Editor's note: this article is for information only and does not replace advice from a health professional. School formats and hours are from the 2026 season and may change in 2027.
It's the first decision of any snow trip, and it's almost always made on instinct: "snowboarding looks more fun" or "my family has always skied." Both are good reasons. But it's worth knowing the real differences before you choose, especially if it's your first time.
Traveling with a tour agency? Ask whether your package includes lessons and which gear comes with it. Your agency will walk you through the details of the day; this guide helps you decide between skiing and snowboarding.
An honest note up front: there's no conclusive scientific evidence on which of the two is faster to learn. It depends a lot on the person and on each instructor's opinion. What specialists do agree on is the best starting point, whichever you choose: taking lessons.
Take lessons, especially on day one
Orthopedic surgeons stress that taking lessons is especially important for beginners, and that bindings must be adjusted to your height, weight and ability. An instructor teaches you how to stop, how to fall and how to move on the slope, which is exactly what's missing on day one.
Here's how the schools worked in the 2026 season:
| Resort | Format | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Valle Nevado | Group lessons | 2-hour blocks, at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. |
| Valle Nevado | Private lessons | From 55 minutes; more than 150 bilingual instructors, including Portuguese speakers |
| La Parva | Group lessons | 2 hours, groups of 3 to 8; ski and snowboard taught separately |
| La Parva | Beginner area | "School Camp Area" with progressive slopes and teaching circuits |
If you're traveling with kids, check each school's ages in our guide Snow with kids.
For your first run, pick green slopes: at Valle Nevado, by regulation, they have a maximum gradient of 15%.
Why lessons matter so much
Day one is when people fall the most, and each sport has its weak spot: in skiing, the knees, because of twisting; in snowboarding, the wrists, because you put your hands out when you fall. Learning to fall and stop properly with an instructor makes all the difference. Add a helmet, which medical studies show reduces the risk of head injury by 35%, and, if you're snowboarding, a pair of wrist guards.
What gear you need for each
| Ski | Snowboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Technical gear | Skis, poles and ski boots | Board and snowboard boots (no poles) |
| Protection | Helmet, goggles and gloves; for snowboarding, consider wrist guards | |
| Clothing | Thermal base and mid layers, plus snow jacket and pants or a snowsuit | |
At Andes Premier Rental we offer the Adult Ski Kit and the Adult Snowboard Kit, and if you want clothing and gear together, the Adult Full Ski Kit (Clothing + Gear) or the Adult Full Snowboard Kit. We open at 5 a.m. in Las Condes, so you can pick everything up the same day on your way to the mountains; many agencies stop by with their groups before 6 a.m.
The 10 rules of the slopes, for skiers and snowboarders
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) sets 10 rules of conduct that apply equally to skiers and snowboarders:
- Respect others: don't put anyone in danger.
- Control your speed to suit your ability, the terrain, the snow and the crowds.
- Choose your route carefully: the person ahead has priority.
- Overtake with care, leaving enough space.
- Look before you start or enter a run.
- Don't stop in narrow spots or where you can't be seen.
- If you climb or walk down, keep to the side of the run.
- Respect signs and markings.
- Help in case of an accident.
- Identify yourself if you were involved in or witnessed an accident.
So, ski or snowboard?
- Choose skiing if you want to move around the mountain more independently early on, or if you're going with young children who will also ski: several kids' schools teach skiing only.
- Choose snowboarding if the board appeals to you more and you're ready to fall quite a bit on day one. Wear wrist guards and take a lesson.
- Either way: helmet, a lesson on day one and green runs.
And if you can't decide, that's fine: rent one, try it, and on your next trip try the other.
Now, off to the snow!
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to go for it. Gliding over the snow for the first time, feeling the mountain air and looking out over the Andes from above is a one-of-a-kind experience, and every fall becomes part of the story you'll tell later. At the end of the day, what you remember isn't the tumbles, but the laughs and that first run when everything clicked.
Get ready, take your lesson and, above all, enjoy it. Dress to live the snow.
Main sources
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) — Skiing and snowboarding injuries (2018)
- AAOS OrthoInfo — Skiing injury prevention
- Helmig, Treme and Richter — Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine (2018)
- Langran and Selvaraj — The American Journal of Sports Medicine (2004)
- Russell, Christie and Hagel — Canadian Medical Association Journal (2010)
- Mayo Clinic — Staying safe on the ski slopes (2018)
- Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes (2012)
- FIS — The 10 rules of conduct
- Valle Nevado — Ski and Snowboard School and safety regulations
- La Parva — Ski and Snowboard School