What is the best snowboard for a beginner?
For skiers and snowboarders of all levels, Chill Factore has everything you need to get snow ready on the longest indoor real snow slope in the UK. Whether you’re looking to start snowboarding from scratch or you’d like to improve your skills in time for a winter holiday, Chill Factore can help. Our team of professional instructors can deliver snowboarding sessions to teach you how to board or develop your existing skills further with a full programme designed to suit your needs.
Our snowboarding lessons are fun, fast and an exciting way to build muscle and fitness. We can help you learn how to snowboard in a time that suits you, from one day, two day, three weeks, and many other options. With our range of snowboarding lessons, you won’t be a snowboarding beginner for long!
Three different types of board
Snowboards have come a long way since Jake Burton started designing them back in 1977, reflecting changing trends and approaches to riding. 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. All-mountain snowboards are designed for all-round use, with a more directional shape and narrower tail, whereas freestyle snowboards are generally light and flexible shortboards for riders who love to hang out in freestyle parks (places designed for freestylers). Finally, alpine snowboards are long, stiff boards designed to carve down the mountain, with a flat tail and a ‘shovel tip’ at the front.
Choosing the right snowboard means
- Understanding the right board for your style - If you plan on being in a freestyle park all day and rarely on the mountain, you don’t want to get a stiff flex, tapered directional board because this isn’t going to give you the flexibility you want. Generally speaking, you want to look for a freestyle board that works well in freestyle parks due to the softer flex and centred stance.
- Choosing the right style of snowboard for your ability - Some boards are designed to be easy to learn on, with plenty of flexibility in the board and edged to ensure safer and easier stopping.
- Find the right width of snowboard - Choosing the right width is so important! Why? Because, if your board is too narrow, you’re going to have a lot of boot overhang. This will mean your boots catch on the snow, causing you to fall. However, if your board is too wide for your feet it will be less responsive. This will make it difficult to initiate turns, making it harder to get the board to do what you want it to do. It is generally agreed that 1-2cm of boot overhang is ideal.
- Pick the right length of snowboard - The length of the board you use will depend on a few important things: 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 this board would be the right size for you. But, in reality, there are actually 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 ideally 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. We could recommend chopping a couple of centimetres off your snowboard length - anything between 2cm and 5cm depending on your requirements.
How to choose the right snowboard
Read on to learn more about the features you should prioritise when shopping for your first board. By understanding exactly what you need, and what your skill level is, you should be able to find a board 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.
Not quite figured out what style of beginner’s snowboard you may need? Speak to one of our expert snowboarding instructors, and sign up to 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!
