Advice please for first time snow boarders

[Firsttimesnowboarding]

Hello, my husband and I are from Australia, so have no experience with this. He has a birthday coming up (April) but we are happy to go anytime in the new year. Please could some kind,knowledgeable Mnetters provide me with advice as to where to go, what equipment we will need l. or if it can be hired. We are completely new to this so any advice will be gratefully received. We do not want to spend loads so budget is important. Thank you in advance.

What is your budget? and for how long are you going for?

In my opinion, you aren’t going to have a good time snowboarding unless you factor in some £££ for decent snowboard/ski school. And even then- you will spend most of the time on time on your arse and stuck on the more gentle slopes.

Progression is easier with skiing because once you have mastered the ‘snowplow’ (google) you can go down anything and you’ll have quite a nice time in a week. Will still need some ski school though. So as 1st timers I recommend you ski!!!

Good luck with a small budget - snow sports and small budgets are not friends!

bulgaria is the cheapest in Europe.
you’ll need:
snow jacket
snow trousers
ski gloves
thermal socks
thermal under layers
fleecy tops etc
warm hat
ski goggles
Snow boots for walking around etc

Then when you’re there you’ll need to hire the snow board.
you’ll also have to pay for a lift pass

oh and you’ll want to be somewhere as central as possible as it’s a complete pain in the ass walking far with all your ski gear on.

I have t actually been yet however I’m considering Rila Hotel, Borovets, Bulgaria.
it looks great and is cheap compared to elsewhere in Europe and has a much needed spa!

Oh and yes and I’d jam in some lessons beforehand - sooo worth it! Even one lesson before you go would help.

I find snow boarding and skiing just as easy and learnt both as an adult.

Dh and I went to Banff, Canada during March and did snowboarding at Sunshine Village. There was a shuttle that left from all major hotels in Banff to the mountain, which was included in your mountain pass.

You can choose how many days you want your pass to cover. We opted for a 3 out of 5 days one. Equipment can be prebooked but they will fit you with the correct snow boots, snowboard and helmet there. I imagine you can also pay when you get there.

As first timers, book lessons. We had three lessons and they teach you to go forwards/backwards on the board edges and eventually how to turn from front to back. Snowboarding is a bit different and I remember it being really counterintuitive!

I loved every second of it. You will fall but it shouldn't really hurt (unless you fall into something or at great speed!).

A bum protector!

Honestly? I'd ski. Scope for progression is so much greater in one week and you can become reasonably proficient and able to explore a bit more independently. Boarders always seem to be sitting on the slopes and get in the way on chairlifts (don't go anywhere with drag/button or T-bar lifts - they are not designed for boarders!). Interestingly , we commented this year on how few boarders there were compared to pre-COVID - it was quite noticeable. If you're set on boarding then definitely get some lessons on a dry slope or snow dome first. Given you're in Australia, would Japan be an option?

What country are you considering? As you're in Australia, presumably a huge portion of your budget will be spent on flights?

As a PP said, snowsports and low budgets don't mix. We are in the UK so can get over to Europe easily for a few hundred pounds each and we dont use an expensive tour operator. Even then the whole holiday comes in at a minimum of about £1000 per person.

Would it be worth waiting until after his birthday and going in your winter in Australia?

Or are you based in the UK now? In which case we could offer more advice?

Regardless of where you are, you'll need to buy (or beg or borrow) the clothing listed above. If you are in Europe go to somewhere like Decathlon before you travel - don't expect to pick up snowsports clothes cheaply in resort, where there is a captive market and high prices. Skis, boots, snowboards should be hired in resort. For beginners, lessons are a must (as is winter sports insurance).

If you can go at any time, I'd consider mid/late March. Days are longer, the sun is warmer and snow is still likely to be good and prices are cheaper. If you are on a budget, don't go to Switzerland and don't go anywhere mid-February which is holiday time across most of Europe. Personally I would not go to Bulgaria - rather pay a bit more and go to Austria, Italy or France (or Andorra if the budget is tight). If you are actually flying from Australia, then also consider Japan or Canada.

