Big Bear has more snow then Denver right now because of all those rainstorms you guys got. Spring boarding rocks too to learn, snow is soft and its not miserable cold. You miss a little of the 'winter' effect though, snow in the trees, bundling up...
Couple things
1. Skiing is easier on you to start, but it more boring. The learning curve is much longer and you are stuck in a basic mode typically for longer. Also more stuff to rent, typically more expensive.
2. Boarding, will hurt a little more at first, but you learn fast. There are just a couple points that when you get them, you get them, kinda like riding a bike, once you get that first balance with no one holding you up it just clicks in your head and then you can roll with it.
Boarding is funner imo, I grew up skiing since I was 5 but I was more of a skater kid so when boards came out it was natural for me. Its more comfortable too when you are hanging out on the mountain, no stiff boots, no poles to lug around etc.
Just go, rent a place with a hottub, board your butt off then party afterward. Thats how its done on the mountain

If you come to Denver I'll teach ya, but I'd reccomend driving up to Big Bear right now. Look around you can probably find a 2-3 day pass for 150$ ish, where as its probably 90-100 for a single day pass. Plan on a good amount for food and stuff as well, they jack the prices up at the resorts cause you have no where else to go. 10$ hamburgers are the norm lol. Just enjoy it though, the ski town, people, and life is just different, fun to experience...