You can toggle (by clicking the "+" sign) each year below to see the lists from past season's.

Below is what I consider to be the top 10 beginner snowboards for women currently on the market.
This list has been updated for the 2022-23 season.
As per Snowboarding Profiles Tradition, each board will be given a score out of 100. Note that the scores reflect how suitable the board is for a beginner – not the overall performance of the board.
O.K. let’s get into the top 10!
BEGINNER BOARD #10

Board: Burton Stylus
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Beginner
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
Starting off the list at #10, we have the Burton Stylus.
The Stylus is a super easy ride - one of those boards that will accelerate your progression – so if you’re looking to improve as quickly as possible and are happy with having to upgrade once you’ve upped your skill level and/or found your preferred style, then this is going to be a great choice.
Also great for anyone foreseeing a future riding freestyle/park. Or wants a fun, playful board for messing around with or beating up in the park in the future.
Score Breakdown for the Stylus
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #9

Board: Rossignol Myth
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
Next up is the Rossignol Myth.
You’ll be able to progress super-fast on this board and it will really boost your confidence.
The only downside is that it’s not that versatile. It’s a freestyle board, so if you plan on riding in the park, then this will be a great option to keep as your park board. But even if you don’t plan riding the park, this is one of those boards that will just get you riding better, fast – just be willing to upgrade at some point, particularly if you get into more all-mountain/freeride type riding.
Score Breakdown for the Myth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #8

Board: Salomon Lotus
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Lotus is a versatile all-mountain board that's great for progression, particularly if you think you want to transition into a camber dominant board in the future.
There isn't any rocker in the camber profile which would usually cause me to cross it off the list straight away, but the Lotus has edges that are slightly turned up at the contact points, allowing for easy turn initiations and a more catch free ride.
Salomon Lotus Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 4.0 | 20/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #7

Board: Nidecker Elle
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
At #7 we have the Nidecker Elle.
The Elle's friendly camber profile, coupled with it's mid-soft flex, make it easy to ride and helps you build confidence. And being nice and versatile means you can progress down whichever style of snowboarding you develop into.
It's also the cheapest board on this list, so won't put as deep a dent into your bank account either.
The Elle’s Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 18/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
BASE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #6

Board: Ride Heartbreaker
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
The Ride Heartbreaker comes in at #5 and has a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride.
It's maybe not the most versatile, being a more freestyle/park oriented board - but otherwise it's very beginner friendly - and if you think you're going to get into freestyle riding at some point, it's a great investment - something that you can learn your core skills on now - and then have as a park board for later.
The Heartbreaker's Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #5

Board: Rossignol Soulside
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Rossignol Soulside, coming in at #5, is new for 2023 and replaces the Gala in the Rossi line. It's not exactly the same board but pretty close. And most importantly for this list, it's just as good as a beginner board.
It has all the ingredients you want in a beginner board, soft, easy to ride and versatile. It's a little pricier than most on this list, but still less pricey than the average snowboard.
Score Breakdown for the Soulside
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #4

Board: Arbor Ethos
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Ethos is practically the perfect board to start snowboarding on.
It's catch-free, easy to initiate turns on and super maneuverable at slower speeds.
It's a little on the looser side, which is a plus for initiating turns but can sometimes make coming off the lift a bit more challenging, but it's something you get used to.
Otherwise this is pretty much the ultimate board to get your snowboarding journey started on.
Score Breakdown for the Ethos
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #3

Board: Roxy Dawn
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Roxy Dawn comes in at #3. It's another more freestyle focused deck. Great for those that simply want an easy riding board to progress quickly on or someone who sees freestyle in their future.
It's easy turning, yet stable and comes in at a nice friendly price.
Roxy Dawn Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #2

Board: K2 First Lite
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (2/10)
Whilst not being that versatile when it comes to ability level (you’ll need to upgrade eventually), the K2 First Lite is really versatile when it comes to keeping your options open for the type of riding you will naturally flow towards. You can go anywhere and ride any style on this board.
But that’s not it’s real strength as a beginner board – it’s real strength lies in the fact that it’s easy to ride, catch free and confidence inspiring – so you can progress really fast on this board – and have a lot of fun in the process.
Score Breakdown for the First Lite
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #1

