Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Most important of all is travel insurance with decent cover.

IMHO you can't go far wrong with the Post Office, and they are really good to deal with if you have a problem and they pay out within days if you have to make a claim.

Helmet is very important. You may think you are a beginner and won't need one, but it's not just you on the slopes. There are others out there who may collide with you. Concussion is no fun either.

3 of my teenage/young adult children snowboard and have done for many years now; All wear helmets, none wear impact shorts because I am too mean to buy them! They have worn wristguards from time to time but find them uncomfortable. Saying that, they have all suffered broken wrists over the years! Best thing is the special snowboard gloves with inbuilt supports but they are not cheap.

Anyway, I'm sure you will have a great time, and do post back how you get on tackling The Wall...

I had most of my tuition on a dry slope, impact shorts or some sort of protection for you backside would make it much more enjoyable. Also a pair of gloves, Again I used a pair of industrial anti vibration gloves. I found the padding on the palms very comfortable. Where I had my lessons supplied wrist elbow and knee pads which you had to wear when on a lesson. Helmets were not compulsory then, but I believe they are now. Keep yourself safe while learning, then you will have many years of fun ahead of you.
Don't let all this put you off. All four of my family took lessons at the same time, with no major accidents, just the odd bruised buttocks.

Hey Paul,

If you're learning on a dry slope wear a long tshirt tucked in, the burns I had down both sides from not tucking my top in were pretty painful, that's the biggest tip I can give. Also if the slope is on the old style bristle type matts watch out for splinters, painful little things so thick gloves help. Do wear wrist guards as it only takes one awkward fall to break a wrist and watch your thumbs when you land on the dry slope as they can get caught in the holes in the matts. You don't really need padded shorts on a dry slope as the matts are pretty soft but they are pretty good once you get to the snow.
I learnt the basics of boarding in about 4.5 hours on a dry slope and that was enough to get me down the blue runs fairly easily once I got onto the snow so you should be well up to speed after a whole day before you go.
Have fun.