Learning how to snowboard can be fun and challenging at the same time. You always want a beginner’s board that will help you learn the basics without holding you back.
In the past decade, I’ve taught hundreds of beginners how to snowboard. I’ve seen many different boards throughout the years and have experience picking out a quality option from an average one.
The Salomon Sight is my choice for the best beginner snowboard currently on the market.
This post is for beginners who are just learning how to ride or anyone ready to get over the hump to the intermediate level. I’ll show you a handful of good beginner boards to help you pick an option that will meet your needs and increase your on-snow skills in no time.
Time to get out in the snow and get after it!
Contents
Who Should Get This
You don’t want to get in over your head when you are first learning how to ride. Some people are naturals on a snowboard, but others need to be patient to learn the skills, form, and technique required to succeed.
That’s why it’s important to get a good beginner’s board that will be flexible and forgiving enough to allow you a little grace during the learning period. If you get a board that’s above your ability level, it can be too much to handle.
The beginner options listed here are designed to be stable, playful, and responsive enough to let you learn the basics without needing to take on aggressive or intimidating terrain.
If you feel like you’ve learned the basics and are beyond a beginner’s skill level, you may want to look at other options.
Top Best Beginner Snowboards
Here are my picks for the best beginner snowboards.
1. Best Overall: Salomon Sight
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Forgiving board that is still focused on progression, budget-friendly, durable construction, versatile to handle different terrain.
- Flex: Soft/Medium
- Shape: Directional Twin
- Cost: $$
The Salomon Sight is the best beginner out there right now, in my opinion. This board has everything someone new to the sport and looking to improve their ability wants. It’s also affordable, which is another critical consideration for beginners.
I like this board as a beginner option for two main reasons – it has a versatile shape, and its soft/medium flex is ideal for improving and progressing your skills on the hill.
The directional twin shape allows you to bounce from groomers to steeps to the park while you practice the new maneuvers and skills you’re sure to pick up along the way. You can also use it to your advantage when riding switch.
The flex is soft enough to be forgiving and keep you under control when you start to pick up speed. But it’s also stiff enough to help push your abilities to the next level as you gain confidence.
The profile features camber underfoot and a rockered tip and tail. These design elements allow you to generate a little power and pop when you need it while keeping you on top of the snow and giving you easy and quick turning.
The Sight might be a little challenging to use for complete beginners because of the slightly medium flex, but a difficult day or two will pay off in the long run.
==> You can also get it on Salomon or Evo or Tactics.
2. Best Beginner Board for Women: Rossignol Gala
- Best for: Women
- Key features: Amptek board amplification tech, fun and floaty to ride, excellent blend of camber and rocker profile, all-mountain versatility
- Flex: Soft
- Shape: Directional Twin
- Cost: $$
For a women’s specific all-mountain board, the Rossignol Gala is hard to beat. This one is built to handle a little bit of everything and is a fun board to ride. You don’t have to use a women’s board, but the Gala is built with lady riders in mind.
The all-mountain shape and profile make this board a solid option for progression. It’s soft enough to be forgiving to those on their first day of riding but will also enable you to tackle more challenging terrain when you are ready.
It comes with a directional twin shape that adds to the versatility and is equally comfortable on the bunny slopes as it is on intermediate runs and even a bit of powder. This is a board that will grow with you.
Amptek board amplification technology is another excellent feature of the Gala. This is a profile design that includes three blends of camber and rocker to allow for various riding styles. It can help you work towards perfecting your all-mountain or freeriding abilities.
While it’s a good option to get you from beginner to intermediate ability, you will probably want something stiffer once you are past the hump. The Gala is on the soft side and comes with a few limitations.
3. Best for Kids: Rossignol Alias Kids
- Best for: Kids
- Key features: Ampteck profile, high tip and tail, durable, no-catch edge control, soft waist, forgiving but capable
- Flex: Soft
- Shape: Twin
- Cost: $
Little rippers will love the Rossignol Alias Kids board. I like this as a beginner option for any children who seem to really love the sport or have a natural talent for it. This isn’t a toy board – it’s fully capable and will help little groms learn real on-snow skills.
