You can toggle (by clicking the "+" sign) each year below to see the lists from past season's.
BEGINNER BOARD #10
Board: YES Women's Basic
-
US
-
CA
-
UK/EU
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.5/100
Ability Level: BEGINNER-TO-ADVANCED
Style of Board: FREESTYLE
Flex: MEDIUM-SOFT (4/10)
*HARD/ICY OPTION
Women's Basic 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 Stylus
-
US
-
CA
-
UK/EU
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Beginner
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
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 #8
Board: Rossignol Myth
-
US
-
CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
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 #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)
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
-
UK/EU
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.
It has a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride, just what you want for a beginner snowboard.
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: K2 First Lite
-
US
-
CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (2/10)
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 #4
Board: Arbor Ethos
-
US
-
CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Soft (3/10)
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)
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: Rossignol Soulside
-
US
-
CA
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
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 | 4.5 | 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)
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 |
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 | 95/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #2
Board: Nitro Lectra
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 96.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
**FAST PROGRESSION
And the #2 board in this list - or I should probably say the 1st equal, 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 | 5.0 | 20/20 |
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 | 96/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #1
Board: Rossignol Gala
Price: $319
Beginner Board Rating Score: 96/100
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 – but 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 | 5.0 | 20/20 |
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 | 96/100 |
Over to You
So there you have it – Snowboarding Profiles’ Top 10 Beginner Snowboards for Women for the 2019/20 season. Hopefully this has helped with your research and helped to narrow down your search.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 10. For the latest season's Top 10 Women's Beginner list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 10 WOMEN'S BEGINNER SNOWBOARDS (Latest Season)
BEGINNER BOARD #10=
Board: Burton Hideaway
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90.5/100
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.
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
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Base | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 90.5/100 |
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
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 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
This is basically the ideal beginner board for anyone 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.
This is essentially the women’s version of the men’s YES Basic.
The Emoticon’s Score Breakdown
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 90.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #9
Board: Rossignol Meraki
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-advanced
Style of Board: Jib/Park
Flex: Soft (3/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
The Meraki is new for Rossignol this year and is the women's equivalent of the men's Sawblade.
It's a super easy going ride that really limits any chances of catching an edge. It's soft flexing and really easy to maneuver at slower speeds. All things that you want in a beginner board.
It's the ideal option for any beginner who encounters hard/icy conditions often. And it's also great for anyone who sees freestyle/park riding in their future as it's somethign that will be easy to start out in there too.
Score Breakdown for the Meraki
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #8
Board: Ride Rapture
Price: $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
*FAST PROGRESSION
The Ride Rapture may not be that versatile – it’s definitely freestyle oriented and it’s not going to stay with you your whole snowboarding life (though if you get into park riding, it’s definitely something you could keep as your park board) – but it is something you can progress very quickly on.
It’s got a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride.
The Rapture's Score Breakdown
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 92/100 |
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 (formerly called the Genie) is 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
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #6
Board: Arbor Poparazzi
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
The Poparazzi 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 little stiffer, which makes it a great option for heavier riders and those who have some time under the mountain under their belt but still need an easy going catch-free ride to progress on. Still beginner, but not absolute beginner.
For a contunuos 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.
Score Breakdown for the Poparazzi
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Flex | 4.5 | 18/20 |
Stability | 4.5 | 18/20 |
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 | 92/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #5
Board: Rossignol Myth
Price: $299
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 basically the perfect beginner’s snowboard – the Rossignol Myth and apart from versatility, basically gets a perfect score.
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.
On top of all that, this is the equal lowest-priced board in this list – so if you’re on a budget or don’t want to invest too much, then this also is a great option.
Score Breakdown for the Myth
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 94/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #4
Board: K2 First Lite
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 95/100
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
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Flex | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Stability | 5.0 | 20/20 |
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 | 95/100 |
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 #6 above), the Ethos is practially 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 snowbaording journey started on.
Score Breakdown for the Ethos
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 95/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #2
Board: Nitro Lectra
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 96.0/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Soft (3/10)
**FAST PROGRESSION
And the #2 board in this list - or I should probably say the 1st equal, 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 and is 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 too much of an investment getting your first board.
Score Breakdown for the Lectra
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Flex | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Stability | 5.0 | 20/20 |
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 | 96/100 |
BEGINNER BOARD #1
Board: Rossignol Gala
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 96/100
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 – but it will get you there fast – it’s forgiving, catch-free, has easy maneuverability and is just a really easy going ride.
All of that and it's also the equal cheapest on this list (along with #2 and #5) so it won't break the bank either.
