The Essential Snowboarding Equipment List
Before you hit the slopes, you’ll want to have your snowboarding gear squared away. It’s important that you use the correct equipment for your own safety, the safety of others around you, and the longevity of your equipment.
Equip yourself with the following items if you’re just starting out.
A Good Snowboard
A good snowboard is essential for your learning process, and you should be able to find one that fits your budget. Wooden snowboards are fine for beginners, but if you want a little more flexibility, fiberglass boards are the way to go.
Good Snowskis
Your snowskis are what you use to your board to travel down the hill. It’s important to by extremely durable ones for your first trip. Don’t scrimp on quality.
Good Boots
You’ll need a good pair of boots as well. The better your boots are, the easier it will be to do a lot of the snowboarding moves that you’ll learn.
Good Gloves
#1 – Snowboard, Snowboard Bag & Bindings
Before you can get out on the slopes and learn the basics of snowboarding, you’re going to need a few things. First, you’ll need a snowboard.
You will also need an effective way to carry your board around when you go from the slopes to the lifts. Lastly, you’re going to need skiing boots and bindings that will attach the skis to the snowboard.
There are a lot of different styles and choices of snowboards available, and luckily, most of them are actually based on a pretty basic premise. Here are a few things to consider when you’re looking for a snowboard:
Length
You should take the type of terrain into account when you decide on the length of board you will need. If you want to focus on freestyle riding, you’ll need a board that is shorter and more flexible. If you’re looking at spending more time on the slopes, you’ll probably want a longer board that is stiffer.
These boards are typically wider, so they are great for people who want to tackle larger features like boxes and rails.
#2 – Helmet
Wearing a good helmet is a fundamental thing, even on the bunny slopes. The most important thing is that you can assess the way the helmet fits your head. Nose, ear, and chin. It needs to fit snugly to your head so that it doesn’t wobble around when you’re on the slopes. The helmet should not be so loose that it’s always moving around as you will get head aches.
#3 – Snowboarding Goggles
There are thousands of kids who try to learn how to snowboard every winter. Most have a tendency to give up as soon as they fall a couple of times on the snow. The reason for that is simply that proper snowboarding gear and clothing is extremely expensive. And as soon as they fall, they have lost so much money to cover the cost of their gear and clothing.
That is why they give up before they are even able to master the basics. They do not know that you can buy great snowboarding equipment for relatively little amounts of money. Snowboarding goggles are a great thing to start with so we will talk about them in detail below.
Snowboarding goggles are essential for snowboarding. They protect your eyes from the wind, moisture from the snow, and anything else in the air that could be harmful to your eyes. Snow goggles can also protect your eyes from sun burn and from anything that could sneak into your eyes on the hill during your boarding.
They have straps that keep them in place and are typically relatively inexpensive so you can afford to lose three pairs before you find the one that is most comfortable. Since the goggles are designed to be light, the material is often hard and durable. That way they won’t break easily when they fall to the ground.
#5 – Pants
Most boarders choose shorts over pants but the choice is yours. Skate style pants usually have a stretch panel around the knee for mobility.
The stretch prevents tearing if you end up going down and they also look pretty cool.
There are a few variations of pants available, so if you feel the need to cover up, that won’t be a problem.
The most important thing to look for is protection. For this, you need a pair of snowboarding pants that have pads in all the right places.
The inside of the knees should have pads to protect you when you go down.
The pads on snowboarding pants usually velcro on or go into a pocket.
Other pads include the tailbone pad and the back protector. The tailbone pad will be the best friend you’ve ever had. As for back protection, that’s a decision you need to make for yourself. If you are worried, at least wear a backpack.
Snowboarding pants come either with stretchy sides or with hidden Velcro to keep them on.
The back of snowboarding pants can have a zipper or a separate section at the bottom for the tailbone pad.
The more expensive pants have additional supports and protection.
Stretch panels around the knee will allow you to bend your knees deeper when you go down.
#6 – Snowboarding Gloves
When it comes to gloves for winter sports, you need to get a few things right. Firstly, the glove fitter in the store is likely to tell you to get a glove that is two sizes larger than you think you need. This is fine, as the size of the glove you buy will likely be too big for you at the time. However, the size of the glove you choose is important. It’s tempting to go for a glove with a catchy title, like “Hercules Glove” or “Grizzly Crusher Glove”, but you’ll be better off with a simple design and good materials. Generally, look for a glove that’s waterproof, durable, and offers good insulation.
