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New to Snowboarding - Help wanted =)

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Heyhey all.

I just started snowboarding a couple of weeks ago, had a day of lessons at the Xscape in Braehead, broke my wrist unfortunately but I can't wait to get back out and have more lessons.

In the meantime I've been looking at boards, boots and bindings, as I figure that by the time I can afford a set up I'll be good enough to warrant buying my own board (16 and no job, you know how it is). So I havce some questions.

  • I've read in several places that you should buy boots then bindings the board. Why?
  • I'm a novice so I'm guessing I'll need soft boots? What could you guys recommend?
  • I have no idea about bindings. Again I'll need soft ones right?
  • Again, soft board? I've been looking at the Icon Wallpaper as I've heard that it's the perfect beginner board.


If you guys could recommend me some stuff then I'd greatly appreciate it. I don't want the entire set up to cost more than £400. Could that be done?

Thanks Smile
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Mornin' sunshine and welcome. ¡Forward, Russia! wtf?

Anyway, boots first 'cos they need to fit properly and be comfortable. Snug but not tight when laced especially around your heel and enough space in the toe-box to wiggle your toes a wee bit without crushing your nails. They will bed down a wee bit but new footbeds can take up the slack and boots will also get softer with use so if they're really soft and flexible when you buy them they'll not be much support 3 weeks down the learning curve when you want to start to really use them to control your board. A good pair of boots will last for many, many weeks riding, read the reviews and listen to people talk but if you buy something in the upper middle range of of the big manufacturers you'll be fine ... just make sure they fit well as your first priority.

Don't buy board and bindings yet, hire mid level boards in resort to get a feel for different widths, lengths, flex and pop. If you just want a board to learn on try eBay, post a link here and I'm sure you'll get decent advice as to the quality and or value of the item. If you insist on buying new then the Internet's the place Blue Tomato, Ski Bilek and a few others have good prices or if you want to keep it to the UK see the EB store in Xscape about their riding their demo stock to try before buying.

But boots first and then worry about the rest.
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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?
Basically a softer set up is more forgiving of mistakes when you are learning, as you get better you'll come to know what suits you better and be able to tailor your kit appropriately.

A couple of years ago there was a better argument for buying kit early on, as the rental stuff was appalling, these days it's got better for beginners/intermediates, and so there's not the urgency to buy IMV, but boots are still quite important to have your own.

The best place to get cheap kit is the specialist retailers that advertise in the back of snowboard mags, and have lots of last season's kit, which is often at knock down prices, buy in the summer just after the end of the season.

As you've already broken a wrist, wrist guards are adviseable.
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Distant Cousin, Masque is spot on - buy the boots new and have a look on Ebay for a cheap board and bindings.
You can get some bargains on Ebay - try not buying Burton on Ebay as they always go for more than they are worth due to the name.

Although I don't use them, I would recommend some Flow bindings to learn with - you may find that you are in and out of your bindings alot in the early days. Using Flows will make this easier.

I'm sure one of the "Flow disciples" wink could recommend a model ????

Renting is an option but from what I see with some of my friends, rental can be quite expensive.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks guys Smile

Masque, ¡Forward, Russia! are one of my favourite bands (it's an inverted !, not a lower case I).

Stephen, At Xscape board, boot and binding rental is included in the cost of lessons or sessions, so no worries there. They use Salomon boards, not sure which model, but I used a 160 when i went and it felt about right.

Kramer, I'm going to get a support bandage for my wrist when I get the cast off, I just fell awkwardly, and hard when I broke it Sad


Could anyone recommend some boots? How long do they last on average, and I'd need about medium stiffness? So they don't wear out too fast.
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Distant Cousin, I know nothing about boarding, but the standard NHS wrist protection/support they should give you after your cast comes off is, in the opinion of my favourite retailer, better than most wrist supports sold for boarders/skiers, simply buy a glove that fits over it and get another one for the other wrist from a good pharmacy. Listen to you specialist when he checks over your wrist after the cast is off he will give you good sound advice, mainly that you will have pain from the wrist for at least the next 2 years Shocked
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
2 years?! Bloody hell.

