Snowboard Club UK (SCUK)

Equipment and Media - First Snowboard

si828 - Sep 06, 2010 - 05:29 PM
Post subject: First Snowboard

Hi guys, you probably get asked this more than any other question! But just wondered if anyone could recommend a good snowboard for me.

I am currently an intermediate but hoping to progress fast and move into freestyle very soon! I've done a lot of skiing and as much as i thought it wouldn't help me with snowboarding it really did!! Plus skiing freestyle to me just doesn't look right...hence me moving into snowboarding.

I'm 6ft2 so was looking at a board size of around 156cm? Is this gonna be too much too quick?

Any help would be sweet!

Regards

liggins - Sep 06, 2010 - 05:59 PM
Post subject:

Just get one that looks good, length isn't really that important.

They're all pretty much the same under the graphic Razz

ben_drummerman - Sep 06, 2010 - 06:07 PM
Post subject:

Got a 2010 156 Ride Agenda with some Ride bindings going pretty cheap if your interested? Great board to start! Loads of fun.

kristopho - Sep 07, 2010 - 12:43 AM
Post subject:

i recon a 156 will suit for freestyle, your best thing to do is to demo a few board i mean theres so many different techs out there try a few out and see what you like.

i will say a 156 would be 2 short if you where looking to ride powder unless its got some kinda rocker. i had a 159 darkstar and just couldnt keep the nose out but then got a yes 156.5 and that think just floats

milky228 - Sep 07, 2010 - 01:43 AM
Post subject:

dem a few boards there now ebay time Very Happy

ColdComfort - Sep 07, 2010 - 10:09 AM
Post subject:

Yeah dude just get something with awesome graphics tbh - the more Skulls it has the better, and the bigger and more high contrast the letters on the base are the better it will ride - these are all basic facts everyone knows !!! Very Happy

On a more serious note - your quiet tall so that length board will be ok for u, sounds like your more into freestyle with a bit of all mountain thrown in so you want something a bit softer with good pop - Just for example I'd checkout boards like the Capita Stairmaster / indoor survival etc, or Forum Destroyer - which i have looked at along those lines lately - but there are tons and tons of boards in that catagory that come in regular and some kinda inverses / flat camber from all manufacturers - so really is a case of trying them out and seeing what feels best.

oneloveofboardsports - Sep 07, 2010 - 10:37 AM
Post subject:

Hey si828, welcome to the forum,

If you want to try out any Capita and can get to any of these demo days

25th September 2010 – TSA Bang Tour – Tamworth Snowdome
2nd October 2010 – TSA Bang Tour – Glasgow Xscape
09th October 2010 – TSA Bang Tour – Milton Keynes
16th October 2010 – TSA Bang Tour – Castleford

Ive got a range of boards that will suit, like the Stairmaster in a 156 which you can try out and if like I can give you a list of local retailers you grab one from

But there will also be a whole host of other brands and boards to try out so worth nipping to one of them if you can so you know you like the board youre buying before you shell out your cash.

craignixon - Sep 07, 2010 - 12:59 PM
Post subject:

Uhhh, nobodies asked how heavy you are?

A board can't tell your height but will know if you're too heavy!

Being tall your center of gravity is higher so a 158/159 'may' be a little easier, especially if you're bulked up.

Having said that, if you're indoors mainly it won't matter as much.

Best thing to is get to your local shop, or a snowdome, and test some.

DavyMac - Sep 07, 2010 - 01:21 PM
Post subject:

Just as craig said, get down your local dome and have a demo of a few boards and see what feels best.

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 01:26 PM
Post subject:

kristopho wrote:

How can you possible say any of that without knowing how heavy the dude is, he may well be 25 stone for all you know or he might be a 6 stone weakling. You cant say what size is right without asking his weight, hos height is irrelivent.

charlie - Sep 07, 2010 - 02:16 PM
Post subject:

All sorts of bad advice on this thread, we can't really comment without knowing how heavy you are. You can get a rough idea on length from your weight and then the most important thing to look at is the manufacturers weight recommendations.

As an example, I ride a 157 Salomon Grip for all mountain freestyle. I weigh a bit under 11 stone and I'm 5'9". Unless you're very skinny then I'm guessing that you're going to want something longer than a 156.

si828 - Sep 07, 2010 - 05:10 PM
Post subject:

Ahh man you guys are helpful!

I weigh around 78kg so about normal for my height I guess, I was looking at weight recommendations of the boards so did realise it made a difference.

I'll come demo some Capita boards in MK on the date, can I just cruise up and demo them?

