The Complete Guide to Snowboarding

As someone who has been thinking about snowboarding for a couple of years but always made excuses, this guide gave me the kick I needed. I loved the self-assessment checklist in chapter two - it helped me realize I actually have the budget and a friend who can teach me basics. The chapter on what to buy in the first week stopped me from spending $600 on gear I don't need yet. Starting with a used setup this weekend.

It's a decent overview for someone like me who has never snowboarded and was just curious about costs. The chapter on gear and the cost breakdowns were helpful - I had no idea rentals were that expensive. But it felt a bit basic in places and I wanted more detail on the actual learning process. I finished it with a better sense of the commitment, though I'm still on the fence about trying it.

I appreciated that it didn't try to hype me into buying a bunch of stuff. The honest parts about how sore your feet and butt get during the first few days were refreshing - my husband conveniently left that out when he started. I could have used a little more on fitness preparation, but the budget tables gave me a real talking point when my kids started asking for a snowboard. Worth a read before you commit.

Finally a beginner guide that uses plain language. The cost breakdowns at beginner/intermediate/serious levels were exactly what I needed to see - turns out 'serious' costs about as much as a used car, which was good to know before I fell in love with the idea. The chapter on what your first session actually feels like (and how much it hurts) got me prepared mentally. I did two lessons already this season and I'm glad I read this first.

This book is fine for total beginners but I wanted it to go deeper in some spots. The blurb promised 'real costs' and it delivered on that, but I felt the information on choosing a board at the beginner level could have been more detailed. It convinced me to at least try a rental day, which gave me a concrete plan. I guess I was just hoping for a little more meat on the bones.

I've been snowboarding for years and bought this for a friend, but I read it myself to see if the advice held up. It does. The costs are realistic, the recommended starter gear is on point, and the description of the first few sessions is painfully accurate (I've been there). My friend found it genuinely useful and less intimidating than listening to me ramble on. Solid resource for getting someone into the sport the right way.

It touches on the right things but could be more direct in a few sections. There's some repetition between the chapters about cost and the one about gear. Still, I found the comparison table about learning paths useful and it helped me decide on group lessons over private ones. I'm picking up a used board from a consignment shop this week based on the recommendations here. So overall, helpful.

This was the honest, practical push I desperately needed. I'm a 40-year-old total beginner with bad knees, and I was terrified I was too old and too out of shape to start. This guide laid out realistic expectations, gave me a clear first-week plan, and even talked about the physical realities I'd face honestly. It didn't sugarcoat the challenges, but it also didn't discourage me. I rented a board last weekend and took my first lesson - my knees are fine and I'm hooked. Worth every page.