The Complete Comparison of Snowboarding Vs Surfing

Snowboarding is just the frozen-water version of surfing, right? Well, not exactly. But the two sports are fabulous fun on a board and demand excellent balance. So yes, you could totally make a Venn diagram of the two, and there would be some overlap. However, just because someone is fantastic at one sport doesn't mean they can just hop on the board of the other.

Snowboarding and surfing are similar in that they require a board, putting one foot forward, and core strength. Both sports are also great exercise and good for mental health. However, they have different costs, use different muscles, require different gear, and one needs waves, the other snow.

If you are ever bored, you can cause lots of warped entertainment by going on social media and declaring one board sport better than the other. To really get the sparks flying, you then claim that one is easier than the other. Of course, you'll have to change your identity afterward. But there are safer ways to compare the two, and that's what we're doing.

How Are Snowboarding & Surfing Similar?

Both snowboarding and surfing are fantastic sports with a lot in common.

• Excellent exercise, especially for the core
• Fantastic fun
• Adrenaline rush
• Speed
• Need a board
• Stand with one foot in front of the others
• Positive mental health benefits
• Fresh air
• Can be a social activity and a great way to meet people
• You don't need other people, just grab your board and go
• Out in nature
• Some risk involved

Which Is Easier To Learn?

Asking if snowboarding or surfing is easier to learn sounds like a straightforward question. It also makes sense if you are debating whether to book a vacation in the mountains or the beach. You want to learn something and have some fun. So, after a couple of beginner lessons, which one will you be able to more or less do?

The answer is...skiing. That is the easiest one to have a lesson and then just go off and do. Will you become amazing? No, skiing is hard, but the actual basics are pretty easy to pick up. But that's not what you asked.

The truth is snowboarding and surfing are sports where you need to be prepared to laugh a lot when you take your first few lessons. You will fall or bum bounce (which I have mastered in surfing). It is not that they are harder sports than skiing; they just require a bit more training to get going.

That doesn't mean you won't have fun. Unless, of course, you are my brother, who managed to break his arm before his first snowboarding lesson officially began.

(Pro tip: always listen to the instructors on how to safely get off a lift when snowboarding. Just because you are good at doing it on skis doesn't mean you can do it with a snowboard.)

Nor have I ever heard of someone who has broken a bone their first-time surfing. You do fall off a lot and discover the joy of bouncing on your bum as waves smack you in the face. Also, you may never successfully pop up to your feet on your first day surfing or the second.

With snowboarding, you will get down that hill, one way or another, and at the bottom, there is probably a bar that will serve you a nice stiff drink.

Which Is Safer?

This is another tricky one. Yes, you can break bones snowboarding and maybe your neck. But with surfing, there is that whole drowning issue and, if you live where I do, sharks (but they are really sweet Great Whites, or so my instructor promises). Both come with the risk of hypothermia.

But when it comes to starting out, learning to surf with an instructor is probably safer. You generally don't go further out than waist-deep water, and when you fall off, you just get sand in uncomfortable places and maybe water up the nose. Occasionally, someone gets knocked on their head by the board, but it's typically not a big deal; the bump rarely needs stitches.

However, breaking your wrist while learning to snowboard is not just a story my brother has to tell. So, the snowboarding vacation is the more likely of the two to end in a cast.

That said, many feel it is worth it. Like my brother, who successfully snowboards now and hasn't broken a bone since that first day.

Which Takes More Energy?

Both snowboarding and surfing will give you a workout and aching muscles if you are new to them. But surfing will probably take the most out of you, even if you don't manage to pop up to your feet on your first day.

The reason is that there is no chairlift for surfing. You have to paddle out. Even if you are only surfing in waist-deep water, you are paddling, trying to learn to duck dive, and trying to pop up (like a fancy push up), and it takes a ton of upper body strength.

So, despite snowboarding and surfing technically being sports where you are on your feet riding the slope or wave and using core and leg strength, surfing requires upper body strength that snowboarding doesn't. So, you spend all this energy just getting to the waves in surfing. Then, when the wave does arrive, you do even more paddling trying to catch it.

Whew.

Which Costs More?

Snowboarding costs more than surfing. Most beaches are free, or small fees and parking costs. However, snowboarding usually requires a lift pass, which can get pricey. Sure, once you get good, you might know areas to hike into. But as a beginner, you'll be paying for the bunny hill and the easier slopes.

But before you even get to the beach or mountains, the snowboarding equipment will cost more. Yes, you can rent equipment for both sports. But again, you'll pay more for the snowboarding gear.

General Equipment For Snowboarding

To snowboard, the following equipment is generally required:

• Board
• Bindings
• Boots
• Socks
• Helmet
• Baselayers
• Mid-layers
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof pants
• Goggles
• Gloves
• Wrist guards

You may also want to wear a beanie under your helmet and get polo shorts (for hip padding) to wear under your pants.

General Equipment For Surfing

To surf, the following equipment is generally required:

• Board
• Fins
• Leash
• Swimsuit
• Wax

You may also want, depending on the conditions:

• Wetsuit
• Rash Guard
• Booties
• Hood

The fins and leash are essentially part of the board. If you buy used, they will often come "fitted" with the board. Thus, to surf, you really only need two things, the board and a suit, and you're off.

Summary

Snowboarding and surfing are both excellent sports that make you fit while having a ton of fun. However, they are very different and have their own challenges. Thus, the obvious solution is to do both.