#7 – Base Layers
Base layers are designed to trap air, which keeps you warm and dry. There are three types of base layers; long sleeve tops, short sleeve tops and bottoms. Base layers can help you regulate your body temperature. This is because when you warm up, your body naturally begins to sweat. The moisture then helps to keep you cooler.
When you’re cool, your body begins to heat up and sweat. This evaporates and cools you. This process happens by itself; just think of how hot your body gets when you’re running.
Base layers are also designed to wick moisture off the skin. Because base layers don’t really trap air as well as mid-layers and outerwear, they wick moisture away considerably faster.
When you use all three pieces, you can adjust your temperature. If you’re too warm, you can simply shed a layer. If you’re too cold, add a layer. This creates a level of comfort that you couldn’t reach otherwise.
#8 – Snowboarding Socks
Snowboarding socks are designed to keep your feet warm and dry in cold climates. However, you should scrutinize the ratings carefully. After all, you want to be as comfortable as possible when snowboarding, and there’s no sense in choosing a pair of shoes with such a high rating that they stick to your feet when you sweat.
This is especially a concern if you’re going to be going up the slopes furiously, propelled by adrenaline. You don’t want to be rubbing too many layers of clothing against your feet. That could lead to chafing, which could lead to blisters.
Although you won’t use them at the start of the season, you should make sure to buy them before you buy your snowboarding boots. It’s possible for them to be a snug fit, and you don’t want to be trying to force your feet in through a tight area.
Evidently, snowboarding socks are not only a necessity but also something you should be looking forward to putting on your feet. After all, the right socks have the power to make you feel like walking on a cloud.
#9 – Backpack
A backpack might just be the most crucial thing you’ll be bringing with you on your snowboarding adventures. The key to a good riding experience is a good set of gear, and having the right gear all depends on the practicality of it.
Aside from your snowboarding equipment, everything you’ll need to survive can be placed into your backpack.
Snowboarding FAQ
What’s the difference between an alpine ski and a snowboard?
The biggest physical difference between alpine and freeride snowboards lies in the binding system. Snowboard bindings are attached to the board using a spring-loaded heel piece that allows the rider to release the board with a simple push-button. Ski bindings, on the other hand, are attached to the boots using a system that requires the rider to use an Allen key for removal.
To make the distinction even more clear, snowboards come in two basic shapes – freestyle and freeride. Freestyle boards are designed to be ridden exclusively sideways. These boards are flatter in the middle and have a rocker (inward curve) at the tip and tail. Freestyle boards usually have funky graphics and are used exclusively for tricks.
Freeride boards are designed to be ridden in any direction and feature a tapered tip and tail. These boards are more stable than freestyle boards because of the wider waist. Most snowboarders use freeride boards for all of their riding. An excellent choice for beginners is the Lib Tech Hot Knife freeride board.
Is it hard to learn to snowboard?
When Does The Snowboarding Season Start?
If you are just starting out on your snowboarding journey, one of the most important things to do is choose the right time of year. Check the snow reports, and pay attention to how the weather is when you go.
If you are interested in doing some snowboarding, the best time to begin is between November and May. During this time, the mountain is in prime condition and snowboarding is the most popular activity in Rockies resorts.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you may want to reconsider if you’re visiting Colorado in June, July, or August. This is because Colorado is prone to wildfires during the summer months and they are particularly dangerous in the mountains.
In addition, if you visit in the summer months, you could be missing out on some key events, including many student and women’s snowboarding camps, public snowboarding days, and intercollegiate games.
When Is The Best Time To Go Snowboarding?
So you’re newly on the board (the one you stand on to snowboard) and you’re wondering when exactly you should learn and practice to give yourself the best chance of mastering the sport?
We’re pleased to say that you can have the best time in any season that you go snowboarding! Great snow can be found all throughout the year, but it’s helpful to know which are the most fun to pick the best time to go snowboarding.
Spring: This is one of the best times of the year to go snowboarding for many reasons. There’s fresh, natural snow. The snow that’s on the ground is usually a little soft and powdery, and it’s not too cold! That said, it’s important to learn about renting snowboard equipment at this time too. While there are great deals to be had, it’s important to know which pieces of equipment aren’t tested and may not work properly. Also, check if your gear is compatible with the area that you’re about to visit.
Snowboard Route Difficulty – Which Route Should You Take?
