[Closed] what snowboard ?

Boots:

New ones, the best you can afford and the ones that fit best. Really hard to suggest anything without knowing if he has a wide/narrow/normal foot.

Generally speaking: Burton and 32 work well for wide feet, Salomon for narrow feet. Best-made boots on the market are probably Salomon, Ride & Deelux.

Board: If he's a newbie, get something with a "normal" camber. For his weight, probably low 150's length-wise - but any new board should come with a recommended rider weight. Width is critical. If he has feet bigger than about UK10, he needs a wide board. Go for an all-rounder - Burton Custom or similar.

Bindings: I've always liked Burton. Custom, Mission or Cartel depending on your budget!

If buying kit off ebay or similar, make sure board & bindings are compatible. Burton are probably the worst culprits for using different binding standards, but generally you can use Burton bindings with any board as long as they are not designated "EST". EST boards and bindings only work together, although you can get adapters to use other bindings on an EST board.

Board: If he's a newbie, get something with a "normal" camber. For his weight, probably low 150's length-wise - but any new board should come with a recommended rider weight. Width is critical. If he has feet bigger than about UK10, he needs a wide board. Go for an all-rounder - Burton Custom or similar.

All of that. Most boards will have a guide for length by weight and sometimes height so take a look at the websites. bluetomato is good for price usually

Board: If he's a newbie, get something with a "normal" camber. For his weight, probably low 150's length-wise - but any new board should come with a recommended rider weight. Width is critical. If he has feet bigger than about UK10, he needs a wide board. Go for an all-rounder - Burton Custom or similar.

I'd disagree with that. Get a rocker - so much easier for beginners. My missus hated snowboarding until I got her one of those, easier to turn and harder to catch an edge.

I've got a Batalon Goliath (ooo er). Very good all round board. Got a variation of the rocker type format. Pretty much impossible to crash unless you do something really silly - very forgiving.

Also be careful of wide boards - I've size 10 feet and had a wide board, got a normal width one now and it's much better. 10 is right on the boundary but given he's not that tall i'd have thought a normal would be easier (wide boards are harder to turn and i assume he won't be riding powder).

Oh and the board should come up to about his chin. Shorter is easier to turn.

Great time of year to buy.

I personally hate burton bindings, (the highbacks fold further forward than the toes making them a PITA to pack, plus you have to use adapter discs for every other manufacturers boards.

Would go for something in about a 154, not too stiff, but not an absolute noodle. Wouldn't worry about going for a wide board yet. Look out for boards with 4000 series sintered bases - they take and hold the wax really well (unless he's going to be shedding the rails and boxes)

To be honest I'd aim to spend under £200 for a first board, probably budget £350 for a full setup. Boots are about the only thing you'll have to pay anything close to full price for is the boots. check out stores like SS20, S2AS, Boardwise and Granite Reeef - they'll probably all have sales.

The whitelines board buyers guide comes out every october - you should be able to get a copy of last years from somwhere. Along with the inevitable catalogue - they do offer some sound and basic advice on board selection and setup.

Oh - and he's 18 - let him choose, but do offer some gentle advice...

Edit - [url= http://www.sputniksnowboardshop.com/snowboard-c1/snowboards-c8/yes-yes-great-boobs-of-history-snowboard-11-12-155cm-p2360 ]This one should appeal[/url]

My stuff is still available, I'm 5"10 and this board is the perfect size for me (159) although i weigh a bit more :-).

A shorter board will turn easily at low speed but you can v quickly out grow them. I had a 156 initially and i was after something with a bit more 'grip' almost straight away.
Width is important as above - shoes size of 10 plus and you will want something wide. My Salomon is standard and is fine for up to size 9, maybe 10.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/snowboard-set-up-salomonburton-1

Some pretty strange advice so far, Burton custom are aimed at intermediate to expert with a high budget available. Size 10 does not need a wide board unless you ride with very low angles.you will find that the Burton clash is aimed at the starters ,as are some k2 boards.try the for sale section on scuk people always helpful on there. Second hand board and bindings fine but boots need to be tried on as a 9 in a Burton can be very different to a 9 in a thirty two or Salomon. On the plus side its good he's seen the light!!!

Burton custom are aimed at intermediate to expert with a high budget available

No they aren't! Think you are getting Customs and Cartels mixed up?

Size 10 might need a wide or a mid wide depending on boots

Get a rocker

Steve

Agree with the comments about boots. Somewhere with a decent range of boots (like Snow and Rock) and good boot fitters is a must, as mentioned different brands all come with different fits so you need to try a few pairs on.

In terms of boards I'd say rent one the first time round. If you get a board and binding which are too stiff or technical it makes the early stages of riding a bit more difficult. Alot of rental boards are now rockered which reduces the edge catching potential. After a week on the snow he'll know if he likes it and can start looking for a good value intermediate board and bindings in next season's sales.

