Curated Snowboarding Expert Arielle Busch got her hands on the 2024 Roxy Women’s Dawn Snowboard this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every rider is different; if you have any questions about the Dawn or need recommendations on which board would be best for you, reach out to a Snowboarding Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Roxy claim about this board? [Arielle] Roxy claims that the Dawn is a twin shape that has an easy-rise rocker profile and a soft, forgiving flex that’s ideal for beginner riders on the up.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this board? [Arielle] My overall impression of the Roxy Dawn is that is incredibly easy to turn on. I knew being a more beginner, intermediate board that it would be very, very approachable. And that’s exactly what it was. It was easy to ride and make turns.

Carving

How does it turn? [Arielle] With that easy-rise rocker, you are going to find it very easy to turn on this thing. So, I really liked that because that’s what a lot of beginner snowboarders struggle with, honestly, just making those first turns. And this is going to do the hard work for you a little bit.

What is the edge hold like? [Arielle] Given that it has mellow rocker in it, I actually think that’s what’s allowed me to not feel so out of control. On higher speeds, I was able to stay very much in control and didn’t feel as squirrelly as I would have normally felt on a more soft beginner flexing, less camber profile board.

How damp is the board? Do you feel any underfoot chatter? [Arielle] As I pick up some speed and hit some of that less groomed, more uneven terrain, it starts to feel a little choppy, a little chattering, and a little unstable.

How does it perform at speed? [Arielle] I tried to see how fast this thing would go, and I’ll be honest, I got it pretty fast, and I was able to maintain contact with the snow. I didn’t slip out at all, but every once in a while I got a little squirrelly, and I definitely knew that this probably wasn’t at its happiest at those higher speeds.

How is its energy/acceleration? [Arielle] I thought this did have a speed limit for pushing the envelope a little bit. So, if you are a beginner boarder looking at this as your first deck, but you are kind of pushing that limit, and you’re trying to squeeze as much out of this board as you can get, you can definitely push the limits on this. However, you will start to feel that there’s not a lot of camber in this board and not too much control compared to some other boards in the lineup that are out there.

Freestyle

How is it for freestyle snowboarding? [Arielle] This board definitely allows a beginner snowboarder to get playful and test out some of those freestyle movements.

Could you speak about playfulness and pop? [Arielle] You can definitely press this board. It definitely has a little bit of playfulness to it.

Is it good for riding switch? [Arielle] Given that the shape of this board is a true twin, it makes it very easy to set it up. You can’t get confused. But I was able to ride switch very easily, which means that if you’re a regular rider, but you want to ride goofy, this is definitely going to be your best bet in terms of learning how to ride switch.

How is it on jumps? [Arielle] In terms of jumping and stuff like that, you definitely do feel the rocker more. And it takes some effort to get this thing up in the air. If you are looking to jump higher and reach for the stars, there are some other profile boards that’ll get you there.

Freeride

How is it in powder? [Arielle] Usually the more camber you feel in a board, the more contact point you’re going to have and the more secure you’re going to be on the snow. But because this board comes with Magne-Traction, I definitely felt it gripping on the snow.

How is it in uneven terrain and chunder? [Arielle] I kind of tested its limits, and I brought it onto some more intermediate blue terrains, even hitting some uneven terrain just to see how it would hold in control. There are definitely some contact points on it, so you do feel quite stable.

How is it riding in the trees? How is its maneuverability? [Arielle] It’s meant for those beginner riders who are looking to progress in linking their turns, in through their carve turns but really just getting those skidded turns down, maybe doing a little bit of it through some easier trees and some easier bumps. And this board handled just fine, kind of skimming the surface of all of those board skills.

What terrain is this board good for? [Arielle] I didn’t get to take it on green terrain, which is where I actually do think this board would kind of thrive.

What kind of terrain should riders avoid with it? [Arielle] If you’re trying to get better at some technical lines or jump off big boulders, things like that, there are probably some other, better decks in the line.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to? [Arielle] For a beginner snowboarder who has never been on the mountain before and is just learning how to make the first turn, I think this board is going to be very approachable, forgiving, and easy to turn.

Who should avoid this board, are there other better options out there for them? [Arielle] Anyone who is trying to just hang out in the park and trying to do anything big mountain.

Snowboards work differently for different types of riders. If you want help finding the right board for you, reach out to Arielle or any other Snowboarding Expert here on Curated for free, personalized recommendations on the best board for you.