Beginner snow board? size? board? bindings? etc.?

I'm really wanting to get into snowboarding (but i've never gone before). I live in Coloardo, so i'd be going to like Winter Park, Vail, Copper Mountain, maybe Aspen etc. just to give an idea of the terrain I'd be in.



What board is best for beginners? Should I invest more in a good beginner's board, or better bindings/boots?



I'm like 5'10.5" @ 144 lbs, 10.5 shoe size....what size snowboard size does that make me?



ThankssssBeginner snow board? size? board? bindings? etc.?
Most people rent their snowboard/ski equipment if it's their first time, but its all up to you. It all depends, if you've been doing other board sports and enjoyed them, and if you progress fast or not. If you've been doing other board sports and enjoyed them and continued to still be playing the sport, then it wouldnt not be the worst idea to be investing in your own snowboard equipment. Board size varies from your weight, height, and riding style. If you don't know what size would fit you, you can always ask someone at your local shop, basically if you're starting out, you want a smaller board for more control. A freestyle board would run anywhere from your nose/eyebrows to your chin/collarbone, and an all-mountain/alpine board would run anywhere from your eyebrows to your forehead.

Most people think that beginners should buy the most cheapest low-end beginner/crap board on the market. Let me tell you, that is basically completely bull, although you do not want to get the very best signature model board if you're a beginner, you don't want want the crappiest board either, and thats when whether you're a fast progressive rider or not comes in, if you progress fast, then go ahead and buy a medium/above average board, but if you progress very slowly, if might not be a bad idea to buy cheaper boards (not necessarily crap). There are 3 types of snowboards, Freestyle (half pipes), Free ride/All-Mountain (powder snow), and Alpine (carving at high speeds). People tend to choose freestyle boards as their beginner board since it has a shorter length which allows better control, and has more flex, but overall it's still all up to you, and comfort. Some good brands are Burton, Forum, Ride, K2, DC, Salomon, Stepchild, and Roxy (mostly for girls). Try finding your equipment in a professional snowboard shop, rather than shops that carry multiple sports equipment (ex. Sports Check).



As for boots and bindings, you really DON'T want to buy these equipment cheap. Boots are definitely a very important factor in snowboarding, if you own a $500+ board but your boots and bindings are like $50, more likely that your ride down the mountain may not be the best experience. Again, I'm not saying low priced products suck, but I'm just saying, if you're on a tight budget, go cheaper on the boards, spend more money on boots. When you are looking for boots, make sure you try on at least 5+ pairs before you decide to purchase them, or you could really regret! Make sure the boots are truly comfortable. If you're still growing, I would recommend renting boots, since they need to be real fit and snug, and if you don't ride much the size may be too small for your feet within a couple months. If you do decide to buy them, make sure to find boots that you don't feel pressure points in, and fit real comfortable. (Keep in mind that the boots tend to get a bit bigger as they break in, so don't buy boots that are too big)



As far as bindings go, they normally come in 3 or 4 sizes. Small, Medium, Large, X-Large. Try to purchase bindings that come with Metal Ratchets (Thing that straps your foot in), due to the cold weather and the abuse cause by the riding, if you have a plastic ratchet, your bindings could easier crack or break.



Oh! And don't forget goggles, there are different types of lenses for different kind of weather/condition/time of day. Some popular brands that make goggles on the market today are like Spy, Electric, and Oakley's. Make sure there are no gaps, and don't have it too tight either, just tight enough so that air doesn't go through the goggles, or this could be very uncomfortable.



Overall, its personal preference and comfort, no matter if the world's #1 snowboarder tells you oh, this xxxx is the best! The product may still not be your best choice, so look around, do your homework (research). And have fun purchasing your snowboard equipment!



Hope this has helped you (sorry for the gigantic post, I tried to cover most of the stuff I can think of).
Snowboarding is tough at the begining. i wanted to quit the first time i tried so dont buy anything until you knwo forsure you want to do it. but the best attitude for it is to just stick with it. DONT BUY AYTHING until you get a little bit better . RENT from a place once or twice so you know will like itBeginner snow board? size? board? bindings? etc.?
okay, 1st of all, DON'T BUY! u might HATE snowboarding!! rent ur 1st time. when u go 2 the store, the people there will help you with EVERYTHING! make sure u tell them this will be your first time because then they will usually make the board a little shorter, which is good. u can get another board later, when ur better and jst return the board u rented, it saves a lot of money.