Have you only just discovered your love of snowboarding? Welcome to the club – you’re about to enter a world of unforgettable snow adventures! However, choosing your first snowboard can be an adventure of a different kind. Some might even say it’s a challenge. After all, as a beginner, you’re unfamiliar with many of the factors you need to consider when choosing a board.
To make things easier for you, INTERSPORT Rent and Salomon have teamed up to present you a buyer’s guide for beginner’s snowboards …
A quality snowboard isn’t exactly cheap. So before you go shelling out your hard-earned money, take the time to think about which snowboard will best suit your needs.
Here are some basic points to consider …
No matter your skill level, the type of snowboard should be one of your most important purchase criteria. After all, each type of snowboard is suited to a specific riding style:
All-mountain snowboards
Freeride snowboards
Freestyle snowboards
Our tip: For beginners, an all-mountain board is the most versatile choice. You can use it on- and off-piste as well as in the park.
The camber profile is one of the most important factors for beginners to consider. Basically, it refers to the shape of your snowboard between its “contact points” with the snow.
There are two main types of camber profiles:
A traditional camber (convex shape) offers …
A reverse camber or rocker (concave shape) is …
Did you know? There are also hybrid profiles that offer benefits of both profiles.
Our tip: The best camber profiles for stability and ease of turn initiation (two of the most important things for beginners) are flat, rocker and hybrid profiles.
When you go looking for a snowboard, you will come across a variety of shapes:
Directional
True twin
Directional twin
Our tip: True twins are a great shape for beginner snowboards. Their symmetrical shape makes them easier to keep your balance. What’s more, they are suitable for all types of riding.
Length is another important factor for choosing a beginner’s board. A correctly sized snowboard helps you to keep balanced without too much effort.
Both longer and shorter boards have their advantages:
Longer boards
Shorter boards
Keep in mind: A board that’s too long will be hard to control, while a board that’s too short will lose out on stability.
Our tip: As a beginner, go a little shorter than the standard all-mountain length, which should be somewhere between your Adam’s apple and your nose.
The flex pattern greatly affects the manoeuvrability of your snowboard. Many boards have a dynamic flex. This means that individual areas of your board have a different flex level.
In general, a softer flex is more forgiving, while a stiffer flex is more responsive. For beginners, we recommend a softer flex to help you progress quickly.
The waist width refers to the width of your snowboard at its narrowest point. Most boards have a standard width, but if you have larger feet, this may be too narrow.
Our tip: Ideally, your boots should hang over the edge of your snowboard by one to two centimetres.
Did you know? Some riders prefer a narrower width because it allows for quicker edge-to-edge control.
The effective edge is the portion of the snowboard that grips the snow when a turn is initiated. In general, you can say that …
In terms of sidecut radius, a larger radius is good for longer, sweeping turns, while a shorter sidecut allows for tighter, quicker turns.
You’re still a little overwhelmed by all the options? Don’t despair! Our RENTertainers at the ski resorts are true winter sports experts and highly motivated to kit you out for your first snowboard adventures. They know all about length, camber and flex patterns and will help you find the perfect board for your needs.
The advantage: Our top-notch rental gear gives you the chance to try out different boards before settling on your favourite one to buy!