What is the best snowboard for a beginner?
So, you’re thinking about taking up snowboarding? Amazing! You’re going to love it. With our private snowboarding lessons at Chill Factore, we see so many people taking up the sport and flourishing, so we’re sure you will too. As a beginner, though, it’s unlikely that you’ll know the type of equipment you’ll need to take part. You’ll need a snowboard for starters, but what is the best snowboard for beginners? Continue reading to find out.
Different types of snowboards for beginners
Snowboards have come a long way since Jake Burton started designing them back in 1977. From budget-friendly finds to pro-rides, there are some incredible snowboards to be had, depending on your skill level and the type of riding you do. As a beginner, it’s important to know the different types of snowboards available. The three main types are:
All-mountain snowboards
Freestyle snowboards
Alpine snowboards
All-mountain snowboards
All-mountain snowboards are designed for all-around use, with a more directional shape and narrower tail.
Freestyle snowboards
Freestyle snowboards are generally light and flexible shortboards for riders who love to hang out in freestyle parks, which are places designed for freestylers.
Alpine snowboards
Alpine snowboards are long, stiff boards that are designed to carve down the mountain, with a flat tail and a ‘shovel tip’ at the front.
Choosing the right snowboard
When choosing the right snowboard, there are a number of factors to consider in order to make the right decision. First of all, you need to understand the right board for your style. If you plan on going to a freestyle park and rarely take on the mountains, you don’t want to get a stiff flex, tapered directional board because that won’t give you the flexibility you need. You’ll want a freestyle snowboard that boasts a softer flex and centred stance, allowing you to hit better tricks in a freestyle park.
The next consideration is choosing the right style for your ability. When choosing between snowboards for beginners, it’s important to know that some are easier to learn on than others. You’ll want a more flexible board with edging to ensure safer and easier stopping.
Next up, you have to find the right width of snowboard. This is incredibly important because if your board is too narrow, you’re going to have a lot of boot overhangs. This means you’ll catch your boots on the snow, causing you to fall. However, if your board is too wide for your feet, it will be less responsive. This makes it difficult to initiate turns, ultimately making it harder to get the snowboard to do what you want it to do. It’s generally agreed that 1-2cm of boot overhang is ideal.
After choosing the width, you must pick the right length of the snowboard. The length of the board you use will depend on a few important things. They are your height, your weight, your riding style, and your ability level.
Traditionally, if you propped the board up next to you and it came up to your chin then it would be the right size for you. But, in reality, there are a number of factors that determine the perfect board length! Generally speaking, the more you weigh, the longer the board should be. The same can be said for your height. The taller you are, the longer the board should be.
You should also consider your ability when choosing a board length. Generally, if you’re a beginner, a shorter board will be easier to learn on. At Chill Factore, we recommend chopping a couple of centimetres off your snowboard length; anything between 2cm and 5cm depending on your requirements.
How to choose the best beginner snowboard
We bet you’re itching to hit the slopes, and you now understand what you must consider when choosing the right board, but now you need to understand how to choose the right board for you. By understanding exactly what you need, and what your skill level is, you should be able to find a snowboard that is forgiving enough to help you ride and improve your skills.
The first thing you need to decide is what style of snowboarding you want to take up. At Chill Factore, we have the slopes, space and technical elements to learn a multitude of styles. Freestyle and park boards are generally shorter, lighter and twin-tipped for hitting park features, such as rails and jumps. Freestyle boards are more similar to skateboards in style than other snowboard types. In comparison, freeride boards are specifically crafted for steeper technical rides.
When picking your first snowboard, you should consider several physical factors, including snowboard length. For beginners, we recommend selecting a mid-sized snowboard with more flex, which will make it easier to control.
The shape of a snowboard is also a key determiner of how the board rides. For most beginners, we recommend the True Twin style board, as these are symmetrical both in shape and flex, with a centred stance.
Learn at Chill Factore
If you’re still looking for more information on the best snowboards for beginners, don’t hesitate to speak to one of our expert snowboarding instructors, and sign up for our Beginners’ Snowboarding Lessons! Available in a series of all-day, two-day, or three-week-long programmes - we guarantee to have you snowboarding after your lessons! You can have private snowboard lessons and even race training and coaching if you’re at that level.
Contact Chill Factore for more information!
