i've decided to man up and buy a board, but I have a lot of questions first. I would do google, but theres a lot of misinformation and straight opinion giving instead of hard facts to be found. Most questions are simple

i.e. board size, type, brand, etc...

thanks.

1/5/2007 3:11:28 PM

board size = Large

type = snow

brand = Spalding

1/5/2007 3:15:49 PM

if you want to be a dick, please take it to chit chat.

1/5/2007 3:18:50 PM

Board size depends on how tall you are, you typically want your board to be about your same height or a little taller than you are.

Brand is just personal preference i guess, i have a K2 and i like it a lot.

1/5/2007 3:21:45 PM

i bought a 165 burton custom last year

im more into alpine than freestyle, so a longer board fits me better, even though im not too tall.

faaaast

1/5/2007 3:30:42 PM

i know that snowboarding is one word... thats about it

1/5/2007 3:35:15 PM

If you fall it hurts.

1/5/2007 3:41:02 PM

cool. i'm 5'7" and weigh 145. I have gone boarding a few times and don't really know the difference between alpine and freestyle boards. am i correct in thinking that i should go with an alpine if i'm not going to be doing a lot of tricks? also aren't there different types of boards you shoudl get based on the conditions you ski in? such as east coast vs west coast?

1/5/2007 3:52:29 PM

It's not so much east coast v. west coast, as it is natural snow v. blown snow. Blown snow is typically a lot harder and natural snow is obviously softer. For a beginner such as yourself, this won't make too much of a difference. The alpine v. freestyle will make a bit of difference. One is lighter and shorter, easier to throwdown tricks. THe other is longer and possibly heavier. Bindings and boots will also be divided into what kind of boarding you are wanting to do. Racing with have a tighter fit boot and binding.

1/5/2007 4:19:49 PM

NiceGuy, I am the same weight and height you are and I ride a 153 Forum Recon with Forum Destroyer bindings and Thirty Two Lasher boots. I would recommend all three.

1/5/2007 4:28:17 PM

^thanks man, i really apprecaite that.

1/5/2007 4:41:59 PM

Quote :

"5'7" and weigh 145"

jesus christ, sorry for being a dick Miss Nice Guy

1/5/2007 4:45:21 PM

Regarding board size....you may want to move up a size or 2 if you are planning on boarding out west with lots of powder/real snow. If you will be staying primarily on the east coast you can get away with a smaller board which can give you more manueverability/carving etc...

I used to ride a 153 (Im 6'1/175) for east coast conditions but got a 160 for west coast conditions. I wouldnt be able to stay on top of the powder with the 153 out west.

Brand basically comes down to your preference/style/design/color.

I have a ride decade 160 that i got off ebay


Most of the top brands are pretty close when it comes to quality of materials and construction.
Burton has some really great boards and are definately the 'it' board right about now but the price reflects that.

With bindings the biggest choice is strap-on vs clip-in. I have strap ons and love them. They give you a little more leeway as to how tight you want to be straped in and adjustibility if you are uncomfortable. I havent used clip-ons so maybe someone else can say something about them or look online somewhere.

1/5/2007 5:24:20 PM

i would suggest going to alpine they have nice deals including bindings, i got my board for pretty cheap its a rossignol with brand new k2 bindings for around 200 i think my parents got it for me dont know the exacty cost =/

1/5/2007 5:29:26 PM

Personally I think if you are just starting out and probably dont know what kinda of boarding you will be doing then I would recomend a freestyle or all mountain style board. They tend to give you more stability especially while learning. As for length it depends on how heavey and how tall you are like has been mentioned. Boards also come in different flexes. For an example a lighter person is going to want a board that flexes easier in order to get edges easier. A heavier person is gonna want a stiffer board. As for brand its pretty much open to whatever you want or how much you want to spend. The biggest questions to ask about a board would be is the core wood or something else, and what is the core wrapped with. Some materials are just stronger than others thus last a longer and resist damage from use.

With bindins I have use both snap ins and strap ons. Personally I like the strap ons better you have more choice of how tight they are and they dont freeze up like the snap ins.

as for boots get boots that are comfortable to you. I have a pair of Nitro and I love them they are extremely comfortable, light weight for a boot and very affordable. I know a couple of my friends hate their boots and just bought some new ones because the old ones were so heavey. But definalty make sure that it has good waterproofing to it. Espeically if your gonna be doing a lot of boarding around here this year, its gonna be a lot of slush and little powder.

Hope some of that helps

1/5/2007 5:42:25 PM

Wristguards. Buy them. You'll thank me.

I agree with a freestyle board while you figure out what you like, and strap on bindings instead of clip ins.

1/5/2007 6:09:58 PM

you ride goofy or regular?

1/5/2007 6:29:28 PM

Unless you are really on a budget, I would stay away from step-in bindings, personally. I find they don't have good response, plus many of them don't clear snow well (especially frozen granular, which you'll find in surplus throughout the mid-atlantic region) making it a pain in the ass to step into.

If you like the simplicity of step-ins you might want to look at Flow bindings, which offer a step-in system with a traditional highback and strap shape. These will save you time in the mid-atlantic ski resorts, where the trails are relatively short. http://www.flow.com.

And I agree with most of the above advice. Board size is an important factor and it really depends on where you think you'll be spending most of your time riding. Powder definately requires a longer board to stay afloat.

I wouldn't recommend an alpine board, unless you feel like racing is your thing. If you're not going to be spending all your time in the park, a freeride board is probably what you want. They are usually a compromise between the stability of a freestyle and the speed of an alpine board.

If you think you'll be sticking with snowboarding, and know you will want to go fast, you should try to get a board with a sintered base, as opposed to one with an extruded base. It absorbs wax better and allows you to really fly. It is also more expensive, so might be an option you want to hold off on until you build your skills.

1/6/2007 12:01:28 AM

I'm 6'0 and I ride a 156 K2 Fatbob. I started with a 164 Liquid I got off ebay. It worked well for a year or so until I got good enough to know what I needed. I like my K2 because it is wider then average (I have size 12 boots) and the length allows me more movement and flexibility on the slopes and makes for a lot more fun in the board park.

1/6/2007 12:40:50 AM

I'm 6ft and ride a 158 Burton Custom. Its a great all around board that burton has made for the last 11 years.

For bindings, definitely go stap-in. Also you can either go metal or plastic. Metal will probably have more responsiveness while plastic will be more forgiving. Burton has a patent on the "Cap Strap" which is the strap that fits over the top of your boot and the front. It holds your foot in better that the traditional strap and I recommend it.

Boots, get whatever ones are comfortable.

1/6/2007 12:56:57 AM

I bought a piece of junk $99 snowboard that only comes up to my chin. It's an LTD 149. I figured that I should just buy something cheap and easy to ride before I go spending big bucks on it. So far everything has worked out well. I've been about 10 times to Snoqualmie in Washington State, which is 10 times more extream than anything in the south east and I am satisfied with my equipment for now. I will likely upgrade for next season.

1/6/2007 2:02:03 AM

Thanks for all the advice that helps out a lot. does it make any difference at all that I ride goofy, when it comes to board purchase, or will that only affect how my bindings are adjusted on the board?

1/8/2007 9:17:31 AM

Yeah bindings will only be placed goofy...shouldnt make any difference

1/8/2007 10:04:34 AM