So, you just discovered snowboarding? Congratulations then. You’ve become acquainted with one of the most awesome extreme sports in the whole world! However, choosing the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate can be quite difficult. Since you are unfamiliar with things like snow, terrain, and mountains, there are many factors to consider. So, in this article, we’ve curated some of the most recommended best snowboards for beginners to intermediate, as well as how to go about choosing them. Without much further ado, let’s get started!
How to Choose The Best Snowboard for Beginners to Intermediate
As we mentioned earlier, choosing the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate can be a pretty overwhelming task. That’s because there are plenty of options available out there. Most claim to be the best and are offered at competitive prices. However, there are at least three main things that you should consider before buying a snowboard for beginners to intermediate. Let’s dive straight into them.
Camber Profile
Beginner riders will want a snowboard with a high raised camber. That’s because it provides better underfoot stability and easier turns. This is why we highly recommend choosing the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate with Flat, Rocker, or Hybrid profiles. This camber will help you gain stability easily, which in turn will give you more confidence while out in the snow.
Flex
When you’re looking for the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate, make sure it has medium to soft flex. This will give you a plank that is easier to maneuver and manipulate. Avoid the stiffer board, as it’ll feel very unagile, especially for novice snowboarders. This kind of flex is able to provide more speed, but as a trade, you’ll have less control. So whenever you have the chance, always get a board with a flex rating of 3/4 out of 10.
Stance and Shape
It’s also highly recommended that starter snowboarders get a board with a centered stance. This kind of gear will be ideal for getting a great balance. That’s because all of your body weight will be concentrated at the epicenter of the board. As for shapes, pick a snowboard for beginners to intermediate that has a true twin design. It’s perfectly symmetrical and will give you the extra advantage of finding your balance quickly.
Salomon Pulse (CU)
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If you plan on spending part of your snowboard session on the tracks, Salomon Pulse will be a remarkable choice. It’s a product for beginners that has been continuously improving in recent years. The latest model comes with a much better design, which is said to provide excellent grip.
Apart from that, we also love the Bite Free Edges technology that comes with Salomon. It’s designed to provide a snug fit, so you won’t fall down easily over a minor mistake. Overall, the Salomon Pulse is a nice board. It has great controls and is quite forgiving, two things any novice rider will appreciate. If you’re planning to buy the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate, this is it.
What We Love
Bite Free Edges that will prevent snowboarders from falling easily
Pros:
- Directional twin shape
- Camber rocker
- Soft flex
- Suitable for all styles
Cons:
- Some say it isn’t very versatile
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Burton Ripcord (404)
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Burton Ripcord is one of the most famous names among novice snowboarders. That’s mostly due to its versatility. With a flat-top rocker and level two flex, this board is perfect for use on or off the piste. Apart from that, this plank also features a classic directional shape. This means you can use this product on nearly any mountain.
From what we’ve heard, the Burton Ripcord is a really fun gear too. It feels smooth when used, as well as playful. So if you want to look forward to some fun times on the ocean of white and don’t mind a shell out of around 300 bucks, this is the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate you’ve been looking for.
What We Love
Suitable for all mountains
Pros:
- High versatility
- Classic directional shape
- Great for starters
- Soft flex
Cons:
- Not recommended if you plan on doing some freestyle
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K2 Raygun (CU)
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For nearly a decade, the K2 Raygun has been one of the most trustworthy names in the snowboarding world. With continuous development, this plank is getting more and more perfect, especially for those who’ve just discovered snowboarding recently. It has a great combination of materials and design, making it perfect for both learning and honing skills over the years.
As for the camber profile, the K2 Raygun uses the incredible Directional Camber Baseline. It was specifically designed to give snowboarders better control and a significant increase in confidence. Apart from that, the tip and tail carbon stringer provide additional assistance for pop and stability. Overall, this is the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate pleasing. If you’re looking for something that’s ready to rip out of the box, you can’t go wrong with this one.
What We Love
Great combination of design and materials
Pros:
- All-mountain type
- Rocker camber profile
- Soft flex
- Great for beginners
Cons:
- Some said they weren’t satisfied with the carving
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Capita Ultrafear (404)
10
If you’re someone who doesn’t easily fall for great reviews, the award-winning Capita Ultrafear snowboard is for you. This product has received a lot of recognition and praise for its innovative design. Whether you use it in urban areas, public parks, freestyle, or whatever, it’ll still give the excellent performance it should. The best part is, it’s also suitable for tracks. So if versatility is something you really value, you’ll immediately fall in love with this best snowboard for beginners to intermediate.