Final bits of advice would be to get a decent helmet and good British instructor. Language barrier can be a problem if you go with ESF etc.

If he wants to fit in with the coolest kids he needs a lib-tech skate banana

Get a rocker - so much easier for beginners.

Hmmm, yes but it's a bit like only learning to drive an automatic because a stick-shift is a bit hard.

Burton custom are aimed at intermediate to expert with a high budget available

It's a mid-priced, mid-flex board with a straight-forward shape and standard camber (although I think you can get about 4 different versions now!). It's aimed at just about anyone.

Oh and the board should come up to about his chin.

Boards are sized by rider weight, not height. I hate it when people perpetuate this p*sh.

Size 10 does not need a wide board

Which is why I said bigger than a 10. But that's definitely about the point where you have to start thinking about it. Most people do run pretty low angles (duck stances) these days.

If you're renting, by all means get something very short, flexy and maybe with newbie-rocker. But if you're buying, aim for intermediate gear or you'll out-grow it in a week.

British instructor

Hmmm, yes, cof! cof! 😉

wow ....... thanks to everyone who's posted

to be honest I wasn't sure anyone would reply ... this is brilliant.

I'll go through it with him and let him make up his mind .... with some gentle advice as suggested.

as for the money ... he can spend his own this time around!!

thanks again everyone.

cheers dad ill just spend my own money then -.-

On the plus side its good he's seen the light!!!

oh iv also heard lib tech are a good way to go for an all round board, any thoughts on that??

Lib Tech are quite a premium brand for a first board. Of course the right board could last him a long time, but it's unlikely...

second stevomcd - i am an ex ski bum - had a lot of boards - spend the cash on boots / bindings and get a cheapish plank - it wont last that long....

boards sized by weight - rider + kit ! i ride normal camber and even when learning i rarely caught an edge... try and demo some planks

i like drake bindings and arbor / nitro / ride / k2 boards. i personally found burton a bit mleh and i saw more cracked burton heel cups on bindings then any other brand. i think burton = specialised....

enjoy!

paul

Many moons ago I started with a GNU carbon, Airwalk Boots, very forgiving and now my Derbyshire snow play board.

A few moons ago I got a longer Stepchild and some Rome bindings which are great but probably antique now 🙂

To hell with it. If he's just starting out get him a good pair of boots, and then just get any old second hand board and bindings that's a fairly descent brand and not too stiff.

You wouldn't buy someone who's never ridden a mountain bike before a brand new La Pierre or Yeti would you? Same with boards.

When he progresses, finds his feet and gets a bit better he will then know the sort of style of riding he likes and can then buy the right board accordingly. If he's just starting out then don't worry too much - any half descent second hand board will do.

And for those people who say buy a Rocker board, Lib Tech or Batallion because you'll never catch an edge? Catching an edge when you're learning is par for the course and learning the skills to avoid this will make you a far better rider at the end of the day.

If you learn on a board that's too forgiving then you may never develop good sense of edge control. That's important if you want to progress to become a really good rider. Comparing it to cars, you wouldn't learn in an automatic just because it's easier would you?

i've got a burton custom, had it for years. i'm size 10 and it's normal width, never really an issue and i have a reasonably square setup on the bindings as well.

I also 3rd everything stevomcd said. normal camber is the best! stick vs auto is a great analogy!

I think most has already been said - but you don't need a wide board for size 10 feet (can't actually find a post where it says he has size 10!).

Why not hire boards for a few seasons until you're sure you want to stick with boarding? Most snowboard hire shops have decent stuff - my son (9 yo) had a great Burton board and Burton Boa boots on rental in Val D'Isere this year.

If buying, a good online retailer is theboardbasement.com. You can email the guy for advice and he replies very quickly (IME). Great prices too.

can't actually find a post where it says he has size 10!).

He doesn't, I just mentioned that the rigth width is essential and that over about a size 10, you need to start thinking about wide boards. Everyone else seems to have taken that as fact! 🙄

There is more choice now in waist widths than even 4 or 5 years ago, with a lot more mid-wide boards on the market, so it's more a case of picking an appropriate waist width than the big normal/wide cut-off there used to be.

Get a copy of Neil McNab's book go snowboarding to learn basic techniques, and have a look at his Q and A on his web site.
The way he teaches is now the base line for the british snowboard instruction.

[i]Burton Boa boots[/i]

Well spotted me - they were Vans (Burton don't do Boa) 🙂

I bought the cheaper boa boot with only one winder and found them to be the horrific. When on my toe edge your shins push the tongue of the boot trying to open them up, this leads to the bottom half of the boot tightening up. Horrible.

If he has feet bigger than about UK10, he needs a wide board.

