A flick of the back foot swung the Rossignol Ampage Vol 2 sideways under our novice rider to scrub speed, and it's the cheapest board in the guide, though its tips flap on firm, salted ice. It scores 85 out of 100 and ranks #7 in our best beginner snowboards guide as our best budget beginner snowboard.
What is the best budget beginner snowboard?
Rossignol Ampage Vol 2: the best budget beginner snowboard. It scored 85 and is the cheapest board in this guide, with 9.5 for catch-free turning and a back-foot flick that spun it sideways to scrub speed.
Rossignol Ampage Vol 2
- Length tested: 155 cm
- Weight: 2,790 g
- Profile: AmpTek Auto Turn rocker
- Shape: Twin freestyle
Bottom Line : The cheapest of the ten and the softest to steer. It goes soft at the tips once the snow is firm.
Pros
- Catch-Free Turning 9.5: our novice rider found it easy to steer in tight spots
- Low-Speed Control 9.0: a flick of the back foot spun it sideways to scrub speed
- The cheapest board of the ten
- Extruded base showed minimal wear and the edges had no dings
Cons
- Tips flapped and the tail washed out on firm, salted ice
- No backbone for aggressive carves or heavier riders
- Room to Grow 7.5
On the Glacier
The Ampage hand-flexed to a plush 3 out of 10, as soft as the K2 Standard, with rocker in the nose and tail and a mellow camber zone between the inserts. The twin shape keeps the tips light and nimble.
Our novice rider enjoyed how readily it steered in tight spots. On the teaching pitch, whenever he felt he was going too fast, a flick of his back foot swung the board sideways to shave speed. He described it as light and cooperative.
The extruded base showed minimal wear after the test, and the steel edges came through with no dings.
Where It Asks Something of You
Amy then took the Ampage down the steeper morning pitch. On firm, salted ice the board went limp underfoot: the soft tips flapped, vibration came up through her feet, and the tail slid away on firm heelside checks.
It lacks the backbone for aggressive carves, and a heavier rider will find it flaps sooner. That holds room to grow at 7.5.
Spec Sheet vs Our Test
AmpTek Auto-Turn rocker. Rossignol says it gives incredible maneuverability and float. The maneuverability showed in the back-foot flick. We rode no deep snow, so float is untested. Great at low speed, soft on firm snow.
Twin freestyle flex, softer and symmetrical. The maker says it gives easy control and forgiveness. Both held on gentle snow, and both went noodly on hard snow. Forgiving where it counts for a first week.
Entry-level freestyle progression. Rossignol sells it as a board for freestyle progression. It teaches the basics and runs out of answers once a rider wants to carve. A first-season board.
Should You Buy the Rossignol Ampage Vol 2?
The Ampage is the cheapest board of the ten, and it's an easy, light board for lighter beginners, younger riders and casual novices who want a gentle first season.
A heavier beginner should go to the Rossignol Evader, the same family with a stiffer tail. A rider who wants a twin that lasts should look at the Ride Agenda.
Compare With
- Burton Instigator: our best overall beginner snowboard.
- Arbor Element Decon: our best rocker snowboard for beginners.
- Ride Agenda: our best beginner freestyle snowboard.
- Nitro Prime Raw: our best stable beginner snowboard.
- K2 Standard: our best beginner snowboard for nervous riders.
- Salomon Sight: our best beginner to intermediate snowboard.
- K2 Raygun: our best beginner snowboard for heavier riders.
- Head Daymaker LYT: our best beginner snowboard for icy conditions.
- Rossignol Evader: our best all-mountain snowboard for beginners.
See all ten, and how we tested them, in our best beginner snowboards guide.
Ranked in our Best Snowboards for Beginners guide. All our tested picks, guides and reviews are in our Best Snowboards hub.
Editor's Note, 12 November 2026: New review, from the field notes our crew kept on Horstman Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb in June and July 2026.
Our Testers
This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested by Amy Carter, with a novice rider co-testing.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. A former commercial outdoor copywriter and gear journalist who runs Top-Notch Outdoor as an independent publisher, with no brand-funded trips and no supplied ad copy.
- Amy Carter, Freestyle Snowboard Tester. An action sports videographer and terrain park builder, and our strongest snowboarder.
