Beginner Snowboarding Resorts

Snowboarding, which started in the late 1960s, has taken the world by storm. Thousands of new riders hit the slopes every year in search of the perfect powder. From the Rocky Mountains and the Alps to the Himalayas and the Andes, snowboarders from around the globe are pushing the limits of the sport, with bigger jumps, longer rails and absolutely insane tricks. Snowboarding is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and there are countless resorts that specifically cater to first-timers.

  1. Copper Mountain

    • Copper Mountain, located 75 miles west of Denver in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, is a playground for snowboarders of all skill levels. With 2,450 acres, 22 lifts, 126 trails and a massive terrain park, superpipe, jib park and kids-only terrain area, Copper Mountain has the tools beginners need to learn, improve and master the sport of snowboarding. Take a specialized private or group lesson catered to your own individual interests and goals from one of the ski school's resident professional snowboarders. And there's no need to worry about getting bored from riding the same bunny hill day in and day out; the mountain features more than 30 beginner runs and a variety of learning and training areas, allowing novice riders to gradually move up.

      Copper Mountain

      509 Copper Road

      Copper Mountain, CO 80443

      888-219-2441

      coppercolorado.com

    The Canyons Resort

    • The Canyons is the largest resort in Utah, with over 3,700 acres of well-groomed slopes. The resort is nestled in historic Park City, Utah, and only a 35-minute drive from the Salt Lake City International Airport. The area spans over eight mountain peaks, boasts over 355 inches of annual snowfall and 163 marked trails. The Canyons provides a perfect canvas for novice riders looking to learn the fundamentals of snowboarding; the resort is home to 18 lifts, six halfpipes, five bowls, two terrain parks and everything in between. The terrain parks, unlike any other in the world, are a haven for adrenaline junkies, featuring unique, custom-designed rails, jumps and layouts. The Adventure Park is specially designed for first-time riders and those looking to master new terrain boarding tricks. Before hitting the terrain park, join a clinic, or take a group or private lesson from the award-winning snowboard school.

      The Canyons Resort

      4000 The Canyons Resort Drive

      Park City, UT 84098

      435-649-5400

      thecanyons.com

    Whistler Blackcomb

    • Whistler Blackcomb is one of the largest and most extensive snowboard resorts in North America. The complex includes two connecting mountains with 8,171 acres of manicured slopes, more than 200 trails, 38 lifts, 12 alpine bowls and an array of terrain parks. Whistler is a playground for freestyle snowboarders of all skill levels and styles and offers five terrain parks, one superpipe, one snow cross track and an array of table tops, rails, jibs and spines. The Terrain Garden, its gradual slopes specially designed for novice boarders, is the perfect place to ride your first rail, jump and roller. Whistler is also home to the largest ski and snowboard school in the world, where beginners can learn at their own pace from one of the 1,400 resident professional snowboarders on site. Beginners have plenty of space to improve skills without having to worry about getting in the way of more advanced riders; the Children's Learning Center, slow zones and family zones have been designed for those new to snowboarding.

      Whistler Blackcomb

      4545 Blackcomb Way

      Whistler, BC VON 1B4

      Canada

      604-967-8950

      whistlerblackcomb.com