Poster: A snowHead
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So I want to try snowboarding but I'm curious as to what will benefit me just starting out? I know very little about the subject so I was hoping to get some insight. I am 6' 4" if height is important. I don't want a brand war here lol just some info on what specs a good begginer's board should have. Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Are planning on lessons at a snowdome first? If so they will give you something suitable.
Good luck and enjoy the ride
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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When I bought my first board (after a one week holiday on rental stuff) I was advised not to buy a beginners board, but to buy an intermediate board because the beginners boards would be way to soft/flexible by the end of the second week.
I guess try it for a week, or loads of lessons/sessions at the dome, and if you like it buy an intermediate board.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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weight is more important tham height personally i'd buy a mid flex cam rock board.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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A rental board.
Seriously, buying a board when you're on the steepest part of the learning curve is not efficient. What works for you today, you will be well over by tomorrow. Unless you don't intend to learn much. Rent, and let your instructor guide you as you progress. Make a point of swapping your board as you progress - the rental people won't suggest this to you, you need to make it happen. That way you lean what type of board works best for you.
Buying a board which is "better than you are" is not really a good idea. In snowboarding, you learn fastest on the board which works best for you. You would, for example, never learn to ride at all if I lent you my Titanal race board. You learn quickest on a board designed to work at your level, because it's most fun and the board supports you. This is why rentals work best.
Brands don't make any difference, neither does your height - weight and ability are the important factors. The sort of board you ride in a fridge is probably shorter and softer than anything you'd ride on a mountain.
Take lessons first, ask your instructor. You will probably want to buy boots before anything else.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@philwig, is right - Rent gear until you're more comfortable in knowing what you're looking for from your snowboarding. Put the money into lessons with good quality instructors who have a passion for what they do. Boots are the best first purchase, and later a second-hand beginner/intermediate board will save you from putting hundreds into a board you'll probably replace in relatively short order.
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if you really want to buy one get as cheap as possible as it will make no difference to your performance what so ever when your learning, you spend so much time on your back bottom and knees when learning that the board doesnt really have an impact on you till you confidently link your turns, and can get up some speed.
If you planning on using Snowdome such places just use one of their boards.
dont buy your first board till you have done all your lessons, been a few times on your own and want to venture abroad. Now boots are another thing, id buy your own boots first, even to learn in, considering the amount of time you spend in them you want some nice comfy boots as @philwig, mentioned
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What the others have said.... Rent until you're good enough to know what you want.
Enjoy
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Definitely rent until you know that a) you enjoy it and b) you're not going to quickly 'grow out of it'
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All very good tips, thank you guys and gals. I was also recommended by a friend to rent the board but buy my boots. I think that is what I will do for a while until I get used to it. I want to buy a board this spring when the sales are on tho, so I'm going to look at some intermediate boards and get a grasp of what is out there. Hopefully by then, I will have a better idea of what I need out of it. Thanks again peeps!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Boots are without doubt , the most important piece of kit, buy what fits your feet , not what others recomemd or what colour looks nice . If you have to spend a little bit more on your boots , do it . And then slightly less on a snowboard WHEN u eventually buy one / or even second hand , lots of ppl want a new one every year so good deals to be had .
A board shop owner once said to me, if all mens boots were black and all womens white, more people would actually buy the boot that fits, and not just looks pretty.
And as the boot is either covered in snow, or has a binding on it or covered by your snowboard pant leg end , why does it need to be a nice colour or look pretty .
Better to have a comfy first lift to last chair riding day than a I look pretty at the bar at lunch cos my feet hurt
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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winterfunman wrote: |
why does it need to be a nice colour or look pretty . |
How are you gonna look fab-u-lous on the slopes if things aren't pretty?
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Fully agree with buying boots and renting the rest. Just make sure the rental board is properly sized. My buddy (80kg size 9) got given a 164W on the first day of his second trip. Not ideal, needless to say we went and changed it for something a bit smaller.
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You know it makes sense.
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I think you have to look after yourself with these things - relying on random shop people is a poor idea, I would say.
On the plus side, if you rent, and you rent a board which is the wrong size, it's easy to try it for a few runs and take it back. That's kind of close to the whole point. On the other hand, you can buy a tiny toy board for sliding down pipes with, and find it's completely useless at a resort... and then help drive the second hand market immensely.
I seldom see people on boards which are too big. I seldom see people riding small boards who can actually ride. Just sayin.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Agreed comfort is everything, especially when it comes to boots. The last thing you would want is having loose boots or worse too tight of boots while out on the snow. Heading to Mt Baker on my day off, so this should be interesting! Thank you everyone. Wish me luck. If I do not post tomorrow... obviously I did it wrong! buaha
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Poster: A snowHead
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Looking to get boarding too and found this topic really useful, thanks everyone!
Just wondering how much rental usually costs?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Ive been boarding for two years now and ive decided to buy my own gear.
Ive already purchased these boots: nitro thunder tls. They were reqlly comfy!
For bindings im thinking about the Burton Cartel bindings.
For board i was recommended for the Burton Twin Custom or the Ride. Bezerker.
Im looking for a board that is not to agressive, it needs to be able to go fast and to do carving with not to much difficulty. Trics is not my thing, maybe a litttle jump and powder snow must be doable. No so much into off piste, but you never know. I want to be relaxed on my board without paying attention all the time in where my board is taking me.
What do you people think?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Civillo, looking at the specs both those boards would work, with the Custom Twin being better at switch riding and the Bezerker better in powder. If you like Burton look at the Custom Flying V which will be good for everything you want and definitely easy to ride. To be honest there are plenty of decent all mountain boards that would suit your requirements.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Snow hound thx for the info.
The shop dude told me that the burton flying V is less stable then the custom. So more aggresive.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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More aggressive usually means more stable (as long as you're decent and concentrate). Aggressive is normally used to describe stiff boards not suitable for beginners. The Custom Twin and the Custom Flying V will be very similar boards but because of the different profiles I'd say that the Twin would be slightly more stable and sightly more aggressive. The Custom Flying V will be slightly better in powder and slightly easier to ride.
You're over thinking it. Any of the boards above will be just fine.
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Oke, thx man!
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Hey folks.... I have been occassionally boarding for a few years now, always renting and have decided to invest in my own kit.... I will spend probably all of my time on or just off piste rather than making a fool of myself in the park. I am 5ft 9, just over 12 stone with size 9 feet (UK). I don't want to break the bank and so am looking for a solid beginner/intermediate boots, bindings and board. Some advice would be much appreciated....
I have seen a deal for Burton Moto boots, Custom Bindings and Ripcord board. Is this the sort of thing I should be looking for, or am I going to leave myself regretting it? Also had a look at the Endeavor New Standard board.
Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated!!!!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@MrJaffa, that's all decent enough gear, although the Burton Motos are pretty basic boots. If you can afford to put any more into your budget, spend it on the boots.
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@Stevomcd - Cheers Stevo. Much appreciated! Any recommendation for boots?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ones that fit you well. Motos are very popular, used them for a few years but compared to my current boots they were uncomfortable. You've a couple of shops in Edinburgh, go try some on.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@MrJaffa, for boots - Salomon, Deelux or Ride!
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