Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Posted this last year ... but the ignorant are at it again.

Like 'the Earth is flat' or ' the speed of sound cannot be broken' I read a few posts back that 'snowboarders scrape off all the snow'. Can we please finally lay this one to rest ... have you seen how much snow is displaced by a snowplougher?! ... and anyway, it's not as if it goes very far!

I've got a boot in both camps, one hard, one soft, and although I much prefer the snowboard, when I've got skis on, I'll always hear complaints about 'bloody boarders', I seldom hear it the other way round. On another site these complaints were laid out and responses were given, I'm posting it here because I think it's the fairest ski v board list I've read ...

The skiers' complaints

Snowboards are dangerous because, unlike skis, they don't release in a fall.

- Snowboards are attached to both legs, and therefore do not create as much twisting force (which is what breaks legs and knees) as a single ski attached to only one leg.

Snowboards are dangerous because, unlike skis, they don't have a "brake" to stop them sliding down the mountain if they release.

- But they don't release, remember?

Snowboarders are dangerous and out of control. They crash into skiers.

- Seen far more skiiers crash into boarders, other skiiers, stationary objects, than boarders do the same.

Snowboarders scrape off all the soft snow, ruining the snow quality.

- Novice snowboarders and skiers scrape off the soft snow. The issue is lack of skill, not the type of equipment.

Snowboarders cut wide tracks through the powder, ruining the snow quality.

- It's true, but not much wider than a pair of skis.

Snowboarders are always sitting down on the slope, getting in the way.

- Snowboarders sit on the snow because, unlike skiers, they can. (And we're not stable standing up whilst not moving) But only the unthinking ones sit in inconvenient or dangerous places, just as unthinking skiers stand in the way of snowboard jumps, or especially in front of you as you strap in, then don't move for ten minutes.

Snowboarders make wide turns that take up the whole slope, getting in the way.

- Somewhat true. Get used to it. If you're a decent skiier you should be able to go round.

Snowboarders clog the lift exit and entry areas as they always take a long time to strap in and out of their bindings.

- True. Most will get out of the way, but there are a few who seem to do it in the middle of the exit run.

Snowboarders wear ridiculous baggy clothes.

- They did a couple of years ago, when it was in fashion. But for real crimes against fashion, what about the one-piece suits that skiers wear?

Some fair points well made, remember I didn't write it but I agree with most of it ... but feel free to add your voice ...

I can only go from experience - which unfortunately puts boarders in a bad light!
My wife has been skiing twice (Bulgaria & France) & on each occasion was wiped out - & I mean wiped out - by a boarder. The first resulted in concussion (good job she was wearing a helmet) & second a broken thumb & ripped salopettes.
I was with her on both occasions - & both "accidents" happened on blue runs & were the result of the boarders "arseing about" for want of a better term. They were boarding erratically on & off piste, looking for jumps etc & were totally unaware of who else was using the slope.
I have been skiing 7 times & have been taken out once - by a boarder!
I am afraid those are my experiences - sorry!

Why are you sorry?

This is of course an over reaction - with a little common sense everyone can enjoy the pistes and I think I'm more concerned about crazy fast skiers than slow moving boarders. Piste awareness, like driving awareness, comes with experience so maybe the young (who seem to be mostly boarders) just have more accidents. The single biggest problem for boarders it seems (I ski so this is a guess) is that they can only see easily in one direction when they turn and when they go in the other direction they have to look uphill. Which some don't do and end up turning into an overtaking skier.

But whatever, be aware, shout out when overtaking in dangerous areas (something that happens in the US but not Europe curiously) and give everyone a little space and respect. You might get some back.

And we share the same experiences, I was 'taken out' by a novice skier on a red in Obergurgl, flying through the air, thank god for my helmet and back protector, bless him he ended up in hospital for the week, I was carving very predictably, he was out of control.

Two week ago in Bansko, again the only problems we had were learner skiers snow ploughing into us at what felt like every afternoon, the Brits apologise the Eastern Europeans haven't learnt the rules of the slope yet and think it's just fine to hurl abuse at experienced snowboarders. I have no idea why we have such a bad name

Some good points above

There will always be good and bad examples of both
I’m a snowboarder and have never skied,

When I was learning skiers really grated on me, if you’d have a fall on a quiet piste then 9 times out of 10 a skier would then come whizzing past you literally centimetres away from you. They will have seen you fall 5 seconds previously but think its a great idea to go past right next to you while your on the ground instead of using the space and giving you plenty of room.... I can only presume this is because of the borders vs skiers mentality

Ski schools, nightmare to get around when you’re learning to board. Going slowly in a line using the entire width of the slope, not even leaving a gap at the side of the piste for you to go round.

Chairlifts - Skiers know some boarders aren’t great at getting off chairlifts, yet on quiet days when there’s no ques instead of getting on the chairlift behind they squeeze on a 4 man chair which already has 3 boarders on it.... why

Vision wise, yes boarders can’t see behind them, BUT unless i’m mistaken it is the person overtaking who has to make sure they give enough room when going past. Plenty of skiers don’t ever check behind them when turning and going across the whole piste.


Fortunately i’m far from a beginner these days but did go with some beginners last year to Pamporovo, the only crash anyone had all week was when a skier was out of control and turned straight into my otherhalf. The skier just sat on the ground, didn’t apologise or say anything. My otherhalf was ok and got up and retrieved the skiers ski from 10 metres away and returned it.... did she get a thanks, or a sorry for knocking her down.. no chance


There will always be bad examples of both, boarders and skiers.


Maybe instructors should go through the rules of the piste properly with beginners, although I guess tuition is expensive and time is money so sitting down being told some rules wont go down well. Yes I know the info is on the back of piste maps and other places but are beginners really going to take much notice of that. I think some of the basics should be drilled into them when learning. End of first day of ski/board school for beginners the instructor gives copy of rules to each member and says they’ll be randomly shouted questions at the next day

niki, i think most boarders are like that..they just have a different attitude.. a large percentage of skiers feel they have a god given right to slag borders off. i think its kinda ingrained into the skiing world....but generally only from the tourists that ski maybe 1 or 2 weeks a year..
ive been skiing and boarding all over the world for the last 20 years and spent 10 of those years working the ski seasons across the alps....so ive probably got around 300 weeks expeience under my belt.. ive lived and worked with those from both camps and the discussion never comes up untill youre sitting in a bar a hear it from another table.. rolling eyes and much tutting follows!! we are there for one thing and thats the love of the mountain and that feeling you get when you get off a lift at the top of the mountain, breathe in that cold air and realise youre in the best place in the world...if you really do have an attitude towards skiiers or boarders then you should stay at home!!

I love the Snowboard Vs Skiing arguements...

I do both so i can moan about everybody.

I hate the snowboarders who assume that because they have a board strapped onto their feet they are way COOLER than anybody else and that because they snowboard they are doing something nothing else can do. "Hey its really fashionable to snowboard". Get a grip, its not any cooler to snowboard and the other half of the people on the slopes are also doing it. Oh and because you snowboard it doesn't give you an excuse to wear the stupidest clothes i've ever seen....

In the same light, i can't stand the skiers who turn their noses up at the snowboarders, blaming them for every little mistake they make when skiing. "Those damn snowboarders always get in my way and they made me fall."

I'm taking up Sledging......