Having the right resort is key to learning how to snowboard. If the area has gentle terrain, nursery slopes and great snowboard schools, that’s the perfect mix for first-time riders. There are fantastic resorts for beginner snowboarders to enjoy. Where is the best place to learn snowboarding in Europe or North America? Our experts have created a guide for the best snowboarding resorts for beginners.
Whistler, Canada
Whistler is one of the best snowboarding resorts for beginners, because of the vast amount of gentle terrain and great snowboard schools. In particular, the Big Easy terrain Garden on Blackcomb Mountain has lots of easy slopes to enjoy and it’s less crowded. The Blackcomb and Whistler snowboard schools have teamed up to offer fantastic lessons. You can sign up for dedicated snowboard camps suited specifically for beginners.
Les Arcs, France
If you’re searching for the best place to learn snowboarding in Europe, you wouldn’t go wrong with Les Arcs. First-time snowboarders can progress on wide well-maintained nursery slopes. There is 170km of blue slopes to move onto after you’ve mastered the beginner’s area. In addition, there are plenty of snowboard schools to book with in the area with fantastic reputations. The Arcs 2000 area is the best place for beginners.
Madonna di Campiglio, Italy
Located in the Trentino region, Madonna di Campiglio is ideal for first-time snowboarders. There are six separate snowboard schools in the area with excellent instructors. There are dedicated nursery slopes near the main town, which is great for easy access. Once you’ve mastered the nursery slopes you can ride 60km of easy blue slopes in the area. On top of this, you can view the iconic Dolomites on and off the slopes.
Söll, Austria
Part of the SkiWelt ski area, Söll is arguably the best place to learn snowboarding in Europe. The area prides itself in welcoming first-time snowboarders of all ages. There are fantastic beginner and nursery areas. In addition, there are top-class snowboard schools to book a lesson with. You can also ride on 122km of blue slopes once you’ve progressed from the nursery slopes. Another plus is that Söll has short transfer journeys from Innsbruck and Salzburg, so you can maximise your time in the mountains.
Trysil, Norway
Trysil is Norway’s largest and oldest snowboard resort, but it’s also ideal for beginner riders. There are plenty of nursery slopes and gentle terrain to progress on. Once you’re linking turns there is 28km of blue slopes to enjoy in the area too. This snowboard resort is great for first-time snowboarders because of the uncrowded slopes and excellent snowboard schools.
Mayrhofen, Austria
Located in the Tyrol ski area, Mayrhofen is one of the best snowboarding resorts for beginners. It is known as the destination for all ability of snowboarders in Austria. There are great nursery slopes to find your feet on and excellent ski schools to book with. Lots of snowboarders visit this resort, so you won’t feel like a minority on the slopes. You will also be able to explore 60km of blue runs once you have mastered the beginner slopes.
Arinsal, Andorra
Arinsal is the best place to learn snowboarding in Europe because of the cheap prices and easy terrain in the area. Andorra is virtually tax-free which ensures fantastic value for money on and off the slopes. First-time riders can enjoy learning on nursery slopes before progressing to the 47km of blue runs in the area. It’s a great resort for families and group holidays because of the mixture of lively après and excellent childcare facilities.
Alpe d’Huez, France
Alpe d’Huez is a fantastic place for beginner snowboarders to visit. There are plenty of gentle nursery slopes to learn on and excellent snowboard schools to book. Once you’ve mastered the dedicated beginner slopes there’s a vast amount of easy slopes to explore. Across the area, you can ride 49km of green runs and 54km of blue runs. Its high altitude of 1,860m-3,330m means conditions will be reliable throughout the season.
Livigno, Italy
Livigno is a popular destination for all abilities of snowboarders. It is one of the best places to learn snowboarding in Europe because of the dedicated beginner slopes and brilliant snowboard schools. There is 30km of wide open perfectly groomed blue slopes that are ideal to progress on too. The village itself is friendly but also has a good après scene too. On and off the slopes this snowboard resort delivers.
Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria
If you’re a first-time snowboarder, Saalbach is a great choice to book. Only an hour and a half from Innsbruck Airport, the resort is easy to get to. There are brilliant nursery slopes near the main village, great for easy access. In addition, there is 140km of blue slopes which is nearly 50% of the pistes in the area. Unlike a lot of Austrian villages, the lifts run into the centre of the village so it’s easy to get on and off the mountain too.
To find out more about the best snowboarding resorts for beginners, please call our ski experts on 0207 471 7700.
