Best Beginner to Intermediate Snowboard
Are you looking for the best beginner to intermediate snowboard? There are many types of snowboards available for riders of different skills and in this guide, our focus is on the very best models for beginners and intermediates.
As a beginner, learning how to snowboard starts with getting the right snowboard. It will impact your speed of progression as you start to build your skills. The ideal board for riders like you also offers forgiveness while providing ample room for growth.
From kids to teens to adults, there are a myriad of snowboards specifically engineered for those looking to venture into the world of snowboarding. This makes the selection process a taxing task as you have to go through so many snowboards to find the right one for your needs. But we are here to help.
We have gone through the market to bring you the best beginner to intermediate snowboards. These snowboards strike the ultimate balance between stability and responsiveness to accommodate users of any skill. We have also attached a buyer’s guide that provides insights on the important things you should take into consideration when making your selection.
So, without any further delay, let’s jump right in.
Best Beginner to Intermediate Snowboard
-
Burton Men’s Instigator Flat Top Snowboard
First up, we have the Burton Men’s Instigator Flat Top Snowboard. It is designed and built with a myriad of cutting-edge features that make it the best beginner to intermediate snowboard.
The board has a flat top bend which provides unmatched stability, balance, and continuous edge control. This helps the tip and tail kick up for a balanced riding experience even for those learning to snowboard.
Furthermore, this snowboard has a classic snowboard direction shape designed to be ridden with a slightly longer nose than tail. With this unique design, the board provides plenty of float, flow, and control on any terrain. The Twin Flex is also symmetrical from the tip to the tail for more balanced riding.
In addition to everything else, the Burton Men’s Instigator Flat Top Snowboard is made with a super fly 800G wood core which reduces overall weight without limiting durability or performance.
Features
- Convex base
- All mountain directional
- Flat top bend
- Twin flex
- Super Fly 800G core
Pros
- All-mountain versatility
- Outstanding compatibility
- Durable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Big budget
-
Snowboards Women’s Basic, True Twin
This snowboard offers the best balance between performance and value. It is built with stability and ease of use in mind to accommodate all users from beginners to intermediates to professionals.
Construction-wise, the snowboard is made with durability in mind. The extruded material used is softer than snowboard made with sintered bases. Besides, this material is more porous and easier to fix with a P-Tex stick when it gets scratched.
This snowboard has a tip-to-tail wood core snowboard construction to add durability. It strikes the perfect balance between rigidness and consistent flex while making the snowboard lightweight.
Moreover, the CamRock rocker type provides the ideal response of the camber with the float ability of the rocker. This keeps your contact points on the ground and keeps the edge hold longer as you go in and out of the turns.
Features
- UnderBite edges
- Full popular core
- CamRock type of rocker
- Extruded base
- Wood laminate
Pros
- Supreme flexibility
- Good edge hold
- Lightweight
Cons
- The top sheet chips easily around the edges
-
Never Summer Men’s 2023 Snowtrooper Snowboard
Sitting comfortably in third is the Never Summer Men’s 2023 Snowtrooper Snowboard. This is an all-mountain equalizer snowboard ideal for any riding style.
It is built light to accommodate all users irrespective of their snowboarding experience. The original rocker camber profile is shaped for a surfy and playful feel that beginners like. Besides, it maintains superior performance and versatility to ensure that you get the most out of your outing.
This snowboard provides supreme edge hold in all terrains. This is made possible by the Vario Power Grip Sidecut that utilizes multiple radii. Furthermore, there is a flat section in the rocker area which provides a broad contact point when flexed.
Well, that’s not all. The snowboard has an NS superlight wood core that is sanded and perfected to provide unequaled performance. It is also built with a carbon VXR laminate that stiffens the board and makes it less prone to scratches.
Features
- STS pre-tensioned fiberglass
- RDS 2 damping system
- Bi-Lite fiberglass
- High-density base
- Carbon VXR laminate technology
- All mountain
- Directional
- Original rocker camber
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy access top
- High-quality construction
- Good for learning jumps
- Easy to ride
Cons
- Cost
-
Salomon Lotus Snowboard
Salomon Lotus Snowboard is the best beginner to intermediate snowboard for women. It offers the stability and versatility that you need to develop your snowboarding skills in freestyle or freeride.
These snowboards are made with user comfort in mind. They have an Aspen nucleus and direction twin shape for snug transitions on any surface. This boosts your confidence to create new styles without risking your physical integrity.
Furthermore, the board enables low consequence-creating riding with forgiving flat-out camber and bite-free edges. The camber coupled with the flat profile maximizes stability and response when you need it the most.
Another impressive thing about this snowboard is its low maintenance. It is made with long-lasting materials with low maintenance characteristics. Over and above that, the low-density fibers it employs make it a light board with forgiving flexibility.
Features
- Full-length Aspen wood
- High-end stone finish
- Low-density fibers
- Flat-out camber profile
- Factory fully detuned tip and tail
- Directional twin-shape
Pros
- Low maintenance
- Lightweight
- Stable and versatile
- Sturdy and well-built
Cons
- Not for heavyweight users
-
Bataleon The Jam 162 Snowboard
Next up, we have Bataleon The Jam 162 Snowboard. This all-mountain snowboard is optimized for a more directional ride but with a slightly more narrow center base for high-speed stability.
