How to carry a snowboard

Whatever the distance, the main thing to get right is control. A board has metal edges, and bindings stick out from it. Swinging it round in a busy parking lot, bus line or base area can easily hit someone.

• Upright at your side. Hold the board vertically next to you, one hand on a binding or the edge, the base facing away from your leg. This keeps it narrow and close to your body.
• Under your arm. Tuck the board under one arm with the bindings toward your body and hold the edge. It is comfortable over short distances, but be aware of the nose and tail sticking out in front of and behind you.
• With two hands in crowds. In a lift line or a tight space, hold it upright in front of you with both hands so you know exactly where it is.

Avoid carrying the board flat across your shoulders in crowded areas. When you turn to talk to someone, the ends swing a long way. Wear your gloves while carrying, as edges can be sharp and the metal gets very cold.

Snowboard boots are built to flex forward on the board, not to walk far, so walking in them feels clumsy at first. Some tips we find help:

• Take short, flatter steps. Rolling from heel to toe is harder in a stiff boot, so shorten your stride.
• Go slowly on stairs and ice. Use handrails, step down one stair at a time and watch for packed snow near doors and lift entrances.
• Keep the fit secure. If you ease the top of the lacing for a long walk, re-tighten it before you strap in; our guide to lacing up snowboard boots shows how.

Many riders put their snowboard boots on at their accommodation or car and walk in them. If you prefer to change at the resort, carry your boots in a boot bag or a backpack, or tie the laces together so they hang together rather than dangling loosely. Keep wet boots away from clean kit and dry them properly afterwards; see how to clean and dry snowboard boots.

If your bindings have highbacks that fold, check the binding manual for how the manufacturer recommends storing them for transport.

If you are carrying a board through an airport or loading it into a car, those are different jobs. See our guides to flying with board bags and roof racks and car transport.

If you want to know how to carry a snowboard on a backpack, start with the pack itself. Some snowsports backpacks have dedicated straps or panels for carrying a board, often vertically against the back or diagonally across it. Everyday backpacks usually do not, and improvised straps can slip.

1. Read the backpack manual. The manufacturer explains which carry positions the pack supports and how to route the straps.
2. Protect the pack. Board edges can wear through fabric and straps. Check where the edges sit and look for signs of damage over time.
3. Secure the board firmly. It should not shift when you lean forward or turn. Test it before you set off.
4. Mind your width and height. A board on your back sticks out above your head and to the sides. Take extra care on lifts, in gondolas and in doorways, and follow any lift staff instructions about carrying packs.

Hiking with a snowboard on your back is common in terrain parks and in the backcountry. Hiking a park feature is a separate skill with its own etiquette, and backcountry travel requires avalanche training, the right safety equipment and qualified partners or guides. Read our introduction to riding beyond the resort before you head outside the boundary.

• Use racks where provided. Many resorts have board racks outside lodges and restaurants. Rack your board rather than leaving it on a path. If you are worried about theft, see securing a board against theft.
• Never leave a board in doorways, on stairs or at lift entrances and exits. These are the places people move fastest and look down least.
• Move away from the lift unloading area before you stop to strap in your back foot, and pick a spot where people above can see you.
• Do not lean a board upright against a wall in the snow unless it is secure; it can fall or slide away.

These habits are small, but they are part of being a considerate rider. Combined with good stopping control, they help keep everyone on the mountain safe. They also fit into our first-day learning path alongside strapping in and riding lifts.