Board: Nitro Lectra
- US
- CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 94/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
And finally the #1 board in this list is Nitro's Lectra.
This board has everything you want for your first board. It's easy to turn, easy to ride, maneuverable at slow speeds and makes it really unlikely to catch an edge. That, plus it's really versatile, so it can take you into whatever style you naturally progress towards.
It's also the 2nd cheapest on this list, so you won't have to make as much of an investment getting your first board compared to most other boards.
Score Breakdown for the Lectra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |

BEGINNER BOARD #10=

Board: GNU Chromatic
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
If you're looking for a board that's great for leaning and progressing on but is also awesome in hard/icy conditions, for those who experience them regularly, then the Chromatic is a great option.
It's nice and versatile, so you don't have to know what style you're leaning towards.
Not the cheapest on this list, but if you've got a decent budget this is definitely an option.
Score Breakdown for the Chromatic
RATING | score weighting | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #10=

Board: Burton Stylus
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Beginner
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Burton Stylus is a super easy ride - one of those boards that will accelerate your progression – so if you’re looking to improve as quickly as possible and are happy with having to upgrade once you’ve upped your skill level and/or found your preferred style, then this is going to be a great choice.
Also great for anyone foreseeing a future riding freestyle/park. Or wants a fun, playful board for messing around with or beating up in the park in the future.
Score Breakdown for the Stylus
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #9

Board: YES Emoticon
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
The Emoticon is a great option for those who have a few days under their belt snowboarding, but are still beginners and for those who encounters hard/icy snow conditions often – so if you’re on the East (Ice) Coast of North America, for example.
It’s got a great balance of being versatile but also offering a fast progression. It’s easy to ride but it will last you for the long term in terms of your progression and your style.
And of course, it’s not just for icy conditions – my wife owns this board and loves it in all conditions.
The Emoticon’s Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 18/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #8

Board: Salomon Lotus
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Lotus is a versatile all-mountain board that's great for progression, particularly if you think you want to transition into a camber dominant board in the future.
There isn't any rocker in the camber profile which would usually cause me to cross it off the list straight away, but the Lotus has edges that are slightly turned up at the contact points, allowing for easy turn initiations and a more catch free ride.
The Lotus is the equal cheapest on this list too, so it's a great option for those with a smaller budget.
Salomon Lotus Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 4.0 | 20/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.0/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #7

Board: Rossignol Myth
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
And coming in at #7 is the Rossignol Myth.
You’ll be able to progress super-fast on this board and it will really boost your confidence.
The only downside is that it’s not that versatile. It’s a freestyle board, so if you plan on riding in the park, then this will be a great option to keep as your park board. But even if you don’t plan riding the park, this is one of those boards that will just get you riding better, fast – just be willing to upgrade at some point, particularly if you get into more all-mountain/freeride type riding.
The 2022 Myth gets a little more camber in the profile. The 2021 model was 20% camber in the middle, with 40% rocker towards the tip and 40% rocker towards the tail (40/20/40), it's now 35/30/35, but still rocker dominant.
Score Breakdown for the Myth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #6

Board: Roxy Dawn
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Roxy Dawn comes in at #6. It's another more freestyle focused deck. Great for those that simply want an easy riding board to progress quickly on or someone who sees freestyle in their future.
It's easy turning, yet stable and comes in at a nice friendly price - the equal cheapest on this list.
Roxy Dawn Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #5

Board: Ride Heartbreaker
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Ride Heartbreaker comes in at #5 and has a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride.
It's maybe not the most versatile, being a more freestyle/park oriented board - but otherwise it's very beginner friendly - and if you think you're going to get into freestyle riding at some point, it's a great investment - something that you can learn your core skills on now - and then have as a park board for later.
The Heartbreaker's Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #4