To choose the right foot binding setup and the right board for your goals, you have to understand how binding systems and board types affect the difficulty of a snowboarding route.
The first thing you need to understand is that there is no standard categorization for snowboard routes. There are many standardized terms, but the difficulty of each route will depend on several factors.
You should definitely ask other riders about the difficulty of a particular route before you attempt it. Also, every time you go out into the snow, make sure you take a trial run to see how the snow is before you actually attempt a route.
Once you have an idea of what kind of difficulty the route has, it’s time to decide what foot binding you’ll need. You do this by making sure that your boot and your binding are compatible with each other.
There are three different boot strap systems, and each one is designed to accommodate a specific kind of binding system.
Don’t assume that every boot will work with every binding. Your boots should be selected with your bindings and the kind of terrain you’ll be riding in mind.
You should also make sure your bindings fit your boots properly. If bindings don’t fit your boots, they’ll dig into your heels and cause blisters or be uncomfortable.
What Does Snowboarding On-Piste Mean?
If you’re heading out for some winter fun, it’s time to get out the snowboard and hit the slopes. No matter if you’re a beginner or more experienced rider, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.
When you first head out onto the slopes, keep in mind that while there are a number of different paths, each one is designed to take you somewhere. Beginner trails are generally wide and designed to help you pick up your confidence, while the more advanced routes are usually smaller and much faster. Both are great fun, so don’t be afraid to experiment and see what suits you.
Since there are so many different slopes, conversations among snowboarders are never far from comparing their runs. This is especially true for those who are more serious about their sport.
It is not unusual to hear a conversation on the difference between being used to the trails and seeking out the long, steep and challenging runs that the professionals favor.
So, if you want to really impress your friends with your knowledge, you need to know the terminology they’re using. To snowboard on-piste, means you desire a challenging and difficult run. This will also likely include a hike of some sort before you get to your ideal run.
What Does Snowboarding Off-Piste Mean?
When you go off-piste, you are going off the marked route of the ski resort. This is something that most people don’t do in the beginning in favor of the security of staying within the boundaries.
The advantages of off-piste snowboarding, however, are multiple. First, you avoid disappointment when it snows, because you will cut your season short when you go off-piste.
- A snowboard is also better off-piste as you can carve new lines that the resort has not prepared.
- When you go off-piste, you ride less people.
- The rides are also more exciting, as they go down to the valley.
- You are also in most cases out of view of the ski patrol. In the case of an accident, you will have to get yourself out of it.
Caution should be exercised when climbing out off-piste terrain. It’s also worth noting that this type of snowboarding is not really allowed in most resorts. So if you’re keen on exploring the terrain, you will have to get off the usual routes.
Is Snowboarding Easier Than Skiing?
Snowboarding is generally thought of as an easier sport to learn than skiing. In many ways, this thinking makes a lot of sense. While skiing consists of two different motions, both movements are performed on one foot. Heels are dug in to stop, while toes are pointed and flex is used for turning.
Snowboarding is much the same. While riding a snowboard, you are typically using a one-foot peeling motion to stop on the snow. You will also feel pressure on your toes and a heel connection to the board. When you turn, you will need to use your toes to flex the board and pressure for holding your balance.
Snowboarding also allows you to do tricks easier. Because you are using your body to steer the board, you can also shift your weight around to make the board do fun things. The fact that you have less to worry about in terms of balancing also means that you are less likely to suffer a serious injury.
While both snowboarding and skiing are very fun sports, they are completely different and have very different things to teach you. Each of these sports can teach you balance and body control, both of which can be used to enhance skills in other places in life as well.
How Long Does It Take To Learn To Snowboard?
If you hate having to rent snowboards on holiday, but want to give the sport a go, you can expect to spend anywhere between just an hour to 5 days.
Although it’s totally possible you’ll get the hang of things after a day- or two, some people take a little longer.
After speaking with a few snowboarders and getting a snowy experience myself, I can confidently say that most people can learn how to snowboard in 5 days.
If you follow the steps below, you’re guaranteed to pick it up.
Learning How To Snowboard
You know that snowboarding is for you when you find yourself dreaming about it in the summer. The guy who invented snowboarding was actually trying to come up with an easier way for skiers to ride up on buses. But instead, he created one of the most fun outdoor winter sports out there. You’ll even hear snowboarders who don’t even ski say they’d rather snowboard because it’s more fun.