USA is better than Europe and also cheaper overall
Pack 2 fresh t shirts and changes of underwear for every day, you get really sweaty
Make sure your helmet fits properly
Dont worry about what’s behind you, that’s their problem
Be prepared to get quite addicted…

I’m Australian and have done a lot of skiing in both Europe and the US and have found the opposite to be true. And we’ve only skied in pretty expensive places like Chamonix, Megeve and Verbier.

OP if budget is a big factor, maybe look into Japan.

I’m a pretty advanced skier, but I did one snowboarding lesson in Canada and it was HARD. Pretty much every woman I know who started off boarding eventually gave up and turned to skiing.

OP, if you're in the UK you might want to look at this offer by Crystal in Flaine www.crystalski.co.uk/beginner-ski-holidays/slope-starters/ - it's a week in March which includes flights, transfers, half-board hotel, morning lessons, board hire and lift pass. Flaine isn't the prettiest resort but it's got some really great skiing (and short transfer from Geneva, which is a plus) and I doubt you'd be able to organise a less hassle-free trip for any cheaper.

For first time boarders your own helmet is an absolute must (recommended for everyone really). You will fall a lot and your head is vulnerable.

Hire boards, get cheap snow clothes from decathlon or blacks etc. take thermals and a small rucksack for water etc.

Get lessons-snowboarding is harder to learn than skiing initially.

Resorts- I have always liked Italy around the dolomite region or Cortina. Italy tends to be cheaper than France. Heard good things about Spain as well.

I learned to snowboard in Banff. Sunshine village is beautiful but Lake Louise has a wonderful long beginners slope. Skiing is definitely easier. I think there is a saying - skiing is easier to learn but harder to master, snowboarding is harder to learn but easier to master. You can hire all the equipment you need but you might want to buy your own helmet and gloves because they tend to get a bit smelly! You’ll want to wear layers - you do get quite warm, especially when you spend a lot of the time trying to get back up off your arse!

Thank you so much for all the relies. Have been in bed/wfh with this supercold doing the rounds. So will reply properly later. We are based in the UK. I know it will be 1000's, but still wanted somewhere nice, but on the cheaper side, Bulgaria sounds promising. Thank you again for all the replies, really helpful. Hopefully my throat will feel less like knives this evening and at least I caught it before x'mas!

For snowboarding, make sure you have proper snowboarding gloves with built in wrist guards. Very easy to break a wrist without them. Also make sure you buy or hire a helmet. Essential if you value your brain. During my teaching days in Switzerland I used to be part of a team that took children to "ski camp" each January. The rule was "no helmet - no ski" for staff as well as students.

If you’re looking at Bulgaria avoid borrovets as a beginner snowboarder. Bansko has a better terrain

Rent the specialist equipment. You need warm flexible clothing with a waterproof outer layer, I use a 3 in 1 berghaus jacket and my winter padded trousers are from lidl. You need warm waterproof gloves, goggles and/or sunglasses, a day pack is useful to store things whilst on the slopes, thick socks and thermal base layers.

You do not need things which specifically say ski!

Cheaper options include Scotland because you can drive up there and stay in a hostel /Airbnb/cheap hotel, crucially less than a week is an option that way. Also Bulgaria is reasonable as is Germany

In that case, it's much easier to advise.

Have a look at Sunweb. They usually have good deals and always include lift passes. Austria tends to be cheaper than France for lessons.

Lidl have their ski stuff in store at the moment. Jacket and Salopettes are £25 each. Or DH bought a full set from Mountain Warehouse that included gloves for about £80.
Like a PP said, it doesn't need to say 'ski' but it does need to be waterproof. The higher the rating, the better. 10,000mm at an absolute minimum.

www.snowandrock.com/expert-advice-and-inspiration/buying-guides/Waterproof-ratings-and-breathability-explained.html

Definitely your own helmet, you can get them on Decathalon reasonably inexpensively.

Base layers (minimum two sets each), ski socks (minimum 2 pairs each), waterproof gloves, neck buff.

There's often a lot for sale on Facebook marketplace too.

Feel better, I am also laid up with this supercold thing. It is utterly miserable.

Don't forget decent sun cream, one that is specifically for use in the mountains (Piz Buin or similar) - you can get very badly burnt on a sunny day.