[Closed] Snowboards

You will get a board to use as part of your lesson.
don't bother buying yet. Plus you can wreck their stuff will learning.
I bought after a fair few lessons as I figured not having a crap board would help. Demoed a load from tsa at mk though before I bought.

I'm assuming that you're coming in to it from a fresh start, so no previous experience of snowboarding?

Sensible option would be to use the supplied kit for indoor lessons, and rent initially. It really won't hold you back at the start.

But if you want to buy your own stuff, and hey why not if you want to and don't worry too much about it being a strict value for money thing, then there's lots of buyers guides out there.

Most boards will suggest a weight range, which is important so the board will flex correctly and ride as designed. Beginners are generally advised to go with softer boards for easier turning, but as a bigger fella you don't want to be going too soft! Look for something where you are in the higher part of the weight range perhaps. Board width will be affected by shoe size, factor that in too.

I'm 188cms, 80 to 85 kg ish and own boards between 157cm and 167cm. I'd be perfectly happy to go second hand with a general twin-tip or park board for learning, avoid all the fancy shapes and specialist boards which won't help with the first few weeks.

Hire.
I’ve never understood snowboarders desire to buy kit so early. I’ve skied for 30 years and never owned skis, boots yes, but not skis. Far to much hassle carrying them to resort.

I would rent for the first proper holiday. You’d be better off with boots that fit than some super gnar deezy board. Comfy feet will make your boarding a lot easier. (All IMO.) If it clicks after a few days, then go back and rent a better board. And if you’re going to stick at it, then buy your own - you’ll have more of an idea of what to look for then I reckon.

I’ve never understood snowboarders desire

I’ve skied for 30 years

😃

I don't have a board. I rent premium boards when I go and get to try a load of different things or whatever the fashion is. Imho you'd have to go quite regularly for it to be worth having your own. Factor in the faff aspect (and cost) of hauling it around too.

I think it is def worth buying a board, but once you can actually tell what is going on.
First board was a bit of an allrounder on the more beginner intermediate end (yes typo), then got a freestyle board as was doing loads indoors. Then last winter bought a yes pyl which is awesome but would have caused me an awful lot of pain at the start as I wouldn't have been good enough to ride it properly.
We bought boards as you can never tell what you might get in resort.

I should add that i used to pre-book my boards ahead of arrival so I knew what I was getting. Twice I had completely new boards.

Rent at the start then buy one you like the look of if you like.

Rental boards always used to to be shit heavy things with no flex, so buying was good if you wanted decent kit. Nowadays you can rent good boards.

Sizeing is based in height and weight typically a board will come up to around you nose when standing on its end, but it also depends what you want to do with it. Piste bashing and park stuff = shorter.i'm 5'9" and about 100kgs and have a 162cm and a 157cm.

If you have big feet then a wide one might be good, but they can also be a little harder to turn.

See what size you get as a rental board and go from there.

Snowboarding/sking are expensive sports. In the scheme of things £300 on a new board/bindings/boots setup from decathlon is no big deal. Much better than riding free gear from a snow dome. And you get to ride the same thing each time while learning/progressing.

Some positive reviews on the decathlon boards

Con being very low resale value - if that matters to you.

£100 will get you a good and suitable 2nd hand board and bindings if you know what your looking for - but if your a beginner then it's a minefield.

If you are 'of a larger size' padded pants, knee pads and wrist guards might be better places to spend your initial pounds, oh and a lid.

I can't board, but I've tried and I spent most of my time on my butt, or knees.

I'll stick to skiing 🙂

The number one thing that improved my snowboarding experience was buying my own board when I knew what I wanted.

My first board was too wide, too long and too stiff (despite me being of v.large proportions) and basically made me knackered very quickly.

My second board was so good, I've had it for 8 years and I'm only now thinking of changing it.

Definitely rent first few holidays you take so you can see what works for you.

Also - buy some knee pads, and impact shorts. I've never used wrist protectors because I was taught to fall over properly but you might find them useful in the first few lessons.

EDIT: Buy your own helmet. Rentals are gross...

A Flying V type board can be more forgiving (Burton Process etc)
Buy your own boots first, try loads on if possible.
Buy yourself Go Snowboard (book & DVD) off Amazon. Best £7 you’ll spend.

