Snowboarding for Beginners: Complete Guide to Gear, Tips, and Techniques

Table of Contents

• How to Get Ready for Your First Days on the Slopes
• Learning to Snowboard as an Adult
• Is Learning to Snowboard Difficult?
• Do Beginners Need to Rent or Buy a Snowboard?
• What Snowboard Gear Do Beginners Actually Need?
• What to Wear Snowboarding as a Beginner
• How to Stop on a Snowboard for Beginners
• How to Turn on a Snowboard for Beginners

How to Get Ready for Your First Days on the Slopes

Before you head out to the mountain, here are some things to help you prepare:

• Assess your fitness level: Snowboarding requires leg and core strength, as well as balance. Exercises that target these muscle groups, in addition to light cardio for endurance, will help prepare you for your runs.
  
• Book snowboard lessons: There’s absolutely no shame in taking a lesson. Snowboard instructors will teach you the foundational techniques you need to hit the slopes.
  
• Familiarize yourself with mountain etiquette: From lift safety to how to read slope signs, learning these basics will set you up with the proper mountain etiquette.
  
• Set realistic expectations: Remember that it’s perfectly normal (and expected!) to fall, especially as a beginner. Don’t expect perfection; embrace the learning process and have fun!

Pro Tip: If you’re feeling nervous and want some extra advice, stop by a Sun & Ski Sports location to chat with one of our Outdoor Experts. They’re here to help!

Learning to Snowboard as an Adult

Picking up snowboarding for the first time as an adult? Congratulations! It’s never too late to start. Just keep these things in mind:

• Start slow and be patient: Don’t put pressure on yourself to advance; spend time on the bunny hills, gentle slopes, and carpet lifts until you feel comfortable.
  
• Focus on weight distribution: Snowboarding is primarily about using your core and hips to shift your weight from your toe edge to heel edge. Work on finding this motion and balance first. 
  
• Don’t fear a little momentum: We’re by no means telling you to go for speed, but a little momentum is needed for snowboarding, and it’s what the board is made for. Build trust with your balance and snowboard edges, and you’ll be able to control your speed.
  
• Consider snowboard lessons: As mentioned before, getting personal guidance from a snowboard instructor is an excellent option for beginners.

Is Learning to Snowboard Difficult?

As with anything, learning to snowboard requires practice and patience. How difficult it is can be determined by a few things:

• Non-snow boarding experience: If you’ve longboarded or surfed before, chances are you’ll be better set up to learn snowboarding. All require similar muscle movements and weight distribution.
  
• General fitness level: Snowboarding is a full-body workout, so the more in shape you are, the better. Cardiovascular health and strength will go a long way.
  
• Falling is part of learning: Knowing how to fall as safely as possible helps avoid injury. Avoid locking your arms and landing on your hands/wrists, and tuck your chin towards your chest to prevent your head from snapping back. This is also why wearing a helmet is very important!

Do Beginners Need to Rent or Buy a Snowboard?

If you’re a beginner, it’s generally recommended to rent before you buy. Interest and age are both factors to consider:

• Interest: Before you pull the trigger and purchase a snowboard, you should see how much you actually like snowboarding. Give yourself at least a season of renting to know if it’s something you want to continue doing. In the meantime, Sun & Ski Sports has you covered on snowboard rentals.
  
• Age: If you, or a family member, are young and still growing, renting is the logical approach. There’s no point in buying a snowboard that’s going to be outgrown before the next season even begins. The Junior Seasonal Lease program is perfect for kids, because it allows you to swap out gear as they grow. 

Renting also lets you try different styles of boards and gives you time to figure out your riding style. If you end up loving snowboarding and know you’ll keep returning to the mountain, then buying makes sense. At that point, you can purchase gear that’s tailored to your size and style.

If you need help choosing a snowboard, we’ve got you covered with the ultimate buyers guide. Sun & Ski Sports has snowboards for men, women, and children.

What Snowboard Gear Do Beginners Actually Need?

In addition to a snowboard, beginners should also be equipped with:

• Snowboard boots: A proper fit that keeps heels secure and not lifting is essential. Also, make sure they’re actually comfortable, as painful feet will ruin your snowboarding experience.
  
• Bindings: Yes, these are separate.
  
• Helmet: A helmet is a must-wear for safety. Make sure it fits snug and doesn’t move around.
  
• Goggles: Prevent glare and protect your eyes from sun, wind, and snow.

What to Wear Snowboarding as a Beginner

Layering is the best approach. Wearing these items will ensure you stay warm and dry:

• Base layer: This is the foundation of warmth and comfort, from top to bottom.
  
• Mid layer: These deliver added warmth with fleece, wool, and insulated fabrics.
  
• Jacket: A good snowboard jacket is waterproof, windproof, insulated, and breathable.
  
• Snow pants/Bibs: Waterproof snow pants/bibs keep you dry, which is especially important for beginners who fall a lot.
  
• Accessories: gloves/mittens, neck gaiters, and socks are all additional must-wears.

Pro Tip: Avoid cotton. It isn’t moisture-wicking, so you could end up wet and cold.

How to Stop on a Snowboard for Beginners

There are two main ways to stop on a snowboard. For both, begin in an athletic stance with knees bent.

• Heelside stop: Use a slight swinging motion of your hips to turn yourself so your toes are facing down the hill. While doing so, lean back onto your heels to catch the heel edge of your board, dragging your heels as you slide. This will slow you to a stop.
  
• Toe-side stop: This method is a bit more difficult, but still important to know. It’s essentially the opposite of a heelside stop. For a toeside stop, swing your hips to face yourself upward toward the top of the hill, this time leaning into your toes to drag the toe side of the board.
  

Just as with riding, stopping on a snowboard requires trusting the process. It can feel a little scary at first, but the more you commit to leaning into your heels or toes (depending on what stop you’re doing), the more successful you’ll be.

How to Turn on a Snowboard for Beginners

Turning follows the same course of action as stopping, except without fully committing to digging into your heel edge or toe edge.

• Use a hip-swinging motion to shift pressure back and forth from heel to toe.
  
• Stay centered over your feet, letting the board do the work.
  
• Where your upper body and shoulders point is generally where your board will go. So, if you open your shoulders back, it’ll encourage you towards your heel side, and vice versa.

Though it can be tough getting started snowboarding as a beginner, hopefully this guide can help you feel more prepared. Don’t let falling get you down; it’s part of the process. The more you snowboard, the more you’ll learn to trust the board and yourself, as well as control your speed. Soon enough, your muscles will naturally know what to do, and it’s all smooth sailing from there. Remember, Sun & Ski Sports has your back with rentals, clothes and accessories, and even advice from our Outdoor Experts. With locations all across the country, stop by the one closest to you or your ski resort of choice, and get suited up for your next snowboarding adventure.

About the Author, Sydney Fogel

Hi, I’m Sydney! I’m a writer and editor living in San Francisco. After attending college and kicking off my career in Boston, I made my way back to the Bay Area, where I grew up. When I’m not working, you can find me enjoying everything my beautiful area has to offer, from spending time at the beach (I live just a few blocks away!) to climbing those San Francisco hills to check out the latest restaurant. I’m also super into working out and have been dancing my entire life. Feel free to reach out at sfogel11@gmail.com