i suggest going to a store that is specific to skiing and snowboarding such as aspen ski and board instead of something like dick's sporting goods. the people at aspen are exremely helpful and knowledgable with all of their products...plus they usually have package deals with boots bindings and board. when picking out your equipment the priority level usually goes 1. Boots 2. Bindings 3. Board Buying your equipment in that order will give you a better chance to carry out the full potential that your current skills will allow you to do. If you blow all of your money on the board and but cheap bindings and boots, you lose alot of your ability to control the board. Good boots give you good control of your bindings. Good bindings give you good control of your board. Put them both together and you will have good control of whatever board you choose.