The Alias is a quality snowboard from a reputable brand. There are many kids’ options out there, but this is a smaller version of an adult board. That means you’ll get the performance and durability you can rely on.
This board does have some design elements that are included with smaller beginner riders in mind. A higher tip and tail make it very easy to turn and maneuver. This opens up doors for kids learning to carve. It also has a smooth full-length grip for constant control.
Amptek profile technology is also included in the Alias, which is the same feature many adult boards from Rossignol have. This creates slight camber underfoot with added rocker up front and in the rear. It’s a solid blend for versatile performance.
The Alias is a great kid’s board for little ones who are somewhat confident, but it can be too much for really young kids or the very first day on the mountain.
==> You can also get it on Rossignol or Evo or Curated.
4. Best Beginner Snowboard Package: Stauber Summit Snowboard and Binding Package
- Best for: Beginner Snowboard Package
- Key features: All-terrain abilities, bindings included, durable construction, mounting discs included, hybrid profile
- Flex: Soft/Medium
- Shape: Twin directional
- Cost: $$
If you are looking to save a little bit of money and want to get a snowboard package that comes with a board and bindings, this option from Stauber is worth looking into.
You’ll get a quality beginner board that has all-mountain capabilities to help you push your skills from basic to intermediate. It has a twin directional shape that allows for versatility in a range of conditions and can help you explore all beginner areas of the mountain comfortably.
A hybrid profile is another cool feature on the board. Camber underfoot gives you pretty decent control, while rocker elements help you generate pop and learn how to be a dynamic rider. It also helps prevent catching an edge.
The included bindings are lightweight and feature a reinforced precision injection mold. This makes them solid and durable. They have an adjustable high back and ankle strap for customized comfort. You’ll also get mounting disks for an easy install.
The downside of this package is that it’s an off-brand that doesn’t have much of a reputation. I’ve seen a few of these on the slopes but would guess that there might be some durability issues to keep in mind before you buy.
5. Best for the Park: Gnu Carbon Credit
- Best for: Park
- Key features: Playful and responsive, great option for park progression, eco-sublimated base, good edge hold, floaty
- Flex: Soft/Medium
- Shape: Twin
- Cost: $$$
The Gnu Carbon Credit is a solid option for beginners who want to learn how to ride in the park. This is a capable board that is fun and easy to maneuver, making it a go-to choice if you have dreams of stomping big airs, rails, and other features.
This Carbon Credit is hyped as an easy-riding freestyle board, and I would say it lives up to that description. It’s fun to ride and seems effortless at times. Those attributes can be fantastic for beginners because you don’t have to focus on the board – you can just ride.
A banana profile keeps the board floaty and easy to ride. It’s mostly rockered with a slight camber underfoot. This makes it great for jibbing and riding switch, two of the basic freestyle tricks you’ll want to master first.
An eco-sublimated base adds durability and strength and means you won’t need to tune up the board after every park stretch. This increases the value and makes hitting rails more approachable.
A park-focused board does have some disadvantages in other types of terrain, and I wouldn’t recommend the Carbon Credit as an all-mountain option.
6. Best for Progression: Lib Tech Cold Brew
- Best for: Progression
- Key features: Capable, versatile, all-mountain performance, lightweight, durable, good edge hold
- Flex: Medium
- Shape: Directional
- Cost: $$$$
The Lib Tech Cold Brew is the option I would recommend if you are trying to improve your skills to the intermediate level and want a board that can stick with you every step of the way.
This board is capable all over the resort and will get you through groomers at high speeds without limiting what you can do when you are ready to bomb down steeps or go big when the powder starts to stack up.
It’s an all-terrain freeride board by design, and this means you can expect it to be more than capable in just about any situation. A directional shape keeps you in control through your carves and turns, and a medium flex is aggressive and forgiving.