Board: K2 First Lite
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
Whilst not being that versatile when it comes to ability level (you’ll need to upgrade eventually), the K2 First Lite is really versatile when it comes to keeping your options open for the type of riding you will naturally flow towards. You can go anywhere and ride any style on this board.
But that’s not it’s real strength as a beginner board – it’s real strength lies in the fact that it’s easy to ride, catch free and confidence inspiring – so you can progress really fast on this board – and have a lot of fun in the process.
Score Breakdown for the First Lite
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #3

Board: Rossignol Gala
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
**FAST PROGRESSION
The Rossignol Gala is the perfect balance of fast progression and versatility.
It’s an all mountain board and can take you into any style you naturally flow into – and it will get you there fast. It’s forgiving, catch-free, has easy maneuverability and is just a really easy going ride.
The 2022 Gala gets a little more camber in the profile. The 2021 model was 20% camber in the middle, with 40% rocker towards the tip and 40% rocker towards the tail (40/20/40), it's now 30/30/40 - still rocker dominant though - and now with a more directional camber profile, with more rocker in the nose compared to the tail.
Score Breakdown for the Gala
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #2

Board: Arbor Ethos
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Ethos is practically the perfect board to start snowboarding on.
It's catch-free, easy to initiate turns on and super maneuverable at slower speeds.
It's a little on the looser side, which is a plus for initiating turns but can sometimes make coming off the lift a bit more challenging, but it's something you get used to.
Otherwise this is pretty much the ultimate board to get your snowboarding journey started on.
Score Breakdown for the Ethos
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #1

Board: Nitro Lectra
Beginner Board Rating Score: 94.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
**FAST PROGRESSION
And finally the #1 board in this list is Nitro's Lectra.
This board has everything you want for your first board. It's easy to turn, easy to ride, maneuverable at slow speeds and makes it really unlikely to catch an edge. That, plus it's really versatile, so it can take you into whatever style you naturally progress towards.
It's also the equal cheapest on this list, so you won't have to make as much of an investment getting your first board.
Score Breakdown for the Lectra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |
Over to You
So there you have it – Snowboarding Profiles’ Top 10 Beginner Snowboards for Women for the 2021/22 season. Hopefully this has helped with your research and helped to narrow down your search.

BEGINNER BOARD #10

Board: Burton Hideaway
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 89.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: Freeride
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Hideaway is an easy going, catch-free ride that makes it quick and easy to progress on.
It's also a freeride board, which is rare for a board this soft. So, it's great for beginners who think they are going to get into riding off-groomer and backcountry in their future or for the beginner to intermediate rider who wants to explore the not-so-beaten paths, without having to do it on a stiff aggressive board.
Burton Hideaway Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 3.0 | 3/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #9

Board: GNU Chromatic
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
If you're looking for a board that's great for leaning and progressing on but is also awesome in hard/icy conditions, for those who experience them regularly, then the Chromatic is a great option.
It's a very versatile board and for the 2021 model has been given a bit of a setback, making it more of an all-mountain option versus the all-mountain-freestyle board I categorized it as previously, but still a really good option as your first deck.
Not the cheapest on this list, but if you've got a decent budget this is definitely an option.
It's a looser feeling ride, which can make one-footing it off the lift a little squirrelly until you get used to it, but otherwise it's a great beginner option, especially if you ride hard/icy conditions often.
Score Breakdown for the Chromatic
RATING | score weighting | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #8

Board: Burton Stylus
Price: $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Beginner
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Burton Stylus is a super easy ride - one of those boards that will accelerate your progression – so if you’re looking to improve as quickly as possible and are happy with having to upgrade once you’ve upped your skill level and/or found your preferred style, then this is going to be a great choice.
Also great for anyone foreseeing a future riding freestyle/park. Or wants a fun, playful board for messing around with or beating up in the park in the future.
Score Breakdown for the Stylus
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #7

Board: YES Emoticon
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
The Emoticon is a great option for those who have a few days under their belt snowboarding, but are still beginners and for those who encounters hard/icy snow conditions often – so if you’re on the East (Ice) Coast of North America, for example.
It’s got a great balance of being versatile but also offering a fast progression. It’s easy to ride but it will last you for the long term in terms of your progression and your style.
And of course, it’s not just for icy conditions – my wife owns this board and loves it in all conditions.
The Emoticon’s Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 18/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #6

