Snowboarding Holiday, What do I need?

Question

Hi, I've just signed up to go on a snowboarding holiday with some friends but it's my first time on the white stuff!! So I don't know what I'm going to need??? I'm only going for a week and I've hired all the equipment but should I buy a ski jacket and goggles etc?? Any recommendations for where I should buy ski jackets or trousers? Also trainers will be fine, right? Thanks!

Answer 1

You'll need a jacket, some type of snowboarding pants, defintley goggles, a helmet, gloves. You should also check the wearther with where you are going to know how many layers you'll be needing. There are many great websites and stores out there that you can purchase everything at. A great website to check out would be burton.com. They have everythig you'll need and can also direct you to other websites depending on how much you are willing to spend and your style. Good luck and get lots of rest, you'll need it. Make sure you strech good and have a hot bath afterwards you'll need it. You'll be very sore!!

Answer 2

I imagine from "trainers" and "hire" that you are from the UK and going to Europe. There is plenty of snow as Austria and Switzerland just got dumped on the last 2 weeks, before that was bad, though.

As a beginner, you should try to get economical jacket, goggles and pants at a mega-sports store that has lots of different type of equipment for all sports. The quality is not great, but the prices are low. You are better off spending less for the lower quality stuff as a beginner and then invest in the higher quality stuff later

Answer 3

For six days skiing you're gonna need:

- Ski or snowboarding Jacket. Preferably with a snowskirt - or you'll get snow up your back and trust me, its not pleasant.

- Two pairs of ski pants - wear one for the first day and then leave it to dry on your towel rail for the third day. Then wear the other pair on the second day, leave it to dry for the fourth day...

- Goggles - for when it's snowing

- Glasses - for when it's not, they should be polarised and be 100% UVA and UVB protective or you'll go snowblind.

- about six vest tops or t-shirts

- Two or three fleeces

- Jogging bottoms, to wear under your ski pants

- Gloves

- Thick ski socks - DON'T wear anything underneath them though, it'll just make your feet colder.

- Hat, preferably one that covers your ears

- Scarf, or you can buy a bandana type thing that covers your nose mouth and neck.

- Sunscreen - a definate must. I forgot it one day and had my jacket open because it was hot. I came back from the slopes looking like a turkey.

- Rucksack with bottle of water, snacks, painkillers (if your just starting snowboarding, trust me you'll need them) and sunscreen.

I think that's it. Trainers should be fine, so long as they have good grip, but if you know your going to be walking around in the snow quite a bit, snow or hiking boots would be a good investment.
For the cheap and cheerful ski stuff, try to go to decathlon. The prices are very cheap and it has all you need. If you wanted to buy a ski jacket, they're around thirty to forty pounds. Ski trousers are about twenty pounds. They do fleeces for 6.95 and then they have vests for 5.95. They do googles, glasses, hats, gloves, sunscreen, etc. And their ski sales on and the moment.
If you want to go for the expensive stuff, there's Blacks but the sale doesn't start for a good few weeks.
And insurance is a must!

Hope that helps

And just on a practical point - they're not the most fashionable but you should try to wear big knickers or womens boxers because other wise you'll spend the whole day de-wedgying yourself.

Answer 4

I've done a season in Chamonix and one of the most important things is to stay warm and dry. If you're cold and wet it will not be fun at all. So...

Layer up. Layers are warmer than one big item of clothing. Plus it's always better to wear too much so you can take it off if too hot. Wear too little and there's nothing you can do.

Water and Food. Something with a high sugar content and nuts. Good if you get tired or even lost. Keeps you going.

Spares. If you can afford them, it's always nice to have spare gloves etc... If they get wet or even lost, it's nice to be able to carry on your day.

Money. If you need to catch a bus or taxi if you end up at the wrong lift station.

For emergencies. Foil blanket, lightstick/snapstick, whistle, phone/walkie talkies, shovel...

Rucksack. To put everything in!

Essentially it depends on your level. Most beginners will be with someone more experienced and so the emergency gear is probably a bit much, but everyone should be warm, dry, fed and watered.

And trainers should be fine, but make sure they have a fairly decent grip. Waterproof ones would be better, but if not, just be careful where you step!

Answer 5

Ok

INSURANCE

You can also hire the jacket and snowboard trousers.

