It Cost Me HOW MUCH To Get Into Snowboarding As A Complete Beginner?!

Adventures
Written By Diana Sienkiewicz
A hand holds a journal open to a "Snowboarding Expenses" page with detailed entries. In the background, a screen displays a snowy scene with a cartoon character.

All photographs are original works taken and created by dreamlikediana. All artwork and content are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution without express written permission is strictly prohibited. ©DREAMLIKEDIANA - All Rights Reserved

Before we dive into this post, I want to start with a serious question. Let’s consider it a poll. You can’t choose both—you have to pick ONE:

Going on a vacation OR Starting a new hobby?

Okay, but not just any hobby. A hobby you’ve been dreaming about starting. Or a vacation you’ve been dying to take. Which one would you honestly choose?

Most people would probably choose the vacation, right?

Poll image on a pink background asking, "Which would you choose?" with options: "Start a new hobby" at 38% and "Go on vacation" at 62%. Text below says, "Poll hosted on my IG account." Tone is playful and engaging.

Well, prepare to be shocked by how much money I’ve poured into starting my new hobby: snowboarding. It’s now a lifelong skill & passion for me. I said, “Screw the vacation,” and just about everything else in my life. I went all in. I’ve committed. Maybe in 2024, I’ll consider a vacation—but that’s a BIG maybe.

NOTE: Since this post was originally published in 2023, a lot has changed! I’ve learned SO much more about snowboarding gear, pricing, and what’s worth investing in (and what’s not). I’ll be releasing a detailed 2025 update video on my YouTube channel breaking down new expenses, gear upgrades, and tips for beginners. If you’re thinking about getting into snowboarding, you’ll want to check it out—it’s packed with insights I wish I had when I started!

Just a heads-up: None of my blog posts are not sponsored! Every post is honest and straight from the heart, sharing information and value that I believe could genuinely benefit you. This post does include affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you!). Want to know more about the brands I’m affiliated with? Click here to learn more! 😊
 

Expenses So Far

Open journal displaying a "Snowboarding Expenses" log on a desk. The left page lists detailed costs; the right page is blank. Cozy, organized atmosphere.

Snowboarding expenses tracker created in a Passion Journal by Passion Planner. Use my link to get $15 off your first Passion Planner order.

Let’s break it down. Here’s what I’ve spent in my first year of snowboarding:

Altogether I’ve spent: $3,458.87

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Was It Worth It?

Open journal with "Snowboarding Expenses" header, showing handwritten itemized costs and blank columns on lined pages. Soft pink background, calm tone.

A lot of these expenses aren’t recurring. Just getting into the sport is essentially expensive. But it’s highly worth it and rewarding as an adult.

There are other options, like I’ve been told before—you can get snowboarding rentals for a season or buy gear second-hand. But personally,. But personally, it’s different when you have your own gear. That’s what I was told, and I fully agree. I LOVE having my own beginner snowboarding setup, and I’ve always known this was going to be for life now. I’m really excited for the winter now, considering I USED TO HATE IT!

The first piece of gear I bought myself were my own snowboarding boots. I bought them from Buckmans, but you can find a similar pair on Amazon, in April 2023. It made a huge difference! Using rental boots sucks! So if you really want to get into it and commit, at least start with your own boots.

I know a lot of people buy their stuff second-hand, but I personally like my stuff brand new. Like just for me. Boots are also very personal—they mold to your foot. In general, I just don’t buy much of anything second-hand. I think it takes away from the people who actually need those items at an affordable price. If I can afford brand new, given I’m not going to keep buying new stuff every moment, I’m going to buy brand new.

I was also told that I’ll learn faster because I’ll have my own gear (snowboard, bindings, boots, etc.). So I took his opinion to heart and did exactly what he told me to do, and I don’t regret it since. LITERALLY.

I grew up poor. My parents worked 2-3 jobs and taught my sisters and me how to bust our asses and work hard for the things we want. If you don’t know this by now, hi, I’m Diana, I’m a first-generation Polish American. I worked my ass off to be able to afford nice things, so I’m going to take advantage of it where I can. That isn’t to say I’m rich—I just rather choose getting into a lifelong hobby than going on a vacation to Florida or some other cliche location. Like almost everyone around me would rather choose going on a vacation, but I chose to learn to snowboard and really commit to it. Not a lot of people can say that!

Although, I feel bad towards my friends because I don't see them much, but if I’m being honest with you, I’m not interested in the things they are doing with their free time anymore. I’d rather not spend money in those areas. I make time if it’s something simple like grabbing a bite to eat. Other than that, every extra bit of income I receive from my side hustles goes right into snowboarding.

The only recurring expenses, in the future, that I'll have are:

Stay tuned!

This was part 2 to my, "I Took Private Snowboarding Lessons at Big SNOW in the American Dream Mall" post. If you haven't read that yet, go check that out first!

2025 Update:
Since this post was first published, I’ve spent even more on snowboarding (shocking, I know!). I’ve upgraded my gear, learned more about what’s worth the investment, and discovered some hidden costs I didn’t anticipate. I’ll be releasing a full breakdown in a video on my YouTube channel soon, where I’ll dive into the details of what I’ve bought, why, and what you need to know before diving into this sport. Trust me, if you’re thinking about starting snowboarding, this video will save you a lot of time, money, and headaches. Stay tuned!

If you have any questions or comments, let me know in the comments section down below, and I’ll get back to you at my earliest convenience.

Till next time!

~Diana

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Diana Sienkiewicz https://dreamlikediana.com
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