They definately give you one when you have the cast off?
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Distant Cousin, yep 2 years, and older friend of ours still has pain after 3 years (age may help!) and they should but they don't have to, ask nicely if they don't offer Toofy Grin
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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.
Ah right ok Smile

Can anyone recommend any boots?
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Hi,

I'm also new to snowboarding and looking for some boots. I quite like the look of ThirtyTwo Lashed boots, has anyone tired them or recommend them?

Distant Cousin, I have also seen great reviews on the Icon Wallpaper board, TSA said they should have them back in stock around September.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Distant Cousin, no one can really recomend boots. you need to go to the shop and try on every pair till you find the ones that fit you best and are the most comfey for you.

welcome to snowheads
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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.
snowangel. wrote:
Distant Cousin, no one can really recomend boots. you need to go to the shop and try on every pair till you find the ones that fit you best and are the most comfey for you.


Seconded, you need to get some boots that are a nice snug fit that have a shape that fits your foot well. Dont go by brand or appearance or any other stupid thing. Comfort in combination with snugness of fit are essential. Try on as many pairs as possible.

When I got my boots I had a really good fitter who examined my feet for a bit and pulled out 2 pairs that he said would fit well. The first pair he said might pinch my heel a bit as some people experienced this but some didn't. They did so I tried on the second pair and they felt perfect. Everyone was buying burtons at the time though and I had burton bindings so I thought I should buy some burtons. I asked to try them on and there was a massive difference. I then asked to check another couple of top range boots in my size out of interest and found that none of them even compared to the ones I was recomended to start off with.

I was still happy that I had tried more on because I felt I had got the best pair of boots I could and have used them for the last season and a half that I was living in France. Try on as many as possible and hope you get a good boot-fitter who knows what they are talking about in the shop.
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
mista, which boots did you get, out of interest????

what works for me is 32's
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Distant Cousin, I'm a skier, but the same boot buying principles apply.

Buy your socks first and buy as many sets of the same socks as you'll need for a week - if the boots fit properly then changing from thin to thick socks will affect the fit. There's a remarkable difference between different socks.

Buy good socks - cheap ones only leave you with cold feet. There's nothing worse than cold feet. (Ok, I'll give you that being buried under an avalanche is somewhat worse...)

You've got to try boots on - don't even consider mail-ordering or buying off eBay if you don't know what you're doing.

Don't put cost as your primary consideration - badly fitting boots can ruin a holiday - consider the cost of the holiday when thinking about whether an extra £50 is worth it.

But don't spend too much - because you'll end up with boot that's too advanced for you.

And don't buy something because it's "a good deal" - I once made the mistake of buying some "expert" boots because they were less than half price. Big mistake.

Don't be in a hurry - set aside a good 2-3 hours and be prepared to try on everything.

Give boots a few minutes once you've put them on - don't go with first impressions as you put the boot on your foot, let it warm up - a boot that feels tight will often.

If the boot feels comfortable, then try on the half size below.

Try boots on one at a time - start with a pair on; let them warm up; change one boot; let it warm up; change the other boot; let it warm up - that way you can compare the difference between boots more easily.

You want snug, not tight - anyone who tells you that it's supposed to be uncomfortable is lying (or a rock climber).

Try on the "winning" pair again before you buy and the second favourite pair again

Leave the (now) "wining" pair on for as long as you can - 15 minutes if you can (- take a book!)

Don't accept nonsense - any shop that tries to rush you isn't worth dealing with - but do them the courtesy of doing this when they might be quieter...
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
additionally wear the winning boots around at home as much as possible before using them - you should be able to exchange them of you are still not happy (may not apply if you've have them heat moulded).
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Wow, thanks for that guys Smile

Why try on the half size below though?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Distant Cousin, Welcome to the wonderful world of boarding!

Only advice on kit i can give ya is to echo most of the comments that the other guys have given .

Boots..nice pair of salomon, sod the cost...fit is more important and as you advance your boots will still be right for you even if the board etc isn't.

Board...fit with flows as these are probably easier in the early days.

Wrist guards....buy the best you can afford.

Buy a tin of deap-heat.

A good long jacket is good because you will spend a lot of time sat in the snow when learning.

