Snowboarding Checklist

This would be a great thing to start out with. Check out your local skiing resort for a snowboarding course.

Be sure to get good, new or almost new equipment that is in excellent shape, and will provide more than adequate protection.

Becoming a member of a club will help you bond with other snowboarders, and give you more opportunities you might not otherwise get.

This comes with time on a personal level, so don't push yourself. Realize things take time.

Snowboarding means dressing in thick layers, so that they heat is trapped around your body.

This is easy to say, but for some hard to do, so use your common sense, and stop if you are pushing too hard.

Never take off down the hill without a helmet on; your skull and brain are too vulnerable.

These are important for eye protection - the wind rushing in your face and the snow blowing back into your face can be quite cutting.

Some snowboarders like to keep these separate from their goggles; either way, the glare of the sun off the snow is blinding, so be careful.

While this can look odd, falling while you snowboard can be painful, so get the best that you can afford.

Like your buttocks and hips, your back will want to be protected when you fall so get the best protection possible.

Your wrists take a lot of abuse when snowboarding, so keep them well covered and protected, too.

Two kinds are needed; one for snowboarding, and one for tromping back to base after.

You'll need three of these; one to put your boots in, one for your gear, and the last for cargo to use on your vehicle.

Keeping your hands safe from frostbite is important, so invest in high quality lined gloves.

These fitted hats are designed to keep the warmth from seeping out of the top of your head.

Make sure that any jacket you buy is well insulated, and designed so that it can be used for snowboarding.

Insulation is a key factor here, while not being too bulky at the same time.

This is common sense for anyone; make sure that these are thick, but NOT cotton.

There are several to have: a mid-layer, base layer, and a recovery layer. Be sure to put them on appropriately, and you'll be toasty warm.

Any activity in the sun, or that reflects the sun, requires sunscreen.

Going down the slopes or course does dry out your lips, so have some lip balm handy to avoid cracked lips.

For memory's sake, some people may want to attach a small camera to their helmet to remember how much fun they had going down a certain slope.

These are a great way to keep your boots from being sopping wet, and causing problems for your feet as well.

For snowboarders who are going to continually snowboard, these are the best thing to have, instead of buying high-priced individual tickets.

Small warmers that can be slipped in your pockets and activated by pressure are worth their weight in gold.