If you are thinking about getting started with snowboarding then it really does not have to be as difficult as you are probably imagining. For a start, you can be sure that whatever you are planning to do you can be sure that as soon as you hit the slopes you will almost certainly enjoy yourself. When I was younger I always thought that it would be a really hard thing to get started with, but boy was I wrong.

However, what I have to tell you is that I recommend you get lessons first, rather than just hitting the slopes with no idea of what you need to do. Getting lessons booked does not have to be that difficult. All you need to do is speak with your local snow boarding slope and you can be sure that they will put you in touch with a snow boarding instructor in your area that would be glad to help you out.

This may cost anywhere from around $35 an hour, but you can get them even cheaper, if you get group lessons. Group lessons means that more than one person learns at the same time, and it really is a very simple thing to do. I had my first lesson from a friend, however I would always recommend that it is best to get professional lessons from a man or a lady that is a professional snow boarding instructor.

You can be sure that they have been teaching snow boarding for some time, and they are not only good at snow boarding, but also have a better idea of how to communicate to a learner. Many people ask me what they need to buy when they are first starting snow boarding. The answer is that you probably need to buy nothing if you have the right kind of gear in your wardrobe.

For those of us that are just getting started it is best to rent out the gear from your local snow boarding slope. A lot of places will do this for free when you pay a rate to actually use the slope. The reason for this is simple; when you are first learning how to snow board you may not enjoy it that much. If you do not enjoy it or decide not to take it any further, think of how much money you will have wasted on a snow board and related stuff.

That is why you need to think about ways that you can practice without buying things up front. It is important that you get the correct clothes for going to the slope. Even if it is your first time! What I recommend is that you simply must wear gloves, and the thicker the clothes the better.

You should really be wearing water proof gloves but if it is your first time, then there is no point splashing out money on a fancy pair of gloves that you are never going to need in the future. This is just common sense.

What I also recommend is that if you have any water proofs wear them to go on your snow boarding lesson. If you wear them then you will have a great advantage over the competition. The fact is that even if you are wearing clothes that are warm, they will soon become cold once they start getting wet. Despite this you should still wear warm clothes, unless you want to feel cold out their on the slopes. Another thing that is vital is sun glasses.

You will find that when you are on the slopes you can find it very challenging to board when you have the sun in your eyes, another issue is that if the sun reflects off the snow then it can blind you if you are not wearing appropriate UV protected sun glasses. All I have to say is that I am sure that you will enjoy yourself. Go out their and learn to snow board!

My Favorite Hobby: Snow Boarding

Since moving into the suburbs, I have developed a new hobby: snow boarding. Snow boarding is great fun, and the reason I got started is because I used to go surfing when I lived by the beach, and when I moved away from the coast I had to find something new to satisfy my fix for extreme, white-knuckle sport.

When I moved to my new college, everyone was talking about snow boarding, and a lot of my peers considered snow boarding an excellent hobby. When they asked if I wanted to attend, I was more than happy to come along and take part. The next thing I knew I was at the slopes, and I had to let everyone know that I had absolutely no experience of the sport whatsoever.

They appeared to understand, and everyone was really helpful when it came to explaining how to get started. In fact, there were so many people trying to teach me what to do, I actually found that I would rather just one person would teach me at a time. The next thing I knew, I was going down the slope, and had no idea how to break appropriately, or how to turn.

OK, so I'll admit that getting tuition from a bunch of teenagers was hardly the best idea, but it ensured that I didn’t hold back on anything, and I certainly got off to a flying start. The fact is that you realize it is mostly just common sense, and the thrills that you get are amazing. When you are going down a slope at 30 miles an hour and you do not have to put in any effort to accelerate: that is like flying.

The fact is that I also enjoy snow boarding because it is a great social activity for everyone to enjoy. I had just moved to a new area, and snow boarding really gave me an opportunity to get to know people, and is actually the reason why I am friends with the people that I hang around with at the moment.

After visiting the slopes a few times, my new friends and I have discovered more common ground, so now we enjoy other activities together, along with the occasional visit to the slopes of course! I’d recommend snowboarding as a great hobby for anyone, particularly those with a passion for extreme sports, or anyone with a sense of adventure.

And it’s really great when you actually get involved - there’s a whole culture attached to it. Some of my friends suggested taking up skiing, but this is something I think I'll avoid. It is almost like trying to compare a car and a motor bike. A car maybe burns less gas, it may be safer and may even turn corners with more precision, but what would you rather travel in for sheer thrills?

Skiing just looks boring compared to snow boarding and the more I get into snow boarding the more my opinion is re-affirmed. I am glad that I moved away, and I am glad that I managed to find a sport that I enjoy more than surfing. I am hoping to start entering into competitions soon, however I have a lot of catching up to do with my new friends first!

Excerpted from the book Snowboarding Fun! by Wings Of Success.

This excerpt has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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