Some people have a mindset that skateboarding and snowboarding are kinds of the same sports. Both sports need a board like an object to work with. You can show your tricks and skill on those types of boards. Both sports can give you extreme joy and happiness. Well, there are a lot of similarities in these sports but differences are also present here. In this article, we will discuss the differences between skateboarding and snowboarding. If you are a newbie in the world of this speedy sport, then this article is going to help you a lot.
Differences Between Skateboard and Snowboard
1. Differences between the decks
Skateboard and snowboard, both objects are made out of a long and sturdy deck. But they are quite different in construction. A skateboard is a deck made out of wood, fibreglass, or flexible plastic. There are two sets of wheels in a skateboard. The wheels are attached to the deck with metal tucks and screws. High-speed bearings are used for the wheels. A skateboard can be a plain board or there can be a kicktail.
On the other hand, a snowboard is a board with a pair of bindings. The deck is basically made out of layers of wood, bamboo, or fiberglass. A nicely mounted pair of binding is attached to the deck with some screws on disks.
2. Timing of the sports
A basic difference between skateboarding and snowboarding is the time-lapse. You can ride on a skateboard whenever you want, wherever you want. You can roll the wheels of your skateboard all year-round. But this is not possible when it comes to snowboarding. Snowboarding is a game that can be enjoyed during the winter season only. You need snow all around your skating area for snowboarding. To be more specific, snowboarding is a winter sport. Have a great place to do snowboarding with your family.
3. Stance and balance
In a skateboard, your feet are in a parallel position as your feet are free. And you can easily change the position of your feet on the skateboard. But in a snowboard, your feet are strapped in the pair of bindings.
This fact also affects your balance as well. You can easily balance your body and control the motion when you are on the skateboard. But as your feet are strapped in the bindings with your boots, balancing is a bit different on a snowboard.
4. Basic riding skills
When you are riding a skateboard, you are actually rolling the wheels on the streets. You can push the ground with one of your feet to speed up the board. Don’t forget to control your speed here with your balance. But there is no wheel in a snowboard. In a snowboard, you ride on the edges of the board mostly.
Another important difference is the turn takings. Leaning makes the wheels of your skateboard take turns. On the other hand, it makes your snowboard edge into the turn while snowboarding in the snowy tracks.
5. Learning curve
There is an opinion that snowboarding is quite easier to learn than skateboarding. After researching for a while, our expert team has found some standing points with this opinion. To help you in your learning, we are revealing those points,
- It is easy to ride the skateboard on the street. The wheels start to roll on the streets at once. But there is a possibility that your skateboard may shoot out under your feet. And that would be a mess. Where your feet are strapped into the pair of bindings on a snowboard. So there is a small chance that you might fall off on the snow.
- You roll the wheels of your skateboard on the streets or pavements which are made out of concrete. If you make a fall on the ground it can hurt you badly. But while snowboarding, you are going through the snow. If you fall, the pain will not be as bad as the pain you will get from the concrete. So in this way snowboarding is safer than skateboarding. But still, there is every possibility to get hurt while skateboarding or snowboarding. And that is why we suggest you wear a helmet and safety pad while performing these activities.
- Although it is easy to roll the wheels of a skateboard, it is not easy to master the basics of this sport. You need to practice for many days to master the basics like pushing, stopping, and turning. But snowboarding does not require a long practice to start with. You can learn rolling down from a mid-slope in a day. Nevertheless, we suggest you practice a lot to avoid any unwanted circumstances while riding both skateboard and snowboard.
6. Accessibility and cost
An important fact about these sports are the cost of accessories. If you want to buy a well-built skateboard, it won’t cost more than 100 dollars. You will need some safety kits like knee pads, arm pads, and helmets. All these accessories are cheap also. You will need a maximum of 50 to 80 dollars to buy these things of normal quality.
But snowboarding is not that cheap. A snowboard costs a lot. You need to buy high-quality bindings and boots. Not only that, you will need a jacket, snowboarding pants, goggles, and gloves. All these things will cost you a good price.
Want to grab a great skateboard for the best price? Have a look at our article on the best cruiser skateboard.
7. Learning tricks
Learning the tricks of snowboarding is quite easy. Because your boots are bound on the board and snow is lighter than concrete. While it takes a good time to master the tricks of skateboarding. You can easily jump off the skateboard. But you can not do this thing with a snowboard.
8. Hazards
Snowboarding causes less hazard than skateboarding. You practice in the snowy area to learn the tricks of snowboarding. If you fall, you will get hurt but not that much. But you will practice skateboarding on the concrete roads. You will fall on the concrete while rolling the wheels. And it is obvious that you will get more pain from the concrete. There is a saying that skateboards come with bruises on your shins, ankles, and knees. So do not forget to wear safety pads and a helmet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is skateboarding harder than snowboarding?
Yes, skateboarding is harder than snowboarding for newbies of both sports. It takes many days, tiring practice, bruises to master the basics of skateboarding. But it is easy to learn snowboarding within a short time. And you won’t get that much pain after falling on the snow. But still, the question of which sport is hard or easy depends on the participant of the sport. It is up to you what is going to suit you, snowboarding or skateboarding.
Does skateboarding improve snowboarding?
Yes, skateboarding improves your snowboarding skills. Because it helps you to improve your balance on a moving board. It teaches you to slide and take turns. And also helps you to master the common tricks of both skateboarding and snowboarding.
Conclusion
There are a lot of similarities and lots of differences between skateboarding and snowboarding. We have tried to figure out some of the differences in this article. We hope this article will help beginner skaters as well as the skaters of all levels to know the contrast between these sports. If you have further questions regarding this matter, feel free to ask us. Leave your query in the comment section. Our expert team is always here to help you out.
