Bulgaria Ski discussion board

My opinion on this is well known to the posters on here, but I really, really prefer boarding.

I've been skiing since I was a small boy and took up boarding in my twenties. At the time I was able to visit Glencoe a lot during the winter and shoved both skis and board in the boot, but realised that the skis had gathered dust!

I've taught both at various times and I'll say this if you're torn ... skiing has a shallow, but long learning curve, snowboarding has a steep but shorter one. Once it clicks and you link your first few turns on a board there's nothing left but improvement, on the other hand, once you learn to snowplough turn properly on skis, you need to then unlearn that and start looking at parallel turns.

Meh, it's all down to what you prefer, and I prefer boarding ... it just, I don't know, feels better. If you know what I mean, you know what I mean!

But in saying that (and I keep promising myself this) I am going to hire skis for an afternoon this year and do the Bansko ski road. It's the only run that I have a sneaky suspicion may be better to do on skis ... especially nearer the bottom!

A debate whether skiing is better/worse than boarding ??? and vice-versa.....
I have to confess that i gain a lot of enjoyment, and sometimes glee, at the antics of your average boarder. The flailing and careering down even the easiest slope, sometimes mixed in with an assortment of nose dives, back breakers, head plants etc never fails to raise a smile.. the pushing, hopping, walking, crawling, in overpadded armour, adorned in the latest low crotch designer boarding wear again raises an eyebrow.......



By heck, they look like they are having such a great time hehehehehe
Rob, come back from the darkside, regain your masculinity, and go fat, all mountain you know it makes sense

O, and by the way, errrrrrr, i prefer skiing its gods choice, `on the seventh day god looked down, and all was good, so he went skiing'

Now, i have to admit that it seems a much more natural enviroment for a snowboard, but you are still stuck if in a blind valley, having to walk out... bad enough on skis, a bloody nightmare on a board...
If you want excitement off-piste, buy a pair of long (195cm +) all mountain twin tips, and rip.... as long as you are not following a group of boarders, as they just `slot out' the powder, especially if they are turning hard, its like trying to descend a staircase... i will admit its not much better with skiers, but you get my drift ??

Haha. It's funny how passionate (angry? ) people get in this debate. I'm sure some outright abuse will appear soon!
I do both - started off as a boarder then have started some skiing as my girlfriend skis. I can see the good side of skiing - you can cross flat sections (a nightmare on a board in some resorts) and it's more stable. But when at the top of a good looking slope with a board strapped on (with my low crotch, baggy pants) then I get a thrill I've never had with skiing. To be fair I'm much better on a board than skis (which isn't saying much) so maybe if I was a better skier I'd feel differently. I don't think so though - there is something a special about boarding that I don't think I'll ever get on skis. And when it comes to powder then it's a non contest. Surely the beauty of carving a snowboard in deep powder can be seen by anyone? Compared to those silly jumpy turns the skiers end up doing?

For practicality, yes, skis win. If you want an efficient way of getting down the mountain without falling then skis are your best option. But who the hell goes up the mountian to get down safely and efficiently? For the fun and thrill I'd choose a board. But I'll still ski sometimes - when I want an easy relaxing day, or just a change.

Oh - one last thing in favour of skis. I've done 10 times as much boarding as skiing, but I think I can probably go as fast on skis now as I can on my board!

What about snow blades? Are they worth having a go on?