Many people who skateboard often wonder how their skills might translate to snowboarding, and vice-versa. If you’re a skateboarder planning a snowboarding trip, or a snowboarder curious about skateboarding, you’re in the right place. Having a basic understanding of one sport can be advantageous when learning the other, though they have unique challenges. This article will discuss the similarities and differences between these two board sports, how skills transfer, and which might be easier to pick up first.
What Skateboarding and Snowboarding Have in Common
Both skateboarding and snowboarding share some core elements that make them feel familiar, especially in the beginning. The most obvious commonality is the sideways stance. This shared stance helps skateboarders adjust to the feel of a snowboard more quickly.
Beyond stance, both sports also have shared terrain features in parks like halfpipes and rails, and many of the tricks, like 50-50s and boardslides, have similar names and motions. This familiarity allows riders to quickly adapt to new challenges.
Another common element is the experience of discomfort, be it from muscle strain or the occasional fall. Both skateboarders and snowboarders will experience similar aches and pains, particularly when starting out.
skateboarding in the winter snow
Stance and Posture
The concept of a regular or goofy stance is essential in both skateboarding and snowboarding. Understanding your natural stance in skateboarding gives you a head start on the snowboard. The “board feel” concept is also transferable. The experience of controlling a skateboard helps you understand how to distribute your weight on the board, whether it’s a skateboard or a snowboard, which is very similar.
The slight bend in the knees for balance is another shared aspect. If you know how to ride a skateboard, you’ll find that getting used to balancing on a snowboard will be easier, thanks to the similarities in stance and body position.
Tricks and Objects
Skateparks and snowboard parks often feature similar obstacles. Half pipes, rails, and jumps are common, so if you’ve conquered them on a skateboard, you’ll find them less daunting when you move to the snow.
Once you’ve mastered the basics of snowboarding, you’ll have an easier time with tricks in the park. Skills like 50-50s and boardslides progress faster if you’ve already learned them on a skateboard.
Key Differences Between Snowboarding and Skateboarding
While similarities exist, the differences between snowboarding and skateboarding are significant. Snowboarding involves riding on snow, often at higher speeds, with your feet strapped to the board. This contrasts sharply with skateboarding on concrete, where you can bail easily.
Another key difference is board size. While skateboard size is a matter of personal preference, snowboard size is based on your height and weight. Selecting the right board size is vital for performance, whether riding powder or practicing tricks in the terrain park.
Slowing Down
Slowing down differs drastically in the two sports. In skateboarding, you can use your foot to brake, but in snowboarding, you must learn to powerslide. This involves pressing an edge of the board into the snow while slightly leaning back, a technique that takes practice. The wider stance on a snowboard can feel awkward for skateboarders at first, but it is necessary for control.
Weight distribution also varies. While subtle shifts are crucial for skateboarding, snowboarding often requires you to distribute weight between the front and back of the board to control speed and direction.
Turning and Moving
Pivoting is another key difference. On a skateboard, you lean in the direction you wish to go. Turning on a snowboard, however, involves using your entire body.
Riding fakie (backwards) on a skateboard and snowboard also presents a different challenge. It is often easier for skateboarders to ride fakie on a skateboard, while fakie snowboarding remains difficult even for experienced riders.
Costs
The costs associated with skateboarding and snowboarding are significantly different. Skateboarding is considerably cheaper, with a full setup costing around $200, while snowboarding requires expensive gear and lift tickets. Snowboard equipment, such as boots and clothing, can easily be double the cost of a skateboard, and that doesn’t even take into account the travel and accommodations needed for the sport.
skateboarding vs snowboarding
Snowboarding vs Skateboarding: Which Is Easier?
The perceived difficulty between skateboarding and snowboarding is subjective. Some find skateboarding easier, while others find snowboarding more accessible. The truth is that both sports have aspects that are easier to learn than the other.
Learning to Ride a Snowboard Is More Difficult
Learning the basics of skateboarding, such as pushing and cruising, is generally easier. It involves simply moving your weight around, and steering with subtle foot movements. Snowboarding is harder to learn initially, due to the difficulty of controlling speed and stopping. New snowboarders often catch an edge, resulting in a fall. Although snow is softer than concrete, these falls can still hurt.
Skateboarding Tricks Are Harder
While skateboarding may be easier to get started with, the tricks are often harder to master. For example, an ollie, is often more complex on a skateboard than it is on a snowboard.
There’s also a mental aspect to skateboarding tricks that makes them harder for many people. A successful trick requires full commitment, and fear can be a huge barrier. Boardslides, for instance, are more challenging on a skateboard because they need more control, while a snowboard boardslide just needs a small jump.
Jumps are also easier on a snowboard. While learning to ride a skateboard is faster, the tricks are harder. Conversely, learning to ride a snowboard is harder, but the tricks are easier for many people. Additionally, most skateboarders and snowboarders agree that skateboarding is more painful when things go wrong.
If You Can Snowboard, Can You Skateboard?
If you’re proficient at snowboarding, learning to skateboard will probably be easier. Having a background in snowboarding will give you the balance and board feel needed to pick up skateboarding relatively quickly.
However, technical tricks in skateboarding can present a challenge. An ollie on a skateboard is very different from a snowboard ollie. Boardslides will likely feel more familiar, but you still need the ability to pop the board up. As with any new skill, getting the basics right is key before moving on to the more technical aspects.
Why Not Both?
Both skateboarding and snowboarding are exciting sports that can be great fun with friends. Both provide good exercise and help you burn calories while having a blast. However, both activities involve risks, so always skate or snowboard within your ability and don’t attempt anything you’re not ready for.
Ruben vee
