Skills

Snowboarding skills guides

Step-by-step lessons from your first slide to linked turns and beyond. Practice with an instructor and progress at your own pace.

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

Skills guides

Skills guides

27 guides

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.

New to snowboarding?

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

Start with the basics