Guides

Snowboarding guides

Find your next step. Practical guides for your first day, your first turns and the equipment that gets you there.

Snowboarder standing on a groomed run above a valley of snowy mountains

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72 guides

Plan your first day

Get organized before you reach the mountain.

Backpack, helmet, goggles and gloves laid out on snow before a first snowboard day

Planning

Your first-day checklist

Everything you need to feel prepared for a great first day on snow.

Beginner skills and technique

Lessons in learning order, from your first day to next-level riding.

Snowboarder fastening binding straps to strap into a snowboard on the snow

Skills

How to strap into a snowboard

Fasten and release your bindings safely and get a snug, secure fit.

Beginner snowboarder with one foot strapped in, learning to skate and glide on a snowboard

Skills

How to skate and glide on a snowboard

Push, skate and glide with one foot strapped in on flat ground.

Beginner snowboarder sitting on the snow, learning how to fall and get up on a snowboard

Skills

Falling and getting up

Fall more safely, learn your two edges and get up on either one.

Snowboarder turning across a groomed slope and spraying snow

Skills

How to stop on a snowboard

Learn simple, reliable ways to slow down and stop with control.

Snowboarder in a blue jacket turning on a groomed run, showing how to turn on a snowboard

Skills

How to turn on a snowboard

Turn on each edge, change edges and link your first S-turns.

Snowboarders at a lift, illustrating how to use a ski lift on a snowboard

Skills

How to use a ski lift on a snowboard

Load, ride and unload chairlifts and surface lifts on a snowboard.

Beginner snowboarder on a gentle slope, learning to snowboard

Skills

How long does it take to learn?

What one day covers, what speeds progress and the milestones to aim for.

Snowboarder turning hard on a groomed run and spraying snow, learning how to carve on a snowboard

Skills

How to carve on a snowboard

Move from skidded turns to clean, carved turns on the edge.

Snowboarder in a pale jacket and white helmet standing on a groomed slope before practicing how to ride switch on a snowboard

Skills

How to ride switch on a snowboard

Learn to ride and turn with your opposite foot forward.

Snowboarder in a gray jacket and blue-lens goggles riding a groomed slope, the kind of gentle terrain used to learn how to ollie on a snowboard

Skills

How to ollie on a snowboard

Use the tail of your board to pop off the snow in control.

Close-up of snowboard boots in black bindings on a groomed slope, showing the board surface used to butter on a snowboard

Skills

How to butter on a snowboard

Press, flex and pivot your board for balance and style.

Snowboarder in a blue jacket and black helmet riding low over a groomed slope with mountains behind, illustrating a guide to snowboard jumps

Skills

Learning to jump on a snowboard

How park jumps work and how to start small with coaching.

Snowboarder in a gray jacket and blue goggles riding across a groomed slope, illustrating a guide to snowboard boxes and rails

Skills

Learning snowboard boxes and rails

Start with 50-50s on low, wide boxes before any boardslides.

Snowboarder in a blue jacket and helmet on a groomed run with mountains behind, illustrating a guide to the snowboard 180

Skills

Learning a snowboard 180

Rotate half a turn and land riding switch, starting on the snow.

Snowboarder in a blue jacket and black helmet riding a groomed run in front of snowy peaks, illustrating a guide to the snowboard 360

Skills

Learning a snowboard 360

A full rotation built on solid 180s, jumps and coaching.

Snowboarder in a blue jacket and helmet riding a groomed run between pine trees, illustrating a guide to snowboard tricks

Skills

Snowboard trick progression

The safe order for learning freestyle tricks, with coaching.

Snowboarder riding through fresh powder snow on an open mountain slope

Skills

How to snowboard in powder

Ride soft, deep snow with balance, flow and a partner nearby.

Snowboarder riding a firm, icy groomed slope on a snowboard

Skills

How to snowboard on icy slopes

Stay in control on hard-packed and icy snow with better edge use.

Snowboarder riding a slope covered in snow moguls and bumps

Skills

How to snowboard moguls

Ride bumps with control by picking a line and absorbing terrain.

Snowboarder on a steep mountain slope looking down the run

Skills

Progressing to steeper terrain

Step up to steeper runs gradually, with speed control on every turn.

Snowboarder in untracked backcountry mountain terrain away from a resort

Skills

Getting started with backcountry

Understand the training, partners and planning backcountry requires.

Snowy mountain slope under changing weather showing snowboarding conditions

Skills

Choosing suitable conditions

Read snow reports, cover, cold and visibility before you ride.