With true twin shape, Capita Ultrafear snowboard will be a remarkable choice for mountain and snowpark. It has a dual ashpop core blaster, which is designed to take a lot of beating and provide more defined control. As for the body, Capita uses a combination of kevlar and titanate materials. Overall, this is a well-designed product and built to last. Trust us, the 500 bucks you invested in this incredible gear won’t go to waste.
What We Love
Excellent gear with high versatility
Pros:
- Versatile design
- Dual blaster ashpop core
- Kevlar / titanal body
- Cork edge dampening system
Cons:
- The design might not be very appealing to some people
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Rossignol Templar (CU)
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One size fits all solution is perhaps the most appropriate term to describe Rossignol Templar. It has an all-around design; it’s great for ski slopes, works like a charm on powder snow, and doesn’t disappoint on icy snow. Furthermore, this board is also equipped with a Balanced Edge Grip and Float AmpTek All-Mountain Rocker, which will guarantee you won’t fall easily.
Apart from that, the Rossignol Templar features the incredible 5S Serrated Edges. It’ll allow you to do carving with high confidence and a smooth feeling. If that’s not enough, Rossignol also includes an all-mountain flex to offer significant improvements in control and stability. If you haven’t picked the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate, we highly recommend you check this one out.
What We Love
An affordable board suitable for all mountains
Pros:
- All-mountain flex
- Balanced Edge Grip
- Float AmpTek All-Mountain Rocker
- Directional shape
Cons:
- Tends to sell out quickly
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Arbor Bryan Iguchi (404)
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The Arbor Bryan Iguchi is a great snowboard for intermediate riders. It’s made of reliable and high-quality materials. Apart from that, this board also has playful and fun characteristics. If you happen to be in an area with deep snow, you’ll feel a significant difference in performance when using the Arbor Bryan Iguchi board. It has a medium flex for a healthy boost of speed, while the shape uses a directional design for proper balance.
Apart from that, the Arbor Bryan Iguchi is a quite versatile and fast plank. You can use it for both freeride and mountain range. If there’s one thing that has disappointed us a little, it’s the price tag. For around 500 bucks, this plank isn’t for everyone, especially beginners. But if budget isn’t an issue and quality is your thing, don’t hesitate to pick this best snowboard for beginners to intermediate.
What We Love
Playful board with high quality material
Pros:
- Camber rocker
- Medium flex
- Directional shape
- High versatility
Cons:
- It’s quite pricey
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Jones Explorer (CU)
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For those who crave something a little more aggressive, the Jones Explorer will be a remarkable option. It’s designed for a smooth ride at full speed. But at the same time, you’ll get a much more forgiving margin of error. Especially when compared to boards that are more advanced or geared toward professionals. When it comes to design, this plank is best used in mountains or freerides. However, some reviews say it also works great in a snowboard park.
Being the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate, the Jones Explorer has medium flex (rated 6.5/10). It’s easier to control and provides just the right amount of speed. Apart from that, the board also features a directional shape for extra stability and drive. So, if you have advanced skills and need something more challenging, this gear will be a great upgrade for your regular beginner board.
What We Love
Advanced board with the right amount of speed
Pros:
- Hybrid camber
- Directional shape
- Medium flex
- Wide range of error
Cons:
- Unsuitable for first-time snowboarders
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YES Basic (CU)
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Here’s another board that’s quite popular among beginner snowboarders. Yes Basic is a speed plank that features medium-soft flex, which means you’ll get a nice balance between control and speed. Furthermore, making sharp and quick turns won’t be a problem since this product is equipped with a 2-4-3 rocker camber. It will be great for both mountains and freestyle.
Apart from that, YES Basic Snowboard also has a nice price tag. You can get the cheapest model starting from just 400 bucks. For that amount of money, you’ll get incredible gear with a true twin shape, UnderBite technology, CamRock profile, and Poplar core. If you ask us, it’s a pretty good deal. So if you’re planning on getting the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate that won’t hurt your wallet, this one would make a great investment.