Still, snowboarding can be a difficult sport to master. There’s a real learning curve to it that takes a lot of time to get a handle on. But don’t let that scare you away …
This is still one of the most fun outdoor sports you can play in the wintertime. Many people travel states away to get the chance to try it and these people are not disappointed with the experience. You’ll find yourself in incredible mountain scenery with great people to share it with. Remember, you’re going to fall, so you may as well do it with great people.
Goofy Or Regular?
Deciding whether you want to snowboard either goofy or regular is a decision you should make before you ever set foot on the slopes. It is not always an easy decision to make, but once you do, never change it.
Generally speaking, a person who tends to be right footed will be a regular and a person who typically uses their left foot will be goofy.
What does it mean to be goofy or regular? To identify regular, stand as you would on your wakeboard or surfboard.
In other words, if you normally use your left foot as the back foot when you are surfing or wakeboarding, you would stand the same way on a snowboard. If you usually use your right foot as the back foot when you are boarding, you would stand the same way on a snowboard.
This concept is very similar to that of regular or goofy on a surfboard (face forward). When goofy foot surfers want to ride regular, they stand with their preferred foot forward.
For snowboarding, if you stand with your left foot in front, that is considered goofy. If you stand with your right foot in front, right foot forward on a skateboard, for example, that is considered regular.
How To Snowboard
The 10 Minute Guide For Beginners
Learning how to snowboard can be a fun and exciting experience.
Luckily for anyone having thoughts of joining in on the fun, the experts from Snowboard Canada have released a fantastic guide, packed with tips and advice to help you make the most of your time on the slopes.
Snowboard Canada offers tips for everything from selecting the right kind of equipment to coming up with a strategy that will keep you safe and upright on the slopes. The guide also covers what to wear, how to choose a resort, and what the most popular winter sports are in Canada, such as snowboarding.
The guide’s content is supplemented with great images. The first image shows a person on a snowboard tumbling down the slope. Other images show people riding on the snowboard and wearing the right clothes and equipment. There’s even one image that shows the different types of snowboard equipment.
Lastly, if you’d prefer to get everything you need at once, then Snowboard Canada recommends you head on over to Amazon, where you’ll find everything you need for a successful ride on the snow…and at a price that is hard to beat.
What you will need to snowboard:
· The following items are completely optional :
The Best Snowboarding Tricks For Beginners
Snowboarding is a great way to escape the comfort zone and indulge in some adrenaline pumping adventures. The best thing about it is the fact that you can do it anywhere.
All that you require is some good quality snow and a comfortable looking board for your feet.
Considering the fact that snowboarding has picked up a lot of momentum in this day and age, most people who’ve tried their hands at it, come back for more each year.
Snowboarding is definitely for the more adventurous people among us, considering that it’s a high-adrenaline sport that requires you to have a good sense of balance and coordination to pull off most of the tricks.
If you’re looking to try it out for the first time, use this as a guide to get started on the basics.
So, what do you need to know about snowboarding?
When it comes to the basics, snowboarding does require you to come up with your own strategy.
The basic stance for snowboarding is dependent on your height, weight, and the kind of board that you use. If you’re a shorter person, you should sit on top of the board. You can hit the bunny hill first to get started.
As you progress, you can venture onto a bigger hill and some intermediate tricks.
Fitness & Strength For Snowboarding
Most people make the mistake of overtraining and missing the fun of winter sports.
The key to successful snowboarding, if you want to do it long-term, is to give yourself enough time to rest and recover between the sessions.
Focus on fitness, strength and core workouts.
Skiing demands a lot of strength. When you snowboard, your body has to constantly adjust to a new balance. This means you need to strengthen your core and lower body muscles. Winter is all about strength.
Stretching & Flexibility
{1}. Your muscles and tendons shorten during winter sports, and build up lactic acid.
{2}. To avoid injury, stretch after each day of snowboarding, and even once at night before going to bed.
{3}. A good way to improve strength and flexibility is to try yoga.
{4}. Keep stretching even after pre-season.
The Best Exercises For Snowboarding
There are so many different exercises and workouts that you can do to improve your snowboarding game. If you like, you can check out the section on stretching in our article on how to snowboard. There are certain exercises that are particularly good for snowboarding.
Here is a very short list of the best ones:
- Twisting The Suckers off Trucks
- (Stem Bark)
These are effective even if you do them wrong.
