To snowboard is to cop an attitude. Young, old, in between – it doesn’t matter. Age is not a factor in the sport of badlands and walls, half-pipes and balls. It’s all in your walk, your talk…and a few bits of essential equipment. Here are a few tips to ensure your first descent goes smooth and you stay in the groove.

Start off with a “freeriding” board that has a bad (meaning good) reputation for being versatile. Women’s boards – built shorter with more flex – are huge (meaning popular), too. Boots appear in “hard” style (with a rigid plastic outershell similar to ski boots) and in a lighter, highly adaptable “soft” style similar to snowmobile boots. Pick the soft if you’re into all-terrain freeriding. Go with the hard style if you’re up for wide-open, big-speed riding on the hard-pack. Clothing isn’t the easiest – closet panic does not apply to snowboarding’s easy style. Riding clothing is functional, loose fitting, layered, funky and, above all, waterproof.

Once you’re there, put yourself on your area’s list for a Discover Snowboarding Lift & Lesson package. It’s a cheap, all-in-one way to rent snowboard equipment, use the beginner lifts, and have a snowboard instructor certified by the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors help you earn and learn your ticket to ride.

Provided by the Canadian Ski Council.