The board also has magne-traction edges that provide superior grip on hardpack and ice and work to effectively eliminate the possibility of any gnarly wipeout caused by catching an edge.
The Cold Brew is a board I often recommend to any beginner rider who has the basic skills in the bag and wants to purchase their first board to go out and ride more on their own.
It’s not a good option for riders on their first day because it’s a little too aggressive and can be too much board to handle.
==> You can also get it on Evo or Tactics.
How to Choose a Snowboard for Beginners
When you’re looking for your first snowboard, it’s vital to keep the following considerations in mind.
Flex
A board’s flex help define its on-snow characteristics. Softer boards are better suited for beginners because they tend to be more forgiving and easier to control.
When searching for a beginner snowboard, look for an option that’s soft and flexible. Most board manufacturers will display a board’s flex on the sticker or in the description online.
As you get better at riding, you can steadily increase your board’s stiffness. A stiffer board will be more stable at high speeds and generally more responsive. It takes more power and skill to control a stiff board fully.
If you feel like you’re ready for a stiffer board after riding a beginner option for a while, move your way up to a medium flex board and see how that goes first.
Shape
I would recommend a twin shape for beginner riders. This is a typical shape for many snowboards. It looks symmetrical from tip to tail.
You don’t need to get a completely symmetrical board, but an option that leans that way will allow you to get a feel for turning and help you ride switch (riding with your unnatural foot forward).
Twin-shaped boards allow beginners to develop new skills and explore different riding styles. They also tend to be slower, which is also nice for beginners because it keeps them under control.
Rent Before You Buy
Though you might want to go out and buy your first snowboard right away, you might want to consider renting gear for a while before you purchase your own.
That will give you the chance to experiment with different models to find the option that works for you. If your rental shop has any of the boards listed here, give them a shot before you spend the money.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions relating to beginner snowboards.
What kind of snowboard should a beginner get?
I would recommend an all-mountain board with a soft flex for beginners. This is a board that will help you improve your skills by being forgiving and allowing you to explore different types of terrains and conditions along the way.
How long should a snowboard be for a beginner?
The size of your snowboard is related to your height and weight, alongside your ability level. It’s difficult to give an exact length for every beginner. Generally, most beginner riders have boards somewhere between 150-160 cm.
Is a longer snowboard better for beginners?
A shorter board is better for a beginner. These boards are easier to control and maneuver, which comes in handy when you are just learning the basics of riding. If you are tall, a longer board might be the best choice.
Useful Tips & Resources
The best advice I can offer to new snowboarders is to stick with it. You’re going to have days when you get frustrated or feel like you are not improving, but you will also have days where you’ll make enormous breakthroughs that will increase your ability and excitement.
Hang in there. Only a select few people will become outstanding riders without years of practice. Even if you put in the time on the snow and a lot of practice, you may never reach a professional level. But there is so much fun to have, no matter what ability level you reach!
Learning the basics of the sport is essential for every rider. Taking a lesson with a good instructor is highly recommended. If you have a friend who knows what they are doing, they can offer some help as well.
Also, be prepared and do not push yourself too much. If you are tired or attempt a run outside of your ability level, you can easily hurt yourself and ruin your season. Nobody wants that.
Check out more from my beginner tips for first-time snowboarders.
Related Articles:
- Best Beginner Snowboard Bindings
- Best Snowboard Boots for Beginners
- How to Choose a Snowboard
- How Long Does It Take to Learn to Snowboard
- How to Get Better at Snowboarding
Final Verdict
A good beginner snowboard can help you learn the basics of the sport while having a ton of fun doing it. It’s essential to get a good board that is more forgiving when you first start because it can help your progress faster.
The Salomon Sight is the best beginner snowboard I’ve seen in a while. I’ve seen many people who are brand new to the sport do really well on this board and would highly recommend it to anyone else who wants to get out in the snow and learn how to ride.
