J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by Snapzzz

idkwia wrote:
With regards to deep snow it also makes sense that a board is easier

Probably the only point i would agree on.

idkwia wrote:I also think that steep and difficult terrain would be easier on a board because the whole board will turn as one whereas a tentative turn on skis might leave one behind. In addition a natural part of boarding is to skid which is essential for steep and difficult slopes but with skis this is not such a natural movement.

Couldn't disagree more.
Having just spent a week with some on piste boarders i can tell you that difficult terrain, bumps and ice, were something they would travel miles to avoid.
When you think about it what could be more unnatural then having two feet clamped together? You spend your whole life on two independent feet and to tie these up would go against everything you have learnt about balance from the day you could walk.
I think skiing would be far easier on difficult ground given the fact you can switch your weight from foot to foot, move them about independently and gain additional balance from your poles.
As for skidding, do you mean where they scrape they whole slope clean by taking the full length of it sliding down on their back edge?
This to me suggests lack of confidence on the steeps.
Skiers naturally skid too, its an important skill to master, its just side slipping.

Tony_H wrote:
Snapzzz, personally you can stick your warm sunny spring skiing and give me cold snowy days any day of the week. I prefer to feel cold and wrap up properly rather than find I am sweating before I have even got out of the boot room.

oh well, at least it was skiing of sorts.

idkwia wrote:Maybe in hindsight I didn't make myself very clear so I will try to do so now.
I am certain that overall snowboarding is significantly easier than skiing with the exception of the first few days. Nothing wrong with that at all but I think it is for this reason that quite a lot of snowboarders switched from skiing. I think it would be hard to get them to admit it but I wonder if anyone else thinks the same.
(I do intend to become good at snowboarding but I know I would never give up skiing because it is just so damn great. I fully accept that when I do get good at boarding I will be more qualified to post this suggestion and maybe I will change my mind but I doubt it).

My view is that in the first instance skiers and boarders simply follow their own hearts, I doubt many people turn up at the mountain without a desire to either ski or board.
If people want to ski they will ski and if people want to board they will board. Im not sure that budding skiers will adopt a different discipline just because they may struggle in the early days.
I wanted to ski. I never had this idea that i wanted to slide down the mountain and if skis didn't work for me then a board would do.

I know what you are saying but i don't think it is true at all. If anything i would suggest that people switch as boarding seems to promote a more laid back and fun lifestyle. They all wanna be dudes in comfy boots and high five all day.

Brucie wrote:Ahhh Snapzzz,

I have to admit you were not top of the list to ridicule my post, but you were up there. Congratulations, and thank you for reinforcing my point!

Im sorry Brucie if you took it as ridicule, that wasn't my intention.

I merely wanted to disagree with your points, mainly that skiers feel some level of invincability whilst wearing helmets.
Wearing a lid has done nothing to make me feel that i am a better skier or given me the confidence to take greater risks, i think your statement is just another one of those over used untruths that the anti helmet brigade reel out time after time. Another is spacial awareness which IMHO is total rubbish too.

Jimbobilini wrote:If it takes years to become a very good skier but it only takes a few weeks to become a very good snowboarder

I suppose that depends on how you define 'very good'.

Brucie wrote:Idkwia, you have committed the cardinal j2ski sin of having an opinion which differs from the mainstream 'gang'.

Not true.

Brucie wrote:Helmets give average skiers an inflated sense of ability and invincibility.

Not true.

idkwia wrote:Ha, ha, well done Ian Wikham. We all know it is freedom of choice but why did you decide not to wear one?

WELL DONE? What a ridiculous statement to make.
Congratulating someone for making a decision not to wear a helmet is irresponsible.
Its fine to ask why they made that choice and also to respect that choice but not to applaud them. Silly man.

Tony_H wrote:

Great week for those just gone, and a massive irritation for those just come back, myself included.

I wouldn't be annoyed, we had just the same weather in Sauze and it was great.
We had powder, tons, in Avoriaz in January and this time we had spring (summer) conditions - it just made for a different type of trip but still very enjoyable