But a goretext or similar jacket is very useful...


Very thin but water and wind proof, up to your know, lots of pockets and vents so good to get anyway esp if going to travel anywhere...

The trousers good for anything where you may get wet.

TX Max has some amazine deals on this...


Look for one with a snow skirt so you dont act like a scoop for snow.

Zip vents under arms, pocket or unziapable hood, internal pockets... Outser wateer proof seals pockets, goggle (large) pocket, Closes around neck, idweally two zips with a wind preacking strip...


Also you look for specs not woulds like water proos or supper doopa water prrof...


ie for for a waterproof rating ideally 5000 or more at least 3000.

...

Trousers much less so... but can be useful.
Same ratings

You want a back pack as when on slops the weather goes from hot and sunny (ie 1 t shirt under jacket.


To freezing blizard in like 30 seconds on a ski lift...


so you need to carry your hat (essentail) thermal vest, fleece in the bag... it also protects you head and back when you fall a bit.

And you may prefer a bikini top as guess what... you are changing in the open if that happens or a nice half top under.

If too hot you will roast

Trust me you want something soft down your snowboard pant to soften the hit on your tailbone butt... it does knocjk the crap out of you.

Also wrsit gards like skateboards use are essentail and knee pads but you could hire those... Would recomend elbow pads too.

You can use good wrap around sunnies instead of goggles (make sure they do protect from uv ... polorised are good.


To tell if this...


get two sungalsses and hold them at 90 degrees from each other... they should go black then back to normal when the right way



VERY EXSSENTIAL IS TO GET ROAMING ON YOUR MOBILE AND MAKE DAMN SURE EVERYON HAS EVERYONE ELSES MOBILE IN CASE ANYTHING GOES WRONG , OR HURT OR BOARD BROKE AND STUCK ETC.

aND THAT ANY GUIDE KNOWS THIS.


Water essentail in bottle.

Also essentail unless alergic carry several choc nut bars... good for energy and if stuck over night.

Whistle may help and pot of uv powder paint powder and glow stick.

Cameras are good.


Trainers maybe ok in main areas not if ice no grip


helmet is useful too certainly if trying tricks...



Also good tip... after first day or tow up to big slopes red and blue if you want to learn... dont be scared thats how you leanr but stay off black ones till you know what you are doing


Mittens are better then gloves or gloves that get a cover to turn into mittens...(fingers less liklye to do the splits... ow)

Answer 6

i've got been driving for 2 years and its a lot of exciting, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it could get very costly. you choose appropraite clothing, water information jacket and pants on account which you will fall alot in the beginning up. you should purchase on line or hit upon a snowboard save. in case you bypass to a community keep, it would desire to cost slightly extra, yet regularly they have a lot of stable suggestion. all stable mountains have apartment boards and boots, i propose you lease the 1st time to make specific you rejoice with it. once you fall snowboarding, it relatively is extra puzzling than snowboarding, so i exceptionally recomend you place on a helmet and a "butt pad." you will additionally choose goggles. dress in layers, the worst think of is to get out and be chilly. get stable mittens and perchance a face preserve for heat temperature, a lot of distinctive varieties. verify with pals to be sure how many of the assets you may borrow till you be attentive to you like the sport sufficient to take a place all that funds. i might additionally propose you're taking a lesson the 1st time, takes an hour and relatively worth it, they teach you the basics to start.

Answer 7

You need lessons before you go, unless you want to pay a fortune over there.

I had mine in castleford at xscape, give them a go.

You can hire board and boots over there, most places let you pre book online.

I have just come back from my first snowboarding holiday - you will love it. I was glad I had lessons before I went though!
You need a decent skiing coat, tinted goggles, sunglasses, decent gloves, and salopettes.

If you know someone who boards, borrow off them, because that little lot will set you back £300-£500.

Answer 8

you need warm boots for night out but you can by things over where you going they always have it.and on the mountains you need the gloves and hat. you are a beginner than just in case get a helmet if like ur sking or snowboarding. well you dont need any ski equipment unless ur going sking . just be warm

Answer 9

i also am going to hit the snow in a while at half term. the main thing is to keep warm and not become misrible, you don't want your holiday ruined by catching cold. you should definatly buy a jacket and goggles and wear them all the time as you snowboard.

Answer 10

Insurance