Once there was a time when to get down a snowy slope, you had to walk down it.
But this time is no more.
Now, skiing and snowboarding get people down the slopes every day, and do so much faster and more enjoyably than before.
However, this causes the debate over which is better for enjoying the outdoors in the frigid New England winter.
Skiing has been around for many thousands of years. According to Britannica, the first discovered skis date back to 6000-8000 BCE, with many other artifacts being found ranging from 1000 to 4000 years old. Skis are also used in different applications like recreation, search and rescue, and military.
Skiing has been the benchmark winter sport for thousands of years. However, this began to change in 1965.
As indicated by Redbull, the first prototype snowboard was created in 1965 by an engineer named Sherman Poppen. His initial prototypes were then refined by entrepreneurs who capitalized on the idea. Their creations caught on with the general public, and the sport has exploded in popularity ever since.
According to SnowSports Industries America, a survey conducted found that around 13,050,000 people participate in skiing, while around 9,696,000 participate in snowboarding.
Now, both sports are extremely popular in the Northeast. Locally, Mount Wachusett is gaining popularity, which displays the increasing interest in skiing and snowboarding in our area.
According to Mount Wachusett’s website, “Located in Central Massachusetts, Wachusett is the perfect destination for beginners, families, and seasoned adventurers alike. Whether you’re here to ski, snowboard, or just enjoy the beautiful mountain atmosphere”.
Mount Wachusett’s inclusive atmosphere shows why these sports are growing exponentially in the northeast, because these sports are becoming more accessible to a variety of people and skill levels.
With the continuous influx of new beginners, the question of ski vs snowboard remains. Oakmont junior Chayse Parker is an instructor at Wachusett Mountain and has been skiing for most of his life.
Parker stated, “I like skiing because of the variety it has. You can carve the slopes, race, or do stunts; there are so many options that can be done with the same equipment”.
As indicated by the ski gathering, the main difference is that skiing is easier to learn initially, but is progressively harder to master. On the other hand, snowboarding is initially harder to learn, but is easier to master later on.
Parker also indicated, “Teaching skiing is easier because you can tell them to make a pizza and they make it down the hill. It takes little skill to learn, unlike snowboarding”.
Tyler Walsh is also an Oakmont junior and prefers snowboarding over skiing. His reasoning was “snowboarding looks and is just cooler”. His opinion stands with the resigning trend and fashion that snowboarding established in the 90’s.
However, according to The Ski Gathering, snowboarding has died down in coolness, as it states, “ An outsider’s view might think that snowboarding is the ‘cooler’ option. But to be honest, that applied to the late 1990s, and the added cool factor of snowboarding is something that kind of been and gone”.
Other than this, the main benefits are convenience. Using a chair lift is much easier on skis compared to snowboarding. However, snowboarding is much more comfortable because of the different boots and bindings.
The difference in fun for each is based on personal preference. If a person wants to rip down the slopes going fast, then skis are better.
But if someone wants to hit all the small jumps and bumps on the side, then a snowboard is more fun.
In terms of transportation, skis take up a lot more space than a snowboard in a vehicle. However, if your car is long enough, skis can still fit with some persuasion. However, this adds to the challenge of transporting and storing skis when out of season.
Many high-level athletes use skiing and snowboarding as a method of training. This is particularly relevant in the NBA and NFL, according to faster skiers. Athletes such as Alvin Kamara, Paul Pierce, and J.R Smith all enjoy winter sports as a retreat from their professional careers.
So, which one is best? That conclusion is up to you based on your personal opinion. No matter your choice, both skiing and snowboarding are great ways to enjoy the winter in New England.
