Skiing vs Snowboarding 101

Skiing vs Snowboarding: Which Workout Is Right For You?

When thinking about winter sports involving the alpine experience, two main contenders probably come to mind: skiing and snowboarding. In fact, there is a longstanding debate between skiing vs. snowboarding and which is the better workout.

If you enjoy hitting the slopes regularly or are thinking about taking on a new winter sport, you’ve probably wondered about skiing vs. snowboarding and which of these activities makes for a more effective fitness experience. 

Read on to find out which workout is the winner for you in the skiing vs. snowboarding showdown, and how you can stay in winter sport shape at home with an Aeroski workout.

Getting Started on the Slopes

The debate between skiing vs. snowboarding is significant for those looking for a new outdoor activity for the winter season. When it comes to skiing vs. snowboarding, which sport is easier to get started with? 

The answer to quickly jumping into a new sport with skiing vs. snowboarding is skiing. Starting with skiing is much easier for beginners than getting on a snowboard for the first time. The fundamentals of skiing are easier to learn than snowboarding, and the stance used in skiing is more intuitive. If you’re looking for a more enjoyable first few days on the slope or for a sport that you can make progress with on one vacation, skiing will provide you with a realistic experience at the start. 

Just as skiing is easier for beginners to pick up, an Aeroski workout is simple for people of any fitness level to get started with. Aeroski’s skiing machine offers three levels of resistance (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and support, ensuring that an Aeroski workout is a great fit at any stage of your fitness journey.

Mastering the Sport

While skiing is easier to get started with, which of these winter sports is easier to master? In this round of the skiing vs. snowboarding debate, snowboarding is actually the winner. Once a snowboarder makes it through the early stages of getting started with snowboarding, learning new skills and becoming a master is simple. 

The process of learning how to ski is the opposite — the initial stages are easy, but becoming an expert is difficult because it requires highly technical skills that are difficult to learn. With snowboarding, once you’ve got the basics down, they’ll be an integral part of each skill level you progress to.

When thinking about picking the right workout between skiing vs. snowboarding, ask yourself which is more important: a fitness activity that is easy to get started with (skiing) or one that is easier to progress with after a difficult initial period (snowboarding). Either way, training with an Aeroski workout can help you get in shape to tackle the winter sport challenge of your choosing. 

Calorie Burning Potential

Regarding skiing vs. snowboarding, you may be wondering which winter sport burns more calories. In this matchup, skiing comes out on top, but only slightly. Alpine skiing was found to burn an average of 500 calories an hour, whereas snowboarding burned an average of 450 calories an hour. 

The number of calories burned with skiing vs. snowboarding can also depend on factors such as your fitness level, where you are skiing or snowboarding, and how much time you spend on the lift. Incorporating an Aeroski workout machine into your home exercise routine can help improve your strength and endurance and increase your fitness level so you can burn even more calories out on the slopes. In fact, an Aeroski workout itself burns more calories than traditional home exercise machines such as treadmills or exercise bikes, helping you work out more effectively.

Workout Logistics

When considering the merits of any workout experience such as skiing vs. snowboarding, it’s essential to consider the logistics — especially with an outdoor winter sport. Here are a few ways that skiing and snowboarding compare in terms of logistics: 

• The Chairlift Experience — Riding the chairlift is easier for skiers than snowboarders. The process of getting off of the lift when clipped into a snowboard is much more complex and often leads to snowboarders falling over, whereas skiers can easily slide forward and onto the path.
• Equipment — The equipment used for snowboarding is more practical than skiing equipment in some ways. If you choose to ski, you have to carry four items: two skis and two poles. With snowboarding, you just have to carry your board. The boots worn for snowboarding are also more comfortable to walk around in than ski boots. If you don’t want to trek around the slopes with a lot of equipment and uncomfortable shoes, consider snowboarding.
• Family Participation — Skiing can be started at a younger age than snowboarding, so if you’re looking for a winter sport that can be fun for the whole family, skiing can be the more inclusive option for an alpine family vacation. If you have older kids or teens, you could give snowboarding a try.

Having good fitness before hitting the slopes can make your workout experience more enjoyable and prevent injury. An Aeroski workout can help you meet your exercise goals and improve your fitness level, especially with your lower body, so you can confidently participate in either winter sport. 

Consider Which Muscles are Used

Another important consideration when comparing skiing vs. snowboarding is which muscles are used in each sport. Skiing and snowboarding engage some of the same muscle groups and have some unique impacts. Balance is vital for both of these winter sports. As a result, your core muscles are engaged with both skiing and snowboarding. In terms of specifics, skiing heavily involves the hamstrings, calves, quadriceps, and gluteal muscles. Snowboarding relies on the feet and ankles to guide the board itself.

Both skiing and snowboarding can work out several muscle groups, and having pre-existing muscle strength and tone can help with your fitness level and performance on the slopes. An Aeroski workout can be a crucial part of your offseason or at-home fitness conditioning to help you stay in shape for when you head back out on the lift. 

Workout Speed

Skiing and snowboarding are sports that both involve moving quickly down inclines. If you’ve tried one but not the other, you may be interested in which of these sports can help you get down the mountain at a faster speed. 

You can reach higher speeds when skiing. The highest speed recorded by a skier was 252 km/h, whereas the highest speed recorded by a snowboarder was only 203 km/hr.  If going fast is one of your goals when comparing skiing vs. snowboarding, the increased speed that can be reached while skiing can make for a more enjoyable workout experience. 

Enjoy a Year-Round Alpine Experience with Aeroski

No matter which team you’re on in the matchup between skiing vs. snowboarding, you can benefit from staying in shape in the offseason with an Aeroski workout machine. An Aeroski workout is a great addition to your regular fitness routine, whether you’re looking to maintain your winter sports fitness level when you can’t hit the slopes or if you’re interested in an at-home alternative. 

With Aeroski, you can get the fitness benefits of skiing from the comfort of your living room year-round. Aeroski’s workout machine is designed to mimic downhill skiing movements and work out all of the major muscle groups in the body. Aeroski also comes with a pair of VR goggles and a fitness app so you can immerse yourself in alpine scenery as you work out.

Try Aeroski and make the winter sport experience a regular part of your home fitness routine!