nina

Hi. I just signed my boys up for the after school ski/snowboard program - bus will take them to a ski lodge afterschool, give them lessons, lift tickets, etc. The kids decided they would try snowboarding and I want to buy them some cool accesories for Christmas. What type of gear/acessories, other than the board itself, which they will be renting, do they need? Any particular brands/styles that are popular? I asume snowboarders wear goggles too, correct? Thanks for any and all help.

tj

helmets! seriously

nina

Wow. You know I didn't even think of that! When I skiied in high school and college no one ever wore helmets. Now don't laugh but are they special ski helmets or are they the same ones they wear for riding bikes?

Rachel

Helmets are a necessity and you need special boarding helmets. go to a very reputable place-even get your kids fitted. They are much more expensive than bike helmets-more like hiockey helmet pricesbroken brains are impossible to fix. Don't worry so much about the "cool" accessories-get the safety equipment first. Sorry about grandstanding, my kids call me the helmet police, but talk to some emergency room docs- the head injuries from bikes, blades, boards, etc. could easily be greatly reduced if parents would make their kids wear helmets. Thanks for the forum to vent

bm

Definately a helmet! There are helmets made specifically for skiing/snowboarding. Boeri is the kind I have. You can buy them at your local ski/board shop. Also make sure they have warm gloves. As an observation, most kids I see tend to like baggy snowpants and jackets, and yes, they should have goggles!

Lizzie

I know how people hate it when this advice is given, but I think you'd probably have much better luck doing a search on the internet for snowboarding accessories and equipment. They'll need goggles, and you'll want them wearing helmets, as tj says. Oakleys are popular. Check out a snowboarding magazine; brands like Burton and Da Kine are popular with my boarding friends, but they're in their twenties.

A quick search brought this up:

http://www.snowboardshoppingguide.com

nina

Thanks for the great advice, helmets it is. As the wife of a biathlete and a former bike racer myself, I've seen first hand how a helmet can save lives. My husband saved the cracked helmet that saved his skull when he crashed into a stone wall!

Lizzie

Keep in mind that they won't be all that psyched about the helmets, so... soften the blow with a few cool snowboarding accessories too!

Suzie

My son took up snowboarding a couple of years ago and asked for a helmet during his first year snowboarding he's 11 now. 3 reasons. 1. the snowboard itself hit him in the head during a fall, huge lump but no blood. 2. he's naturally cold and it keeps his head warm without having to wear a hat and 3 all the kids wear them. His is black and he keep his goggles attached whether he needs them at the time or not. He wouldn't consider going boarding without his helmet now. Goggles are good if they are all weather boarders and also a face mask ( the kind that look like masked gunman sorry to say). The good thing about outerwear for boarders is that it is really comfortable. If your boys like boarding try to get them the outerwear that is advirtised rather than ski wear.

The helmet is very different from bike or skateboard helmets. More like motercycle helmets.

xxx

I have a son in college who has been snowboarding for several years now - every xmas I pick him up a new set of long underwear specifically made for snowboarders - their pants and jackets fit a lot differently than do regular ski clothes and they make the undies in all sorts of fun colors. I also buy a couple pairs of snowboarding socks while I'm at the shop which always seem to come in handy. Very important - be sure your kids have the special locks for their boards if you decide to invest in the boards themselves in the future. Wrist guards are also a good idea - our son landed in the emergency room with a badly sprained wrist his first time out- I think that some of the gloves have some built in protection for this.

Louise

Hi,
Besides the baggy clothes, invest in a very good pair of Mitts/gloves especially for snowboarders as they protect their hands from the sharp edges when they do the fancy jump and hold the board...they do that sooner than you think!

jacque

You may want to check with the ski school before you shell out money for helmets. The ski schools where we ski require helmets and are part of the rental package.

Ann

I just sent this thread to my 19 year old daughter. We bought her a new snowboard/boots/bindings for Hanukkah, but I know she's anti helmet! I've never been able to get her to wear one, but since she's never been a bike rider, it hasn't been too big an issue. She refuses to wear her roller blades helmet, but again, seldom skates, so not too big an issue. I hope she heads all your good advice, as I really do want her in a helmet, but at her age, I have less influence (and she skis with friends, so I have no control over what she puts on when she's up at the ski slopes). I'm sure you all have better luck (or more influence) with your kids. I'm hoping your good advice will alert my daughter as well. Thanks.