Wintersports
Snowboarding
East Coast vs. West Coast snowboarding
East coast and west coast snowboarding are totally different experiences thanks to differences in elevation, temperature and climate.
“Copper Mountain in Colorado is a kind of home away from home for me,” snowboarder Zeb Powell said. “I also like how creative and heavy Keystone’s park is. But the East Coast is home.”
Powell, who is originally from North Carolina, hints at something that snowboarders come to learn when they traverse the country looking for the best ski areas. East coast and west coast snowboarding are totally different experiences thanks to differences in elevation, temperature and climate.
Zeb Powell at Red Bull Slide In-Tour at Copper Mountain in Frisco, Colorado
© Brian Nevins / Red Bull Content Pool
As athletes like Ben Ferguson, who starred in the film "Fleeting Time" quickly learned, the West Coast offers powder days and lots of natural snow, while the East Coast has icy slaloms, often relying on man-made snow.
Below we look at snowboarding on the East Coast vs. the West Coast to help you decide where to go on your next snowboarding tour.
01
Elevation and Weather Conditions
Elevation is one of the first differences to consider. Altitude is no joke in some of the western ski resorts. Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado, for example, sits at 13,150 feet, as is the case for many of the other Colorado ski resorts. If you’re planning a holiday, it might actually be a good idea to arrive a day or two before you hit the slopes, simply so you can adjust to the altitude.
If you don’t give your body time to adjust before you hit the mountain, you could experience signs of altitude sickness, such as dizziness or fatigue. Drink plenty of water, too, because, at higher altitudes, your body can become dehydrated easily.
02
West Coast Powder
Hearing a west coast snowboarder’s excitement when they talk about fresh powder (or “pow”), you might just assume that the West Coast is superior for snowboarding. It’s certainly true that fresh powder—light, freshly fallen snow that hasn’t been packed down by skis and snowboards—is quite fun to weave through down a mountain.
Brock Crouch at Mammoth Mountain unbound terrain park Mammoth Lakes
© Peter Morning / Red Bull Content Pool
However, the sheer magnitude of fresh powder out west can be excessive at times, to the point that it becomes difficult to snowboard. For example, at the beginning of 2023, Mammoth Mountain in California received 54 inches in some parts of its park during a single storm. If you think that is a lot, check out Jackson Hole resort in Wyoming. It averages about 458 inches of snowfall per year!
03
East Coast Ice
High humidity levels in the air on the East Coast make the snow, even stuff that’s just fallen, a little icier. Snowstorms aren’t as common on the East Coast, so when older snow melts and hardens after a few days or weeks, it can become pretty crunchy, which you’ll definitely feel when you snowboard, especially when you cut.
There are some benefits to icier snow, though. For example, more densely packed snow is preferable if you like park riding, hitting jumps, and practicing tricks. The Red Bull Slide-In Tour took place on the East Coast primarily, where there are hundreds of resorts with the perfect type of snow, all within about five hours of each other. (This year's Red Bull Slide-In Tour marks the first time the tour is expanding outside the East Coast.)
Benny Milam at the Red Bull Slide-In Tour at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, NH
© Brian Nevins / Red Bull Content Pool
Snow falls less frequently on the East Coast, which is why most ski resorts create their own snow. Man-made snow is typically dense, which also contributes to that icy feeling, as it lacks the true crystallization that natural fresh powder has.
04
Equipment
Safety should always be a priority whether you are boarding on the East Coast or the West Coast. That means that you should always wear a helmet and goggles in addition to standard snowboard equipment, which includes boots, board, and bindings.
East Coast:
You may also want to wear additional layers of padding, especially if you’re a beginner. Harder snow could lead to harder falls. Impact gear to cover your legs, back, abdomen, or arms might also be a good idea to soften any spills you take.
East coast snowboards are actually designed differently, with extreme edge control. This means they have serrated edges like a knife, they are a little heavier, and they have a stiff flex. This design offers better control on the ice.
West Coast:
- You may want to wear an array of mid and base layers and a waterproof jacket, especially if you are generally cold. While the dry snow has cold temperatures, the heavy snow days can be a lot warmer.
- West coast snowboards take into account the fresh powder. You want a longer, stiffer, and wider board to increase your float in deep powder. We also recommend a rockered board, which means both the nose and the tail of your board tip up. Rockered boards also have a downward curve in the middle of the board.
Zeb Powell at the Red Bull Slide-In Tour stop in Soda Springs, California
© Allison Jaeger / Red Bull Content Pool
Whether east or west, your snowboarding gear can get soaked after a day on the mountain. If you don’t take proper precautions, which means drying out your gear at the end of the day, it may be wet the next, which can make for some uncomfortable boarding!
Conclusion
Suffice it to say, there are plenty of places where must-watch snowboarding takes place all over America.
Both coasts are home to some awesome ski towns—including those western states that aren’t exactly “coastal,” like Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and even Alaska.
