Also what shops in NYC can I go to to purchase cheap snowboarding gear? I’m only talking about goggles, gloves, and pants. I assume I can rent boots and the board at a ski resort.

there’s a lots of buses going to Hunter Mountain, NY which is like two hours ride check it out here http://www.huntermtn.com/huntermtn/resort/getting-here/bus-lines.aspx There’s also Windham mountain and Bellayre mountain i think buses goes there too, check their websites

and you can buy pretty basic cheap snowboarding gear at eastern mountain sports http://www.ems.com/locator/locator_store.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302375217&bmUID=1200503846517 which is on broadway btw houstoun and prince. Otherwise there’s lot’s of other board shops, Burton, Blades, Paragon etc