Winter is drawing near and you've decided to learn a new sport, of course snow related. You've been scouring the internet and travel magazines what great mountain ski resorts you would want to spend your winter vacation, Breckenridge Co, a perfect place to enjoy a few weeks of great snow and relaxation. You've booked yourself in a nice mountain resort in Breckenridge, Colorado and everything is in order, except one thing, you haven't chosen whether to learn skiing or snowboarding. There are few points for you to consider before choosing your next favorite sport.
Weight in comfort. If you haven't tried either one, the first thing you should do is try on the gear and see which of which feels right to you. On skiing, the skier's boots are each snapped to skis. Snowboarders however, attach themselves into a board, yes; the board kinda looks like a skateboard just bigger, probably shinier, and of course minus the wheels. You would get the idea of how you will be able to move with these contraptions attached to your feet. Skiers of course would be facing forward (most of the time) and snowboarders have their lower half of the body sideways and the top half quarter on the side. Just a rough description of what you'll be in for.
Skiers use very thin but strong poles. The length may vary, usually depending on your height. These poles are used to help skiers launch themselves to start and using it to maintain or gain speed. The poles also help them maintain their balance, on top speeds; the poles are tucked in the armpit as the skier assumed a crouch-like position with the knees firmly together. Boarders however have their hands free and thus use them as their balancing device. Beginners of skiing use the poles to help them stand after a fall, boarders however; since they're bound to have more difficulty in balancing themselves should be able to scoot their way up. Don't worry the first thing instructors teach is the correct way to fall. How encouraging.
On the darker side of learning and like any other sport, sports injury should also be considered. It could not be determined which sport is more likely to cause an injury, but it is weigh the different ways you could get hurt and what injuries you are more likely to have in each sport. Snowboarding will be harder to balance, so you will be spending a lot of time of your learning process on your back side. You will be able to use muscle groups you never knew you had since most likely it will hurt right after. When falling however, snowboarders use their hands to break their fall, so wrist injuries are more likely. Skiing will be harder on the knees, so it more common for skiers to develop knee injuries.
Let us consider external factors, like the snow. Breckenridge, depending on the time of season and weather conditions will have both deep, fresh snow and icy, bumpy patches so its perfect for both snowboarding and skiing enthusiasts. Snowboarding is better suited for deep, fresh powder while skiing is a good choice if the snow is more icy and bumpy. So considering your long term plans in choosing your sport.
Speedwise, snowboarding is often depicted as the faster sport and is more likely linked to daring, daredevil, and adrenaline junkies. But skiing can offer the same exciting speeds if the skier is of the same level as the boarder.
So remember that you won't become a pro overnight. You will experience your muscle hurt in places you don't even know it could hurt. With patience and determination, you will be able to master any sport you put your heart into. You will be able to glide down the slopes with precision in no time. But remember to prepare yourself for the sunny Breckenridge slopes by applying sunscreen and lip balm, sunburn can take all the fun, not including the unsightly red patches of uneven sunburned skin. Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water. Skiing and snowboarding are a great way to exercise, so go out and enjoy the snow and most of all, have lots of fun.
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