Beginner in photography and looking for an off camera flash

Im looking for an off camera flash on a budget and dont know where to start or look really. I read the sticky tutorial in this section but I have a few questions. Im going to be shooting skateboarding mostly and pictures of my band and instruments and I need something to work around that. So im basically wondering what setup I would need to get great pictures in skateboarding with a flash like you see in the magazines or pictures around here and those pictures of bands on the covers of a cd or a professional bands myspace. I know they must have expensive setups but I just need something to put my foot in the door. There seems to be so many flashes so I dont really know which one to choose in the $150 range and I also will need a tripod, umbrella, and something to sync (?) or connect the camera and flash.

Sorry if I sound like a total newbie I just need to get a push in the right direction.

thanks!

edit: O and if you need to know the camera I will be using is a canon 1d classic

simple??

Flash: http://www.mpex.com/br​owse.cfm/2,754.html
Swivel: http://www.mpex.com/br​owse.cfm/4,11776.html
Stand: http://www.mpex.com/br​owse.cfm/4,4729.html
Umbrella: http://www.mpex.com/br​owse.cfm/4,4643.html
Radio: http://www.mpex.com/br​owse.cfm/4,12662.html

Though I prefer these radios more: http://www.alienbees.c​om/cybersync.html

I'm just starting out working with OCF also. After reading numerous posting on here and other sites I went with the following.

Flash: YN-465 (eTTL) ~$70 on ebay
Alternatively you could get the YN-460 (completely manual) for ~$40 on ebay.
Radio: RF602 ~$40 on ebay

Regarding the stand and umbrella I'm haven't chosen one yet.

Thanks for the input!

Does it even matter which flash I use for a sport like skateboarding?

It's all the same. I prefer the lp120 because the yn's have lots of quality issues and the lp has every type of connector for any situation and a zoom capability.

A little out of your price range but a perfect setup for what you want to do and very easy to set up and learn.

B400 White Studio Flash
CyberSync Battery Powered Trigger Receiver
CyberSync Trigger Transmitter
Foldable Medium Softbox (24in. x 36in.) speedring attached
10-foot General Purpose Stand

Grand Total: $517.17

PS - Those photos you see in rock and skateboarding magazines are more then likely multiple flash unit photos and the ones that are single flash pics are not just set up a flash and fire away shots. Happy learning (:

That was completely way more simple than I thought it was. The lp120 seems like what im looking for and my dad owns a lighting company in manhattan so I get everything for a lot cheaper such as stands and umbrellas and he just started sharing business with a company called CSI rentals so I can get the flash for a lot cheaper to.

thanks!

I got tired of waiting for the lp120 to be in stock & just picked up a YN465. I'm very happy with it so far and it was only $71 !

I did it this way.....

Flash: YN465 - http://cgi.ebay.com.au …iewItem&item=16​0416890294
Triggers: PT04 (RF-602 would have been better) - http://cgi.ebay.com.au …iewItem&item=19​0377419789
Stand with Umbrella and Mount - http://cgi.ebay.com.au …iewItem&item=33​0422238497

This is in Australia tho