| There was a time when there was only one winter | | | | two sports share a number of obvious similarities. |
| sport on the lips of sporting enthusiasts, and that | | | | However, areas in which snowboarding and skiing |
| was skiing. However, the inception and explosion of | | | | differ include the amount of energy expended in |
| snowboarding as an alternative way to hit the slopes | | | | staying upright - skiers make use of poles when at a |
| meant that people suddenly found they had a choice | | | | stop while snowboarders either have to stay tensed |
| - and with that choice came the need for favourites. | | | | or sit - as well as stresses on different parts of the |
| Since then, a large number of thrill seekers have | | | | body. Those with weaker knees are better suited to |
| devoted an inordinate amount of time to either | | | | giving snowboarding a go as the injury figures are |
| defending their chosen winter sport or bashing the | | | | higher in skiing - but snowboarding has conversely |
| competition. So the debate continues, is | | | | been considered harder on the wrists. |
| snowboarding really better than skiing? | | | | Anyone whose main criteria for choice is speed may |
| Snowboarding only really hit the slopes in the 60s and | | | | be surprised by the fact that skiing tends to offer |
| 70s, after American surf and snow enthusiast | | | | better results in terms of velocity. Despite this, |
| Sherman Poppen created prototype of the | | | | snowboarding remains popular with many young |
| snowboards we are all familiar with today. Skiing, on | | | | crowds, partly for the number and styles of tricks |
| the other hand, is a sport with origins dating back to | | | | the sport offers. When it comes to beginners, the |
| pre-historic times. As such, skiing tends to have a | | | | chances are that you'll find yourself equally likely to |
| reputation as an older and therefore less desirable | | | | suffer thrills and spills whether you choose one board |
| form of sport, this fuddy-duddy image is not helped | | | | or two skies, but if you already know one sport it's |
| by the fact that back in the 70s skiing had a | | | | likely you'll find it easier to learn the other. |
| reputation as a pretty elitist sport. | | | | The divide between the two winter sports has |
| The reputation of skiing was not helped by the fact | | | | lessened over the years, especially since |
| that it was an expensive pastime, and many | | | | snowboarding became an Olympic sport in 1988. Now, |
| dedicated resorts were not willing to open their doors | | | | fans of both snow sports keep their fights for the |
| and welcome the young snowboarding fanatics with | | | | slopes and the discovery of the best snow and runs |
| open arms. It's not hard to see how easy it was for | | | | and all make sure to obtain winter sports travel |
| the two factions to assume that the other side | | | | insurance before grinding the powder. |
| wouldn't understand them - despite the fact that the | | | | |