toddlers: ski or board?

Thinking of introducing my three-year-old daughter to snowsports this year. I`d rather she board, but it seems that most really little kids start on skis. Anyone out there have experience w/ teaching little, little kids to board? Are two planks easier than one in this case? (In the end, she`s probably too little to like either, but I`ve met people who`ve started at three; may as well give it a try.)

There was a pretty good thread regarding this subject not too long ago. Search Google. The original poster was determined to teach a 3.5 year old how to board but the general consensus is that 3-3.5 is a bit too young to try boarding. They just don`t have the attention span, the leg strength, the co-ordination. You risk turning your daughter off snowboarding totally.
OTOH, a 3 year old can be taught to ski quite easily - "pizza!", "french fries!".
Give it a shot but try it at a quiet toboggan hill or golf course with a slope. Don`t bother bringing your boards, just run after her. You`ll get a great workout.

I`ve been told that children under the age of 5-6 don`t have sufficient balance and leg strength to snowboard properly. So many people suggest letting them learn how to ski first, get use to the snow, and then letting them choose what they want to do when they get older (ski, board, or none of the above).
This kind of makes sense as young children are still developing quite a bit physically and it is conceivable that they are just not physical able to safely ride on a snowboard.
Just think of who tired/bruised/sore you were after your first few days of snowboarding. Now imagine that type of strain on a 3 year child - it would be like making her run a marathon. Skiing requires much less exertion, balance, and leg strength and might be a better way to start.
My thought is ask your daughter what she wants to do. In the end, it`s her enjoyment that matters, is it not?

Sorry but the thought of a 3 year old snowboarding to me is really quite cute, and at the same time, worrying.
Hope she does great what ever U choose

easier for them to get on/off the left, stand in line, etc... My kids learned to ski first. When they started boarding they picked it up really fast. Even though they probably won`t ski again any time soon, it`s nice they can say they know how to ski and snowboard.

As somebody who has done both sports extensively, my opinion is that snowboarding is superior to skiing in all respects as a downhill sport. Not only is it easier to learn and less technical, but it requires less strength and coordination than skiing. One board with two edges is more graceful and less complicated than 2 boards with four edges, and it is easier to turn and transition from edge to edge when standing sideways; you simply lean on your toes or your heels. Facing downhill on two skis it is harder to lean from one set of edges to the other set, and there are more variables like crossing your tips or crossing your tails. Because each leg can twist independently on skiis it is more dangerous, you can really fuck up a knee, but knee injuries are rare if not non-existent among snowboarders.
If snowboarding is easier, more fun, more graceful, less work, safer, etc. than skiing for adults, then I can`t see why the same wouldn`t be true for children. If skiing is more clumsy, harder to learn, more work, and more dangerous for adults, sure it is for children as well.
The only reason it seems to you like the youngest kids are on skiis is because their parents are skiiers. In general, snowboarding has completely replaced skiing in younger generations; skiing will die out when the older generations die out (except cross-country skiing; skis are still the best way to travel cross-country/uphill).
I don`t think 3 is necessarily too early as long as it`s done appropriately (on a tiny slope with expert supervision, encouragement, and patience), and as long as the child is interested and enjoys it. But I`ve never been a parent so I don`t know anything about 3 year olds. I`d say if they can walk, they can play a little on skiis or a snowboard. It should be treated as play and fun, not as a serious attempt to learn, a child pushed to hard at that age could be easily turned off (as somebody else already mentioned). The main goal of toddler lessons is daycare while the parents ski or ride, with a little skiing or boarding thrown in just as a fun activity and to give the kids some early exposure. I wouldn`t attempt to seriously teach a 3 year old or put them in a serious lesson unless the child herself expressed a strong desire to learn.

I agree with everything you said about snowboarding, but one major difference between skiing and snowboarding is that you don`t really have to know how to ski to get down the bunny hill....just wedge your skis and face downhill. It`s much more "skiing-like" than sideslipping on a snowboard (the snowplow of snowboarding)...which means that a child will have to learn how to actually turn before he/she can get down the hill on a board safely.
Kid + Leash + wedge = skiing, happy kid
Kid + Snowboard + sideslip = faceplant kid or uncontrolled missile kid

Kid + Leash + Snowboard = boarding, happy kid
It`s how I got my son started (he was 4 going on 5 though) You`re right, slowing down is one of the harder parts about learning to board, with a leash that`s a non-issue, the adult controls speed, the kid just has to stay on top of the board and lean when he wants to turn. This method had me and my son going down all greens and some easy blues from day one. While riding with the leash he gradually figured out how to "skid" a turn instead of "carving" it when he wanted to slow down and eventually could control his own speed (ie. no more leash).
The best part is he enjoyed himself right from day one and is now a confident, enthusiastic (and in my opionion pretty skilled) 8 year old snowboard fanatic who can ride some pretty challenging steep, off-piste terrain.

Let`s start by saying I agree with your final comments about teaching children to ski/snowboard - what I question is your earlier comments? Now I love snowboarding, and I really encourage everyone to do it, but I just feel that some of your comments seem plain wrong to me.
Your first paragraph explaining why snowboarding is easier doesn`t make any sense to me. Easier? Less Strength? Either you are the crappiest skiier or the most natural snowboarder I`ve ever heard of, and I ran a snowboarding club of over 200 members that went up every weekend from November to April.
How fall did you go the first time on your snowboard before falling? 5 feet? Now how far did you go your first day skis without falling? Much farther I believe. How bruised/tired were you on the first few days snowboarding? Compared to skiing? As far as I know, I do know anyone how has found snowboarding more "natural" than skis. Your body/brain simply wasn`t designed to think "sideways" Although it can be trained, it takes a bit of learning. Although I agree that once you`ve "got it" it does look more graceful to me.
How often to do you ski/snowboard? I remember that on my first day of skiing ever I could negotiated blues without too much trouble although I did fall a few times because I would cross my tips as you mentioned (kept trying to do ice skate crossovers). Now while I actually did a black diamond my first day of snowboarding - that was more stupidity due to youth than snowboarding being easier than skiing(I slipped and fell the whole way down the mountain).
Finally, about injuries. I personally believe that rate of injuries are roughly the same between skiiers and snowboarding (when your take age into account). I say age because us youngsters tend to be most aggressive (stupid) and get hurt more easily... and as you said, snowboarders tend to be younger. Also, you get a completely different set of injuries. Skiiers tend to suffer from ankle/knee injures (infamous ACL/MCL). While snowboarders tend to suffer impact injuries and whiplash from cutting edges and crashing into things.
Anyway... regardless of our difference opinions about skiing vs snowboarding. I totally think you have the right idea about teaching toddlers.

that it works.

Or boots and bindings for teeny feet?

that are way too big, an inch and a half of overhang on the heel side and 3 inches of underhang on the toe side... and regular snow boots. The board looked too big as well. I was wondering how the poor kid was going to make it through the day without braking an ankle and his tailbone.