Help CoachDick and Mrs CoachDick Learn How to Snowboard!
EVERY winter comes and goes with me NOT learning how to snowboard or ski. Whether through lack of plan, budget, whatever...it's just never worked out. But not this year! I'm determined to buy us season passes to Big Bear (ski mountain about 90mi from our house), mid week lessons, etc so I can get this done, all leading up to a planned trip to Big Sky, MT at the end of January with Barry and Johnna Plaga, EN member, former CF athlete, and good friend.
So...
What do I need to buy, borrow or steal? I know nothing about this, what gear I need, etc. Gimme a gear list! Note that I have several full face helmets, neck and knee braces, body armor, motocross boots, riding jackets....can I use that stuff?
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Between your tri habit, your moto habit, and now the snow gear--you are going to need a bigger house.
Already looking forward to the stories of Coach Rich...in Montanta...at the end of January. 
I have nothing to offer you, gave up skiing eons ago. But I am looking forward to the adventure.
Gear List
1 snowboard - I had a Burton that was like $400ish (renting isn't worth the money if you actually want to do it more than a couple times)
1 pair of bindings - I had cheapish plastic ones that broke after 3 seasons and I replaced them with the exact same model
1 pair of snowboard boots - I got a pair that was one level above the cheapest out there and they were awesome
1 pair of pants - good pants are where you get the biggest bang for your buck IMO
1 set of goggles - don't wear sunglasses... it will suck. My first set cost $45 and were worth every penny.
You could rent board, bindings, and boots at the mountain I frequented.
I used a normal outer shell jacket with a thin sweater under it for cold days and a under armor cold weather shirt on warmer days; both if it was super cold. I eventually got some nicer gloves but almost any snow gloves work. Some gloves have a fancy squeege thing that is like a windshield wiper for your goggles on the thumb. Beanie when it was cold. That was about it. Every season I got myself some new piece of gear. I got a jacket with a waterproof ipod case one year, fancy gloves the next, and eventually some Oakley goggles. I never rented a snowboard to try before I bought because I knew that most people have a rough first 2-3 days learning and I might not man up and get out there after the first day if I wasn't already invested. With snowboarding you tend to spend alot of time those first couple of days on your ass or hands and knees (face if unlucky) while learning to ride and edge correctly. Some light knee pads (think indoor volleyball) may be worth it for the first few days.
Good luck with the learning part. Lessons tend to be worth it if you have the time. I loved snowboarding when I had the opportunity like that for so long. So much fun...
I took up ice fishing to get my cold weather fix. Cheap and beer stays cold
1. Lessons. Snowboarding, apparently, is easy to learn. So do that first!
2. Helmet. You will need it for IMWI.
3. Ski pants.
4. Outer shell. I ski in a $150 Helly Hansen sailing jacket, with the long underwear/fleece that I already have from winter running gear
5. Mittens + two pairs liners (I use my winter running gloves.)
I'd hold off on buying a snowboard until you've demo'd a few.
Stay outta the trees ... For now at least.
Read the fine print in your health insurance policy.
Spend some money on getting a good set of goggles, $50 or more.
Loose fitting clothing is de rigueur in snowboarding. Get a quality set of snowboarding pants and shell. Bundle up with your cycling/running base layers then add fleece or wool as necessary.
Level makes great gloves with built in wrist protectors (Biomex) - I highly recommend them.
Definitely take a lesson.
Have a lot of fun!!!
Like the others said. Warm pants + things you can layer up top. snowboard boots are waaaaaaaaaaay warmer than ski boots so you won't have a problem there. goggles are key.
When do we get pics of you and the Mrs. in the halfpipe???
