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Comment by skibz | Hacker News Reader

Can anybody recommend some affordable snowboarding destinations for beginners?

The two cheapest places I've ever been to is Gudauri in Georgia and Karakol in Kyrgyzstan. In Europe, you can try Serbia or Slovenia

Prices in US and Canada are fucking insane

Can't recommend a location as it purely depends on where you are but look for places:

- that does snowboard rentals so that you can try before you buy (definitely buy after you're certain that you'll keep doing it)

- that has nice easy pistes for beginners

- has good, certified instructors (don't try to learn it yourself)

- nice weather and powder snow with nice resorts: you should enjoy the whole thing after all!

If Bay Area California, try Boreal. It's open til 8pm. You'll get in a lot of practice runs for your money.

But once you know what you’re doing, nothing in Tahoe comes close to Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley.

I was impressed by Squaw Valley. Had a lot of fun there.

For instance there is a line called "Broken Arrow". I have never had so little hand holding on a piste. You get dumped on the top of a peak. Good luck, only one way down.

Squallywood the one time I was there seemed to either be completely boring or completely gnarly, not much in between. Much preferred Alpine Meadows. And Homewood has some stupendous views and would be beginner friendly.

Yeah Alpine Meadows is the default spot for me when I go to Tahoe. I’ll only go to Squaw on a non-holiday weekday with new snow.

The resort and the pubs were really cosy. The whole ambience made it feel as if it was in a movie.

Anywhere is good for beginners. Just look for the most affordable half-day tickets.

It is not an affordable sport, however it is definitely worthwhile.

That entirely depends where you're travelling from.

Where are you?

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