What We Love
Fairly affordable and suitable for most terrain
Pros:
- Poplar core
- CamRock profile
- UnderBite technology
- Medium-soft flex
Cons:
- The design is quite boring
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Burton Instigator (CU)
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Stability and ease of control are the two main appeals of the Burton Instigator. Both make this speed board absolutely ideal for beginners and those who have just encountered the incredible world of snowboarding. The Instigator has a flat-rocker camber that’ll allow you to make quick and sharp turns. Apart from that, there’s a fairly large flat area in the middle of the board. This should help you get great balance and better edge control.
Compared to other models from Burton, the Instigator comes with roughly the same features. But when it comes to performance, this one is slightly better. So if you’re planning on looking for the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate with a finer drive and more defined balance, you won’t go wrong with Instigator.
What We Love
Stable and easy to control
Pros:
- Soft twin flex
- Directional shape
- Easy turning
- Flat rockers
Cons:
- Tends to run out of stock quickly
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Capita Horrorscope (404)
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Capita Horrorscope is a gear that promises you supreme performance on the slope. It has two identical tips designed to provide a more pronounced footing. Apart from that, this speed plank also features a hybrid camber, making it perfect for beginner to intermediate snowboarders. As for cores, Capita uses FSC certified dual cores for uniform flex and consistency.
In terms of materials, Capita Horrorscope is a fairly durable product. It’s made using a special blend of fiberglass magic bean resin. In other words, you get remarkable gear with extra strength and durability. Apart from that, Capita also uses a SuperDrive ex base for great resistance to abrasion and super smooth glide. If you don’t mind shelling out 400 bucks for the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate, this would be an exemplary choice.
What We Love
Durable construction, can take a lot of beating
Pros:
- Hybrid camber
- Twin tip
- FSC certified dual-core
- Fiberglass magic bean resin
Cons:
- Less versatile
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GNU Asym Carbon Credit (CU)
3
Learning to make consecutive turns can be quite difficult for beginner riders. If the same thing happens to you, then you might need a board with a fairly low flex – just like the GNU Carbon Credit Asym. With a 3/10 flex, this speed plank will give you buttery turns for almost any type of snow. It’s indeed quite loose, making it a little awkward to get off the lifts. But other than that, this is the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate.
In addition, the GNU Carbon Credit Asym is designed for both freestyle and park. Those who expect a high versatility will be guaranteed to fall in love with this product instantly. Furthermore, the board is also able to face hard and icy conditions. At around 410 bucks this would be a great deal. Be sure to check it out while you can.
What We Love
Designed for easy turns
Pros:
- All-mountain freestyle
- Asymmetrical twin
- Asym BTW rocker
- 3/10 flex
Cons:
- Not as stable as other beginner boards
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Salomon Sight (CU)
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Salomon Sight is an all-rounder gear. It’s great for all skill levels, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or professional snowboarder. Furthermore, this product is designed for all mountains, with directional twin shaped and soft flex. All of this makes it the perfect match for all-terrain and styles.
Apart from that, we also love the fact that the Salomon Sight has a cross profile shape. This means you’ll get more forgiving flex, which is great for novice riders. In addition, the board also features effective curves and perfect side cuts. As a result, you’re gonna have an easy directional change during a high-speed ride. Overall, this is the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate that you don’t want to miss. With prices starting at 400 bucks, this is a great place to start before you move to the more advanced boards.
What We Love
Suitable for all types of skills
Pros:
- Flex that’s more forgiving
- Durable construction
- Requires minimal maintenance
- Brilliant pad placement
Cons:
- The price doesn’t appeal to many segments
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Lib Tech Skate Banana
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If you’re a beginner, the Lib Tech Skate Banana will be a great companion on your new adventure in the world of snowboarding. With a brilliant design, this gear can handle a variety of terrain. Those with zero knowledge of snowboarding techniques should have no trouble finding enjoyment with this board. Apart from that, it’s also built to fit the freestyle. This means that when you’re ready for something more adventurous, the board will still be able to serve you well.
Furthermore, the Lib Tech Skate Banana is available in a variety of sizes. From 152 to 162, there’ll always be something for everyone. Overall, this is the best snowboard for beginners to intermediate which is highly recommended. It’ll make a great match for some other fantastic gear, including our 13 best ski helmets with built-in googles. Be sure to check it out if you can.
What We Love
A fantastic board designed for beginners
Pros:
- Strong and durable construction
- Great contours
- Fantastic geometry
- Able to perform well in all terrains
Cons:
- It’s quite pricey
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