Board: Rossignol Myth
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
And coming in at #6 is the Rossignol Myth.
You’ll be able to progress super-fast on this board and it will really boost your confidence.
The only downside is that it’s not that versatile. It’s a freestyle board, so if you plan on riding in the park, then this will be a great option to keep as your park board. But even if you don’t plan riding the park, this is one of those boards that will just get you riding better, fast – just be willing to upgrade at some point later on, if you get into more all-mountain/freeride type riding.
Score Breakdown for the Myth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #5

Board: Ride Heartbreaker
Price: $379
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Ride Heartbreaker comes in at #5 and has a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride.
It's maybe not the most versatile, being a more freestyle/park oriented board - but otherwise it's very beginner friendly - and if you think you're going to get into freestyle riding at some point, it's a great investment - something that you can learn your core skills on now - and then have as a park board for later.
The Heartbreaker's Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #4

Board: K2 First Lite
Price: $369
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
Whilst not being that versatile when it comes to ability level (you’ll need to upgrade eventually), the K2 First Lite is really versatile when it comes to keeping your options open for the type of riding you will naturally flow towards. You can go anywhere and ride any style on this board.
But that’s not it’s real strength as a beginner board – it’s real strength lies in the fact that it’s easy to ride, catch free and confidence inspiring – so you can progress really fast on this board – and have a lot of fun in the process.
Score Breakdown for the First Lite
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #3

Board: Rossignol Gala
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
**FAST PROGRESSION
The Rossignol Gala is the perfect balance of fast progression and versatility.
It’s an all mountain board and can take you into any style you naturally flow into – and it will get you there fast. It’s forgiving, catch-free, has easy maneuverability and is just a really easy going ride.
Score Breakdown for the Gala
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #2

Board: Arbor Ethos
Price: $319
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The Ethos is practically the perfect board to start snowboarding on.
It's catch-free, easy to initiate turns on and super maneuverable at slower speeds.
It's a little on the looser side, which is a plus for initiating turns but can sometimes make coming off the lift a bit more challenging, but it's something you get used to.
Otherwise this is pretty much the ultimate board to get your snowboarding journey started on.
Score Breakdown for the Ethos
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #1

Board: Nitro Lectra
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 94.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
**FAST PROGRESSION
And finally the #1 board in this list is Nitro's Lectra.
This board has everything you want for your first board. It's easy to turn, easy to ride, maneuverable at slow speeds, makes it really unlikely to catch an edge. That, plus it's really versatile, so it can take you into whatever style you naturally progress towards.
It's also the equal cheapest on this list, so you won't have to make as much of an investment getting your first board.
Score Breakdown for the Lectra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |
Over to You
So there you have it – Snowboarding Profiles’ Top 10 Beginner Snowboards for Women for the 2020/21 season. Hopefully this has helped with your research and helped to narrow down your search.

BEGINNER BOARD #10=

Board: GNU Chromatic
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
If you're looking for a board that's great for leaning and progressing on but is also awesome in hard/icy conditions, should you experience them regularly, then the Chromatic is a great option.
It's a very versatile board that's great on the mountain in the resort and in the park.
Not the cheapest on this list, but if you've got a decent budget this is definitely an option.
It's a looser feeling ride, which can make one-footing it off the lift a little squirrelly until you get used to it, but otherwise it's a great beginner option, especially if you ride hard/icy conditions often.
Score Breakdown for the Chromatic
RATING | score weighting | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #10=

Board: YES Emoticon
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
The Emoticon is a great option for those who have a few days under their belt snowboarding, but are still beginners and for those who encounters hard/icy snow conditions often – so if you’re on the East (Ice) Coast of North America, for example.
It’s got a great balance of being versatile but also offering a fast progression. It’s easy to ride but it will last you for the long term in terms of your progression and your style.
And of course, it’s not just for icy conditions – my wife owns this board and loves it in all conditions.
The Emoticon’s Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 18/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #9

