Beginner’s Guide To Snowboarding

Snowboarding is a blast and every year thousands of thrill seekers hit the slopes. Whether you’re heading to the snow in Victoria or trying snowboarding for the first time, this beginner’s guide will get you ready for a fun day in the snow.

Essential Tips for Beginners

Before you strap on your snowboard and hit the mountain, you need to know a few basics. Snowboarding is a dynamic sport that requires balance, coordination and a sense of adventure. As a beginner, understanding the fundamentals will make your snowboarding journey smoother and more enjoyable.

Balance is Everything: Unlike skiing where you have two separate skis, snowboarding is all about balance on one board. It can feel unstable at first but becomes more natural as you practice basic movements.
Snowboard Gear: Your gear plays a big part in your comfort and performance on the mountain. Make sure you choose the right snowboard boots, snowboard helmet, snowboard pants and snowboarding gloves for your riding experience.

Skiing Terms

While snowboarding and skiing are different sports, you may come across some ski terms that apply to your experience. Here are a few to get you familiar:

Après-Ski: Socializing and relaxing after a day on the mountain.
Groomed Trails: Smooth, machine made snow trails perfect for beginner snowboarders.
Bunny Hill: A small, easy slope where beginners often start learning.
Carving: A snowboarding technique where you turn using the edge of the board, similar to how a skier carves turns on the mountain.
Lift Ticket: A pass that gets you access to the ski lifts, often sold by the day or season.

Stances and Techniques

Stance is key. There are two stances in snowboarding:

Regular Stance: Left foot forward.
Goofy Stance: Right foot forward.

To figure out your natural stance think about which foot you lead with when you slide on ice or skateboard. Your stance affects how you turn and which edge of the board you use.

Snowboard Stances & Techniques for Beginners:

Toeside Edge: When you weight your toes you’re engaging the front edge of the board. This is for turning and speed control.
Heelside Edge: When you weight your heels you’re engaging the back edge of the board.
Basic Movements: Learning to move fluidly, weight shift, edge control and balance is key to snowboarding.

Snow, Trails, and Areas

Snow conditions can vary depending on the weather. The snow can be powdery, slushy, icy or groomed. Each condition will require different techniques and skill levels.

Fresh Snow: Perfect for freeride snowboarding, advanced riders love it.
Icy Conditions: Requires more edge control and is tricky for beginners.
Groomed Trails: Great for beginners, smooth and controlled conditions to practice.
Flat Terrain: For practising basic movements and balance.
Challenging Terrain: Steeper slopes or areas designated for advanced riders, requires more skills and experience.

When planning a snow trip, make sure to choose gentle slopes, beginner parks and small trail networks.

Snowboard and Ski Lift Terms

Learning how to use a lift is part of snowboarding. Here’s some common ski lift terminology:

T-Bar Lift: You ride with your board between your legs, and it pulls you up the mountain.
Chair Lift: You sit on a chair and it takes you to the top of the hill.
Lift Ticket: A pass to get on the lifts, often sold by the day or season.
Lift Attendants: Staff at major lift stations to help you on and off the lift.

Styles

There are different styles of snowboarding, for different terrain and speed.

Freestyle Snowboarding: Tricks and stunts, jumping and spinning in terrain parks.
Freeride Snowboarding: Riding natural features and backcountry, for advanced riders.
Alpine Snowboarding: Carving on groomed slopes for high-speed turns and edge control.

Take Snowboarding Lessons

If you’re a first-timer, investing in snowboarding lessons with a pro instructor will speed up your learning. Many resorts offer private lessons for beginners, teaching you how to stop, turn and ride the lift.

Etiquette and Safety Tips

Safety and etiquette on the mountain is key to having a good day for everyone:
Stay in Control: Ride in a way that you can stop or avoid obstacles.
Respect Other Riders: Yield to people below you on the mountain. Check your blind spot when turning.
Know Your Limits: Don’t try advanced terrain or tricks if you’re still learning. Stick to bunny hills and gentle slopes until you’re more comfortable.
Protect Yourself: Always wear a helmet and other protective gear to reduce injury. Take avalanche training if you’re going into backcountry snowboarding terrain.
Mountain Etiquette: Respect the mountain, respect others and always ride balanced to avoid collisions.

FAQ

What’s the best age to start snowboarding?

There’s no age limit to start snowboarding. Kids as young as three can start on small boards, and older adults can start snowboarding at any age.

Do I need to be fit to snowboard?

While fitness isn’t required, snowboarding does require core strength, flexibility and endurance. Working on your fitness before hitting the mountain can help you avoid bad habits.

Can I snowboard if I’ve never skied?

Yes! Snowboarding can be a great first winter sport and many beginners find it easier to start with snowboarding than skiing.

How do I know which snowboard is right for me?

When choosing a snowboard consider your height, weight, skill level and the terrain you’ll be riding on. Beginners often benefit from a softer, shorter board, while advanced riders may prefer freeride boards or freestyle boards for more technical performance.

Are there snowboarding parks for beginners?

Many ski resorts have beginner terrain parks or bunny hills where you can practice in a safe and controlled environment. Look for resorts with easy access to chairlifts and plenty of green trails.