The first thing that you need to do is take a lesson. The advantage of snowboarding over skiing is that you really only need one lesson to get going. Everything else is just practice. Most ski resorts have a package deal where you can get a lesson and lift ticket together at a flat rate. It's a good idea to bring a friend; the initial experience is a lot better if you have someone to share it with.

You will need the following:
1 Ski/Snowboarding Jacket. – Hit the discount stores
1 Pair of Ski/Snowboarding Pants.- Hit the discount stores
1 complete set of SYNTHETIC long underwear. Ideally polypropylene, polyester, or silk. – GI JOE’s, Sports Authority, or Garts
1 Fleece sweatshirt – Anywhere – The company store is also a good resource
1 Pair of sweatpants.
1 Pair of long warm socks.
1 Pair of heavy duty waterproof gloves. Costco sells a great pair for $20
1 Pair of goggles or sunglasses. Costco sells a set for $10
1 Good warm hat – usual discount stores, also the MS company store sells them

I recommend borrowing most of your equipment for the first few trips. You should only have to buy your long underwear.

If you need to buy this gear it’s possible to buy all of it for less than $100 at Costco, Garts, Sports Authority, or GI Joes. Just follow a few guidelines.

• If you can borrow some gear from a friend that skis. Most of us have more than one outfit.
• There is an outlet store in North bend(approx 15 miles east of Issaquah on I-90) I found a lot of really good deals there last weekend. If you don’t mind a short drive this is your best bet for cheap gear. I highly recommend going there.
• You won’t be cold – Actually you will likely be hot. If you follow my instructions you will stay warm.
• Avoid cotton – Cotton is the evil fabric. Cotton traps moisture against your skin and will make you very very cold. Synthetic fibers lift the moisture away and allow you to stay warm.
• You gain warmth via layers – Layers of fabric keep you warm, so even though your ski jacket may seem thin, trust me it’s fine.
• Avoid the expensive stuff – Wait until you are good before you go our and buy the Fly Helly Hanson outfit. Just find something that fits and has adequate waterproofing.
• There is a difference between snowboarding and skiing gear – Ski clothing is generally more restrictive than the snowboarding counterpart. If possible (price wise) buy Snowboarding gear, especially pants. However don’t worry too much if you have ski gear. I spent my entire first season in Ski gear and couldn’t tell the difference initially.

A few luxuries:

• Family Radio Service(FRS) Radios – We use these radios to communicate on the mountain. I have 3 extra radios and I know of a few other people who also have spares. In general we will probably have enough to cover groups of people on the hill. If you want to go this route please buy a Motorola Radio with a 5 mile range. You are likely to see radios from Midland and Cobra that are cheaper but after 4 years of experience I have concluded that these radios are inferior. The Motorola devices are clearer. Additionally get the 5 mile variant because some of the locations that we go to like Whistler and Baker are huge. If you want to get one, they sell them in pairs at Costco for $50. Find a buddy and split the cost.
• Glove Liners - Glove liners can make a huge difference on the mountain. Many of the better gloves actually come with glove liners.
• Snacks - Taking a breakfast or protein bar can help you get through a long day. Many people refuse to take a lunch but will have a snack on the ski lift between runs.
• Camel Pack – These things cost $30 and are great for staying hydrated on the mountain. Some people will tell you to eat the snow but this is actually not a good idea. Your body wastes energy melting the snow so it doesn’t actually help you. By staying hydrated you will last a lot longer. If you get one, make sure you get the winter variant with the insulated tube and mouthpiece.
• Wrist Guards - $5 wrist guards are a great insurance policy. Wrist injuries are the most common snowboarding injury and these devices completely eliminate the risk. If you can’t find them check the rollerblading/skateboarding isle at a sports store.
• Knee Pads - You're going to fall. A lot of people find knee pads to be beneficial. Try to find a thin set that will fit under your snowboarding pants.
• Butt Pads – You’re going to fall on your rear end. A few companies sell a set of pads that will help to shield your rump. I know Borderline in Bellevue sells these. People have also been known to stuff towels in their pants but I wouldn’t recommend that…..
• Under Armor – You might have seen the ads for this stuff especially during Playmakers on ESPN. Basically it’s synthetic underwear. It helps to keep you dry.
• Zipper Watches – Borderline sells these things for about $5.00. They are small waterproof watches that attach to an external zipper.

RUDE Q&A

What is Phatair?
Phat air is a distribution list of mostly Microsoft employees who enjoy skiing and snowboarding. Currently there are about 80 people on the list. We use it to coordinate our ski trips and inform the list of any ski deals.

Can I get my kids a lesson?
Yes you see tons of kids on the mountain, in fact they may annoy the beginners since the have no fear and generally pick up the sport quickly.

Can I ski?
Of course – If you are interested in Skiing please come, we won’t talk about you too bad.(Although you will get a couple of pizza/French fry jokes) You will obviously be taking a different lesson than the boarders but I encourage you to come along. We always have a few skiers with us and we tend to group up by ability and not equipment.

Do I really need chains?
If you don’t have a 4WD or AWD car then you absolutely must have chains. They are really cheap (about $30) and there is a steep ticket if you get caught without them. In general we should be able to get almost everyone into a car with AWD or 4WD capabilities.

Is this good exercise?
Two weeks ago I wore a heart rate monitor to the mountain. I burned over 4000 calories in a single day. That represents 4 hours straight of 7 minute miles.

Why are we leaving so early?
We need to get to the mountain on time so we can get the beginners in their equipment and into their lesson. It’s going to take a while to get everyone outfitted properly. Additionally I get annoyed when we get to the mountain late.

How much is the lesson?
There is a package deal that includes lesson, lift ticket, and equipment for $40.

How many times should I go?
You really need to go twice to determine if you really like the sport. The first day is a bit frustrating but the second time up if about 1000x better.

Should I buy my own Equipment?
No, just rent your equipment for your first few tries. Once you’ve determined that you like the sport I can give you equipment recommendations.

How many lessons do I need?
The beauty of snowboarding is that all you need is a single lesson. Once your lesson is over you just need practice. You will learn everything you need to know in one lesson. Skiers will require additional lessons.

Should I wash my gear?
You shouldn’t wash the outer layers very often, washing these will erode the waterproofing and decrease the longevity of the article of clothing.

Do you have any pointers?
Just bend your knees and everything else will come together.