[boarderaholic]

1) Some basic n00b things to look at. When you make your first post on which board to get, please include info like: Weight, boot size, riding style (do you like to charge steeps? Spin 7's/9's, ride groomers?), Age (are you still growing and puttin on weight?) budget (if you have one) and your location of riding. Asking us to recommend a board with out telling us that info will NOT help you OR us.

2) If you're a n00b who has never snowboarded, PLEASE consider investing in a day of rentals and lessons. It sucks nothing more than to invest in about a grand's worth of equipment only to turn out hating the sport.

3) When you first start out, please don't have your brain wander off into the terrain park. Without the basic freeride skills, it is nothing short of scary to watch people huck themselves off of features that they simply cannot handle, which may result in injury, or in severe cases even death.

I know this post kinda (really) sucks right now, but I'll edit it out to make it sound better, and fix my grammar mistakes once I get my head screwed on straight. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask away.



Added by Snowolf:

Originally Posted by geline

And Why it is Important to Know the Difference

In the few decades that snowboarding has been around, a few distinct styles have emerged within the sport. These styles are characterized by their preferred terrain, their specific equipment and their own competitions.

It is important to know what type of snowboarder you are -- or are interested in becoming -- before you drop your savings on a new board/boots/bindings setup. Manufacturers carefully design boards for specific types of riding, and you don't want to make the mistake of buying a $450 big mountain board if you're going to spend all day in the pipe.

Freestyle

Freestyle riding is the flavor of the day. This style focuses on jumps, tricks, rail slides, halfpipes and switch riding.
Snowboard movies typically showcase freestyle riding; it is fun to watch and where pros can really show off their skills.

Freeriding

Freeriding is the most general style of snowboarding and has correspondingly versatile equipment. Like freestyle, freeride equipment uses a soft boot. Boards in this category are relatively longer and more directional in their shape. If you don't know what kind of terrain you like, or know that you like everything, this is your category.

Freecarve / Race

This often overlooked style of snowboarding focuses on carving and racing. Sometimes called alpine snowboarding, freecarving takes place on hard-pack or groomed runs and focuses on the ultimate carving turn. Little or no jumping takes place in this discipline.

As a beginner, it is advised that you should look for a good all-around design, most likely a freeride or freestyle setup.