The new design can hamper skiers who like to head straight down and flat out, since the slightest shift in weight sets the hourglass skis on edge. But snowboarding is another matter. It's been the province of the grunge set until recently, and that's not me. Still the sport seems to be maturing, with snowboarders now numbering more than 2 million. That has saved or made the fortunes of many resorts, which often feature terrain dedicated to boarding.
Some resorts provide neophytes with butt pads, kneepads, wrist and elbow pads.
But friends in the know have told me the snowboarding technique is easier to master than skiing because you have only one board to maneuver and no poles. That was hardly my experience. As in skateboarding, you ride sideways. To turn, you lean on the toe edge or the heel edge, according to where you want to go, and rotate your upper body accordingly. I am instructed to keep my center of balance low, my back straight and knees bent.