Six Quick Snowboarding Tips

Looking for some quick snowboarding tips? Well, earlier this month we celebrated the 2025 snowboarding season with a look at several of our favorite places to snowboard, from Northern California areas down to the best choices in SoCal as well.

Now we’re back with a few quick snowboarding tips to make any 2025 snowboarding getaway the best it can be as well. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, here are some tips to make the most of the season, so let’s dive right in…

Quick Snowboarding Tips for a Successful Season

1. Always Check the Snow Report!

I know this sounds like it goes without saying, but it’s way too easy to make this mistake. Before heading to any mountain, always visit the mountain’s website to check the latest snow report.

Look specifically for any trail closures, snow coverage, and overall conditions before you take the trek to a mountain top. Always keep an eye on the weather forecast to ensure safe and enjoyable snowboarding.

There’s not much worse in the snowboarding world than heading out for an epic snowboarding weekend, only to arrive at the mountain top and realize you never should have left home in the first place!

2. Dress in Layers

The weather can change quickly in the mountains, so it’s very important to dress in layers. Layering is one of the most effective methods for keeping both warm and dry. Conditions can and will change, which is what truly makes layering crucial in snowboarding – so you can add or remove layers as needed.

Ideally, you’ll want a base layer (for moisture wicking), a mid-layer (to provide better insulation), and an outer shell that can protect you from wind, snow, etc.

3. Stay Hydrated

One aspect of snowboarding it’s quite easy to overlook is the ever-present need to keep hydrated. It’s easy to overlook because when the temperatures are low, we often forget that we’re sweating beneath those layers… that snowboarding is indeed quite the workout.

Also, snowboarding is an activity that, by nature, always takes place at higher altitudes, making the need to drink plenty of water even more important. Staying hydrated helps your body function optimally despite the weather and prevents fatigue. It can also reduce your injury risk as well.

4. Gear Up & Protect Yourself

No one will ever tell you, at least honestly, that snowboarding is easy. Everyone takes a fall, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. Falls in snowboarding are just par for the course.

Your job, however, is to mitigate to risk – to make sure that if you do fall, it’s less likely to cause much of an injury. Enter protective gear, your salvation on the mountain.

Technically, protective gear isn’t a requirement. You can go out there hot-dogging it, trying to look extra cool… but in the end, there’s nothing cool about a concussion or another injury that just keeps you off the slopes. So please, make sure you don’t ignore this tip.

First off, the two most important pieces of protective gear you’ll want to wear are your helmet and your goggles. Period. Don’t head out shreddin’ without helmet and goggles, and you’ll be well on your way to better boarding.

Crash pants are also a great addition, followed by wrist guards and shin guards. Elbow and knee pads aren’t bad ideas either.

Wearing the safety gear isn’t quite enough, however, as you’ll also want to make sure you properly inspect your gear before every mountain trip. Always check to make sure all of your snowboarding gear is in top condition, from the aforementioned safety gear all the way down to your boots, bindings, and your board too.

5. If You’re Brand New, Take Lessons

If you’re brand spankin’ new to snowboarding, I highly recommend that you strongly consider taking lessons before you start trying to shred on your own. You can quickly learn the fundamentals from any seasoned instructor, and even just getting the basics down will help you start to develop good habits.

Good habits plus the learning the fundamentals equals a great confidence boost for you on the slopes, which is well worth that little extra time upfront. Most of the locations I referenced in my post earlier this month on California Snowboarding Season for 2024-25.

6. Take a Closer Look at Resort Passes and/or Season Passes

Here we’re speaking to two different things, but both with the same goal: to get you on the mountain as much as possible. One caveat, however, is that they typically need to be purchased well in advance. This means you’ll need to be thinking ahead more to the 2025-26 season vs. the current one.

When deciding between Multi-Resort Passes or Season Passes, these days it seems like Resort Passes win the day – especially with great multi-resort passes like the Cali Pass, the Ikon Pass, and the Gold Pass.

These allow you to explore different mountains while also saving on costs. If the passes line up with where you’ll actually be spending your time, then I say hell yes, pick up a pass.

Cali Pass

First, there’s the Cali Pass. This gives you unlimited access to four different resorts: Bear Valley, Dodge Ridge, China Peak, and Mountain High.

That’s not all, however. The Cali Pass also gives you three days each at all sixteen Powder Alliance Resorts around the world (see photo below for all sixteen). Those sixteen just happen to include Sierra At Tahoe and Mt. Shasta Ski Park too. In total this equates to up to 48 free tickets across all of those resorts, a pretty incredible deal if you plan to travel a lot for ‘boarding.

Click here to visit the Cali Pass website.

Ski California Gold Pass

Although this pass is both extremely limited and quite expensive, it’s also an the most comprehensive option available. The Gold Pass grants access to thirty-six mountains combined between California and Nevada, pretty much encompassing every option you can think of across both states.

It’s impressive, as of course is its price tag, which at last check was $4,000 for the year. See the video below to learn more.

Click here to visit the Ski California Gold Pass website.

Ikon Pass

Then there’s the Ikon Pass, which grants unlimited access to 17 destinations across several states. In California, this includes Palisades Tahoe, June Mountain, Snow Valley, Mammoth Mountain, and Big Bear Mountain.

Ikon also includes up to seven days each at up to 42 other destinations, so it’s also a pretty extensive pass – similar to what you see with the Cali Pass, but with a significantly higher number of options.

Click here for more on the Ikon Pass at their website.

Season Passes

A season pass, typically for one specific location, will get you unlimited snowboarding for a set period of time. These exist resort by resort, mountain by mountain really, so you’ll need to check in with whatever location you prefer.

Typically you’ll only pick up a season pass if you live relatively close to one particular mountain that you plan on visiting with great frequency.

With the 2024-2025 snowboarding season now well underway, I hope these tips help you get out there and make the most of the time we have left to enjoy the winter weather here in 2025!

– Billy Crafton