Experienced snowboarder helping a beginner on a gentle snowy slope

Skills

Helping someone learn

Support a friend’s first days while an instructor does the teaching.

Child learning to snowboard on a gentle snowy slope with an adult nearby

Skills

Helping kids learn to snowboard

Help children learn with gear that fits, short sessions and lessons.

Snowboarder in an orange jacket standing on a board with an alpine view, weighing up skiing vs snowboarding

Skills

How hard is it to snowboard?

An honest look at snowboarding’s learning curve compared with skiing.

Beginner in a sage jacket sitting in the snow strapped into a snowboard, preparing to practice snowboarding

Skills

Preparing for snowboarding at home

Build balance, strength and gear skills at home before your first lesson.

Snowboarder in a blue jacket and black backpack looking at the mountains, ready to carry a snowboard to the lift

Skills

How to carry a snowboard

Hold, carry and put down your board safely around other people.

Gear and setup

Choose, fit and set up your equipment, and plan costs and travel.

Snowboarder standing sideways on a board on snow, illustrating snowboard stance

Gear

Find your snowboard stance

Find out if you ride regular or goofy and how to stand on a board.

Two snowboarders in helmets sitting in the snow on a sunny slope while looking for snowboard lessons

Gear

How to find snowboard lessons

Find a good place to learn nearby and compare lessons before booking.

Snowboarder in a navy jacket and helmet on a groomed slope gesturing with both hands, as a snowboard instructor might while teaching

Gear

How to become a snowboard instructor

Compare certification pathways and plan your route to teaching.

Row of snowboards with bindings on a shop rack in front of boot shelves, showing gear that adds to snowboarding costs

Gear

How much does snowboarding cost?

Real resort prices for tickets, lessons and rentals, plus a budget plan.

Snowboards and pairs of snowboard boots on a rental shop bench, the gear that makes up snowboard rental costs

Gear

Snowboard rental costs

Real snowboard rental prices, what’s included and rental age rules.

Row of snowboards standing upright in the snow with mountains behind, for riders planning to snowboard on a budget

Gear

How to snowboard on a budget

Practical ways to cut snowboarding costs, with real resort deals.

Snowboard clamped in blue vises above a workbench with a blue wax block, plastic scraper, brush and waxing iron

Gear

Snowboard waxing and tuning costs

Real shop prices for waxing, sharpening, tuning and base repair.

Row of different snowboards standing upright in the snow, a choice to make when learning how to choose a snowboard

Gear

How to choose a snowboard

Match board type, profile and flex to your ability and terrain.

Row of snowboards of different lengths standing upright in the snow

Gear

Find your snowboard size

Choose the right board length and width for your weight, boots and riding style.

Gloved hands fastening a strap on a snowboard binding while setting up snowboard bindings

Gear

How to set up snowboard bindings

Mount, install and remove bindings with the right hardware.

Gloved hands working the ratchet and strap of a black snowboard binding on a board resting in the snow

Gear

How to adjust snowboard bindings

Fine-tune angles, stance width, straps and forward lean.

Gloved hands tightening a strap on a snowboard binding while checking how the binding fits the boot

Gear

How to choose and size snowboard bindings

Match binding size to your boots, then check board fit and flex.

Several different snowboards standing side by side in the snow, like a snowboard quiver

Gear

How to build a snowboard quiver

Plan a set of boards that covers your riding without overlap.

Row of snowboards of different sizes standing in the snow, for comparing kids’ snowboard sizing

Gear

How to size a snowboard for kids

Size a child’s board from the model chart, weight and boots.

Snowboards with bindings lined up on a shop rack, the kind of selection you might check when you buy a used snowboard

Gear

How to buy a used snowboard

Check a second-hand board’s model, condition and fit before buying.

Snowboard with bindings resting on groomed snow, the area where a snowboard stomp pad and leash are fitted

Gear

Using a snowboard stomp pad and leash

Fit a stomp pad and use a leash to keep your board under control.

Several used snowboards standing upright in the snow, gear that could be reused or recycled

Gear

Reusing and recycling snowboard equipment

Repair, pass on, sell or recycle old snowboard gear responsibly.

Snowboarder in a helmet and mirrored goggles dressed for a day on the mountain

Gear

What to wear snowboarding

Layer up to stay warm, dry and comfortable all day.

Pair of snowboard boots on a workshop shelf, ready for a snowboard boot fit check

Gear

How snowboard boots should fit

Measure, size and fit-check snowboard boots before you buy.

Snowboard boots and liners laid out for heat molding in a boot-fitting workshop

Gear

Breaking in and heat molding boots

Heat mold, break in and stop heel lift in snowboard boots.