First, you want to get a solid footing. Stand and stride the board with your body turned to the left. This will allow you a lot of balance if you are attacked by a Roo. Next, you need to twist the board using your shoulders, hips, and knees. Do this in a way that will cause the right front truck to twist slightly higher than the left.
Now, for a more advanced exercise, you can try to do stem bark with actual trucks.
Stem Bark with Trucks
This can be done in a variety of ways. One of the more popular is to grab your right front truck and let all your weight hang there. Try to twist the truck up the stem of the board.
Planning Your First Snowboarding Holiday
Planning your first snowboarding holiday? All you need is a few supplies and a willingness to learn and you’re set to hit the slopes.
Planning your first snowboarding holiday can be a little overwhelming because there are many things to consider. Not only do you have to decide where to go, but you also need to know all of the things you’ll need for your trip. This could be a little longer than a week, so you’ll want to be prepared.
Get Snowboarding Lessons
Nothing beats learning from a pro. They will help you overcome all the challenges that you are likely to encounter while learning to snowboard.
There are various types of lessons that you can choose from.
Private or Group Lessons: Private lessons are best for beginners because you get undivided attention. If you are completely new to snowboarding, dedicate the first few days to learning all the basics.
Resort or Local Self-Guiding Programs: If you have already acquired basic snowboarding skills, then it’s time you try a self-guiding program. The goal of this program is to teach you advanced techniques on how to snowboard.
The Best Places To Go Snowboarding
There are so many mountains and hills where you can go to snowboarding. You will encounter a lot of beautiful sights over there and feel the experience. You might want to choose a smaller mountain that has less tourists.
If you try to go to a small mountain, you are able to enjoy more time snowboarding that you might not get if you go to the big one. You have to be careful when you choose a place since there are some mountains that have harsh weather conditions all the time.
The adventurous spirit is something that you should have but you have to be careful about it. Have a safety helmet on whenever you go snowboarding even if you only want to try it for the first time. It is a good idea to bring a companion that you know for some good old company. You can read this “The 10 minute guide for beginners” if you are a newbie.
BONUS: The Best Snowboarding Websites & YouTube Channels
If you want to learn how to step up your snowboarding game, take a look at these 3 websites for beginners. When you get the basics down, you will be able to have more fun, improve your skills and stand out from the crowd.
{1}. Ride the Rockies: This website is the best resource for anyone who wants to ride at Colorado’s Keystone Resort.
{2}. Snowboard Addiction: This forum belongs to the video channel. But the forum is very helpful for conversations about snowboarding equipment.
{3}. Snowboarding for Beginners: This YouTube channel offers snowboarding instruction videos. If you are a beginner, go watch some of the videos and keep the website bookmarked because it will come in handy later.
These websites and channels are the best tools you can have as a beginner snowboarder.
Snowboarding Websites
A lot of beginner snowboarders spend their first year or so online learning all the essentials of snowboarding before heading off to the mountain. It’s easier when you have all the info at your fingertips. This way you don’t waste time learning the basics.
Snowboarding YouTube Channels
There are countless YouTube channels and documentaries dedicated towards explaining how to get started snowboarding. If you want the short and sweet version, the secret is to know that it’s not easy.
Don’t expect to just strap on a board and glide down the hill. Like most snowboarding videos you see online, there’s a lot of laughter at first, but they’re all working hard and pushing themselves. Even though it takes some practice, all it takes to be a champ is to keep at it.
A free tip that anyone can use is to learn how to use the edges while snowboarding. It’s all in the legs. You have to use them to stay balanced. The edges provide a stable platform for you to keep the board moving and not face plant while you try to learn.
It’s fun trying to snowboard on your very first time, and it’s also fine to learn with friends, but arm yourself with some of the basics before you hit the slopes. Follow a few guides on YouTube, and take it easy at the beginning.
The best of luck and safe travels on the mountain.
What’s Next?
So you’ve got your new board and gear, and now you want to know what to do. You’ve got a good start to learn some basics and it should be smooth sailing from there, right?
Well, if you were a swimmer, a runner or a cyclist, that’s how it would work. But snowboarding is, well, different. Once you leave the ground, you’re no longer on terra firma.
Everyone knows that learning to ride a bike is the best way to truly learn to ride a bike. Once you do that, you understand it. Snowboarding doesn’t work that way. There’s no counterpart to the balancing act that you do with your two wheels.
So rather than just focus on the basics, you need to study the sport in much the same way that a martial artist studies his discipline. You need to understand the underlying theory and the philosophy behind it all.