Skiing vs Snowboarding: What I Learned Trying Both in Gulmarg

I learned snow skiing at IISM Gulmarg and then tried snowboarding for a day, and they felt like two completely different sports. Skiing is easier to start but harder to master, while snowboarding is harder to start but gets intuitive fast once the basics click.

Quick facts

• Easier on day 1: Snow skiing
• Easier to progress once the basics click: Snowboarding
• Where I learned: Gulmarg, Kashmir
• What hurts more in the beginning: Snowboarding (hands, elbows and bum, from the falls)
• My pick: Snowboarding, if you can handle the first few days

Skiing is easier on your first day

Everyone asks this before their first snow trip: skiing or snowboarding? I've tried both in Gulmarg, and if you only care about day 1, skiing wins.

Learning to stop and turn on skis is often easier initially. You face forward, both legs are free, and it feels natural. On a snowboard, expect a lot more falls in the beginning.

Moving on flat ground is much easier on skis

When you're training, you spend a lot of time on flat surfaces. Walking to the slope, getting back to the lift, moving around between runs.

On skis, you can move each leg independently, so this is comfortable. On a snowboard, you have to unstrap one foot and push yourself along with it. It's awkward, and it tires you out before you've even started.

Skiing gets seriously technical as you progress

This is the big one. Skiing often gets seriously technical as you progress. There's always one more thing to learn, one more thing to build on top of what you already know.

In snowboarding, once you master your edges and start linking turns, things become intuitive. Once you cover the basics, you're good to go.

Skiing vs snowboarding at a glance

Learning to ski at IISM Gulmarg

I learned snow skiing at IISM Gulmarg. At the start, I was very confident. I could manage myself on skis and shift my balance front and back to get moving.

We started with the basic turns, and that felt pretty intuitive. But skiing also felt very technical. When I was moving in one direction, it was hard to stay in that direction, and controlling the skis always felt like a task.

I was always thinking I have to learn more. I was in constant doubt that I wasn't doing it properly.

One day of snowboarding with Arvind Sir

After skiing, I wanted to see how snowboarding feels different. So I did one private day with Arvind Sir in Gulmarg.

Snowboarding felt like a weight-shifting game. You shift your weight from front to back and keep checking whether your edges are holding or not.

And the falls. I was always falling on my bum, and every time I fell, I used my hands to catch myself. My hands got really tired, and after a while my elbow started to pain. That's something I never felt in skiing.

But here's the thing: snowboarding was fun. When I was in the moment and the board was going in the direction I wanted, it felt really intuitive and really good.

I only tried snowboarding for 1 day. If I do it for 3 to 4 days continuously, I'll build a really good grip on it. In skiing, that was not the case.

Tricks, powder and how cool it looks

Snowboarding looks very cool from the outside. Skiing is more of a technical game.

Tricks follow the same pattern. Doing tricks on skis is very hard, while on a snowboard they look much easier and more natural.

Powder is different too. In deep powder, skiers often switch to wider powder skis, and managing those is a skill of its own. A regular snowboard floats well in powder, so you don't need to change much.

What I'd tell a beginner before day 1

• Don't catch every fall with your hands. That's how my elbow started hurting. Wrist guards and padded shorts make the first days much easier.
• Don't judge snowboarding after one day. Day 1 is mostly falling. It gets better fast after that.
• Book your snowboarding days back to back. 3 to 4 continuous days is when it starts to click.
• Don't expect skiing to click quickly. It's a continuous learning process, and that's part of the fun.

If you're planning the full trip, read The Ultimate Guide to Learning Skiing and Snowboarding in Gulmarg, Kashmir. It covers where to stay, where to learn and how to plan your days.

So, which one should you pick?

Honestly, I enjoy snowboarding more. I just have to put in a lot of initial hard work.

Pick snow skiing if you want to be comfortable on the slope from day 1, and you like the idea of getting better at something for years.

Pick snowboarding if you're okay falling a lot for the first 2 to 3 days, and you want something that feels intuitive (and looks cool) once it clicks.

Can't decide? You don't have to. Our Ski & Snow retreat in Gulmarg lets you try both snow skiing and snowboarding in one trip, so you can feel the difference yourself.

FAQ

Is skiing or snowboarding easier for beginners?

Skiing is usually easier on day 1. Stopping and turning come quicker, and moving on flat ground is much easier because your legs move independently.

How long does it take to learn snowboarding?

The first day is mostly falling. With 3 to 4 continuous days of practice, most beginners start holding their edges and linking turns.

Is snowboarding more painful to learn than skiing?

Usually yes, in the beginning. Most falls land on your bum and hands, so wrist guards and padded shorts help a lot.

Which is better in deep powder?

A regular snowboard floats well in powder. Skiers often need wider powder skis, which take some getting used to.

Where can I learn skiing or snowboarding in India?

Gulmarg in Kashmir is the main place to learn both in India. I learned snow skiing at IISM Gulmarg and snowboarding privately with a local instructor there.