5 of the Best Beginner Snowboards [2022]

Snowboarding is tough on your muscles and can cause soreness. You might not be used to all the movements required for this activity.

One of the best exercises to get your body more used to the riding movements is squats. Your legs, glutes, and core are the main areas you need to focus on. 

You can do squats, lunges, calf raises, planks and sit-ups to strengthen these parts of your body.

Many instructors also recommend yoga to help loosen up your muscles.

Severe injuries are rare for beginners because you will be moving slowly while learning the basics, but you can expect general soreness in your knees and from falling over.

Protective gear like wrist guards, helmets, and knee pads can help ease the pain.

Snowboards are often specially developed to suit a specific snowboarding discipline. There are many different types of boards like the following;

Snowboards are often specially developed to suit a specific snowboarding discipline. There are many different types of boards like the following;

All Mountain boards

These are the most popular snowboard designs and are usually best for complete beginners because you can use them on just about any terrain. This versatile board usually has a directional shape (the front is different from the end) and is more balanced towards the tail. If you are not sure what types of snowboarding disciplines you prefer then it is usually best to start with this type of board. It is a popular choice amongst new and advanced snowboarders and it is available in just about every snowboarding store.

Freestyle boards

Freestyle snowboards are usually light, flexible, and short in design. These boards are perfect for performing all sorts of tricks in parks. Freestyle boards are usually unsuitable for high-speed riding and don’t offer too much stability for carving. These boards are better for advanced users, but many beginners do invest in these directional twin boards since they can easily move forward or backward with the board. 

Freeride boards

Freeride boards are good beginner boards and are mostly directional. These boards are ideal for parks, and many love to use these boards for mountain trails and for slashing powder.

Park boards

Terrain park boards usually feature a symmetrical design and offer equal performance for various riding styles or activities. These boards are twin directional with a soft to medium flex that allows riders to be more expressive and perform a wider range of tricks than with an all-mountain or freeride board.

Alpine boards

Alpine boards are narrower than most board types and are not the best for tricks or stunts. These boards are however excellent for chasing down mountain slopes at incredible speeds. These directional boards perform well around carved turns but can be a bit difficult for complete beginners to master.

These are the main snowboard categories, but the boards in each category can also vary in design and feature. The chamber design and flex of boards can vary quite a lot. Snowboards also come in different sizes to accommodate different body types. 

Snowboarding might seem simple but these activities are surprisingly complex. There are 28 different types of snowboarding disciplines – which is exactly why there are so many different types of snowboard designs.

There are lots of different ways you can shred down the slopes and many riders also enjoy a combination of styles in the same run. It isn’t uncommon at all to see a rider do a few tricks on the side before continuing with the original discipline.

Here is a quick look at some of the most common snowboarding disciplines:

Alpine snowboarding

This is the original form of snowboarding. The discipline developed from alpine skiing and was once used to describe all downhill snowboarding activities. In modern times, alpine snowboarding refers to a certain discipline that is used in Austria. In these disciplines, the body and shoulders face forward instead of the more common parallel stance that riders use today.

Alpine snowboards are narrower and have a stiff flex that offers good stability at high speeds.

Backcountry snowboarding

This type of discipline is also referred to as sidecountry or slackcountry snowboarding. It usually involves skipping the usual snowboarding trails to explore unknown areas and territories that are out of bounds from usual tourist regions.

Most backcountry snowboarders prefer rocker-style snowboards because these offer more flexibility and maneuverability.

Big air snowboarding

This discipline is a bit of a stunt. It involves taking a huge jump – big air. The bigger the jump, the more thrilling the experience.

Freestyle snowboards are ideal for big air disciplines as well as many other stunts.

Big mountain snowboarding

This type of snowboarding activity usually refers to trails that are dangerous, steep, and often take place in backcountry regions. 

Freeride snowboards are usually preferred for big mountain disciplines.

Boardercross

This type of snowboarding involves riding down a track that is designed with all sorts of jumps, corners, and rollers while competing with other riders.

Freestyle boards are usually preferred for these disciplines because they are lighter and more flexible.

Buttering

Buttering is a trick that is loved by many riders. It involves shifting your weight from the front to the back of the board so you can create small spins and jumps. It is called buttering because these activities can be as smooth as butter.

Just about all snowboards are good for buttering.

Carving

Carving is a stunt that requires you to accelerate through your turns so you can carve smooth lines in the snow. Carving snowboards have specially formed edges to promote carving results.

