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When it comes to winter sports, teenage girls usually want to maintain that carefully preserved fashion sense that they have established, but they want to stay warm too! Snowboarding is a newer, hip version of hitting the slopes that combines traditional skiing and snow with a surf-like physical technique. She'll want the right gear when she's ready to hit the slopes with her snowboard, and ultimately, probably wipe out several times.

First, make sure she has all of the essential clothing elements. If you are a parent, you probably have safety in mind first, and making sure she has warm clothes and proper gear are a big part of that. She'll need outerwear, boots & bindings, helmet, gloves, beanie or hat, goggles, footwear, a board, and maybe a watch, a pack or bag, transceiver, pocket tools, base cleaner, ski/snowboard wax, and a snowboard bag. Yep... it's a lot of gear, and it can get expensive! Don't go for the cheapest gear of course, but you don't have to pay top dollar either.

The best boards are made by Burton, Roxy, Salomon, K2, Palmer, Ride, Forum, and Rome. B by Burton Alpha, Feelgood, GTwin, and Feather are all snowboards made just for women. Burton also makes an extra wide board if she is still a beginner or you are looking to buy her first board. Other good picks are Roxy Silhouette Butterfly, Sugar Bunnies, or Sugar Inspire, K2Dutchess, Mix, or Va Va Voom, or Salomon Ivy, Radiant, or Lush.

When it comes to goggles, you can get a decent pair for around $50, but some can run as high as $100. Look for snazzy colors that she will love. A good choice is EG5 - Electric Goggles, which are electric pink and black. GMC, Dakine, Level, Burton, and Defcon are all high quality choices for gloves. Go upper-end on gloves, because it's essential that her hands stay warm.

Clothes are fairly expensive. Expect to spend well over $100 for a pair of snowboard pants or a jacket alone, with higher-quality of both running above $300. Bonfire Kinetic Dawn Snowboard Pant is a middle of the road choice for pants at around $175. If she isn't that hardcore, you can actually find some snowboard pants in the athletic wear section at discount store Marshall's and TJ Maxx. For less expensive gifts, you can get her base layer clothing and other accessories. Look for or ask for lightweight jerseys or crews for layering (Patagonia Capilene is GREAT), beanie hats, and cleaner & waterproofer. You can also consider "snowboarder clothing" - designed not to be worn on the slopes, but as just a fashion choice. This line includes purses, belts, and wallets. Volcom, Spacecraft, Reef, Nixon, Kavu, and Gravis are good designers to seek out.

You can get her a snowboard bag if she doesn't already have one. Dakine and Burton make good bags, and some have wheels on them so she can pull the bag rather than carry it. Burton Board Case or Board Sack are top sellers (there is a big price difference, because one is hard and the other is soft). Or, she may just want a cool pack to carry her other gear in that can be left in the locker room. North Face and Camelbak make excellent, sport backpacks and gear packs.

Last but not least, here are some great websites to visit so you can shop from the comfort of your own home. Just because she's going out in that snow doesn't mean you have to!
www.the-house.com
www.extrem egear.com
www.rei.com/snowboard
www.dogfunk.com
www.tactics.com
www.usoutdoorstore.com
www.abc- of-snowboarding.com

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