Since its humble beginnings in the 1970s to its official inclusion in the Winter Olympics, snowboarding sure has hit it big. Once considered the land equivalent of surfing, its participants a bunch of blissed-out stoner slackers, snowboarding has enjoyed a truly explosive mainstream popularity and now boarders outnumber skiers on many mountains around the world.
While the word snowboarding circuit consists of some well-known resorts that everyone’s been to at least once, truly adventurous snowboarders, as well as pioneers of the sport, have been spending a lot of time searching far and wide for some of the best and rarest mountains. After all, everyone knows you can hit the slopes in Colorado-England and Florida, not so much. For a true taste of adventure, getting off the beaten path can really be a rewarding experience, not to mention an incredible vacation.
For anyone planning a high-energy snowboarding vacation, combing the list of the world’s best mountains for snowboarding would be a time-consuming task. Thankfully, we’ve done it for you. Here are the five hottest spots for some of the world’s best snowboarding. Whether you’re into racing down the mountain or landing perfect tricks, there’s something on the list for everyone.
The Summit at Snoqualmie – Located on Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, this snowboard and ski resort consists of four smaller base areas that used to be their own independent resorts. Today, the resort is open during the season seven days a week, and six nights out of the week, for a chance to get in even more time on the slopes. With a majority of the slopes catering to advanced boarders, beginners definitely will find the area a challenge. If you’re new to the sport, it’s not a good place to start.
Thredbo, Australia – For those who are sick of slumming it, Thredbo is a popular and hot new destination for skiers and snowboarders alike who might not know that Australia has a bustling scene. With over 650 meters of vertical drop and a staggering variety of runs, it’s a good mix of trails for beginners and experts alike. The best of the best wo are unafraid of the very steep all flock to Funnel Web, the steepest run on the entire mountain.
Blue Mountain, Canada – Located in the province of Ontario, Blue Mountain is one of the best spots in all of Canada for snowboarders seeking out half-pipes and tabletops. Over 30 trails and 20 lifts make getting back to the top again easy, and intermediate snowboarders will find the variety of slopes challenging and fun. Three half pipes and two terrain parks mean that those who are more interested in working out tricks than racing downhill will be more than satisfied, and Toronto isn’t that far away for those craving a night out on the town.
Borno, Italy – Located in Italy’s Lombardia region, this medium-sized resort offers a truly impressive 700 meters of vertical descent for its skiers and snowboarders. A short trip from Milan, it’s popular with beginner snowboarders because of its large amount of beginner-oriented trails, but both experts and intermediates will also find a number of runs to their liking.
Blafjoll, Iceland – With Iceland’s economy tanking, it’s never been more affordable for snowboarders to head to this magical world of fire, little people, northern lights, and even some excellent snowboarding. One of the largest resorts in Iceland, Blafjoll is best suited for intermediate snowboarders, with slightly more difficult trails. It might have one of the best views around. Night boarding is a popular activity here.
Damian Papworth loves snowboarding in Japan. He also knows that for cheap japan snow accommodation, the Hooting Owl Lodge in Niseko is difficult to top.
Beginners and advanced snowboarders alike have something in common: the need to dress properly for a day on the mountain. Even when it seems like a clear winter day with no possible need for extra layers, weather can blow in at any moment. If you’re on top of the mountain when it happens, you’re going to be glad you wore that sweater.
While choosing the right board and binding is important, no one, beginner or expert, should consider a day on the slopes without planning accordingly.
Don’t even think about including cotton in your snowboarding outfits! It absorbs water rather than wicking it away and will generally cause at best discomfort and at worth death. There’s no exaggerating about how harmful cotton is. Avoid it at all costs.
Layers are a crucial part of dressing for snowboarding because it’s much more convenient to be able to take something off or put something on at a moment’s notice than it is to unzip a one-piece ski suit and go from there. Sometimes, a drop in temperature will necessitate adding a layer, while other times, on a warmer spring day, three layers just won’t be necessary. Layers make adapting a whole lot easier.
Long underwear and non-cotton socks make up the first layer to any snowboarding outfit, known as the core or initial layer. The purpose of this layer is to wear material that clings closely, but comfortably, to your body, keeping the heat trapped in. The thinness also makes the layers that come afterwards feel and appear a lot less bulky.
The second layer, known as the middle or insulation layer, is all about providing an extra bit of warmth that will trap the pre-existing warmth provided by your base layer. This layer consists of either a wool or fleece sweater or jacket, apart from the lining of your actual outer layer jacket, snowboarding pants, and snowboarding boots. The pants should have extra padding in the knees and the rear for those high-impact falls, enough room for long underwear, and tapered bottoms for decreased chances of melted snow getting inside either your pants or your boots. The boots themselves should lace up firmly and securely and not have any leak room. Boots should never pinch your feet!
The final touch for any snowboarding outfit is the outer layer, where it’s the most important to look cool, too, if that’s something you have in mind. Thankfully, with a world of designers making snowboarding jackets for all styles, from vintage cool to contemporary chic, it’s simple to get something right up your alley. Just be sure that the jacket has a shell that will keep snow from getting in if you take a spill, and try to get one with a hood that folds out at a moment’s notice in case of a particularly bad dumping of snow while out on the mountain.
The outer layer of clothing for snowboarding also consists of gloves, which are particularly important given that most snowboarding falls put the most impact on the hands and wrists. Make sure to get a pair that has extra padding in the palm, as well as sufficient insulation. Sometimes, a thin wool glove is worn inside of the large waterproof glove, for extra warmth on particularly cold days.
The finishing touch to the outfit? Why, goggles of course. With most snowy hills reflecting a whole lot of UV rays on sunny days, it’s important to protect one’s eyes from the sun. Goggles also help keep a clear line of vision during any snowfall that might occur while you’re on the slopes.
The most crucial part of your snowboarding outfit is the snowboarding jacket. A water and wind repelling jacket is a must for riders, as well as an inner-shell that fits a little more snugly and keeps water out in case you fall down at any point during the day. Once you’re all suited up, it’s time to hit the slopes!
If you are considering traveling to the Japan Snow, go the Niseko resort. The snow is amazing for those who want to go snowboarding in Japan
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