Your best tip

i only have one tip

Get some private lessons and you will be off to a great start. Then you can get some really good boots and after that decide what board you want. TruSnow have some great boards and boots. You could even check out Doug's video clips.

+1 on all the tips so far, get lessons. It is tough at first, especially trying to learn on your own. You will improve with lessons at al lot quicker pace and become less frustrated with catching edges all day.

Take your time with learning but try to keep at it so you don't forget what you learned from.

always use protection for your head. oh and you should wear a helmet when snowboarding too!

I agree with fiend138. Looking in the direction you want to go will help with the hardest part of first learning to snowboard.

"Sometimes, snowboarding can be as easy as looking up."
   
    - Some girl on youtube.

Don't look down! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI3dPyYVQY4

Learn how to fall! i.e. if falling forward: tuck your arms into your chest, fall to your knees and then to your chest. if falling back: bend knees, fall to your butt like you are sitting, and keep your head tucked forward(chin to chest). that will keep your head from hitting the ground to hard.

My best tip was $90... so if you are a beginner i would say tip your instructor at least that much 

Originally posted by SkooJoo My best tip was $90... so if you are a beginner i would say tip your instructor at least that much

I wish i got tipped that much >:O a friend of mine got like $140 for a 1 hour lesson :?

get a lesson, or just try to teach your self heelside first and dont catch your toe edge and die

Get totally wasted and go off huge kickers...lol I would recommend learning how to stop first.

Ride with people better then yourself.

i just started landing grabs off of some big jumps like 10 to 15 footers does anyone have any tips on how to land some back and front side 360s?

As a lot of people have already said, get lessons, ride with people who are better than you, get good gear, and ride where you are capable of riding and handling the terrain.  Don't get in over your head and get hurt by riding terrain well above your skill level.  Last, but certainly not least, HAVE FUN!

Bend your kness, what? you are saying you are? Well.. no you aren't. What? you are? let me see... Okay you are not. Stop arguing with me. Okay fine, do you feel like your ass will touch the snow? No? there you have it, you did not bend your knees.

This is what I tell all beginners. and please stay with your board, don't let it go ahead of you. another words, dont lean back and let the board lead you. you will fall hard.

You think that person is good? do you know him/her? yes? well ask them if they can snow down and lead you down a green so you can watch, learn and copy. just do monkey see monkey do. if they dont look like they are bending their knees.. well they are. if your quads are burning from bending your knees, well. when its off season, you better pick up some work out routine such as squatting, deadlifts, quad extension, hamstring curls and calve raises.

skip the bunny and go down the green. stay with your board and bend your knees. You will do fine.

Don't get in my way haha.. No.. Tie your boots tite

Go with people that push you to get better.

i regret not wearing a "butt guard" when i learned to snowboard. but i had my friend teach me and she said a picked it up quick, so you just gotta keep at it.

Think about what you're doing right/wrong and build on that.

Originally posted by jstgermain Go with people that push you to get better.

Get a lesson, a helmet, fitted for your boots and have fun.

learn how to stop before u start riding with ppl better than you

Bend your knees. Great advice I remembered when starting up "you stand tall, you fall"

Wear DWR jacket and pants, my cloth pants were frozen my 1st time.