Score Breakdown for the Gala
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Flex | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Stability | 5.0 | 20/20 |
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 | 96/100 |
Over to You
So there you have it – Snowboarding Profiles’ Top 10 Beginner Snowboards for Women for the 2018/19 season. Hopefully this has helped with your research and helped to narrow down your search.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 10. For the latest season's Top 10 Women's Beginner list, check out the link below:
Changes to this year’s Top Women’s Beginner List
There were some bigger changes between the 2016-17 and 2017-18 lists.
The changes this year (2018-19) are more subtle and just some small tweaks really.
Adjusted Flex Rating Scores
Previously I was awarding 5/5 for any flex that was up to 4/10 in terms of stiffness. For 2018-19 I have given subtly more points to boards with 2/10 or 3/10 flex (rarely does anything rate 1/10) compared to boards with 4/10 flex.
This is a subtle change but reflects my desire to make this a list of boards that are the best for beginners/learning on. Whereas previously I put some emphasis on boards that would be suitable for more advanced riding as well as beginners.
The new scoring is to reflect that the softer flexing boards (2/10 or 3/10) are easier to learn on/ride than something that's closer to Medium (4/10).
High-End Beginner/Intermediate Boards
For the 2017-18 list, I included a number of boards that were not as good for those just starting out and were more suitable for those who had a bit of experience (high-end beginner to low-end intermediate).
As with the flex rating scores, this list is now designed to purely cater to beginner riders (though some boards will still be good to progress to a more advanced stage on). I will be creating a new list for high-end beginner to intermediate riders, looking for a board.
Of the 29 different women’s beginner boards that I looked at
- The average score was 86.4/100
- The highest score was 95/100 (see #1 board below)
- The lowest score was 74.5/100
- The average price was $400
Women’s Beginner Board 10th=
Board: Capita Paradise
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 89.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Expert
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Medium (5/10)
The women’s version of the Outerspace Living, the Paradise certainly isn’t thought of as a beginner board off the bat – but it has most of the things that you would want in a beginner board – easy turn initiations, stability and a price that’s easy on the bank account.
It’s a little stiffer flexing than the ideal beginner board – but it’s the ideal choice for rider’s who are a bit above the weight recommendations (in which case the board will feel more like a medium-soft flex) or for very athletic riders.
This board is also super-versatile – it can handle any part of the mountain, it can handle any style of riding and it’s the kind of board that can stay with you even up to an expert level
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 3.5 | 14/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Price: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Versatility: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Shape & Stance: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 89.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board 10th=
Board: Rossignol Frenemy
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 89.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Medium (5/10)
- HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
The Frenemy, like the Paradise, is a little stiffer than I would normally recommend for a beginner – but in the case of larger riders and more athletic riders, this board is a great beginner option.
It’s also extremely versatile and the kind of board you could have for as long as you wanted it – in terms of progression, in terms of where you can ride it and in terms of the style you want to ride with it. And on top of that, it’s also one of the best boards for riding icy/hard snow.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Price: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Versatility: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Shape & Stance: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Base: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 89.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #9
Board: Burton Genie
Price: $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 90/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Beginner
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Soft (2/10)
- FAST PROGRESSION
Whilst not as versatile as the preceding two boards, the Genie is 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.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| 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 | 90/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #8
Board: YES Emoticon
Price: $399
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Advanced
Style of Board: All-Mountain Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
- HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
This is basically the ideal beginner board for anyone 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.
This is essentially the women’s version of the men’s YES Basic.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Price: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Versatility: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Shape & Stance: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #7
Board: Salomon Oh Yeah
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 91.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Style of Board: Jib/Park
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
- FAST PROGRESSION
In at #7, we have the Salomon Oh Yeah.
The Oh Yeah has a mix between a Flat-to-Rocker profile and a Hybrid Camber profile. It has a flat section between the feet and camber under the feet – these sections help the Oh Yeah with stability and then there are rocker sections towards the tip and tail which help with turning ease and a catch-free ride.
That plus a forgiving flex help to make this one of the best boards going around to learn on.
It’s only real weakness is that it’s not that versatile. So you will want to upgrade after progressing through the intermediate phase – especially if you’re not going to be riding in the park.
But it does come with another nice feature – the price.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Versatility: | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Shape & Stance: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #6
Board: Rossignol Tesla
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 92.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Next up we have the Rossi Tesla.
This is a great option for anyone who wants to progress quickly and have a board that will take them to that intermediate level quickly – but still be able to keep riding and enjoying it at the intermediate level.
Just an all-round solid pick for a beginner – Rossignol make a lot of boards that are both stable and easy to initiate turns on and the Tesla is one of the better ones for these qualities.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Versatility: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Shape & Stance: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 92.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #5
Board: Ride Rapture
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 Rapture may not be that versatile – it’s definitely freestyle oriented and it’s not going to stay with you your whole snowboarding life (though if you get into park riding, it’s definitely something you could keep as your park board) – but it is something you can progress very quickly on.