Above all else,dont worry about what your using until you have some degree of technique.You will know by then what is right for YOU. Have fun.
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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?
snowangel. wrote:
mista, which boots did you get, out of interest????

what works for me is 32's


Some weird Salomon ones that I have never seen anywhere else, I dont even know what the name is. They are really small black things that almost look like trainers sometimes, never get wet feet, nicely worn in but still rigid enough to have good control over the board over a season later, a really good buy. I did end up buying new bindings to go with them cos they were slightly too small for the bindings I had at the time and even on tightest setting my toe strap would occasionally pop over the front of my foot... Worth it though, I dont know what I'll do when they finally get worn out...

r.e. socks, maybe this is less important for snowbaording but I always just wear one pair of really cheap sports socks from a shop called sports socker, the brand of sock is Donnay (£2 for 4 pairs or something like that), never had any problems. Never wear more than one pair of socks as you can get pain from rubbing. make sure whatever socks you do wear stick out the top of your boots, this helps perspiration to escape.

r.e. cost, when it comes to snowboarding boots you do generally get what you pay for. However unless you are an advanced intermediate cruising around at relatively high speeds you wont really need anything too advanced. If you get a pair too advanced for you then this wont cause any damage so long as you buy a pair that fit you well and are comfy. So yeah if you arent heading towards advanced riding then price isn't important, if you hope to grow into an advanced rider in these boots I would suggest going for a reasonably rigid top end model though, totally agree not to go for something because it's price has been reduced, only think of that as a bonus if the ones that are the most comfortable also happen to have a reduced price.

r.e. fit, snug is good, ideally your toes will just be touching the front of the boot. Think about how soft the liner material is, these things stretch with use, if they become too big your heel will start to lift out of the boot and you can get blisters from this as well as loss of control of the board, this is why in an ideal world you can buy them just slightly too small. They will mould to your feet and soften up slightly with use, sometimes the more advanced boots do need a week or 2 of breaking in but it is well worth it in my opinion.
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mista's point about length is a good one.

Summarising what you're looking for in terms of fit then (in order) you want:

- toes just touching the front when you're stood up - and the toes should move away when your knees are bent slightly
- you should be able to wiggle your toes when your knees are flexed a bit
- your heel should be nicely held in place ("cradled", not pinched)
- the rest of your foot and lower leg should all feel like it's in contact with the boot.

Until you know what you're looking for, there's a tendency for people to buy boots that are comfortable because they're actually just a tad too big. If you try on the half size below and the length is still ok after it's warmed up then that's the boot you should be comparing for fit.

So if you try on a boot and it fits well in the heal, but when you try on the half size below the length is ok, but the heal is too tight - then the chances are the first boot will pack out to become too big for you.

I don't know what the other guys here think, but most skiers and boarders I know bought the wrong first pair of boots. And that's why I'd be restrained on the money front.

On the board fron, there's a lot to be said for renting your board for the first couple of trips as your technique will come along in leaps and bounds - and you'll begin to understand what size and type of board you need. But stephen bleakley is right, rental costs do add up - and if you can get a cheap "hand me down" beginners board then go for it.

I'd only ever recommend trying boards and skis in resort - where you can try them on snow. How and whether a board works for you depends on your weight, height and technical ability. Reviews help, but only really tell you how it worked for the reviewer.

Another thing to say. Whilst the summer is a good time for bargains, it does limit your choice a heck of a lot - especially at this time of the year when people are out of most of last year's gear and just waiting for next season's stuff to come in. So now is, I think, a particularly bad time of year to buy. Wait a month or so and you'll have your pick of the new range - and any dregs will still probably be there for you too.

Oh. And buy those wrist guards. I did a heck of a lot of falling forwards (and backwards) when I learned to board - and if you've already done you wrist then you don't want to do it again.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
PhillipStanton, Actually my first boots were fantastic; it's all the other boots I had after that until now that have been awful. However, now that George the boot wizard fits mine it's a doddle and I have my first pair of ski slippers Smile Welcome to snowHead PhillipStanton!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
If the heel is pinching when the rest of the boot is the right size (just too small) then try on some other boots.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Cheers guys Smile

Board rental at Xscape is included in the session/lesson price, so no worries there.

The boards they use there are Salomon Transfer ATi boards. I was given a 160cm board and it felt good and the right length for me.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
You can get some great deals on any of the gear you need at www.snowboardpricing.com - it will work out much cheaper than renting.
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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.
Why thank you geetee - nice to see that you're hanging out here Very Happy I spotted Stu kicking around elsewhere extoling the virtues of doing a season. I must take up his advice. Ooops, too late... Laughing
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