JoggerJayne on Snow, Skiing and Style

Good day everyone, I came across this set of Questions and Answers and decided it was too good to be left to shuffle off the page. I thought it better to enshrine it in an article for all to see. There have been a few minor edits – but nothing to worry about!

P.Turnbuckle entered an enquiry into the requirements for Skiing and Snowboarding in Banff, Canada. I think he may not have been expecting the socio-economic overview supplied!

Over to JoggerJayne:

The main differences with a snowboard are:

(1) you travel sideways 

(2) you can't split your legs The fact that you can't split your legs on a board makes it quite a bit easier than skiing. The main reason skiers wipeout is because they catch the outside edge of one ski one the snow, and their skis go in opposite directions. Obviously, that can't happen on a board. 

And yes, you can certainly go faster on skis than on a board. 

However, the real difference between skiing and boarding has been one of culture. Snowboarding developed a whole "rebel" sub-culture of its own. It was seen as the trendy sport for teenagers, and guys with Mohican haircuts. It developed its own clothing. Snowboard trousers were "grungy" and had leg pockets, like cargo pants. Boarding gloves came further up your arm, because boarders put their hands in the snow more often.

BUT ... and here's the crunch ... there has been a turnaround in culture. To put it in a nutshell ... 

Skiing is the new Snowboarding. 

In other words, skiing is now fashionable again. Snowboarding is seen as a bit passé and “chavy” ... in fact, a bit "oiky" 

Sure, snowboarding is still popular with teenagers, in the same way that smoking behind the pavilion is popular with teenagers. And with Americans, who are always a few years behind Europe in winter sports terms. To be frank ... 

... I'd leave boarding to the chavs, and go skiing. 

However, having said that ... snowboarding clothes are still better than ski clothes, unless you are going for the "St Moritz" glamour look. So buy your clothes from the snowboarding section, but go skiing. 

Oh, one more thing about ski clothes: avoid "matching pairs" of clothes. You will look a bit nerdy ... as though your mum dressed you. 

Buy a jacket you like, and a pair of snowboarding trousers which "kind of" match, but not exactly. And definitely buy snowboarding gloves with a pull-cord around the wrist. The ones that also tie on to your wrist are worth their weight in gold. 

Beyond that; have fun !!