It is flat between the bindings with angled side bases that are lifted with gradually increasing angles. The uplift begins from flat in the binding area to a maximum increase at the widest point of the snowboard.
This snowboard has a poplar core with hardwood enforcements along the insert rows. The enforcements increase the core strength of the board to enhance durability. It also channels all the energy into more pop.
To top off everything else, the Jam 162 Snowboard is built with thinner lighting edges that enable you to carve with more confidence and precision no matter the terrain.
Features
- Extended center flat
- 4×2/24 insert pack
- Thinner lightning edges
- Poplar core with hardwood enforcement
- Bamboo laminate
- Ultra Glide sintered base
- Regular camber
Pros
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Stable and versatile
- Great maneuverability
- Easy to learn to ride and curve with
Cons
- Performance in icy conditions could be better
-
Salomon Sleepwalker Snowboard 2020
Lastly in our list of the best beginner to intermediate snowboard, we have the Salomon Sleepwalker Snowboard 2020. It is a silky-smooth board that is easy to learn to ride and throw down some outstanding curve maneuvers.
The board is built with a rock out camber that is flat between bindings for stability. The soft flex makes the board easy to maneuver at slow speed and more forgiving as well. This makes the board a great option for beginners and intermediate riders.
Moreover, the board’s equalizer and radial lines are blended to provide the perfect balance of agility and fun. It is also built with CNC-selected high-density FSC-certified wood strips for both the inserts and the rail zone.
When it comes to the sidewall design, the Salomon Sleepwalker Snowboard has ABS sidewalls to dampen vibrations and minimize fatigue in all snow conditions. Besides that, it is crafted with a medium structure finish that improves a fast sintered base glide.
Features
- Medium-density European-made fiberglass
- 2mm rubber pads
- Freesttle edge bevel
- Medium stone finish
- Low-maintenance extruded EG
- True twin shape
- Rock out camber
Pros
- Stable even at high or moderate speeds
- Durable
- Low maintenance
- Great fit
- Good camber profile
You may also like:
What Length of Snowboard Do I Need?
When looking to buy a snowboard for beginner to intermediate users, it is important to pick the correct snowboard length. This way, the board will be easy to learn how to ride and take turns.
Generally, short snowboards are the best for beginners and intermediates. They are easy to turn, control, and maneuver in different spaces. But to be sure, check the size and weight chart on the snowboard. The information provided in these charts will guide you in your selection process and help you find the right snowboard length.
It is also important to check the width of the snowboard. The general rule is that your toes should hang over the edge of the board slightly. This helps the feet from dragging too much as you lean to turn. Avoid the super wide boards as they are harder to initiate turns.
Best Beginner to Intermediate Snowboard Buying Guide
Let’s now look at the key things one should consider when buying a beginner to intermediate snowboard.
Shape
Snowboards come in different shapes. For beginners and intermediate users, we recommend symmetrical (true twin) or directional twin snowboards.
Choosing between the two shapes is largely a matter of individual preference. With the True twin snowboards, there is no difference in performance whether you are riding them in a forward or backward direction.
On the other hand, the directional twin snowboards have a longer nose and back stance that is slightly set. This makes them ideal for all-mountain riding where they provide stability and control.
Flex
Flex is an important part of every snowboard. It is rated from 1 to 10 with 1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest. For a beginner, you need a board with a soft flex with not more than a 4 rating.
The softer the snowboard is, the more give it has as you ride. Softer flex snowboards also tend to help with ground tricks more than their stiffer counterparts.
Profile
Profile/camber in snowboards varies from one product to the other. The difference comes with how the board looks when it touches the ground.
With a classic camber profile snowboard, the middle rises off the ground. For the other snowboards, the middle might be flat or even have a concave banana shape when put on the floor.
For beginner and intermediate users, a snowboard with a relaxed profile is the best. Flat and rocker cambers are deliberately forgiving and therefore ideal for such users.
Edges
The best beginner to intermediate snowboard has metal edges that bite into the snow to provide the needed control and steering. The shorter the effective edge a snowboard has, the better it becomes for beginners. It makes the board easy to ride, turn, and spin. However, such edges give you less control in icy conditions.
Bindings
Another thing to consider is bindings. The bindings of the snowboard that you choose to buy should be compatible with your boots. It is also wise to get bindings with adjustable straps and high backs for ease of customization.
Best Beginner to Intermediate Snowboard FAQs
- What type of snowboard is best for beginners?
Symmetrical (true twin) or directional twin snowboards are the best types of snowboards for beginners. They are easy to learn how to ride and take turns. Snowboards with these shapes also tend to be easier to maneuver in different spaces.
- How often should I wax and tune my snowboard?
As often as possible. Waxing and tuning a snowboard is part of the regular care and maintenance of these tools. Tuning is done at the beginning of the snow season while waxing should be done after every few outings
- Should I choose a camber or rocker profile for my snowboard?
For beginners and intermediate users, a combination of both is recommended. It provides much-needed stability while learning how to ride. On top of that, it makes the snowboard easier to turn and maneuver in different spaces.
Conclusion
The journey to building and perfecting your snowboarding skills starts with having the right snowboard. All the snowboards we have listed above are built with ease of use in mind to accommodate beginners and intermediate users. Hopefully, you are now able to find the right snowboard for your needs.