You make me giggle on your gear list. I used to threaten to wear my Aerostitch and Full face moto helmet too! The biggest issue with those for me was the bulk of that sucker. Really though you need to be sure that your pants are going to be water proof so that while you're sitting on your bum and knees or rolling through the snow after falling that you'll stay dry. you should be able to layer some long undies under the pants for warmth rather than using really bulky pants. Also be sure that they fit such that you won't end up with snow going down them. Suspenders can help that as can a jacket that is long enough to cover your booty. As has been said a shell type jacket with under-layers of polypro, wool, silk, fleece, and the like will work. Mittens or gloves should ideally be gauntlet style with a drawstring thingy on the top so that you can cinch down the tops and keep snow out of them.
Rental gear is the best idea for you. Rental shops are usually really good about making sure that you've got good fitting boots, but it can depend on who is helping you with it and what they know.
Big Sky is an awesome place to ski/ride! I had a best ever snowboarding day at Big Sky about 3ish years ago. Which is a bold statement considering where I live and some of the epic days we've had here. There is also Moonlight Basin really close to Big Sky, which is a little smaller place but that has great riding too. Beautiful up there. Keep us posted on the adventures!
The year I learned to snowboard I had cheap clothes and I got cold and wet easy. It makes for a long day when you are constantly falling on your ass and cold/wet at the same time. Second year I got better clothes and they have kept me warm and dry for the last 4 years. For me the key is good waterproof gloves.
The lesson thing is up to you. Think of it like joining EN, you can pay for a few lessons and get a year of learning out of the way in a week, or you can do it yourself. I did not take lessons as I was ok with going to the top of a hill (midwest) and figuring it out myself on the way down.
Typically, your first few days on a snowboard are tough, but once it clicks you are pretty much good to go and the fun starts.
Goggles: if you're a sweaty guy, buy goggles with the most ventilation you can find, and perforated lenses. I also really prefer red lenses on the slopes, for some reason...
Pants: snow pants with built in suspenders are to regular snow pants as bibs are to bike shorts. nuff said.
I'm very, very, very eager to spend time and money on stuff that keeps me from getting hurt
. So, lessons, helmet, etc, got it. I'll also wear my knee braces and will get some wrist braces that I can wear while dirtbiking. My wrist and hands are about the last things I don't have protected when I ride.
Thanks! Looking forward to exploring a new sport and extending my outdoor adventures into a new season!
Rich -- I'm probably not skiing this winter, so if Mrs. R would like to try out my set of snowpants/helmet/mittens, I'd be happy to send them.
Rich, Burton is a customer of ours. I will check on monday if there are any super secret discount offers on stuff and let you know. They are a great company to work with in terms of client relations. Good natured and very smart.
-Dave
Al...I found your skis...
Kitima ... LOL! While I never used long thongs, it's the honest truth that I did start skiing with cable bindings, wooden skis, and lace-up leather boots.
Kitboo - LMAO!!!
I wore by wrist guards from rollerblading under my gloves. (You have the knees covered it sounds like.)
To protect my tailbone, I stuffed an extra thick hat down my pants. Totally worth it.
A sense of humor is a must.
+1 on Smartwool socks. Especially the shin-padded kind.
Thanks for the advice! Mamasan and I were scheming on the phone last night: season passes and lessons in Big Bear, trip to Big Sky end of January.
She also had a Come to Jesus (Joanne) meeting with me about dirtbiking. I have to tendency to go nuts and plan a weekend in the desert as often as I can. So rather than riding from LA to PHX and back, mostly dirt, for IMAZ, and then turning around to do LA to Vegas the Friday/Saturday of Thanksgiving, I'm just doing the LA-Vegas ride. But it involves driving to LV before IMAZ, stage my truck at the airport, fly LV to PHX, do the race weekend thing, fly or get a ride back to LA, then ride LA--LV, pick up truck and drive home. I hatched this plan today...don't tell Joanne yet
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Went dirtbiking in the desert on Sunday for the first time in almost a year. Skills and confidence were there until they took me on some crazy hard stuff that just crushed me. A doode 50lb overweight and smoking had to ride my bike up some stuff that I couldn't do. Humbled.