Err no. I am size UK11. I've used 10s of snowboards and the only time I used a wide board it was quite tiring on my feet, but with great float in pow!

But with a standard board, it helps to have bindings with a thickish base to lift your boots away from the snow and avoid possible toe-drag when you have the board right over on the edge, on hard snow.

Plus one for spending good money a on really well fitting boots.

Due to a swap from Flow to Cartel it accentuated the numbness in my toes with my old Northwave Legends (think I cranked em too tight too). So I took a trip to Ellis Brighams for a fitting. Nice, knowledgable bloke had me keep the boot I thought felt right on my bigger foot while I tried loads of other boots.
It really highlighted how different each boot feels.
It was obvious that Burton Hail suited my foot, they fit like slippers...

On the board front, I have owned

Ex demo Burton Custom
Palmer Honeycircle
Santacruz true twin

And currently an Endeavour Live RC

I am seriously impressed with the Endeavour. It floats on powder, even at low speeds, and somehow is stiff enough at speed and forgiving on landings (I'm no Shawn White though, I'm a 41 yr fool!)

So my advice is to buy a directional twin with an emphasis on fun. Because you will be jumping, dropping & spinning by the end of your first week 🙂

And I'd like some advice please.

Are my Burton Cartel bindings too stiff? Would I be better of with Custom or Missions? My perfect day will involve lots of off piste powdery action with some drops and chutes. And I like the jumps in the park but don't care for rails. My 180's are dodgy but my switch is coming along nicely.

Are my Burton Cartel bindings too stiff?

The highback doesn't look overly tall.

It was just a knowing look/comment from the bloke in the shop. It said 'ouch, stiff binding...'

Nah, they're fine. Not like some of the crazy carbon stuff around. Never find baseplate stiffness makes that much difference (apart from really cheap, flexy ones). It's super-high, super-stiff highbacks that can get really uncomfortable.

Been experimenting this season with riding without highbacks. You'd be amazed how little difference it makes. Encourages you to use better technique too (lifting your toes, engaging shin muscles, rather than just leaning back). Long heelside traverses get a bit tiring though!

Oddly enough I got to the bottom a couple of times and the capstrap was just sat on top of my boot and I never noticed..

That does happen with capstraps. You do need to make sure they're in the "just right" position and done up snug.

Some boot/binding combinations don't work all that well with them.

Burton Hail now so that should work 8)

How does he ski? What does he enjoy to ski?
What ski does he ski?

Doubtless if he loves fresh corduroy and holding a clean edge at speed on a set of skis he will despise any board that is too soft and rockered. If however he enjoys deep stuff through the trees a rockered board would suit him to a T.

I think with all the play in board(and ski) design over the last few seasons a few things have become apparent. There is no such thing as an all mountain piece of equipment, that is like saying the best hardtail buildable is suitable for any DH track, it just ain't. If you like to drive a ski/board and get some response back from the input you proffer then you will undoubtedly get frustrated quickly with anything of flat or rockered design. If on the other hand you like to 'slarve' or 'pivot' your changes of direction then a rockered piece of kit will provide you with that ability.

After all the faff with stupidly wide skis and reverse rocker boards, magnatration edges and lateral base camber I think (after having ridden a fair selection)that I have found my preference. My go to board is a Jones Flagship. Positive camber underfoot with a stiff tail and early tip rise to assist with float in the soft stuff, board enough to ride the groomers of a morning and yet able to slay some steep and deep colouirs in the afternoon. (for sure a board for him to grow into). I like the same in a set of skis too(being a skier firstly), my go to is a set of DPS wailer 105s, stiff tail, pos. camber and early tip rise, also I think between 100 and 110mm under foot is the sweet zone for european riding.

Tried a Jones Flagship at a demo back in January. I really wanted to like it, but really didn't. 🙁

Just felt dead and lifeless. Stiff, but no pop.

I wouldn't mind trying another one - the guy at the demo couldn't seem to give me the proper specs for it and I have a suspicion it was a wide version, which would explain a lot. (I have tiny feet).

Interesting comment on the flagship, however a park board it is not. There is pop in there but the board is real stiff through the tail to the centre and also torsionally, so needs to be ridden relatively hard to get it to 'turn on' but I found that once up to speed and if you actively pedal it through the turns rather than just stand on it then it responds great. It is super stable too and am yet to find its speed limit(not for want of trying either!)

The one place I love it hands down more than any other board is through the chopped up crud that used to throw me all over the place. That afternoon conditions after everything has been ridden all day by everyone, it just seems to be soo stable and cut through it all.

mmmmmmmm 🙂 I appear to have sung its praises enough for one day. I will be quiet now.

Yeah, tried 2 other big freeride boards the same day (from Dupraz and Furlan) and both of those blew me away. The Jones was just a bit meh.