Well if you aren't already, go skiing! Or extend your trip and hit the Jan 13-20 package.

Got her this Oakley O2 XL Snow Goggle - Matte Black 2013/14 - SportChek.ca
Seems decent.

I have to interject here.

These are going to be BIG goggles for a girl.

If she has a small bridge, or a small face, these goggles may not fit her all that well.

Guys, I'm looking to get into snowboarding.

Where should i be shopping for gears and what do i need? How much should i be looking to spend? :woot2:

Any deals coming up?

If you're just starting out then get a Sportcheck special or something off of craigslist. Board should come up to about your mouth or so, height wise.

You'll need a board, bindings, boots, pants, gloves, jacket, goggles, and a helmet if you so choose.

Spend as little as possible, no use being one of those asian (not saying you are just they are the worst for it) folks that have about 5k worth of shit on their bodies but can't ride for shit.

I disagree

Invest in gear that helps you stay dry and stay warm without breaking the bank

Yes if that means you're more comfortable in goretex or a more pricey jacket/pants then so be it. You do not want to feel discouraged if you're wet and soaked, then have to drive home damp and feeling like ass

As for a snowboard? Go with a reference to weight instead of measuring up with height.

I've preached this method time and time again and for good reason. As gear now is based on mass instead of leverage. You can be a twig and weight next to nothing, and buy a board based on height and have it feel too stiff. I've seen it before and it holds true. Especially for someone that's starting out

Everything vangruver said is the exact same advice I'd give. Get gear that can hold up to a full day of riding and let you progress comfortably, and talk to someone who knows about sizing a snowboard. It's 100% based on flex patterns, effective edge and shapes suited to your weight and also not to be forgotten, foot size.

Definitely don't skimp out on gear including boots. Being cold and uncomfortable will ruin your day. You can get away with a budget(within reason) board and bindings.

Yeah and I do agree with Gab in the sense, dont go out and blow your wad on retardedly expensive stuff, but don't go too cheap. You can easily get everything, brand new, and quality for under 2k. Its not that much considering a lift ticket costs 120 bucks at whistler. Its an expensive hobby, but there is nothing in the world I'd rather do at any time.

Amen to the advice vangruver gave. As to budget, spend whatever you are comfortable with. If that means 5k or 500$, so be it. I would also recommend renting or borrowing gear from a friend the first 2 trips to see if you enjoy it enough to invest your hard earned coin. As to where to splurge and spend more coin, my vote is on boots and pants. Your feet have to be comfortable and pants because you will be sitting alot, more so when you're learning. Nothing worst than foot pain and a cold/wet ass.

My 0.02,
James

IMO rent at least the board (ideally boots too) the first few times out, get a feel for what type of board you like and how boots feel after a few hours. You'll have a lot easier time buying the right boots once you know what comfortable ones feel like to you. If you're going to buy everything, boots are the single most important piece of kit you have, everything else you can skimp on a lot easier.

I didn't mean go buy Value Village special, just saying you don't NEED to go buy a $600 H/H jacket... But boy are they nice, almost bought one at the outlets last week.

im looking into a new jacket this season, my current one is doing the trick but looking to upgrading to something thinner. is goretex the best of the best?

Just got Burton AK 2L Swash Gore-Tex jacket and pants :spamarama:

did you order yours online or got them local?

Ordered them online from evo, They have an outlet sale going:woot2:

GoreTex is a great product, they have near monopoly on the consumer market. If you want to use real gear made for off-piste use, look into hardshells made with eVent, polartec's NeoShell and schoeller's c_change. It will boggle your mind the options available once you look into other brands.

got my season pass for cypress, ive been waiting for it to open

cypress opening this weekend. blue runs only though. i wonder how rocky it'll be

1 investment for gortex and you'll never ever have to buy again. TRUST ME on this.

get bright crazycolors like fushia or pink or orange, it's shit to look at but ur friends would be super happy to locate you.

any suggestions on gloves ? is gortex glove really waterproof ?

i go pretty often and my glove never got the chance to dried itself

My GMC's have never let me down, personally..

I find my gloves get wet from me sweating, not from snow. If yours don't dry out fast enough I'd get a second pair.

Also how the shit does Greenstoner have 4.3 billion fails?

Are there thin gortex/waterproof gloves? I don't like using the big bulky ones which are normally what gloves are like.