Poster: A snowHead
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How different are the carvey looking snowboards that take ski boots to regular ones? I fancy learning to snowboard next season - but I have size 12 feet and apparently this means hassle with a wide board and stuff, plus my ski boots fit perfectly so I'm loathe to have to sort out another pair of boots that'll probably hurt at some point
Same kinda thing or totally different kettle of fish?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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toiletduckuk, I recommend you check out the Carver's Almanac. http://www.alpinecarving.com/boots.html#ski
Most alpine riders use special snowboarding hard boots. Ski boots have the following disadvantages:
Too long - hard boots are designed to be as short as possible to enable lower angles to be used
Too stiff
Too stiff laterally
Cant use step-in bindings
You don't have to get a carving board to use hard boots. I used them on freeride boards as well. Carving boards are narrow and force high angles. The most versatile board is the Swoard Extremecarver (www.swoard.com) which is wide enough to go well in powder and permits a 40 degree back foot angle. Narrower boards, ski boots and big feet will force you to have 60 degree+ angles. Not ideal for learning.
The main disadvantage of using alpine stuff is the difficulty in getting kit. You used to see them in supermarkets here. Now there are only a handful of shops. The best source of second hand kit is www.ebay.de
While learning, the stiffness of hard boots could be a hindrance. On the other hand I know what you mean about having comfortable boots. I went from strap bindings through "soft" stepin bindings to using my ski boots and finally getting snowboard hard boots which I used for 8 years. Of all those the only boots which have been all day comfortable are my ski boots and since modern skis are a lot more fun than 10 years ago I have now switched back to skiing.
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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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You can easily rent wide boards in resort (a lot more easily than you can rent carving boards or hard boots).
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Ah, right - didn't realise they weren't ski boots. That'll do for that plan
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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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I've got size 12 feet and ride a K2 nemesis which has built in risers so that your twinkle toes never touch the snow (except in deep pow wow of course!), without compromising the width of the board. I've got a mate who has size 14 feet and comfortably rides an Option Booter. I think most board manufacturers now days do a special "big foot" or wide board to cater for us larger hoofed males.
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I was gonna suggest a Recon Riser or Booter. Ideal for big plates o' meat.
I have an alpine board that I won in a raffle in Arinsal afew years back - it's never touched snow. Looks cool on the wall of the spare bedroom though!
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I forgot u had that.
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