It’s got a nice soft flex and is an easy, catch-free ride.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| 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 | 93/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #4
Board: Rossignol Gala
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 93.5/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Medium-Soft
- 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 – but it will get you there fast – it’s forgiving and catch-free and just a really easy going ride.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Price: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Versatility: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Shape & Stance: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 93.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #3
Board: K2 First Lite
Price: $379
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.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| 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 | 94/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #2
Board: Rossignol Myth
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 94/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: Freestyle
Flex: Medium-Soft
- FAST PROGRESSION
And coming in at #2 is basically the perfect beginner’s snowboard – the Rossignol Myth and apart from versatility, basically gets a perfect score.
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 if you get into more all-mountain/freeride type riding.
On top of all that, this is the equal lowest-priced board in this list – so if you’re on a budget or don’t want to invest too much, then this also is a great option.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| 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 | 94/100 |
I hired a Myth for my then girlfriend (now wife 🙂 ) when we went to Whistler in 2015 and she loved it. She was a beginner to intermediate rider and said she had ridiculously more confidence on this board than the standard hire boards she had been getting at the time.
Her turns were way smoother, she felt way more confident and she was getting down the slopes much quicker – which was great as I didn’t have to spend as much time waiting!
Women’s Beginner Board #1
Board: Rome Royal
Price: $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 95/100
Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Style of Board: All-Mountain
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
- FAST PROGRESSION
The Rome Royal is the women’s equivalent of the men’s Rome Mechanic (which also featured highly in my men’s top beginner list).
And it’s a great beginners option in both the men’s and women’s for a reason.
It’s really versatile in terms of the type of style you will want to ride – so you don’t need to have any inclination about how you might end up riding in the future.
And even more importantly it’s a confidence inspiring, catch-free, forgiving ride that’s easy to initiate turns on and has a stable feeling to it. This will be one of those boards that will help you to progress faster than most, if not all, but at the same time is very versatile.
Check out the Score Breakdown Below
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| 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 | 95/100 |
Over to You…..
So there you have it – Snowboarding Profiles’ Top 10 Beginner Snowboards for Women for the 2017/18 season. Hopefully this has helped with your research and helped to narrow down your search.
For the latest season’s Top 10 Women’s Beginner Snowboards – check out:
>>LATEST SEASON’S TOP 10 WOMEN’S BEGINNER SNOWBOARDS
Of the 27 different women’s beginner boards that I looked at
- The average score was 87.5/100
- The highest score was 100/100 (see #1 board below)
- The lowest score was 70/100
- The average price was $401
Women’s Beginner Board #5
Board: Salomon Oh Yeah
Price (USD): $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 96.5/100
The first board we’ll look at, coming in at #5, is the Salomon Oh Yeah.
Camber Profile: The Oh Yeah has a mix between a Flat-to-Rocker profile and a Hybrid Camber profile . It has a flat section between the feet and camber under the feet – these sections help the Oh Yeah with stability and then there are rocker sections towards the tip and tail which help with turning ease.
Flex: The Oh Yeah has a medium-to-soft flex and rates a 4/10. Medium-soft (3/10 or 4/10) is the ideal flex for a beginner deck, IMO. It’s got enough stiffness to help with stability but is soft enough so that it’s easier to maneuver and forgiving or errors.
Manufacturer’s Label: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Price: The Oh Yeah comes with a really reasonable price tag. It’s way lower than the average women’s snowboard and even lower than the average women’s beginner snowboard.
Sizing: The Oh Yeah comes in 4 different lengths from 138cm to 151cm.
Shape & Stance: The Oh Yeah has a true twin shape and a centered setback stance. This is a great combination for a beginner, in my opinion, as it has a symmetrical feel and makes it easier to find your balance.
Base: It has an Extruded base – which is great for beginners. It’s not too fast (which is actually a good thing for beginners) and it’s easier to maintain than other base types.
Score Breakdown for the Oh Yeah
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Shape: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Stance: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 96.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #4
Board: Rossignol Tesla
Price (USD): $349
Beginner Board Rating Score: 97/100
Next up we have the Rossi Tesla.
Camber Profile: The Telsa has a Hybrid Camber profile. This means there is Camber underfoot which will aid in stability and, like the flat-to-rocker profile, has rocker towards the tip and tail for easier turn initiation.
Flex: The Tesla has a medium-to-soft flex (4/10) which is ideal for the beginner to help with maneuvering the board and being forgiving of errors, whilst still maintaining decent edge-hold and stability.
Manufacturer’s Label: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Price: This is a great price for a snowboard and even for a beginner board – somewhere between $299 and $399 would be reasonable.
Sizing: The Tesla comes in 4 different sizes from 136 to 148.
