Snowboarding is fantastic but along the journey, particularly at the beginning we will make loads of common mistakes, here is my list with a few others added just to help any new boarders that are too impatient to wait.

 

 

I want a new snowboard - we are all guilty of this one and it can start even before you have strapped yourself into a binding. Graphics and big brand names are the devil when looking at your first snowboard, always remember you are new to this so don’t go for a expert board just because all the reviews say it’s great. A beginners stick will progress you quicker and think about a used but good one so you can sell it without wasting loads of cash after you actually do get to an advanced beginner or intermediate level.

Any boots will do - Massive mistake, uncomfortable boots will slow your progression, stop you connecting with your ride, shorten your riding hours and possibly just stop you from boarding as it is too hard and too painful. Go to your local independent retailer, try loads on and remember that the entry level boots from a quality company will have loads of features from their other models and offer great value.

This looks easy - I will just get on a hill and teach myself or my mate Bob will tell me how to do it. I can’t stress this one enough “GET SOME LESSONS” it will make your whole snowboarding life better and you will be doing the really amazing stuff sooner if you get a good basic understanding of what to do.

Any clothing will do - NO you can’t just use some waterproofish over trouser on top of your jeans, NO you can’t wear the wool gloves that you wear to walk the dog, NO you can’t just wear that thick jumper you got off auntie Mavis last year. It does not need to be expensive, I guarantee you could kit yourself out for less than £100 for new pants, jacket, socks and gloves.

It won’t hurt when you fall on snow - so wrong, packed snow can feel like concrete when you hit it so think about crash pants, knee pads and wrist guards. You may not use them after you get good at falling or better still, you get good at not falling. I have not mentioned a helmet, it’s your head and your decision but please give it some serious thought, I would never go out without my helmet on.

 

 

This snowboarding is amazing, I’m going to buy all the gear now - just stop and think about it, you are probably not going boarding for a little while so plan your purchases, read guides, read reviews, go to your local independent retailer and ask the dude with the scruffy beard and half a tanned face for his personal suggestions then go away and think about it some more.

I am five foot ten so I need a 158 - cobblers, weight is more important than height when getting a snowboard and each manufacturer has a suggested size for your weight but remember this is just a guide. You may find a smaller or larger size works better for you so try as many as you can, try all your mates boards or find a store that will let you demo them but don’t take the p#ss.

I need all my gear to be the same brand and designer - yes, looking good can be important to some people but your clothing needs to be functional first, you probably will have stuff in your pockets so think about pocket placement and yes I know this sounds a little odd but I have bought a couple of jackets/pants and wished the pockets were bigger, smaller or in a different place.

Thick insulation or layers? - good question, current thinking is leaning toward more layers of thinner garments but this again is down to personal preference, I’m - shell longer jacket, tech fleece, wicking T-shirt and I carry a backpack to put the fleece in when I get too hot. I did two years before wearing a backpack but now it’s just too handy not to have.

Bindings are just bindings, right? - Wrong, they are the interface between you and your board so choose them wisely and again, take advise

 

 

I am great now and never need lessons - I would suggest otherwise, I try to get at least one lesson every season as we all get little bad habits and we all have areas that we can improve on.

Everyone I know wants to talk about snowboarding - sorry not true, I don’t understand it either but non snow people don’t understand, don’t care and will ask “when are you going skiing”. Just tell them the month and move on, they are just being polite and almost always don’t care.

My stick is perfect but I want that new one - It’s an addiction, but nobody gets hurt so just do it.

Take as many photo’s as you can and get an action style video camera, you will find the benefits of this during the closed season when you can have your computer screen saver as your holiday pictures and when you’re really missing the snow, play back a video of yourself and I guarantee you will grin from ear to ear.

You probably will visit a snowboard forum or two and there are a couple that I drop in on regularly.

Resort webcams – some people get addicted to watching internet porn while snowboarders and skiers get addicted to watching resort webcams and your addiction will get to fever level for the week leading up to you trip away. I am in control of that addiction now but in my early days I could check the webcam and then check it again 15 minutes later just to see if a magic storm had dumped 30cms.

You will become obsessed with getting to the gondola first in the morning so you can hit the fresh powder before anyone else, this will never change and is still one of my favourite things about snowboarding. 

You will become a powder hound and if you see a piece of fresh you will want to ride it, this will never change.

You will see every lump, bump and obstacle as a feature that was put there just for you to pop off, ollie over, grind on, tail tap or basically use to make you look more amazing than you already are.

You will just understand, impossible to explain but no explanation is needed when you actually understand.