an idea. I go once a year, with occasional gaps. I tried snowboarding once, but even with lessons, it wasn't my thing.

About 5 years ago, I tried the snowblades (little short skis, no poles). Unless there is nice powder, it's mostly what I do. I usually will do one day of skis and two of snowblades on a trip.

I rollerblade a lot, so they are like those. I like to jump and stuff and they are AWESOME for that. The big reason I like them is, I don't get anywhere near as tired (because they turn so easy), jumping is awesome (I'm not a stellar athlete and a little 360 is no big deal on a small jump with these), and I don't worry about messing up my knee as much.

You might give them a try.. They look weird, but they are awesome.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are short skis easier to pick-up if you're somewhat coordinated?

The one time I went skiing, I crashed into a bench-table at the bottom of a "black diamond" which would be like a green at any other ski place.

Both my skis popped off and I got a black eye. (I was like 11, so I'm probably more coordinated now).

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

yes, they are easier. Have you rollerbladed much? They feel a lot like rollerblading down a decent hill.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Also, I have had ski lessons, but definitely feel I have hit a bit of a plateau. I'm sure it's largely due to the fact that I ski one week a year, usually. Perhaps the same infrequency will make it hard for me to pick up snowboarding. But I just have the sense that my ceiling for improvement with skiing is very limited, and I'm hoping that I'll have a different impression with snowboarding.

[/ QUOTE ]

You say you suck, and yet you have plateaued with your learning? You can't go fast, don't like steeps or moguls? Do you just not want to ski?

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

I was a ski mechanic for about 10 years, and did a lot of hand tunes. If you get your ski's tuned make sure you they detune the tips and tails for you, it will make things a bit easier for you (most good shops will keep the edges sharp from tip to tail and you might need to ask them to detune them.) Detuning the tips and tails basically makes it so the skis are 'less grabby' in and out of turns.

Since you don't ski much, my main concern would just be to wax the bases. I good iron wax will replenish the bases, and let you glide much better. Waxing everyday is going over the top, as once a trip should be good enough. If at the end of your trip you find you don't glide all that well, run down to the shop and get a cheap roller wax and you'll be gtg.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

If you are a snow plow level skier then getting the skis tuned isn't very important. Maybe get your boards waxed.

Given how often you ski, I would recommend taking up snow boarding. You can get much better much quicker.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

[ QUOTE ]

You say you suck, and yet you have plateaued with your learning? You can't go fast, don't like steeps or moguls? Do you just not want to ski?

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Basically, I'm not comfortable with very steep terrain. And I think it's because I'm not confident turning in both directions. I tend to turn far too sharply, which slows me down way too much. And despite occasional lessons, I feel that I have almost a mental block in getting past my particular level. In order to improve, I sense that I would need to ski much, much more often than I ever will, with a great deal of lessons.

That reminds me of one other question I have about snowboarding. Does snowboarding necessarily require that you be equally adept from each side of the board? In other words, does one have to be just as good with the left foot downhill, as with the right foot downhill; or can you get away with being adept at only one side?

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

like skateboarding, basic snowboarding only requires you to be good at 1 foot forward (I do right, which is goofy?)

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

Are you going to Beaver Creek? I'm really good friends with one of the snowboard instructors there. PM me and I'll tell you his name.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
You should definitely get your skis tuned. Poorly maintained skis greatly affect the performance and could be why you "suck".

I do most of the work myself but I still get a stone grind every year, maybe every other year if I haven’t put that many days on my skis. The stone grind will make your skis perfectly flat on the bottom so they will track better.

I check my .edges and clean up any nicks after every day out. Depending on my edges or snow conditions I will do a full sharpening. Sharp edges will allow you hold an edge and turn on the hard pack and ice.

The most important is wax. I wax before every day out. You want to have the right wax for the current snow conditions or your skis will stick to the snow. Wax does two things. It protects your ski base and it allows your skis to glide.

[/ QUOTE ]

overkill ftw. yeah getting your skis tuned is good and all, but recreational skiers only need to do it every 10-15 days or so..basically once a year. anything more often is a waste for all but the best skiers.

the exception would be getting your edges sharpened more often if your skiing on eastern bulletproof.

Re: skiing/snow boarding questions
 

You're going to slow people down more on a snowboard than you would on skis. Waiting for boarders to strap in at the top of every run blows and if there's a lot of traversing/flat areas at the resort you're going to they'll hate you even more.

The best thing you could do is take a lot of lessons. Then your wife and kids get to go ski how they want and you improve much faster.

Also stick with skiing it's more fun imo.