Echo above, first thing I'd suggest you buy is as good and comfy a pair of boots as possible. They make the world of difference, from someone who spent a long weekend in absolute agony with the first pair I bought quickly, I promise you it's worth the time and investment.

Any good snowboard shop will understand if you're buying your first pair and will bring you out pretty much everything they have in or around your size to try on.

Best moulding is worth doing.

Boots first, fitted at a shop. Everything else you can pick up as you go - new, used, ebay, last seasons bargains etc.

It's a great sport, good luck!

Darth, not sure what you have booked up for but definitely do a course rather than just say a couple of lessons. It takes a while for the muscle-memory to kick in. And you may find it super hard at first and take a lot of falls, but it does get easier.

If you like it and want to do it more after your lessons then definitely buy your own board. Snowboards differ a fair amount and having one you are used to can be the difference between a miserable and a great day. They often offer demo nights at snowdomes and I think this is a good route to purchase. I've had about 10 boards, if it was me and I had to learn again I'd be looking at maybe a second hand 'Yes Basic' with cam-rock profile.

Don't listen to skiers who have never snowboarded, the kit is very different.

As mention above boots first - get the best/most comfortable you can afford

I've had 2 pairs of boots for different binding sets in 20 years

I've had and still have a 20 year old burton custom, 14 year old burton fish and a newer burton family tree board - happy to ride them all but prefer a fish on any given day

I plan on retiring my boards this year and hang them in the man cave - literally my most amazing moments captured in every twist, dink and scratch

In my experience, most people that don't get-on with snowboarding arrive at that conclusion very quickly - and it's usually down to a poor instructor (resulting on repeated falling onto your arse/knees).

So I would say just use the rental stuff for your first few lessons - it will be good enough for that. If you want to learn more, or go on your first trip, then boots are a good investment as stated above. You will then have a better idea of what you are looking at/for.

For your first lessons, I would say it's worth getting padded shorts - yes for impact protection, but they also make sitting on the cold snow more comfortable. You don't need anything armored, but a bit of soft padding is fine.

I've broken my wrist while wearing wrist protectors, so I'm a bit biased against them. After that, I've worn (hard) elbow pads instead, which I've found much more confidence inspiring on ice and hardpacked snow.

In general, for a beginner, I would say that there is far better return on investment buying decent boots/clothes/gloves/helmet/goggles etc, before you start buying boards and bindings.

If learning, day 1:
Knee pads
Wrist guards, built in to gloves is much nicer
Crash pants, soft pads not rigid if you can.

Once you decide you don't hate it, get some boots fitted in a store.

Do several sessions on the hire boards, try different lengths, you can change them as often as you like during your session.

Then start looking at demo boards and go from there.

As others have said, knee pads and crash pants. You'll need a helmet too, I wouldn't like to use a helmet that someone else has had their sweaty head in.

My first trip to the snow, on the first day fell on my coccyx then fell some more. By the end of the week I was in so much pain I could hardly sit down.

Many people buy boards that they see being ridden in the big mountain videos after only have a week or so on the snow. These boards are nice, however you will find it hard to progress and get frustrated.

When I started to snowboard (some 30 years ago), we used ski boots and supper stiff boards derived from skiing. They were crap to learn on. These days the rentable kit is so much better and far easier to progress with.

You will only really need to buy a board if you start to ride off piste or riding the snow park, otherwise there's no real need to buy.

Second (third? fourth?) what others have said: buy a board last if at all (only exception might be if you have the chance to board at a local hill during the winter where boards are not easily available to rent).

Personally I'd start with helmet, gloves, jacket and pants. Plus decent entry-level boots if you can (not expensive 'team' models).

Buy yourself Go Snowboard (book & DVD) off Amazon. Best £7 you’ll spend.

Very good shout.

Buy yourself Go Snowboard (book & DVD) off Amazon. Best £7 you’ll spend.

I was taught to ride by the guy who wrote that... really worth checking out as he also wrote the BASI (and I think CASI) instructors manual and the approach really works.

I think he focuses more on splitboarding and real back country adventures now but if you get a chance to go on any of his camps then they are truly epic.

https://mcnabsnowboarding.com

^^ Neil Mcnab is the Jedi of snowboarding. I loved every minute of the week on his back country course. If you get a chance, take it.