Learn to snowboard in Sierra NevadaThe first day is the hardest. It is the one we teach best.
If you have never strapped into a board, this is what actually happens: how much you fall, how long it takes, and what you will be riding by the end of your first lesson.
Book my first lessonStarting from scratchWhat the first day really looks like.
Yes, you will fall
And it is part of the plan. The first day involves a lot of time sitting, kneeling and with one foot out, and the first thing taught is how to fall properly. That is what prevents the nasty surprise on day two.
You will come down sliding
By the end of a first lesson you come down on one edge, stopping when you choose to. That is not a small thing: it is the difference between being on the board and riding it.
The hard part is not balance
It is crossing the position where the board runs flat, on neither edge. That is the point where you pick up most speed, and it has to be crossed decisively rather than hesitantly.
How many daysOne day to try it. Three to ride.
One day
Enough to slide on an edge and stop under control, and to find out whether a board suits you. Expect to be tired: you get up off the snow a lot on day one.
Three mornings
What takes most people from never having strapped in to linking turns. If you are here for a week, this is what we would book.
Why mornings
Better snow, quieter lifts, and past a certain number of hours the body stops learning and just gets tired — which on a board happens sooner than on skis.
Borreguiles, where everyone starts.
From Pradollano you take the Al-Ándalus gondola up to Borreguiles: a wide, gentle area with the beginner lifts. That is where we meet you, so you do not have to work out the resort on your own.
Lessons are taught in English or Spanish — you choose when you book — and all of them are private. There is no open group you are put into with strangers, which on a first snowboard day matters more than it sounds: nobody is waiting for you while you get back up.
Before you come up, the snow report tells you what the day looks like, and equipment rental means you do not have to travel with a board.
What you need for your first lesson
Everything is hired on the mountain, so there is nothing to buy before you come. What is worth packing well is whatever keeps you dry and warm — and on a board you spend a lot of day one on the snow.
How to choose your snowboard boots
The heel test is what decides, not the toe test. Why they should feel tight in the shop, what overhang is, and how to lace them in two zones.
How to choose ski and snowboard gloves
Gloves or mittens, waterproofing, insulation and getting the size right. A clear guide to choosing well and not freezing on the mountain.
Ski and snowboard protection: which pieces you actually need
Helmet, wrist guards, impact shorts and back protector: which ones you actually need for your sport and level, and which certification each carries.
Ski and snowboard clothing: the three layers and their materials
The three-layer system explained, what each material does — Gore-Tex, merino, PrimaLoft, Cordura — and how to read the water column rating on a jacket.
How to choose a ski or snowboard helmet
Getting the size right, what MIPS actually does, and which standards a certified helmet has to meet. A clear guide before you buy.
How to choose your snowboard
Your weight sets the size, not your height. Width, profile, flex and shape explained, and why it's worth renting before you buy your first board.
Price of your first lessonLessons from €110.
The price is for the whole lesson, not per person: if there are several of you, you share it. Pick your options and we will tell you what yours costs.
How many of you?
The price covers the lesson with the instructor only: it does not include the lift pass or equipment hire, and we sort both out separately. Each extra person always adds the same. If there are more than 10 of you, message us and we will organise it with you.
“Hemos dado clase con Pepe y es la mejor inversión que podríamos haber hecho. Hemos aprendido muchísimo y nos lo hemos pasado genial! Un 100/10! Volveremos!”
“Si queréis aprender con una buena persona y mejor instructor, no dudéis en contactar con Pepe de Snow Riders Academy. 100% implicación y una experiencia inolvidable. Lo mejor para introducirte en este deporte y/o para perfeccionarte.”
“Cada vez que voy a Sierra Nevada contacto con esta escuela para perfeccionar mi técnica. Gracias a ellos he mejorado mucho para ir más seguro sobre la tabla y conseguir disfrutar más de mis días de nieve. Lo recomiendo mucho.”
“Una experiencia increíble en Sierra Nevada! Di clases con Pepe y además de aprender muchísimo y enseñarte súper bien cada movimiento, te lo pasas genial. En la segunda hora de clase ya estábamos esquiando por las pistas azules!”
“Academia top, aprendí en un par de horas lo más básico, fueron geniales en el trato. Cuando vuelva repito sin duda.”
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn to snowboard?+
In a first lesson you come down sliding on one edge and stopping when you choose to. Linking turns usually arrives on the second or third day. It depends on fitness, on nerves, and on how many hours you do in a row.
Am I going to fall a lot on the first day?+
Yes, and it is part of the plan. The first day involves a lot of time sitting, kneeling and with one foot out, and the first thing taught is how to fall properly. That is what prevents the nasty surprise on day two.
Is it harder than skiing?+
At first, yes: with both feet strapped to the board, balance is harder and you get up off the snow a lot. In exchange, once that phase is over, progress usually feels faster than on skis.
What is the hardest part at the beginning?+
Not balance. It is crossing the position where the board runs flat, on neither edge. That is the point where you pick up most speed, and it has to be crossed decisively rather than hesitantly.
Do the instructors speak English?+
Yes. Lessons are taught in Spanish or English, and you say which when you book.
Where do beginners learn in Sierra Nevada?+
In Borreguiles, at the top of the Al-Ándalus gondola from Pradollano. It is the wide, gentle area with the beginner lifts, and it is where we meet you.
Do I need to buy a board?+
No. Everything is hired up on the mountain. Until you know what kind of riding you enjoy, buying a board makes no sense. Bring warm clothing that keeps the wet out and good gloves.
Can I start at 40, 50 or older?+
Yes. Age doesn't change whether you can, it changes the pace: spread the hours instead of doing a full day on day one.
Your first snowboard lesson in Sierra Nevada
Tell us your level and your dates, and we'll put together the lesson that fits you.
Talk to an instructoror call us at +34 687 47 58 28