Board: Burton Hideaway
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-intermediate
Style of Board: Freeride
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Hideaway is an easy going, catch-free ride that makes it quick and easy to progress on.
It's also a freeride board, which is rare for a board this soft. So, it's great for beginners who think they are going to get into riding off-groomer and backcountry in their future or for the beginner to intermediate rider who wants to explore the not-so-beaten paths, without having to do it on a stiff aggressive board.
This board is replacing the Burton Feather in Burton's line - and is essentially just an evolution of that board with some minor changes.
Burton Hideaway Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #8

Board: Arbor Poparazzi Rocker
Price: $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
The Poparazzi Rocker is that little bit of a step up from the Arbor Ethos (see #3 on this list). It's virtually the same as that board but just a touch stiffer. This makes it a great option for heavier riders and those who have snowboarded a bit but are still a beginner and still need an easy going catch-free ride to progress on.
For a continuous rocker profile, it's not as loose as you would think due to the system rocker that Arbor uses.
But it's still on the looser side, so it's going to have that little bit of a squirrelly feel, coming off the lift one-footed. But that's something that you get used to and also helps to make the board really catch-free, when linking turns.
Note that there is also now a Poparazzi Camber, but the camber version isn't as suitable for beginner.
Score Breakdown for the Poparazzi
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 4.5 | 18/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #7

Board: Burton Stylus
Price: $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Beginner
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Burton Stylus is a super easy ride - one of those boards that will accelerate your progression – so if you’re looking to improve as quickly as possible and are happy with having to upgrade once you’ve upped your skill level and/or found your preferred style, then this is going to be a great choice.
Also great for anyone foreseeing a future riding freestyle/park.
Score Breakdown for the Stylus
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #6

Board: Ride Heartbreaker
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Ride Heartbreaker is new for 2020, but it's essentially a replacement for, and very similar to, the exiting Rapture.
Like the Rapture of old, it’s got a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride.
It's maybe not the most versatile, being a more freestyle/park oriented board - but otherwise it's very beginner friendly - and if you think you're going to get into freestyle riding at some point, it's a great investment - something that you can learn your core skills on now - and then have a park board for later.
The Heartbreaker's Score Breakdown
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.5 | 9/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #5

Board: Rossignol Myth
Price: $319
Beginner Board Rating Score: 94/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
And coming in at #5 is the Rossignol Myth. Apart from versatility, the Myth basically gets a perfect score as a beginner board.
You’ll be able to progress super-fast on this board and it will really boost your confidence.
The only downside is that it’s not that versatile. It’s a freestyle board, so if you plan on riding in the park, then this will be a great option to keep as your park board. But even if you don’t plan riding the park, this is one of those boards that will just get you riding better, fast – just be willing to upgrade at some point later on, if you get into more all-mountain/freeride type riding.
Score Breakdown for the Myth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 3.0 | 9/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #4

Board: K2 First Lite
Price: $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 94/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
Whilst not being that versatile when it comes to ability level (you’ll need to upgrade eventually), the K2 First Lite is really versatile when it comes to keeping your options open for the type of riding you will naturally flow towards. You can go anywhere and ride any style on this board.
But that’s not it’s real strength as a beginner board – it’s real strength lies in the fact that it’s easy to ride, catch free and confidence inspiring – so you can progress really fast on this board – and have a lot of fun in the process.
Score Breakdown for the First Lite
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 5.0 | 20/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 4.0 | 8/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #3

Board: Arbor Ethos
Price: $319
Beginner Board Rating Score: 95.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
The little sister of the Poparazzi (see #8 above), the Ethos is practically the perfect board to start snowboarding on.
It's catch-free, easy to initiate turns on and super maneuverable at slower speeds.
It's a little on the looser side, which is a plus for initiating turns but can sometimes make coming off the lift a bit more challenging, but it's something you get used to.
Otherwise this is pretty much the ultimate board to get your snowboarding journey started on.
Score Breakdown for the Ethos
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
---|---|---|
FLEX | 5.0 | 20/20 |
STABILITY | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNING EASE | 5.0 | 25/25 |
PRICE | 5.0 | 10/10 |
VERSATILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SHAPE & STANCE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
BASE | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing |