One thing I really enjoy during the cold wintery months is snowboarding. I know when I was a beginner it was pretty tough. I had no idea where to start. Since I know it's hard to get started I decided I would give you a few tips to get you shredding the slopes in no time.

1) Lessons: First thing on your list should be to take a lesson. Although I never took lessons, looking back I should have. One important reason you should take a lesson first is to make sure it is something you will enjoy and want to continue to put effort into learning. Another good reason to take a lesson is to get the basics down before venturing off on your own and possibly getting in over your head and hurting yourself. By renting your gear for lessons you will get a feel for some of the gear and you will have a good preference of what kind of gear you would like to buy if you decide you are having a blast.

2) Gear: Once you have taken a lesson or two and know that it is something you will enjoy you should get yourself some snowboarding gear. Now there are a few essentials that you will need. Obviously you will need a snowboard, bindings and most importantly boots. Boots are very important because you want something that fits you well and will be comfortable for you all day long. You can usually find these items on sale during the off-season for very good prices. Next on your list of gear should be a good pair of waterproof pants, heavy jacket, and gloves. When traveling to the peak of a mountain in the wintertime it can get pretty cold.

3) Tips: One of the best tips that I can give you, as a beginner is to start off on the bunny hill. If you take lessons they will probably start you there anyway. For one the bunny hill is a great place to start because it's not very big and not very steep. Another great tip is to learn the basics of turning and stopping before you learn to ride. Turning and stopping are very important techniques because they prevent you from going too fast and running into things or seriously injuring yourself or someone else on the slopes.

I hope you've enjoyed my beginners guide to snowboarding and hope that it will help you in your future endeavor to hit the slopes and shred hard. Most importantly I hope you have a great time and enjoy it as much as I do.