Starting Out

Snowboarding can be a very fun and satisfying sport to take up when you know the proper methods. Like all board sports, (Skateboarding, Surfing, etc.) snowboarding involves placing both feet on a single platform or board. The easiest way to tell if you are "Goofy Footed," riding with your right foot forward, or "Regular Footed," riding with your left foot forward, is to stand and jump forwards while turning 90 degrees. Whichever way your feet land, this will more than likely be your natural snowboarding stance. And don't let the names fool you. Being "Goofy Footed" does not mean you are abnormal. I myself am a right-handed Goofy Footer along with several of my friends, and many of my right-handed friends are Regular stance as well. It is simply a preference thing.

Picking Out the Board That is Right for You
As a beginner, odds are you don't need the hottest new 800 dollar freestyle deck. The first thing to know about picking out a deck is the size. Snowboards are measured in length in centimeters, and available in widths ranging from thin to extra wide. A good all mountain board should be anywhere from the bottom of your chin to the tip of your nose in length, while it is ok to have a shorter deck for freestyle. A good rule of thumb is that shorter decks are easier to rotate and used mostly for freestyle, where longer decks tend to be faster and better for carving powder.

Width is pretty easy to judge on account of boot and binding size. Your boots step into your bindings which are attached to the snowboard. Unless you are very very tall and have huge feet, I do not recommend getting a wide or extra wide deck because they tend to feel pretty cumbersome and difficult to manage. A good analogy would be that riding a wide deck would feel like trying to carve a mountain with a sheet of ply wood. Size counts here.

Your boots should be comfortable because if you are lucky, you will be spending a lot of time in them. Again, how you wear them is simply a matter of preference. Personally I like my boots to be tight enough to cut off the circulation when I first put them on because during the course of the day, your feet will get hot and stretch them out making the boots more comfortable and mold to your feet. Also, tighter boots means better board response. I do have friends I ride with, however, that love their boots as loose as can be because it takes a lot of pressure off of their feet.

When it comes to bindings, MAKE 'EM TIGHT. Your bindings are what secures you to your ride, so they should be firm and unyielding in their attachment to the deck as well as to your feet. Bindings are key when it comes to board control. I recommend getting bindings that have a toe-cap toe strap because I know what it is like to ride with a normal toe strap, and it gets pretty painful. The toe-cap is great because it pushes your foot deeper into the binding and doesn't put any pressure on your foot, it puts it on your nice, solid boot.

Oh and don't forget the Helmet. I used to think they were incredibly lame, but since buying one, it has saved my noggin and my life multiple times. It's a good investment.