Newb from Florida. Flying out to Colorado, brekenridge late feb. Buddy lives there. First time snowboarding. Skied when I was little but that's it. Haven't seen a winter since the 80s.
I got thermals. Googles. Socks. A snowboarding jacket. Hoodie. Gloves. Borrowing buddies pants. Renting board. Boots.
Any tips? Tough to pick up? Anything I should bring?
Thanks. 
googles should be scrapped for goggles (ze goggles, ze do nuhsing)
like most newbs you'll bust it coming off the lifts total yardsale and once you deal with that and get finally make it to the slope mostly you'll see the newbs workin the ole plow maneuver with both heels burried flattening the run down, and the inevitable sit down and get up a couple times (hopefully not blind for people coming down the hill (that shit happens - make sure you're easliy seen), constantly pushing yourself up with your arms - which will noodle by half day. eventually you'll turn the nose of the board downhill and ride for a bit until you catch an edge and eat shit. that will happen enough times to learn that when you have your nose downhill to stay slightly favoring either heel or toe side, as to not catch the mighty edge and send your shit back to earth. i personally advise to not let the board ride flat and fine the edge for you- hold heel or toe and find your line, once your figure that out you can throw from heel to toe whenever and put together a complete ride which will get you pumped. tough to pick up? well yeah, but shit what that's awesome isn't? you'll get the hang of it. i guarantee your arms will be fubar next day
sounds like you have enough gear- late feb around here is typically pretty mild. shit the whole winter has been last few.
bring a flask with peppermint schnapps and mix with it with some hot coco. you might want to get one of those convertible hood/ski mask/scarf things, they come in handy moreso than the hoodie will (if it gets nasty). i personally have a pair of century knee pads i wear under my pants so when i rest i'm not landing my knee right on a rock or someing not snow. also bring sunblock and that sunblock chapstick it's sunny as fuck around here.
have fun and stay with your buddy - brek is HUGE and easy to seperate from the pack.
Wow. Thanks. Lot of info to process. Looking at the jacket. Says the temps in feb range from 20-50.
If I have a thermal and a hoody. Do I need an insulated jacket as well?
sunblock like a motherfucker and stay wicked hydrated.... you're coming WAYYYYYY up in elevation and you'll get fucked up if you don't acclimate properly
i go all out on the base layers and make sure i have a good shell. you will be, asuming you get moving and do work, sweaty as fuck. this you will try to control as best as you can. if you can buy a base layer that wicks the sweat. which reminds me, the lift rides are where you will be coldest, consider buying a case of hand/glove warmers, all you have to do is open up the packaging and shake them and they last for the day.
temps in feb on a mountain in brek can range all sorts - be prepared. it's better to have and not need than... you get it.
don't get too caught up in the pressure it may feel like everyone is waiting on you or the entire mountain is tired of you falling/sitting down. just remember to stay planted on a heel or toe and hold it. you'll get the feel and have a blast. be cool
What's the fastest or average time to pick it up to be respectable out there?
Make sure the boots/bindings fit well. First time I went something was old the first day, could hardly walk the next morning for awhile. I blame the bindings ;-) 
*off, not old
Breck is a good place to learn. It's not steep and the runs are short. I live in keystone I can see Breck when I go ride. Let me know if you need anything? I might even have some $55 dollar passes. Instead of 115 or so per day.
Sweet for sure. Looking into jackets. I assume they should be insulated. So many options!!
If you ever played tackle football your first day of snowboarding will remind you of how the 1st day of football practice felt. You will be hit a lot by the ground
Marion Cobretti - What's the fastest or average time to pick it up to be respectable out there?
about a day unless you're a woman or an extremely uncoordinated guy. If you've surfed or skated you might start picking it up by lunch
I went for the first time also to Breckenridge last January
Ate shit a bunch in the morning
Was able to do greens in the afternoon without falling (generally)
It's tough but it was fun
When starting out, be very careful when turning. Don't cut down too hard otherwise you're going to clip the board and pretty much be thrown to the ground. Number one mistake when starting out. Look in the direction that you want to go, not at the ground.
Galaxie65 -Great advice, he knows what he is talking about. To truly answer the respectable part, well 1/2 day- 1.5 days till you get the hang of it, and kinda figure it out, but truly 3-5 days to be respectable. I go every year for the first week of February for my birthday. I go to snowshoe mountain west va cause it's the only one remotely close to being good near me.
googles should be scrapped for goggles (ze goggles, ze do nuhsing)
like most newbs you'll bust it coming off the lifts total yardsale and once you deal with that and get finally make it to the slope mostly you'll see the newbs workin the ole plow maneuver with both heels burried flattening the run down, and the inevitable sit down and get up a couple times (hopefully not blind for people coming down the hill (that shit happens - make sure you're easliy seen), constantly pushing yourself up with your arms - which will noodle by half day. eventually you'll turn the nose of the board downhill and ride for a bit until you catch an edge and eat shit. that will happen enough times to learn that when you have your nose downhill to stay slightly favoring either heel or toe side, as to not catch the mighty edge and send your shit back to earth. i personally advise to not let the board ride flat and fine the edge for you- hold heel or toe and find your line, once your figure that out you can throw from heel to toe whenever and put together a complete ride which will get you pumped. tough to pick up? well yeah, but shit what that's awesome isn't? you'll get the hang of it. i guarantee your arms will be fubar next day
sounds like you have enough gear- late feb around here is typically pretty mild. shit the whole winter has been last few.
bring a flask with peppermint schnapps and mix with it with some hot coco. you might want to get one of those convertible hood/ski mask/scarf things, they come in handy moreso than the hoodie will (if it gets nasty). i personally have a pair of century knee pads i wear under my pants so when i rest i'm not landing my knee right on a rock or someing not snow. also bring sunblock and that sunblock chapstick it's sunny as fuck around here.
have fun and stay with your buddy - brek is HUGE and easy to seperate from the pack.
Fireball or rumplemintz is perfect cold weather shots, and I highly rec keep a small buzz cause u will fall a lot and will tire out. Don't land on your hands, and I rec a helmet. Been going for years, and on year 5 I took a bad spill and cracked my spine. Have fun and be safe
Tyt
I'd grab a helmet too.
Rei has a great return policy so you can get your gear from there and just return it when you're done :)
Breck is usually windy so layering is where it's at.
Ill have to watch some video. But looking forward to it.
FlowWithTheGo - Breck is a good place to learn. It's not steep and the runs are short. I live in keystone I can see Breck when I go ride. Let me know if you need anything? I might even have some $55 dollar passes. Instead of 115 or so per day.I'll have to keep in touch. Those passes seem really cheap my buddy said.
I've been watching instructional videos. Any suggestions?