The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Snowboarding with Benny Urban

If you’re thinking about getting into snowboarding, there’s a good chance you’re feeling equal parts excited and overwhelmed. Boards, boots, bindings, lift passes, falling… a lot. But the truth is, snowboarding is both far simpler—and way more fun—than it might seem from the outside. 

To help break things down, we’ve put together a beginner’s guide covering the basics, and who better to provide perspective than Benny Urban, one of Europe’s most respected street riders and a long-time member of the Vans family?

Start With the Right Mindset 

Your first day snowboarding probably won’t feel cool. You’ll fall. A lot. That’s part of the process. The important thing is remembering why people fall in love with the sport in the first place. As Benny explains, that feeling is often easiest to see in the next generation of riders. 

“It’s one big pool of inspiration that I try and take a little bit of, so many different characters and their snowboarding with me on my journey. What gets me really stoked is just to see the up and comers—groms that remind me of myself when I was young who are just stepping into the scene, putting themselves out there and progressing every day. The main point is that they are having so much fun with it, wearing the biggest smile on their faces because they just love snowboarding to death.” 

Keep that energy in mind when you’re learning. Progress happens step by step.

Choose the Right Gear 

Before you worry about snowboarding and how to carve, get the right setup in terms of gear. “Having the right sizing for my board, boots and bindings changed everything. When your setup actually fits you and feels balanced, riding becomes much more comfortable. Even small stance adjustments make a big difference.” – Benny Urban

Board, Bindings & Snowboarding Boots 

Here’s a quick beginner’s setup that will get you on the slopes and ready to learn: 

Board: For beginners, go for an all-mountain board with a softer flex. Also, make sure to get the right length for your size (usually somewhere between your chin and nose). 

Bindings: Binding flex affects control and riding style. Soft bindings flex more and feel playful, while stiff bindings are more responsive and transfer power to the board faster.

• Beginners usually benefit from soft bindings because they allow more movement, are more forgiving, and make learning basic turns easier.
• Medium flex bindings are the most versatile, good for all-mountain riding and for riders who know the basics and want to progress.
• Stiff bindings are best for experienced riders who want quick response, more support at high speeds, and better control for aggressive freeride terrain or big jumps.

Snowboarding boots: These are your connection to the board. They should be snug but never painful. If your toes are crushed or your heel lifts a lot, you probably have the wrong size. Your heel should feel locked in while still allowing natural movement. 

Vans snowboard boots like the Women’s Encore Pro Snowboard Boot, endorsed by Olympic rider Mia Brookes, and the Invado Pro Snowboard Boot, ridden by Rene Rinnekangas, are built for control, comfort, and progression. Designed with rider feedback at their core, they offer the support beginners need without sacrificing board feel as skills develop. 

As a beginner, you may buy a day pass and choose to rent gear during your first few days on the mountain before deciding what works best for you. 

And, don’t forget the basics: a helmet, goggles, gloves or mittens, and suitable outerwear. 

Protective & Comfort Essentials 

Helmet: Non-negotiable. Just wear it. 

Wrist guards/impact shorts (optional but smart): Beginners fall a lot, often on hands and tailbone. A little protection can keep you going longer before you call it quits for the day. 

Goggles: So you can actually see in snow, wind and bright light. 

Jacket, pants, gloves, base layers: It’s hard to learn if you’re freezing or soaked. At Vans, we have the right clothing to keep you warm and toasty while you practice your snowboard skills.

Before Going Out, Learn Your Stance 

Go for a stance that feels natural, usually slightly wider than shoulder-width. A duck stance (with your toes pointing slightly outward) is common for beginners. 

Snowboarders ride either regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward). A simple way to figure this out is to have someone gently push you from behind. The foot you instinctively step forward with is usually your leading foot on the board. Or, have someone throw you something, and don’t think, just catch it! Whatever foot you have forward is likely the one you’ll have forward on your board, too. Once strapped in, stay relaxed with your knees bent and your weight centered.

Beginner Techniques and Tips 

If you’re wondering how to learn snowboarding without feeling overwhelmed, think of it as a series of small unlocks. That’s less daunting than mastering one giant “I can ride now” moment. Benny advised that “most people rush. They want to go fast or try something difficult before they’re ready. If you stay patient and take small steps, the progression feels natural and you avoid scaring yourself early on.” 

Step 1: Get Comfortable Sliding & Stopping 

Before carving, you need to get some basic control. 

One-foot skills: Practice skating around the flat area. Do this with your front foot strapped in and push with your back foot. 

Heel-side slide: With both feet strapped in, face downhill with your board across the slope, sit into your heels, and slide gently. Keep your speed under control. 

Toe-side slide: Turn to face the hill, balance on your toes, and do the same

Step 2: Turning into Your First Carves 

Once you can slide and stop, it’s time to start linking turns and this is where learning how to carve in snowboarding gets real. 

On a gentle green slope: 

1. Start on your heel edge, with the board oriented across the hill
2. Look where you want to go (not at your feet)
3. Gently shift your weight toward your toes
4. Let the board point downhill briefly (this is the scary moment—commit!)
5. Continue rolling onto your toe edge and finish the turn across the slope

Then repeat in the other direction, rolling from toe edge to heel edge. Think of drawing big, round S-shapes down the hill. 

A simple carving checklist: 

• Your knees should be slightly bent and relaxed, not stiff 

• Keep your shoulders aligned with the board 

• Your weight stays centred over your board, don’t lean back 

• Look ahead through the whole turn, not down

Benny's Advice:

Benny advises to take things one step at a time. “Take it step by step,” he said. “Build confidence on smaller terrain first and only move on when you really feel ready. Trusting yourself is the biggest part of it. It’s less about the mountain and more about new features or obstacles. Any time something is bigger or more technical, I ease into it. Testing it slowly helps me understand how to move through it safely.” 

If you’re looking to go from a beginner to a pro on the slopes, the best way to is to strap in, gear up, and give it a proper shot. With the right snowboarding gear, a solid pair of snowboarding boots, patience, and Benny’s mindset of trusting the process, you’ll be a pro at carving sooner than you think. 

Conditions change from day to day-ice, slush, powder. “I try to adapt to the day,” Benny said. “I look at the weather, the snow and the terrain, then decide how I want to approach it. Staying flexible mentally helps me ride better, because I’m reacting to what’s in front of me instead of sticking to one plan." 

For an off-slope hack to expedite progress, Benny suggests cross-training. “Skateboarding helps a lot,” he said. “It keeps your board feeling sharp and your balance engaged. Even just cruising around on a skate translates really well to snowboarding.” If you already skate, that balance and board feel will help a lot when you step onto snow.

“The more often you do something, the more natural it becomes,” Benny said. “Regular riding, even on simple terrain, keeps everything sharp. … You can move past fear with the right mindset. When you break things down and trust yourself, most challenges feel a lot more manageable."