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If you can wait till you get there or nearer the time to decide I would wait. If the pistes are hard and icy go on skis and if soft with some fresh stuff go for the board.
I have to decide now, sadly. Given the choice I'd try both, but since I'm only there a week I'd sooner pick one and try and get as good as I can, rather than swapping just as I'm starting to get the hang of it!
Liking the DIY padding idea, I'm sure I can sacrifice a roll matt... Had an offer of some salopettes, so that's cool too.
more comfortable when sitting around the middle of the piste, just downhill from a blind crest...
FTFY
😉
I boarded this year for the first time in 20 years, having skied since being a nipper. Boarding is ace if you've got the decent fresh powder to play in. Every other occasion the skis win it for me. I reckon in this day and age skiing is easier to learn (if you've done neither before), is less demanding on the body (it blinking well hurts to fall at speed on a hard icy piste when boarding) and you don't have everyone waiting for you whilst you faff about putting your board back on after a lift/beer stop/wee/photo opportunity etc etc. There's also nothing worse than getting stuck with a board on a long flat section with no momentum. Avoid resorts with flatish road pistes.
skiing is more trendy again
All the more reason to board...
661's cycle impact shorts are a nice cheap alternative to snow specific crash pants, just don't tumble dry them!
TK Maxx seems to have run out of quality ski/board gear over the last couple of years and seem to only have the bargain brands now, still good for Socks Gloves Thermals and hats though.
Oh and when you learn to board you won't be doing much straightlining - toe or heel sliding toward your "back" foot isn't the same as riding switch, you'll be doing a lot of "falling leaf" to start with..
flyingmonkeycorps, whatever you decide on I recommend a couple of lessons before you go so you can make the most of it when you're out there.
PS I found boarding quite easy to learn being quite a reasonable and experienced skier. I'm quite proud to say a pro boarder told me I had better technique than a lot of more experienced boarders he'd ridden with. I'm not sure if it would be the same the other way around.
Lessons before I go are probably a no go to be honest, just for cost reasons - though if I can manage it I will. I had a beginner session on snowboard a few years ago at Xscape, and I can still remember the basics of that.