 Poster: A snowHead
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For the first time in my adult life, my bank account has gone into the black. I'm 45, 6ft tall 13stone and I've been boarding 6 years. I can make small jumps = ride out after taking air;) and can ride most mountain conditions: and fast  I love my boarding: but I'll never shred a park. Edge wax and tune my own kit.
My board is an ancient Burton Custom. I reckon at least 10 years old, bought of fleabay 5 years ago. Plenty of pop left in it, edges in tact: no mechanical reason to change it.
My board tried to kill me a couple of times, I gave it a couple of years solitary in the back room, learned to ride a different, slower board, and came back to love my custom last year.
This year i'll have 3-4 weeks on the snow: Scotland, Megeve, La Mongie and possibly one more...
Would you change boards? what would you change to..and why?
Should I buy last seasons' board of fleabay, or head to TSA and try something in the fridge?
Defo I will change boots to Vans Aura: my current Encores are way too soft for me.
what you think?...ooh, and play nice chaps!
Ta,
Strax
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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X=y+1
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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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Strax, There is absolutly no reason to change your board, other than the fact that you want to, which is just exactly the same reason that most people buy new skis or board no matter what they may say...
Would I change if I were you? Yes.
If the Custom is a decade old, the world has moved on, boards are lighter and packed with toys to make your life easier. Go get yourself a decent mid-range all mountain board, this years or last. Get new bindings too as your current one will probably be as old as your board and made of stone or iron or string or something.
Immerse yourself in the techno-cobblers which pervades snowboarding, choose your weapon and buy something completely different when you can't find it anywhere because everyone else had exactly the same idea.
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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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Strax, you are asking the worng question.
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Do I want a new board?
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Yes, yes you do. Go buy one. 
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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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+1
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have a 99/00 custom, barely used, still a lot of pop, base intact. Bought it because they were getting such rave reviews at the time. Never really got on with it, Nose folding when carving too hard if weight was more on the front foot. It's ok for slide turns, spinning around and messing about. It even handles powder reasonably but carving fast never liked it compared to other boards in my collection. So yes find something new, always been a traditional camber person myself but tried a few last year and what stood out was lib tech skate banana ( a rocker arrrgghhh) but if you want something for just goofing around on and riding fairly quickly hghly recomend a try. I shall be adding one to the collection next winter as the non powder board, though I am sure it will be ok for this, But have something else in mind.
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Yeah i would love a gnu or a lib tech board reverse camber. Or the newest endeavor live board it's RC.
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I'd certainly change it.
I don't care about park, but for piste and powder a huge amount has changed in 10 years. Nothing I ride existed 10 years ago, and I would not go back under any circumstances. I'm probably riding more at the technical edge than holiday riders, but even there there have been significant improvements. So my rationale is simply that the newer gear is better. In you case you probably have to add that you should have improved in those 6 years: maybe your demands are different from when you started. They should be.
I don't buy any of the "techno-cobblers", but there are real technical changes including better use of taper, de-cambered noses, and non-glass construction all of which I care about. I can take or leave reverse camber - some boards work with it, some don't.... you have to ride them to see which is which,
I would not buy any board I had not ridden, because getting the right board makes all the difference, and I can never tell before I ride one if it'll be "right" or not. Both model and size can only be judged by riding, in my experience. So I would try everything in sight. Rent some decent modern stuff, demo some things, borrow your mate's boards. Do it at a slope so you can switch out a board in one run if it's the wrong size.
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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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I've always bought my boards 'blind' (i.e untested) and most have been used, simply because funds dictated it to be that way. I've lucked out on all of my boards, although they weren't perfect, they worked well enough.
Last season I knew my ageing ELAN and Stepchild boards weren't going to help me progress so I bought a new board, in part because I felt a need to upgrade to progress myself, but deep down I knew I just wanted a new stick. I ended buying blind again (a K2 raygun) but got a very good deal and the reviews all said it was a solid purchase. I'd love to report that it turned me from a numpty into a pro overnight... alas, it didn't but it felt a darn sight better to ride and helped me to identify my own riding deficiencies, as opposed to trying to get through the deficiencies of the the board first....
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with going for a board that's a season or two old (or a little more), especially if it's a board with plenty of tech in it that was pricey in its day. Providing you do your homework and spend wisely, there are some bargains to be had I'm sure...
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Buy, buy, buy...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Honda Kitty, Now you've convinced me I need a new board too
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FAQ
