Kids these days! All you hear is: "I wanna get sponsored." Or: "I've got all four three's; I should be sponsored." Or how about: "Here's a list of every trick I can do. Sponsor me!"

Yeah, you can get into the whole "love of the sport" deal here, but one of the best reasons to just ride for yourself is because you can ride whatever the hell product you want. Want to ride TechNine bindings on a Dinosaurs Will Die board with Ride Boots? Go for it. How about Holden Pants and a Sound Jacket? Done. You want to sticker up your Burton board with Capita logos? Questionable, but what the hell? Go for it.

The thing about riding for a company is that you actually have to back that brand and everything they stand for. It's not so hard when they're creating the best goods in the industry, but what about all the sub-par brands out there? It sucks having to walk around a trade-show in some crappy purple Hooger Booger logo'd tee when you wanna be wearing an Ashbury deep-V. And it sucks even more when their shoddy product is impairing your actual skill as a snowboarder.

Anyway, after 20 years of snowboarding I've become quite the product snob. And it is a treat to pick out and ride exactly what you want to ride because it looks and performs the best. So after painstaking research, here's the list of the product that I am backing and paid full retail prices (or would have paid retail prices, anyway) for the upcoming winter.

Full disclosure: When you have been involved in the snowboard industry for a long time, it's possible to get your greedy hands on pro-forms, free product, and so-on. While this is the case for a few, but definitely not all of the products showcased below, the point of the article is this: Given the choice of every product across the board, these are the ones I have researched and chosen, regardless of friends, personal hook-ups, or anything else. Enjoy.

KIT #1: The everyday park set-up

1. Board: Ride Machete 152 ($499): Perhaps a little short, but perfect for Ontario park conditions. There's a little bit of camber, but it's still solid for jumps. It's also a Transworld Snowboarding "Good Wood" winner, and the sick graphics make this an all-around killer.

2. Boots: Burton Grail ($390): Expensive, yeah sure, but boots are by far the most important piece of equipment you have, so don't skimp.

3. Bindings: Burton Infidel ($330): The winged-backs do wonders for board control and give a bit more stability when riding a smaller board.

4. Jacket: Holden Patch jacket, black ($169): Part of the Holden Classics line. Solid colors, basic styling, and a rider-run company: If only all outerwear brands were this dope.

5. Pants: Holden Sonny Denim Skinny pant ($279): The kids can stick to the bright colours. Personally, I don't like putting on a costume when I go ride. I'd rather just look the same as if I was walking down the street.

6. Toque: Brixton Heist ($20)

7. Gloves: Drop Bronco: Skin-colored for those days when it's too cold to go gloveless.

8. Goggles: SPY Soldiers MFM: The man, the myth, the legend. These are functional and basic looking in all black.

9. Under-layer: Under Armour Cold Gear: Yeah, it's a jock brand, but their gear is mad functional and will keep you warm so you don't have to wear as much on top. Plus, they support Kyle Clancy. Done.

10. Socks: Burton Mega Sock: Don't even come with those cotton socks.

KIT #2: Get me to the mountains

1. Board: Ride Machete 158 ($499): When riding a real mountain, it's usually best not to shred on a chest-high board. Step up your regular board by 5 cm or so and you won't have to get used to dialing in a whole new board.

2. Bindings: Burton Infidel ($330)

3. Jacket: Holden Puffy Woods jacket ($199): A classic-looking puffy. Perfect.

4. Pants: Holden Sonny Denim Skinny pant ($279)

5. Gloves: iDiom Superpipe gloves ($110)

6. Goggles: Spy Orbits: I normally prefer something that looks a little more basic, but these things work too well not to try them out.

7. Mask: Airhole bandana print: Support your Canadian boys.

KIT #3: Hit times jibbing in the city

Note: Going riding in the city lets you get a little more creative in your gear, as the elements play less of a role. If you get cold, just hop in the car for a minute. Worry less about functionality and let your creativity shine through. Give those internet haters something to talk about.

1. Board: Ride Crush 147 ($459): Short length, good price, perfect for thrashing walls and ledges with.

2. Bindings: Burton Cartel with low-backs: Keep your old bindings or build up some Franken-bindings out of old parts so you don't have to do the switch-around every time you hit rails.

3. Boots: Burton ‘08 Jeremy Jones shells w/ Grail liners: For mad cush' and board feel. Don't throw out those beat-up boots from last season; they're the way to go for the city.

4. Jacket: "Vintage" Holden Mississippi Camo jacket: I found this on Ebay for just $27. Three are all kinds of deals on old product online.

5. Pants: Holden Standard Skinny pant ($149): Plain black, no funny business here; they, could pass for a pair of Dickies for some pure SF-style.

6. Hoodie: Stussy

7. Sunglasses: SPY Stratos II ($89): Frogskins and Wayfarers look sweet, but you'll look like everyone else.

Gloves: Nope.

Goggles: No way; never on rails.

BAGS

1. Gravis Jetway ($210): Perfect size for stuffing a week's worth of crap in the airplane overhead. Gravis bags are next level.

2. Incase Messenger Bag ($100): If you're down with dope products, you no doubt already own some Incase gear to house your Mac gear. Function never looked so good! It's a perfect compromise between a briefcase and little kid's backpack.

3. Incase Nylon Sleeve ($60): When you're just biking to the coffee shop to work on your poetry, this is all you need.

KICKS

Note: You've gotta get to the hill somehow. From skate parks to bars and snowy parking lots, these will do the trick.

1. Nike SB Stefan Janoski: Sailor style is all the rage these days. Nike got it bang on with these.

2. Cons Skate CTS: An ill upgrade on the OG's. Comfy and skateable.

3. Vans Chukka Lows: Amazing skate shoe with laid-back Chukka boot styling.

4. Clae Romare Hi: The comeback of 2009? I think so.

5. Gravis Skate Dylan Mids: Gravis is doing sick things with their IV skate line these days.

6. Red Wing Gentlemen Travelers: Keeps you warm, dry, and stylish over the fall and winter seasons. These will last a lifetime, so they're worth every penny.

RANDOM STUFF

Note: You're not always riding, right? Here are some personal favorites.

1. Comune snap-back: Be on the look-out for Comune over the next year.

2. Brixton painters-style hat: Another brand that's solid across the board.

3. Nixon, The Sentry Leather: Nixon has been doing it right for ages.

4. G-Shock 7800 Black: Want a watch with a timeless look, that you can beat the hell out of for years on end without ever breaking? Look no further than a classic G-Shock.

5. WeSC Bongo Stash Edition: Because iPod buds suck and who doesn't like music?

6. Nixon wallet: Not just great watches, but killer accessories as well.

7. Blistex w/SPF: I literally could not live without this crack-stick.

8. Nike biking gloves: Makes biking and skating in the late fall bearable.