Any board can carve, but all-mountain boards are ideal for complete beginners.

Cruising

Cruising is excellent for complete beginners. It involves gradually gliding down the slopes without performing any specific stunts and without making any excessive twists and turns in the snow.

All boards are suitable for cruising, including kid’s boards.

Freeride snowboarding

This term means you are snowboarding any way you like. You travel anywhere you want, do what you want, and perform stunts whenever you please.

For this discipline, you can get a freestyle board or an all-mountain board.

Freestyle snowboarding

This type of snowboarding is usually performed in parks. It involves doing several stunts such as big air, park, jibbing, halfpipe, and many others.

Freestyle snowboards are lighter, shorter, and more flexible than other types of snowboards. They can be directional or twin directional.

Halfpipe snowboarding

This is one of the most popular snowboarding disciplines and is used as a spectator sport in the Winter Olympics. In these activities, riders travel down a U-shaped track and perform various tricks.

Riders for these disciplines prefer freestyle boards with a very stiff flex in the center and a more generous flex rating towards the tips and tails.

Powder snowboarding

This form of snowboarding mostly involves seeking out tracks with lots of fresh snow to glide on.

Powder snowboards are ideal for these terrains but all-terrain boards and many freestyle boards will also give good performance in these conditions

Flex ratings are not standardized. Some soft flex boards might feel weaker for certain brands than others.

Generally, you can look for boards with soft to medium flex. Boards with a softer flex are easier to maneuver and manipulate at a slow speed.

Since you will be going slower as a beginner, you need to look for a simple board moving at slower speeds.

Stiff flex will offer more stability at a higher speed, but these boards are tough to handle if you are still going slow.

Most sellers will offer a size chart that you should consider before buying a board. If you buy the wrong size, you will have a tough time learning to ride, even if you have the perfect beginner board.

A board that is too long is hard to control and difficult to turn.

A board that is too short will be hard to stabilize and to stay upright.

To find a perfect board, you should consider the sizing guide.

It is hard to find the perfect size because your height and weight and your activities can determine the right board.

To find the right size, you should consult with the size chart based on your weight and height.

Snowboards can be pretty pricey, which is exactly why many are tempted to get a more advanced board.

It should be noted that the concept of “growing into your board” isn’t a good idea for beginners at all.

Boards with a stiff flex or an advanced profile are pretty tough to master, especially if you don’t know how to ride. You might end up quitting before you get started.

It is also hard to know what type of terrains you prefer.

Some boards are better for soft powdery snow, while others are better for freeride runs.

Other boards are great for freestyle riders that love to perform jumps and stunts. If you get one of these boards and prefer another type of terrain, you can end up wasting a lot of money.

It is better to start with a more accessible board that can be used on all terrains and activities so that you don’t end up wasting your money on a board that doesn’t suit you.

All snowboards are sold pre-waxed. This way, you can be ready to get riding the moment your board arrives. It should be noted that it is usually best to wax a new snowboard before using it for the first time. 

It is also a good idea to invest in quality wax so you can keep your board protected while in storage, or to give it a new coat between snowboarding activities, especially if you are someone who can handle lots of rigid training.

Children love snowboarding. This sport was first developed to help kids have more fun. Children aged seven and up can start learning to snowboard. Some motivated youths can begin learning at a younger age.

Getting the perfect snowboard for a child can be pricey. Not because these boards are expensive, but because you need to replace the boards frequently.

It isn’t good to buy a bigger board for a child and hope that they will grow into it. This is because bigger boards will be tough to handle or master. Kids can become discouraged if the board is too hard to handle.

It is better to replace your child’s board frequently than it is to buy a board that will end up unused.

Kids’ boards are usually designed with a softer flex.

Children go a lot slower and struggle a bit more with handling their bodies around twists and turns.

With a softer flex, they can handle the board better even at these slower speeds.

It can get pretty chilly out there on the ice.

You will need a good pair of gloves, two pairs of socks, thermal underwear, goggles, and a beanie with your snowboarding outfit. 

You will also need a good pair of snowboarding pants and aquality snow jacket to wear over your base layer clothing. These snow pants and jackets are usually made from special waterproof and windproof materials that will keep you nice and dry on the snowy mountains. Snow garments are also padded to insulate and protect your body from the cold. 

These are all essentials that you cannot rent from a snowboarding hire company.