They’re who we were when we first strapped in; excited, and looking for any and every opportunity to go shredding. Chances are, you’ve been looking for ways to get more days on-hill, as well, and the best way to experience them as a parent is with your littlest riding buddy. But, for the best experience, they need the right board. Luckily for everyone, there are some amazing boards out there for kids to learn and progress on these days.
As parents ourselves, this past winter, we gathered up a posse of kids from four to fourteen, a stack of boards ranging from 90 to 147cm, and chased them all around the mountain. So, get out the wishlist, and start checking those boxes, because you know you’d love to be doing just that with your kids this season.
Burton Mini Grom
A catch-resistant convex base and reverse camber make the Mini Grom a great option for the youngest and greenest of riders who want to take things to the resort. Add an optional recoiling Riglet leash, and parents can manage speed from behind on little riders’ first drops, and progress from there. $239.95 Sizes: 80, 90, 100
I really like the way it carves, and it’s really fun to jump. I think I like it best on the rails. – Loegynn
Burton Smalls
Dear Burton, please make in a 155! – Parent. The Smalls is a great all-around cruiser to hop on once turns are being connected, and young riders are beginning to venture off on their own, exploring more of the resort. A flat to reverse camber core helps with edge catches while transitioning from edge to edge, and the camber profile also makes it fun and easier to press on boxes and rails. But seriously, 155. $349.95 Sizes: 125, 130, 143, 138, 142 (pink or blue)
I like spinning on the Smalls, and it feels like it locks in on rails. – Hudson
The Smalls is a bit stiffer, and I felt most comfortable on it going fast. – Harrison
Burton Hometown Hero Smalls
The Hometown Hero Smalls lives in a bit of a league of its own, in that it is an incredibly capable powder and freeride board. Just like the adult version, the Smalls features a setback stance, fair amount of taper, and a good amount of early rise in the nose, which begins lifting just in front of the front foot. Together, these features aid in getting the board on plane in powder, something which is a challenge for shorter, lighter riders. On groomed terrain, the Hometown Hero Smalls likes to go fast! The tapered shape is really fun to carve, and it loves blasting straight airs in the park. $399.95 Sizes: 130 140
This thing is like a rocket ship! -Hudson
Never Summer Shredder
Complete with Never Summer’s versatile Hybrid Rocker-Camber, the Shredder helps little ones learn the basics, but is enough board to keep them charging through and progressing through until the end of the season. Reverse camber between the feet gives the Shredder a nimble feel, with easy turn initiation, and the positive-camber sections under each foot provides stability, and transfers energy for poppy ollies and fun carves. $269.99 Sizes: 80, 90, 100, 110
The Shredder turned amazing when I was doing big, fast long carves! – Loegynn
Never Summer Proto Wilder
Once they’re ready to step it up a bit, the Proto Wilder is a solid performer in the park, and as young riders push their limits. A true twin with reverse triple camber, the Proto Wilder’s initially softer feel ramps up as you flex it, and the three positive camber pockets engage. Once loaded up, the core snaps off of jump lips and rockets out of carves. $429.99 Sizes: 137, 140, 144
I really like how great the Proto Wilder is at holding an edge and it was very poppy and fun on little jumps! – Maddy
The Proto Wilder blasts off of lips, and I like the way it feels on bigger jumps. – Hudson
Nidecker Cheat Code Youth
The all-new Cheat Code is a great board for building confidence as young riders begin exploring the park. A softer, but poppy flex, paired with early rise in the tip and tail help with hang ups on features, as well while connecting turns. $279.95 Sizes: 125, 130, 135, 139, 142
The Cheat Code felt really comfortable cruising all over the mountain. – Taylor
I like how soft the Cheat Code is. It’s fun to jib on. – Hudson
The Cheat Code was super playful and felt great riding regular and switch It was also really fun and flexible! – Maddy
Nidecker Sensor Youth
If you’re an absolute park ripper, the Sensor Junior will take whatever you can dish out. Positive camber between the feet loads energy for blasting off of lips, up onto rails, and for stability on landings, but a slight bit of early rise just outside of the bindings makes the Sensor Junior press easily, and also makes it a bit more versatile on those powder days. $319.95 Sizes: 139, 143
I like the Sensor Youth because it is really easy to maneuver while hitting jumps and rails. I also like the side kick feature for park so you’re less likely to catch an edge on a rail and you can land on your edge harder on a jump. – Gunner
The Sensor rips on the jumps! I feel really confident landing on it. – Hudson
Ride Lowride
A friendly, completely flat-based camber profile, the Lowride checks a bunch of boxes for beginners. Between the bindings, the Lowride is quite soft, making for easy turn transitions, but underfoot and out toward the tip and tail, the Lowride is stiffer. The combination makes for a board that is easy-riding at lower speeds, but still engages very well at higher speeds, making it a great option for beginners to advance with. $269.95 Sizes: 75, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130
The soft waist on the Lowride helps it turn really smoothly, and I like it all over the resort. – Harrison
Ride Zero Jr.
For the all-around park shredder, the true-twin Zero likes to party. A positive camber with slight early rise at the tip and tail gives the Zero a pressy, fun character, but thanks to the addition of carbon inlays splaying out from the inserts to the contact points, the tip and tail have enough torsional stiffness to help keep from washing out. $359.95 Sizes: 135, 142, 147
The Zero is very predictable, and felt really good all over the park. It’s an amazing park board. – Holden
Rome Minishred
Mild-cambered with a 3D Diamond tip and tail, the Minishred makes for an easy advancement to a bigger board once linking turns and shredding the resort has been mastered. The Minishred’s softer flex is nicely tooled to a more beginner rider, but is versatile enough to still send it on! $249.95 Sizes: 90, 100, 110, 120
Honestly, the Minishred felt great on everything; jumps, boxes, turning. I love it! – Nico
I felt like I was surfing on the Minishred. It’s fun and loose. – Harrison
Rome Slapstick
The Slapstick is a lot of fun for the lighter rider who is looking to explore and advance in the park. The Slapstick’s 3D Diamond tip and tail contour lifts the contact points up off of the snow slightly, which helps riders transition more smoothly between turns, as well as reduce the chances of catching an edge on rails, and on-snow. $359.95 Sizes: 132, 135, 138, 141, 144, 147
The Slapstick is a fun all-around board for the whole resort! – Hudson
Salomon Team Package
A one-stop setup for your little one, the Team comes complete with bindings and a leash, ready for those first descents. The flat camber, and slightly convex base aid in helping learn side slipping, turning, and building confidence in learning edge control. $359.95 (board, binding, and removable leash) Sizes: 80, 90, 100
I liked that I could make turns easy and that it was comfortable to jump. It looks really cool and the bindings were comfortable! – Ellery
Salomon Dancehaul Grom
The Dancehaul Junior rides exactly how it looks: Fast and fun! Just like the adult version, the Dancehaul Junior’s tapered shape, long nose and setback stance excel in powder and carving. It’s also a lot of fun blasting off of jumps in the park. Carving, it holds a smooth line, and is fairly forgiving, thanks to a softer torsional flex, which is a great balance for lighter riders. $369.95 Sizes: 125, 135
The Dancehaul is a lot of fun in powder, carving, and on jumps. – Hudson
