How to Snowboard in Powder

Snowboarding in powder is one of my favorite experiences on Earth. It’s more than magical and is what many snowboarders search for all season long. But knowing how to ride in powder can be much different from riding groomed snow at the resort. 

I’ve been snowboarding for decades, and I love everything about the sport. I’ve had many great powder days over the years, and I know through first-hand experience how to ride properly in the deep stuff. 

This post will show you how to snowboard in powder. I’ll provide you with some tips and tricks to keep in mind when the snow starts to stack up, and you want to have a ton of fun. 

Let’s get after it. 

What Does Powder Mean in Snowboarding? 

If you are new to snowboarding, you might not even know what powder is. Well, it basically means fresh snow, and the more, the better! Anything over a few inches of fresh snow is considered powder. 

A big powder day is generally a foot or more of snow, but serious riders will take any fresh snow they can get. Powder can stick around for a few days or more if conditions are right, but it generally occurs after a recent storm. 

What is Snowboarding on Powder Like? 

Snowboarding in powder is like a dream. It’s like riding on a cloud. It’s one of the best experiences you can have on a snowboard. There is something extraordinary about riding your board through lots of fresh snow that can’t really be compared or described.

Riding through powder gives you a more float or surf-like experience than riding on packed or groomed snow. It’s much softer, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the ride. It also takes a bit of a different technique, which we will explore in the next section. 

How to Snowboard in Powder

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you have the chance to snowboard in powder. If you have never done this type of riding before, it can feel quite different than standard resort conditions. But once you get the hang of it, nothing is better!

1. Stay Balanced and Lean Back 

One of the first things you’ll notice when riding in powder is that you need to shift your sense of balance a bit. This typically means that you need to lean back into your uphill leg a bit. This will keep your nose up on top of the snow. 

Every rider will have a slightly different balance or feel when hitting powder. Just stay aware and engaged, and you should be able to find your sense of balance in powder. 

2. Keep Moving and Open Your Turns

Another thing to keep in mind when riding powder is that you want to keep your speed up. Powder isn’t as fast as packed snow, and you can get bogged down or lose momentum if you make big sweeping turns.

To help keep your momentum, you should make fewer and more narrow turns. You don’t need to cut fully across the slope in powder and will want to make bouncier turns than what you might be used to. 

3. Float, Don’t Cut 

Riding powder also has a different feel when it comes to turning. You really want to float through your turns rather than cut into them like you do when you are bombing down groomers or packed runs. 

This has a lot to do with how much edge and dig you put into your board. You don’t need to cut in really hard into the power with your edges. Instead, take a more laid-back approach to help you float on top of the snow rather than dig into it. 

Is it Hard to Snowboard in Powder? 

Powder riding can take some getting used to, but I don’t think it’s any more difficult than other types of snowboarding. The difference is that powder conditions don’t happen every day, so many riders aren’t used to it. 

You do need to change up your form and technique a bit when riding in powder. But these are subtle things that you will get used to pretty quickly.  

Is It Easier to Snowboard in Fresh Powder?

Fresh powder is soft and forgiving, so in that sense, it can be easier to ride than packed out or icy conditions. But powder can also slow you down, making it difficult to get the hang of riding effectively. 

Powder isn’t necessarily the ideal condition for beginners, even though I think it’s the best condition to ride in. Fresh powder is an experience that all riders need to try at some point. 

Is a Longer Snowboard Better for Powder?

A longer board can give you more surface area, which can help with floating on top of powder. But a wider board can also help with this. More surface area gives you an increased ability to stay on top of deep snow, whether with a longer or wider board. 

What Type of Snowboard is Best for Powder?

Generally, wider boards are better for powder. These boards help give you more float when you are riding through deep snow. There are many different types of powder-focused snowboards that all excel in deep snow. 

Some types of powder snowboards also have cut-out tails which can help you turn and float better in powder. A wide board with a cut-out tail is my preferred snowboard for serious powder. 

Conclusion

Snowboarding in powder is one of the best things ever. Trust me. If you get the chance to ride after a fresh storm, you won’t be disappointed. Learning to ride in powder is different from riding on groomed conditions, but the experience is unmatched.

About Lorraine
I'm a certified snowboard instructor. My first experience with snowboarding occurred at an indoor resort. One run had me hooked, and it has turned into a lifelong passion ever since then. I'm here to share with you some of the tips and advice I have learned along the way.

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