Lessons learned after my first long snowboarding season
Disclaimer: AI was used to "polish" this post. Unfortunately, I lost the original draft, so I decided to keep this "public version". I kind of regret it, but it is what it is. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Engelberg-Titlis. Switzerland.
In the 2022/23 winter season, I bought a season pass for the very first time. After casually snowboarding a few days per season over the previous two years, I decided it was finally time to invest as much time as possible into my favorite hobby. It wasn’t cheap, but it was absolutely worth it. According to the Slopes app, I logged 21 days and shredded a total of 90 km. Not bad for a beginner, I’d say.
Even with the season pass, I was mostly a weekend warrior. I remember clearly: after every session, my head was boiling with all the new things I had just learned. Some of those lessons were about riding itself; others were about everything surrounding the sport. After some thought, I decided to compile a few of those insights. So here you go, these are the top lessons from a beginner rider after his first real season:
1 - Layer up - always
One of the biggest uncertainties for first-time snowboarders (especially those seeing snow for the first time) is how to dress for a full day of physical activity in freezing temperatures. People handle cold differently, but I can now say this point-blank: when you're a beginner, layer up - always.
The mountain is a strange and unpredictable place, and as a newbie, you don’t yet know how to read weather forecasts properly - or how quickly conditions can change up there. Worst-case scenario? You get too warm, and you shed a layer. Good luck doing the opposite when you're freezing.
Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. During one of my week-long trips, a friend arrived the day before and told me the temperatures were mild - he was rocking just a jacket and a T-shirt and still sweating. Ignoring the mountain’s unpredictability, I went up with just a base layer and jacket. The result? I got sick and spent the next three days stuck in bed.
2 - Quality sleep is top priority
When you're new to snowboarding trips, you want to do it all: catch the first chair, hit the après-ski for a few drinks, maybe party a bit afterward, and hang out with your friends as much as possible. The result? A few poorly slept hours that ruin your day on the slopes.
Let me be clear: this is the worst thing you can do. Snowboarding is physically demanding. Without proper rest, you (and your crew) get irritable, your performance drops, and worst of all - you stop having fun. Not because of bad snow, but because you’re exhausted. Don’t let that happen. Prioritize sleep and protect your stoke.
3 - Ride less to ride better
I remember my early days—eager to be first on the chairlift and last to ride the final run, often chased by ski patrol. It was fun, and with that pricey pass in hand, I wanted to make the most of every second.
That strategy works for short trips, like a one- or two-day stint. But if you're out for longer, riding 9–5 every day will burn you out fast. By the last few runs, you’ll find yourself wondering why you're even still out there. Plus, I read that most injuries happen during those final runs, when you’re tired and not riding with focus.
Now, I prefer to ride hard - but for fewer hours. It gives me time to eat well, rest, and actually improve. The result? Each day feels better than the last.
4 - Ask a buddy to film your riding
Original tip from Snowboard Addiction - If you’re serious about improving your riding, this might be the single best piece of advice I can give. Before each trip, I’d watch a ton of technique videos and plan drills to try on the mountain. But without awareness of your own mistakes, progress is painfully slow.
So, ask a buddy to film you. Not a selfie cam. Have someone follow or record from a distance. That way, you can analyze your stance, your balance, your edge control—and most importantly, how you’re connecting your turns. The difference it makes is huge.
5 - Scare yourself once per day
I heard this on an Angry Snowboarder livestream and it stuck: you don’t need to push at 110% all day, but at least once per session, do something that scares you a little. Try that steeper line. Hit that small jump. Ride switch.
It’s how you grow. Test and expand your limits, little by little.
6 - Buy a proper board
Buying your first board can feel overwhelming. There are too many brands, dozens of camber profiles, and a totally subjective stiffness rating. I did my research—but still trusted the sales rep at my local shop. Big mistake. I ended up with a Huck Knife: great board, but built for advanced park riders. Not ideal for a beginner who still doesn’t know whether he rides regular or goofy.
"Just pick the one you like the graphics better", I was once told.
Here’s my recommendation: get a directional twin (a true twin is okay if you love the graphics), with medium flex, and make sure the brand specifically says it’s suited for intermediate riders. You want something all-mountain freestyle, beginner-to-intermediate friendly.
Trust me on this one—it's way better to outgrow your board instead of spending seasons eating it and trying to keep up with it.