Ergonomics, speed, backcountry all lend themselves to skiing
After a weekend of vicariously experiencing the X-Game’s speed, spins, and spills, I decided that skiing is a better sport than snowboarding.
A person walking to the crunch of snow under their feet towards the ski lift has either a pair of skis slung over his shoulder, or a snowboard under their arm. Some years ago, skis would have far outnumbered snowboards, but now the numbers of the latter rival that of skis. Snowboarding has entered the mainstream and very few resorts ban the sport like they used to in the early 1990s. However, skiing is more exceptional.
I am a Colorado native and have been snowboarding for eight years. At the age of 12, I was wooed into snowboarding because of the terrain park’s potential that the sport offered. I saw many feet of rails lying on the mountain waiting to dull my edges and steal my wax. The jumps looked like they were crafted so perfectly that you could go over them with the greatest of ease. I wanted to use the terrain park and did not consider bringing a pair of skis.
Nowadays, skiers too are seen in the terrain park and are using it as effectively as snowboarders. In fact, upon further reflection of skiing, the sport makes more sense than snowboarding.
Overall, skiing is more ergonomically correct than snowboarding. As you make your way down a run, your shoulders always follow the fall line of the mountain. This is consistent with running and driving, and comes naturally to humans. On the other hand, snowboarders go down the mountain sideways, leading with one shoulder. Leading with one shoulder causes constant upper body movement in order to see and maneuver around up coming obstacles. This can become tiring and is not very fluid, potentially leading to injuries. The common sight of a beginning snowboarder sailing into the woods uncontrollably is the result of snowboarding’s poor ergonomics.
Skiers do not worry about catwalks. A catwalk or a run-out, may mean that you need to pole your way for a while, but it does not entail unbinding. Snowboarders and catwalks are a heterogeneous mix; the two would rather stay separated. If you are on a snowboard and have the bad luck of getting stuck on a catwalk, you are then unbinding and doing the one foot scoot until you reach a steeper slope.
Although snowboards may be better suited for rails, skiers are better suited for far more terrain. Since skiers have two independently bound skis that are each longer than a snowboard, a skier can go faster than a snowboarder. The world’s fastest snowboarder clocks in at 126 mph; where as the world’s fastest skier has gone 154 mph. This allows for bigger jumps and opens up more terrain in the park. The Olympics do not even offer a long jump for snowboarders.
Finally, the backcountry and hut-to-hut trips are also more skier-friendly. Skiers can use skins to move uphill and then quickly revert back to downhill skis. The split snowboard has not really caught on and therefore, snowboarders are still bound to resorts or heli-skiing, unless snowshoeing is your thing.
If you ever find yourself wanting to get into snow sports, remember that skiing is more versatile and has more to offer than snowboarding.