Rider sitting down to put on snowboard boots and fasten the laces

Gear

Put on, tighten and loosen snowboard boots

Put on, tighten, loosen and take off laced, speed-lace and BOA boots.

Snowboard helmet being checked for fit before a day on the slopes

Gear

How to choose and fit a snowboard helmet

Measure, fit, adjust and replace a snowboard helmet.

Snowboarder wearing a helmet and mirrored snowboard goggles on the mountain

Gear

How to choose snowboard goggles

Fit goggles with your helmet, choose lenses and ride with glasses.

Snowboard mounted on an indoor wall, showing how to hang a snowboard on a wall

Gear

How to hang a snowboard on a wall

Display or store your board on a wall, safely and securely.

Snowboard secured with a cable lock, showing how to lock a snowboard at the resort

Gear

How to lock and secure your snowboard

Lock your board properly and cut the risk of theft.

Snowboards loaded for a road trip, showing how to transport a snowboard by car

Gear

How to transport a snowboard by car

Roof racks, in-car loading and truck beds, done safely.

Snowboard packed in a travel bag, illustrating how to fly and travel with a snowboard

Gear

How to fly and travel with a snowboard

Airline rules, fees and packing for flying with your board.

Backpack, helmet, goggles and gloves on the snow, ready to ship a snowboard and gear ahead of a trip

Gear

How to ship a snowboard

Package, measure and send your board by carrier.

Snowboarder on a snowy slope being filmed, illustrating how to film snowboarding

Gear

How to film snowboarding

Plan shots, mount cameras safely and edit better videos.

Board care

Keep your board, boots and clothing in good condition.

Snowboard boots with the liners pulled out to clean and dry them after riding

Board care

How to clean and dry snowboard boots

Clean, dry, deodorize and store snowboard boots and liners.

Snowboard boot on a workbench ready for repairs to its laces and dial

Board care

Snowboard boot repairs

Fix BOA dials, laces, liners and soles, or know when to get help.

Helmet and snowboard goggles resting on a workshop shelf after cleaning

Board care

How to clean snowboard goggles

Clean goggles safely, prevent fogging and store them properly.

Hand rubbing a blue wax block on a snowboard base on a workbench

Board care

How to wax a snowboard

Hot wax your board at home: prep, iron, cool, scrape and brush.

Snowboard base on a workbench being checked to decide when to wax a snowboard

Board care

How often to wax your snowboard

Spot the signs your base needs wax and plan waxing around how you ride.

Rub-on snowboard wax block with a scraper and brush on a workbench, ready to wax a snowboard without an iron

Board care

How to wax a snowboard without an iron

Use rub-on or liquid wax for a quick, heat-free top-up.

Snowboard base-up in blue vises on a wooden workbench with a towel, wax block, scraper, brush and iron, set up to clean a snowboard

Board care

How to clean a snowboard

Wash the base, topsheet and edges and lift out old wax.

Close-up of a waxed snowboard base and the steel edge along its side, the part you file when you sharpen snowboard edges

Board care

How to sharpen and care for snowboard edges

Deburr, sharpen and detune your edges at home, or know when to use a shop.

Snowboard clamped base-up in a blue vise on a workbench, with the steel edge visible along the base, ready for rust removal

Board care

How to remove rust from snowboard edges

Rub off surface rust, spot pitted steel and stop edges rusting again.

Snowboard clamped in vises on a workbench for snowboard maintenance and tuning

Board care

Snowboard maintenance and tuning

A simple routine to clean, check, wax and tune your snowboard.

Close-up of a waxed snowboard base, the surface you inspect for scratches and gouges before a base repair

Board care

How to repair snowboard base damage

Judge base damage, fill small gouges with P-Tex and know when to use a shop.

Snowboard on a workbench, ready to be checked for topsheet chips and edge damage

Board care

Snowboard topsheet and edge repairs

Sort cosmetic chips from structural damage and know what to repair where.

Snowboard resting on a wooden wall shelf, showing one way to store a snowboard at home

Board care

How to store a snowboard

Clean, dry, wax and store your board so it is ready next season.

Snowboard topsheet ready for stickers or paint, the surface you work on when you customize a snowboard

Board care

Customizing a snowboard

Paint, sticker or wrap the topsheet without harming the board.

Snowboard jacket and pants laid out before washing

Board care

How to wash snowboard jackets and pants

Clean and reproof outerwear without ruining its waterproofing.

New to snowboarding?

Build your confidence with our step-by-step beginner guides.

Start with the basics