When people talk about going on a skiing holiday, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to only practice skiing. Snowboarding is also very popular at ski resorts and, even if we’re not quite at the stage where people refer to snowboarding resorts, most of these centres absolutely do offer both ski or snowboard packages.
At Grandvalira, it’s possible to take ski and snowboard classes in Andorra, although many people visiting for the first time aren’t sure which is easier for beginners, skiing or snowboarding? There isn’t one simple answer to the ski or snowboard debate, but below we take a look at a few of the most important things to keep in mind.
What is easier? Skiing or snowboarding?
This is a complicated question and one whose answer depends on what you’re looking to get out of your ski or snowboard holiday in Andorra. For most people, when they ask which is easier, they really mean ‘how long does it take to learn to snowboard?’ and ‘how long does it take to learn to ski?’
In the simplest terms, it is generally quicker and easier to learn the basics of skiing vs snowboarding, but then it is a lot harder to reach the next levels on skis. With snowboarding, on the other hand, once you’ve mastered the basics it’s then a lot easier to progress on to the next levels and to look like an expert on the snowboard snowparks of Andorra.
Skiing vs snowboarding for beginners: Is skiing or snowboarding easier?
Given what we’ve just outlined above, when it comes to the debate of what is easier, skiing or snowboarding, for beginners, skiing may usually win out. If you’re only visiting a ski resort for a few days and want to pick up one of the two disciplines quickly, then skiing might be the one for you.
That said, there’s a lot more to the skiing vs snowboarding pros and cons than how quickly you can pick it up. Snowboarding is harder than skiing only in the first few hours of classes, so it’s certainly possible to pick up the basics of snowboarding in a short time too.
Then, in deciding between ski or snowboard, you’ll also want to consider factors such as which one you think is more fun, which one your friends and family are practising and more.
Skiing vs snowboarding injuries: Is skiing or snowboarding better?
The first thing to point out here is that both skiing and snowboarding are very safe, especially when being practiced at a renowned resort like Grandvalira, which boasts some of the best staff and the best medical centres in Andorra.
Looking at the stats for skiing vs snowboarding injuries, it is estimated that snowboarders are 50 to 70 percent more likely to pick up an injury than skiers, but the instances of this are still very rare, at around just four injuries per 1,000 snowboarding days. Plus, these snowboarding injuries are not so severe and are mostly just to the wrist, hand or thumb. So, the answer to the issue of is it easier to get hurt skiing or snowboarding is the latter, but very very rarely is it serious.
At the end of the day, we’re all different and we all want different things out of a holiday at a ski resort. Some will want to consider the physical differences between ski or snowboard. Others will spend more time pondering what is easier, skiing or snowboarding. Ultimately, you’ll never know exactly until you’ve tried both skiing and snowboarding for yourself!