Skiing or Snowboarding for Little Ones?

Does anyone have an opinion as to what age little ones can realistically start snowboarding? My son's cub leader is a skier & wants to take her 4 year old skiing. Her husband is a snowboarder & wants to take him snowboarding. My son managed very well on skis at 4 years old but I'm not sure that I've seen children as young as that on snowboards.

I seem to remember my son playing a lot on his skis & he could obviously walk on the flat in them & go on chairlifts (with adult help) - something that can't so easily be done on a snowboard. I'd be interested to hear what others have done with their little ones. Is it best to start them on skis & then change to snowboarding at a later age once they've got their 'snow legs'?

I guess that just about all the skiers here will plump for skiing, while some boarders may go either way, depending upon their entry into the sport.

So I am not sure that you will get a dispassionate viewpoint here. So, it may pay to look at the anecdotal view.


I have never seen children on a board. Youngest ~ maybe 15 years old.

Most young alpine Austrians (ie live in/near a ski area), learn to ski from 3/4 years old.


Your observation of your son playing on skis, because it is akin to walking on the flat, has strong merit. It must feel more natural.

Over to Trencher.....

Salski wrote: Is it best to start them on skis & then change to snowboarding at a later age once they've got their 'snow legs'?

Yes. There are always exceptions, but most kids are not ready to board until at least six and even better eight. When I've seen younger kids on boards they normally require intense one to one supervision. The reality is that in the limited time kids of that age can manage in a session. very little progress would be made on a board when compared to skis. Unless the kid is a unusually gifted [I know, all of own are kids are :wink:], they will become frustrated and bored.

The concepts learned skiing will make learning to board easier when the time comes, and lessen some of the frustration most new boarders feel. At that time the kid will be able to split time between board and skis, so still allowing some more adventerous times on steeper runs with the parents.

Trencher

Dave Mac wrote:I guess that just about all the skiers here will plump for skiing, while some boarders may go either way, depending upon their entry into the sport.

So I am not sure that you will get a dispassionate viewpoint here. So, it may pay to look at the anecdotal view.

Over to Trencher.....

Are you saying that I am dispassionate :lol:

Snowboarders are grounded in reality, really ...

Dave Mac wrote: some boarders may go either way

Such is the rich tapestry of life I guess :lol:

Wot Trencher says, about 7 or 8 for a childrens sized snowboard.

Dave Mac wrote: while some boarders may go either way,

I think that has to be contender for quote of the year :wink: Innuendo Bingo here we come 8)

freezywater wrote

Dave Mac wrote:

while some boarders may go either way,


I think that has to be contender for quote of the year Innuendo Bingo here we come

I think that AJ already caught me out with a much worse one. And then Jan caught me with my "thighs together". I only ever check my stuff for speling misteaks.

Thanks everyone - I'll pass that on & let them decide. I'll also suggest they join the forum. I've just been catching up on weeks of missed chat & it would seem you can learn about almost anything on here!

It's a bit like Chinese whispers - one minute we're talking about children snowboarding & within 6 posts we're talking about Dave Mac's thighs :lol: