I'm a fan.

Lesson to the wise: My oldest grandson took his girlfriend skiing recently, her first time on the slopes. He DEMANDED she used a snowboard, not skis. So she did... fell a few dozen times, cried, walked to the lodge and spent the day waiting for the others to finish boarding for the day.

Skip ahead 2 weeks.

2nd time on the slopes... but this time on skis. Fell a few times, got the hang of it, spent the day on the slopes with the rest of her friends.

My son and two brother-in-laws's all began with skis but switched to boards when it became the 'in' thing to do. They still board today. I remember my last time on the slopes, maybe 3 years ago... and getting off the chair. I would pause, put on my gloves, adjust my goggles, and next to me would be my son and son-in-laws sitting in the snow getting attached to their boards then grunting a little, (they are in their 40's), while trying to get back up. I didn't criticize them, laugh at them, ridicule them... no wait, yes I did. - JamesJM