Beginner’s Guide to Snowboarding in the Swiss Alps

First-Time Snowboarding Tips

Snowboarding is best learned in spring. If you’re near the Swiss Alps, ski and après ski. Going to Switzerland without skiing or snowboarding is like going to Zumba for the first time and learning everyone knows the routine.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you are new to snowboarding and find yourself at the summit of Gornergrat, looking at the sparkling peaks and Matterhorn while having a nervous breakdown, here are some simple tips.

December 2018 Matterhorn view from Gornergrat in Zermatt, Switzerland.

1. Listen to Burton Snowboards I Built This Podcast

A little motivation helps. Did you know snowboarding is new? Guy Raz spoke snowboard co-inventors Jake Carpenter recently. He designed a superior stand-up sled in 1977 after riding one as a kid. He created the contemporary snowboard at a Londonderry, Vermont facility with Burton Snowboards. Burton is the biggest snowboard brand.

Flea Market Finds

Snowboarding is costly. It involves expensive ski resort day passes and specialized gear. Find a nearby flea market and browse winter items. Last season, I bought my snowboarding boots at a Zurich weekend flea market for 7 francs. Use your network to borrow old boards, helmets, and gloves from friends. Facebook Marketplace lets you buy secondhand gear online. My friend found free ski goggles!

3. Take One Lesson

Five mountain snowboarding trips preceded my lesson. After studying many online tutorials and trying to educate myself, I wasted time since I couldn’t toe-side turn. This means I side-slipped down the mountain (note: this isn’t ideal for your entire run, but it’s something to learn early on because it’s the only way to regulate speed). When I met a real snowboarder, I saw how quickly I could “monkey see, monkey do.” Eventually learning to toe-side turn changed my skill and experience.

4. Don’t worry about others

I was hyper aware of those behind and above me in the chairlift, terrified to block them or be laughed at if I fell. First tip: You don’t need to be mindful of the individuals behind you. Tip #2: Laughing at yourself makes falling in front of a crowd less scary. It’s simple to forget others when plugged in. Put on my fave Spotify playlist POLLEN and never looked back.

5. Photograph Your Binding Feet

This makes you cool.

Snowboarding Switzerland

The lone glacier in Central Switzerland, Titlis Mountain, is the highlight. February 2018.

Don’t Wait After Ski

Thank yourself and stop at the mid-run ice bar at Iglu-Dorf in Zermatt, Switzerland for white or red mulled wine.

Red wine mulled at Iglu Dorf in Zermatt, Switzerland.

7. Not Without Après Ski

Do not wait for après ski, but don’t miss it. Flims Laax has one of Switzerland’s liveliest après scenes. Their snowpark is among Europe’s best. The notorious Riders’ Palace Club & Lobby is there. From 5 PM to 4 AM, the Lobby walls play lively music. The Palace Club next door has live bands from 9 PM until 1 AM.

8. Wear a helmet

Protecting your brain matters!

9. View YouTube videos

Learning to snowboard on flat slopes and get on/off a chairlift can be stressful for inexperienced snowboarders. In these circumstances, practice helps. Watching snowboarders move around via web videos is another approach to acquire good tactics. Learn flat walking with this video:

This video about surviving the chairlift:

10. Be Buddy

There’s nothing better than falling down the mountain and seeing your pal at the lift. It makes the chairlift easier and mulled wine sweeter. In Meiringen, you may ski the Bernese slopes or fly above Lake Walen in Flumserberg. Waiting for what?