Best resorts for beginners

That first trip for someone can either inspire you or despise the very notion of going again. Here are our top resorts for beginners.

#1. Corralco, Chile

The beginner area in Corralco has to be some of the best learning terrain in the World! That’s a big statement for sure, but the sheer width of runs and the consistent 10-15 degree pitch means that this is the ideal place for anyone learning to link their turns or...

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#2. June Mountain, USA

Beginner freeriders can take their time on a few gentle, un-crowded slopes. This can be attempted alone or under the laid back tuition of the instructors available. For those novice freestylers who wish to learn the art of the pipe there are also instructors around to teach you what you...

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#3. Alpes d'Huez, France

Beginners have a huge area perfect for learning on, accessed by the Troncon cable-car from the base. It does get busy but the lower slopes are wide enough to handle it.  

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#4. Ischgl, Austria

There isn’t a huge amount of beginner terrain, but what is available is perfectly maintained and easy to get to. From the top of the Silvrettabahn from the village you’ll enter one of the main beginner thoroughfares, so it’s best to jump onto the Fimbabahn lift to the area leading...

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#5. Mammoth Mountain, USA

Beginners, if you can't learn or improve at Mammoth, then you're into the wrong sport. The area is perfect for novices, with plenty of green and easy progression blue runs at the lower sections and excellent snowboard tuition available. Sesame Street run off chair 11 at Main Lodge is perfect for beginners,...

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#6. Les Arcs, France

There are few resorts in Europe that can claim to be as good for snowboarders to learn than Les Arcs. Get away from some of the pinch spots close to the villages, and things get a lot less busy and you can start to relax a little.  Most of the...

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#7. Livigno, Italy

Beginners will find this resort perfect for learning, with wide gentle runs located at lower sections within easy reach. There are also no runs merging into these areas, making it not at all intimidating for newbies. The ski shop Dr Rent has some excellent board for hire and the staff dress...

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#8. Mount Hood Meadows, USA

Beginners are treated to a good number of trails that are easy to reach and easy to negotiate. Mt Hood Express gives access to some interesting green runs and some tame blues. The local snowboard school has a host of teaching programmes for all levels, including a Mountain Master Programme.

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#9. Mount Bachelor, USA

Beginners-this is a mountain that you'll appreciate, with its selection of good, easy green runs that can be ridden from the mid-section of the Pine Marten chair. The runs descend in a manner that allow you to steer onto a more interesting and challenging blue as you gain confidence. The...

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#10. Beaver Creek, USA

New riders will find themselves with ample runs to choose from, especially in the Arrow and Drink of Water areas. Another great feature at Beaver Creek is the Chaos Canyon Adventure Zone, a fun park of baby-sized hits and glades for even the smallest rider to take a crack at,...

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#11. Saalbach - Hinterglemm, Austria

Beginners will find things pretty much perfect. The blue run under the Berkogel Sesselbahn gets busy but is rarely moguled even at the end of the day. The area from the top of the Kohlmaiskopf back down into Saalbach is huge and open and great for progressing. The blue down...

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#12. Tignes, France

Tignes is really looking after it’s beginners these days with a number of slopes to learn on. A number of free to ride lifts scattered around the resort should keep newbies happy for the first few days. As well as building confidence you can save money on lift passes as...

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#13. Palisades Tahoe, USA

Beginners are blessed with a perfect mountain to learn on. There are fantastic learning areas at the base of Squaw as well as another area further up the mountain beneath the lifts of Baileys Beach and Mountain Meadow. Once up and running, the smattering of greens and blues throughout

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#14. Mayrhofen, Austria

Beginners heading to Mayrhofen should head straight to the Ahorn area where a selection of modern lifts and quiet pistes make this the ideal area for finding your feet. If you are in your first week take the 8SB Ahorn lift and spend some time on pistes 1 and 2...

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#15. Puy St Vincent, France

Beginners have a decent resort to learn in. The vast majority of the lifts are all chairs, and you can start off taking some of the narrower green routes through the trees before venturing out on the wider but still gentle blue slopes which litter the resort. Unlike many resorts,...

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#16. Solden, Austria

The main runs at the top of the Giggijoch get very mogulled late in the day, but this is where most of the board schools will take you. For the best beginners pistes, proceed through the ski tunnel to reach the Tiefenbach glacier and its huge, wide, cruising blue run...

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#17. Flachauwinkl - Kleinarl, Austria

The Kleinarl side is perfect for those taking their first turns. Fast chairlifts with flat descents are the norm, you won’t find any flat bits on the abundant beginner slopes, and the pistes are well maintained; what more could you ask for. For lessons including freestyle tuition book with the...

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#18. Nozawa Onsen , Japan

Beginners have a resort very suited to learning on. The base areas such as Hikage, Nagasaka and Karasawa all have good wide learner slopes with a perfect gradient. When ready to try the gondola head up to Uenotaira and try the 2km beginner run. Despite it being in the same...

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#19. Nevado de Chillan, Chile

Beginner snowboarders are well catered for at Chillan, with good learning terrain and a well-supplied ski school. Most of the instructors here work internationally and have excellent English, so if you’re in Chile and are looking for somewhere to learn to ride, Chillan is a good option. There is a...

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#20. Galtur, Austria

Beginners are the one group of riders who will really like Galtur. The flats are easy to reach from the village and riders should have no real problems, unless they are scared of using the drag lifts that serve many of the runs (including the easy ones). Still, as the...

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