Going on a snowboarding holiday - Advice

Sime

Sime

Sime

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8 Nov 2006
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Hey all me and afew mates are looking to go on a snowboarding holiday to some where like france. I know that all the equiptment hire is included but ive just started thinking about if im going to have to buy all the clothing that goes with it?

Can you buy / hire those where your there or am I going to have to buy them now?

Seems very expensive if you go by what websites are saying (underlayers, base layer, over layer etc)

Anyone been on these types of holidays and give me some advice?
 
I'm going for my first weeks snowboarding soon, sooo much more fun than skiing. You might be able to hire clothing somewhere, but most people bring their own


Make sure you have plenty ski socks. A good pair of gloves. Salopetes, and a ski/boarding jacket.
Standard winter gear will do otherwise, if your cold, put on a couple more layers
 
Buy your own, head to somewhere like sports direct for base layers (you'll get both top and bottom for circa £15.

As for the essential list,

gloves
Goggles
at least 1 jacket
at least 1 pair of pants (trousers)
a couple of pairs of socks - decent

You can pick a fair bit up at places like tk max

I normally wear base layer + t shirt & jacket but you might want to include a hoodie in there too if you get cold/a cheap jacket.

:)
 
TK Maxx usually have a reasonable range of decent stuff at sensible prices if you don't want to get to heavily invested.

edit: I'f be careful not to over do the warm clothing if it's you first time, falling over and getting up all the time keeps you nice and warm :).
 
What time of year are you going? If march/april then depending on where you are you can wear just a t-shirt under your jacket or even just a good jumper. If you're going in january then you'll need a few more layers!

Unless you want to look good, then you don't need to spend hundreds on a jacket and trousers.

It'll probably be cheaper to buy stuff here rather than in the resort - check out tkmaxx for jacket and trousers and even base layers.
 
I'll keep an eye on this too as I'm learning to ski at the end of Jan. Thankfully I already have a ton of clothing that is suitable so I'll probably only need goggles, gloves and socks suitable for ski boots.
 
You will sweat like a pig when you are learning.

Buy your own stuff so you can look cool, get a nice retro one piece all the girls will love you!
 
TK Maxx for the win! You need waterproof jacket + trousers and plenty of good quality snowboarding socks (don't skimp on these, you'll regret it!). Tech fabric T-shirts are helpful, but you can get away without them.

I'd add wrist guards and knee pads to Aero's list of essentials, but it's up to you. Wrist guards will destroy your gloves but broken wrists are the number one injury for snowboarders so I consider them a must-have and they don't cost much money. Knee pads are less about real injury and more about pain control, especially while you're learning. I turned my knees black and blue with knee pads the first time I went out.

I wouldn't worry about getting cold too much, you'll likely stay away from the peaks and spend long falling over you'll keep warm.

Have fun! Snowboarding is great.
 
Well my plan is afew weeks before hand do one of those all day indoor snow slope things just so im not a compete n00b when im out there. Suppose I could class that as a "trail" run for my holiday and buy wear the stuff ill be wearing when in France or wherever.

Oh and we'll probably be going in January / Febuary time :)
 
Sime said:
Well my plan is afew weeks before hand do one of those all day indoor snow slope things just so im not a compete n00b when im out there. Suppose I could class that as a "trail" run for my holiday and buy wear the stuff ill be wearing when in France or wherever.
Click to expand...

Heh. A warning: learning inside will give you complete delusions of competence when you get onto the real mountain. Learn from my fail :)
 
if it's real man made snow then it's fine to learn on but if it's that old style dry slope stuff it feels nothing like snow and I found much harder to learn on. But any tester is better then nothing, but book soon because these places book out long in advance with people wanting to learn before holidays.
 
Sime said:
So would you say doing the indoor thing was worth doing or not so much?
Click to expand...

It was worth doing, yes. Apart from anything else it let me know whether I actually wanted to spend all that money travelling abroad to Snowboard. Even if you've already booked, it lets you get good enough that you're not spending the first day just trying to stand up.

But it doesn't give you any real feel for what it's like on a proper mountain so don't think that because you've passed the four hours that a snowdome calls learning to snowboard that you're ready to go without lessons when you get to the real thing.
 
Ah learning to snowboard. Painful memories.

I remember sitting on the slope with my - at the time - girlfriend, who was crying saying she just couldn't do it. She'd tried and tried and in the end came to the point where she couldn't get up anymore! I was being all considerate and encouraging out loud, but inside I was dying with laughter :D
 
I have been snowboarding for 20 odd years and THE most single important thing is to look cool. Get some good looking clobber, especially the goggles and NEVER, EVER wear sunglasses on the slopes, unless you are a German.

You will not be venturing up too high on your first week so do not worry about getting really expensive stuff as unless you are fit, you will sweat your ass off anyway.

A cheap base layer, jacket, pants, 2/3 socks (only ever wear one pair at a time, they are easily hand washed as well), gloves, cool hat and cool goggles. Don't buy one of those stupid jester hats either as you will get laughed at.

I like colour myself, have orange jacket and green pants, but you cannot go far wrong with black. The ninja look is always good.

http://www.mandmdirect.com/products...Wintersport-Helly-Tech-Jacket-Black_HH768.htm

http://www.mandmdirect.com/products...sport-Helly-Tech-Pants-Black-Silver_HH766.htm

http://www.mandmdirect.com/products-Helly-Hansen-Mens-Textile-Gloves-Black_HH771.htm

Bargains at M&M direct.

Wrist protectors are a waste of time as you will just fracture your elbow instead, if it is going to happen. Just remember, when you fall, don't stick your arms out, you WILL fall a lot.

Enjoy the boarding honeys as well. :cool:
 
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SeatIbiza said:
Lol - not really mate. It is but it's not like mountain snow. And don't forget the sun hides all those little bumps :)
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And when it's cloudy and the light is ... flat... ewwww *shudder*.
Is TK Maxx not so good now? Boo. I was going to have a festive splurge there. Mind you, my Volkl stuff (technically skiing stuff) should last another season :)
 
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