Ever fancied getting a group of friends together and taking off for a week of extreme sporting fun on the piste? Perhaps you’ve been on Alpine skiing holidays in the past, but you’ve never had the courage to join the cool set who manage to career down the mountain at stylish breakneck speed, with just one plank of wood attached to their feet? Or, could it be that you know exactly how fun, exhilarating, entertaining and amusing snowboarding can be and now you’re keen to find the best places to do it? If any of these scenarios apply to you, we can help.

The Aspen Travel team have been booking snowboarding holidays for groups, families and couples for many years and are a trusted holiday associate of two of the leading snowboarding all-inclusive break operators; Club Med and Mark Warner. We know where you can enjoy the most exciting, rewarding and challenging black runs, as well as which resorts are going to be most supportive in helping you take that first glide through the snow as a beginner.

To help you make the most of a very memorable snowboarding trip, we have put together a guide to understanding essential snowboarding knowledge and finding your way to resorts that are ideal for beginners, intermediates and experts alike.

Tips for first time snowboarders

Boots, bindings and boards. These are the 3 Bs you’ll need to take a snowboarding holiday. You can rent all of these once you get there, but you might prefer to buy the boots to ensure you get a more comfortable fit. If you don’t want to buy your own helmet, you should also be able to rent one on arrival.

Staff at the rental shop and the resort will be able to help you get everything you need and don’t worry about being intimidated by the more seasoned snowboarders who know what they’re doing. You’ll soon feel confident of the basics and the atmosphere on the slopes is usually very welcoming and supportive, certainly on the nursery slopes anyway.

As for those who are worried about making a fool of themselves; its understandable. In what other sports would you fall on your bottom quite so much? We all know it’s going to happen and you just have to learn to accept it. It’s a great way to break the ice, literally, and you won’t be the only one doing it!

Essentials you’ll need to pack with you are synthetic socks and thermal vest. These won’t soak up the sweat and make you colder, when the moisture freezes. Bear in mind that snowboarding is a very physical activity. You won’t need a million layers, despite the unfamiliar and seemingly hostile coldness of the landscape. A thermal, a jacket and a hoody in your bag should be enough to keep you at a comfortable temperature given the amount of exercise youll be having.

Additional items you’ll need to take are goggles to keep the snow out when you’re gliding down the piste, decent gloves that won’t soak up water and make your hands cold, as well as waterproof trousers. Snow is wet and the wetter you get on the slopes, the colder you’ll feel and the more miserable you’ll be.

One of the biggest worries for first time snowboarders, is not simply how to look stylish on the mountainside, or how to stay upright for longer for 5 minutes, but rather how to negotiate the ski lift. If you have an all-inclusive ski package from Club Med or Mark Warner Ski holidays, your lift pass may well be included and the staff will instruct you in how to use it. Chairlifts and button lifts appears to have been designed with skiers in mind, but it’s just practice. All-inclusive packages include tuition for every level to help you hone your skills and your assigned coach will show you exactly how to ride the lift.

Please pick up the phone or send us an email and well give the benefit of our many years of experience in snowboard travel.