amanda n wrote:as the title says is there much of a difference in learning to board, i wouldn't mind having a go but wondered how much of a difference there is to ski-ing
It's certainly nice to be able to do both. It gives you more options for fun and to pick the right tool (for you) for the job. I much prefer a free ride snowboard for powder, but I can see that skis make a lot of terrain more accessible.
Being able to ski will give you a head start, but expect to spend some time on your butt to start with. Being able to ski will more importantly allow you to pick the best conditions to learn to board. That is, if the snow is not soft, you are not stuck learning to board on ice that day. You can go skiing instead.
I think it also benefits overall development, as you will look at snow sliding in a more conceptual way, rather than a single set of skills.
Trencher