Stance and Shape: The Tesla has a centered stance and a true twin shape – perfect for beginners.
Base: The Tesla comes with a sintered base – I’d prefer to see an extruded base on a board for a beginner but other than that this is one of the best beginner snowboards you can buy.
The Tesla’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Shape: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Stance: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Base: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #3
Board: Ride Rapture
Price (USD): $359
Beginner Board Rating Score: 97/100
Camber Profile: The Rapture has a flat-to-rocker profile which aids in stability and turn initiation.
Flex: The Rapture has a soft to medium-to-soft and rates a 2 out of 10 on Ride’s feel-o-metre. Ideally I would look for a 3 or 4 out of 10 – but that’s being pretty fussy! A 2/10 is a perfectly good flex rating for beginners.
Manufacturer’s Label: Beginner-to-Advanced
Price: Like the other boards on this list, this is a really reasonably priced board. It’s the most expensive on this list but it’s still well under the average board price.
Sizing: The Rapture comes in 5 different lengths ranging from 138 to 154.
Shape and Stance: It has a true twin shape and a centered stance – ideal for the beginner.
Base: It has an Extruded base. Again just what you want in a beginner snowboard.
The Rapture’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Shape: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Stance: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Base: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #2
Board: Rome Royal
Price (USD): $339
Beginner Board Rating Score: 98.5/100
The #2 beginner board for women is the Rome Royal – this is a new board for 2017 and it’s definitely focused on the beginner and being easy to ride and progress on.
Camber Profile: The Royal has a Flat-to-Rocker profile . The flat sections between and under the feet aid in the Royal’s stability and and the rocker sections towards the tip and tail of the board help to make it easier to turn.
Flex: It has a medium-to-soft flex which is the perfect flex for a beginner board.
Ability Level: Beginner-to-Intermediate
Price: The Royal has an RRP of $349 (USD). This is well under the average price for a snowboard and also well under the average price for a beginner snowboard (which tend to have a lower price).
Sizing: The Royal comes in 4 different sizes from 141 to 150.
Stance and Shape: The Royal has a centered stance. I prefer this for beginner boards as I think it’s easier to get your balance when you are centered on the board.
It has a true twin shape. I also prefer this shape for beginners because it gives a symmetrical even feel when centered on a true twin.
Base: The Royal has an Extruded base – this is perfect for beginners.
Unfortunately I’m yet to find a video for the Royal. Hopefully one will come out during the season (it is a new model for 2017) and then I’ll add it here.
The Royal’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Shape: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Stance: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 98.5/100 |
Women’s Beginner Board #1
Board: Rossignol Myth
Price: $299
Beginner Board Rating Score: 100/100
And coming in at #1 is the perfect beginner’s snowboard the Rossignol Myth and the only board to get a perfect score.
Rossignol are doing something right when it comes to women’s beginner boards. If this was a top 10, rather than a top 5, they’d have another couple in here based on the research I conducted.
As it is they’ve managed to get the #1 and #4 spots.
Camber Profile: Like the other Rossi board in this list, the Myth has a Hybrid Camber profile which should serve well in terms of both stability and turn initiation.
Flex: The Myth has a medium-to-soft flex and rates a 4/10 on Rossi’s flex scale. This for me is the ideal flex for a beginner snowboard.
Manufacturer’s Label: Beginner-to-Advanced
Price: The Myth costs a nice friendly $299 RRP (USD). This is a great price and the cheapest on this list.
Sizing: It has 4 different sizes ranging from 139 to 154.
Shape & Stance: The Myth has the perfect shape (true twin) and stance (centered) for beginners.
Base: The Myth has an Extruded base – perfect for the beginner deck.
The Myth’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Stability: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Price: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Shape: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Stance: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Base: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
I was able to hire a Myth for my girlfriend when we went to Whistler last year and she loved it. She is an beginner to intermediate rider and said she had ridiculously more confidence on this board than the standard hire boards she had been getting.
Her turns were way smoother, she felt way more confident and she was getting down the slopes much quicker – which was great as I didn’t have to spend as much time waiting!
Over to You…..
So there you have it – the top 5 beginner snowboards for women for the 2016/17 season. Hopefully this has helped with your research and helped to narrow down your search.
For the latest season’s Top 10 Women’s Beginner snowboard list, check out:
>>Top 10 Women’s Beginner Snowboards (LATEST SEASON)
For the latest season's list, check out the link below.
>>TOP 10 WOMEN'S BEGINNER SNOWBOARDS (LATEST SEASON)
Buying Past Season Models
Often models don't change that much from year to year so if you can find a past season model, it will likely be close enough to the latest model but you can get it cheaper, if available and in a suitable size for you. For past year's models check out the links below to see if they still have any left.
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