The Top 5 Beginner Snowboards for Women

Board: Burton Hideaway

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. 

Learn More About the Hideaway in the Video Below

The following video is for the 2020 model, but nothing much has changed for the 2021 model, apart from the graphic. 

Burton Hideaway Score Breakdown

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 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.

Learn More About the Chromatic in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the Chromatic

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. 

Check out the Video for More on the Stylus

The following video is for the 2020 model, but nothing much has changed for the 2021 model, apart from the graphic. 

Score Breakdown for the Stylus

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.

Check out the video for more on the YES Emoticon

The Emoticon’s Score Breakdown

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 #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.

For more on the Myth check out the video below

This video is a couple of years old now, but nothing has changed with the Myth, so it's all still relevant. 

Score Breakdown for the Myth

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. 

Check out the Video for More on the Heartbreaker

The following video is for the 2020 model, but nothing much has changed for the 2021 model, apart from the graphic. 

The Heartbreaker's Score Breakdown

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.

Check out the video for more on the First Lite

The following video is for the 2020 model, but nothing much has changed for the 2021 model, apart from the graphic

Score Breakdown for the First Lite

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.

Check out the video for more on the Gala

This video is a couple of years old now, but nothing has changed with the Gala (bar the graphic of course). 

Score Breakdown for the Gala

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. 

Learn More About the Ethos in the Video Below

The following video is for the 2019 model, but nothing much has changed for the 2021 model, apart from the graphic

Score Breakdown for the Ethos

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, 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. 

Learn More About the Lectra in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the Lectra