Get Into Snowboarding for Cheap

Cheapskate's Guide to Getting Into Snowboarding for Cheap

Snowboarding is awesome. Flying down the slopes, taking in the fresh frozen air of the outdoors. hanging out with your buddies, it's great. But, it can also be super expensive. If you've stepped into a ski and snowboard shop and looked at the price tags, you might rightly believe this sport is reserved for rich people. I'm going to show you how to get into this awesome sport for as little money as possible. Snowboarding is accessible to anyone who has the interest and takes the time to get creative.

 

(check out this video of making the best of a blizzard in the city)

First, a disclaimer: Snowboarding and skiing pose an inherent risk to life and limb. There are all sorts of safety hazards that you can mangle and injure yourself on and even die. So make sure you use common sense, utilize safety gear, definitely wear a helmet, and make sure your life insurance policy is current. This is for real guys, I'm writing this article at home right now because I got a concussion yesterday and I have to rest and do nothing inside... bummer times. I was gonna ride today.

Gear

Gear Checklist:

• Snowboard
• Bindings
• Snowboard Boots
• Helmet
• Gloves*
• Snowpants*
• Winter Coat*
• Goggles/Sunglasses*

* technically optional. depending on weather.

First, you need the gear. There are a number of cheapskate ways of getting it. These options are listed in order of cheapest to most expensive.

Borrowing- FREE

Ask around your friends and family to see if anyone has a snowboard set-up they would be willing to loan you, you might be surprised at how many people have a snowboard in the closet they haven't used in years. If you have a friend who has been into snowboarding for a while, they might have a spare laying around, OR they might know where to score a killer deal.

Renting - $20+

If you go to any ski area, they will have a rental department for skis, snowboards and other stuff. Typically this will cost you at least $20, but some resorts will charge much more. If you're going the rental route, do some googling beforehand to find any specials, coupons, groupons, etc that will make this cheaper. It's common for a ski area to offer a package deal for lift tickets and rentals on certain days. Also check for group rate discounts.

Buying Used - $100+

Buying a used board, bindings and boots is definitely the cheapest way to get your own setup. Plus, with you own board, you don't have to worry about renting or borrowing when you want to ride.

Thrift Stores. If you're lucky, you can find snowboards with bindings at thrift stores like Salvation Army or Goodwill for $10-30. This is the best route as you can often get your basic setup (board, bindings and boots) for very cheap, BUT you have to be lucky to find it. The best advice is you regularly visit thrift stores and look around their sporting goods sections.
Craigslist. Second best option is to buy second-hand from another person, whether it's on Craigslist or ebay or in the local paper. You're likely to pay more than at a thrift store, so make sure you inspect the items for any obvious signs of damage or abuse. And try on the boots and make sure the boots fit in the bindings. I got a sweet vintage pair of Vans boots from a guy for $20 they're really cool... even if they're no longer waterproof and my feet get cold.
Second-Hand Shops. Places like Play It Again Sports, are a great resource for the adventuresome and active cheapskate. It's a consignment shop for sporting goods. For best luck, go early in (or right before) the season. So for snowboards, start looking in October. Larger sized boots (10 and up) tend to sell out quicker. If you have any sporting equipment you no longer need, they might buy it from you, or offer in-store credit. I was able to find a great board setup with bindings for $90 late in the season. I've seen crappy boards (no bindings) that would be great for learning on start at $30. Boots start at $20 and binding start at $20.

Fit. 

• Board: board length is a matter of preference, generally. A basic rule of thumb: the longer the board, the more stable and fast it'll go. The shorter the board, the more maneuverable it'll be. If you stand the board up on end and it's within a few inches of your chin, you're good. 
• Boots: generally fit the same as your shoes. definitely try them on first.
• Bindings: make sure your boots will fit snug in your bindings. They come in different sizes (S-XL)

The main advice for buying used snowboarding gear, is to play the long game. If you need something right now, you're probably not going to find a deal. If you need the latest and greatest... then you're on the wrong blog. But, if you regularly check out thrift stores, second-hand shops, lurk on craigslist and take your time, you can score some killer deals. Look for swap meets at your local resort or shops. Regularly visiting thrift stores and looking for gear, even though I already had a board, is how I found a really nice snowboard that I bought for a friend for $15. Plus karma and shit. Also, follow all the snowboarding stores, resorts, companies, fan pages, etc, online and you'll be surprised at the deals that can pop up.

Buying New - $250+

Buying new is the most expensive option and I don't want to dedicate too much space to doing it. If you're going into a store, expect to spend way way more than you have. The only way of buying new gear that I'm going to recommend to my fellow broke-ass cheapskates, is to shop online for wholesale and clearance discounts. Online stores like Evo (starting around $250), Zumiez (starting around $350), and The House (starting around $250) can be good places to look for deals. Remember: the graphics look awesome in the catalog, but snazzy detailing isn't going to help you shred and better.

Access to Snow

Now that you've got your board, we need to find you a place to ride. We'll break it down into the main categories:

Ski Areas

Riding a groomed slope at a resort.

A ski area or resort is what people think of when they're thinking about skiing and snowboarding. a place with chairlifts and rope-tow's and concession stands and pro-shops and lodging and all that. These places range from the modest midwest all rope-tow park to the extravagant rocky mountain full resort. The advantage to riding in a ski area is that it is built and maintained for that purpose and they usually have ski patrol (alpine EMTs basically) and there are terrain parks built for doing tricks. Also the chair lift and rope tow service that comes with the purchase of your lift ticket means you can spend a lot more time riding instead of hiking uphill with your gear. The downside is that it generally costs a lot of money for the ticket and they can sometimes be very crowded. A ski area is a really great place to learn how to snowboard if you've never done it before.
Get the Best Deal: look for coupons, specials, etc. ask around about getting the best deal on lift tickets. They can be expensive but there are often discounts for students or military. there is probably a day during the week that's cheaper. 

Backcountry

riding in the backcountry after a long hike.

Backcountry, or "off-piste" is skiing or riding in any area that is not a part of a resort or ski area. This means you're "out there" in the wild where there are no chair lifts or groomed surfaces. Traditionally, backcountry riding was reserved for the ultra rich or the professional and sponsored riders, utilizing helicopter access. But, if you spend some time reviewing a topographical map, and keep your eyes out, you can find areas where it's possible to snowboard. you just have to hike to the top... and watch out for trespassing signs. This could be on the neighborhood sledding hill or in the middle of a national forest in the mountains. Just get creative and use common sense. The advantages to backcountry riding are that you have the hill to yourself, you get to ride un-ridden terrain and oftentimes that means blasting through fresh powder. and the heightened sense of adventure and exploration. Also, if you do it all on foot, it's free! don't have to pay for a lift ticket. AND you get a lot more exercise. The downside is that you're riding an unknown area and need to be mindful of potential natural dangers that may be hidden under the snow, and in the event of an injury or avalanche you're much further from emergency aid.

Urban/"Frontcountry" 

Urban riding is riding within urban and suburban areas (see the video at the top). This includes, playgrounds, schools, stairs.... anything you can find that has an incline and some snow. This can be a lot of fun because it's close to home. Grab some friends and some shovels and a camera and have some fun. Its basically like skateboarding, but snow. Also totally Free. Party.


Now that you've got an idea for how to get into snowboarding for cheap, get out there and make some tracks, jump some jumps, spread the stoke... and take pictures and tell us about it.