Also interested in the Ride Agenda Board going on here. Heard it's a pretty decent beginner board?

Cheers for the help!

si828 - Sep 07, 2010 - 05:11 PM
Post subject:

charliebuoy wrote:

ps I've got to say the picture of a very fat guy snowboarding did make me laugh a lot!!

charlie - Sep 07, 2010 - 05:24 PM
Post subject:

You just have to pay for slope time at the Big Bang events and then choose whichever board takes your fancy. I'd go with a list of possibles before hand so you know what sort of thing you want to try.

If you're still a beginner then avoid anything that's very stiff and if your weight is ok on two different lengths of a board then go for the shorter one. Other than that just go for what you like to ride, make sure you try a few though so you can do some proper comparisons Smile

Have a look at this thread: http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/PNphpBB2 ... r-asc.html

I spewed out everything I could think of that you might want to know when buying a board.

kristopho - Sep 07, 2010 - 06:52 PM
Post subject:

nickmotture wrote:

kristopho wrote:

well i was trying to make the point theres so many different techs out there your best demoing a few boards and fining what you like so i can quite easily say that bit with out knowing the guys weight

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 06:56 PM
Post subject:

indeed but you said a 156 would be too short is he wanted to ride powder. You cant say this without knowing what weight he is. If he's only 10 stone then a 156 would be perfect for powder no matter what his height.

kristopho - Sep 07, 2010 - 07:29 PM
Post subject:

nickmotture wrote:

well from my experience i dont think it would be perfect for powder as im 11st and 6ft and struggled on a 159 cambered freestyle board in powder. yeah he could ride it but it'll be hard work. i put that to highlight my point about the different techs and finding something you like to ride.

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 08:15 PM
Post subject:

maybe thats because its a freestyle board Wink

danish_and_pretzels - Sep 07, 2010 - 08:52 PM
Post subject:

i've heard this lib tech skate banana is a really good first board???????

danish_and_pretzels - Sep 07, 2010 - 08:53 PM
Post subject:

also the gnu park prickle?

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 08:56 PM
Post subject:

yeah bannana tech makes you ride like god

danish_and_pretzels - Sep 07, 2010 - 08:57 PM
Post subject:

ahhh good thing i just got a loan out to buy one then! cant wait to do my lessons on one!

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 09:01 PM
Post subject:

dont bother just stand in the bar and talk about the black you just rode Ross

kristopho - Sep 07, 2010 - 09:05 PM
Post subject:

nickmotture wrote:

maybe thats because its a freestyle board Wink

yeah it is but as si828 is wanting to progress in to freestyle i think its still relevent

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 09:07 PM
Post subject:

i was joking, you can ride any board perfectly well in pow using the right technique, whats its made doenst matter

kristopho - Sep 07, 2010 - 09:17 PM
Post subject:

some boards are easier than others

nickmotture - Sep 07, 2010 - 09:21 PM
Post subject:

well obviously

si828 - Sep 08, 2010 - 11:23 AM
Post subject:

@charliebouy

Thanks for the link man was really helpful! Sorry to ask the question, pretty sure you get it a lot but you were all really helpful cheers!

si828 - Sep 08, 2010 - 11:25 AM
Post subject:

To be fair i just didnt want to buy an all rounder board that would be great to start with but then wouldn't last 2 months, esp if I wanted to move into freestyle!

Branny - Sep 08, 2010 - 11:36 AM
Post subject:

si828 wrote:

To be fair i just didnt want to buy an all rounder board that would be great to start with but then wouldn't last 2 months, esp if I wanted to move into freestyle!

fair enough but there is an element of the correct tool for the job,

which is why many of us have at least 2 boards, a short jibby board for domes and dryslope and a longer all mountain (or a longer freestyle board) for the mountains... oh and a 167 POW board for that one day when i'm in the right time and place to get the most fun out of it Wink

i would recommend a 156 regular camber twin-tip freestyle board as a can do most things stick, stable enough to get all your turns and stuff as a noob but short enough to enjoy entry into the dark and seedy world of freestyle

charlie - Sep 08, 2010 - 11:53 AM
Post subject:

You can get some freestyle boards that will cope on the rest of the mountain. There are always trade-offs with snowboards, there's no board that'll do everything but there are some boards that will be better at some things but still be ok for others.

If I was buying a first board I'd buy something that is aimed at all mountain freestyle, is a bit on the softer side and isn't too pricy. That way the board isn't going to limit you too much in terms of your ability and what you want to do and if you decide a bit further down the line that the board isn't right then it's not too much of a financial disaster.

Off the top of my head I'd be looking at Artec, the cheaper Yes boards, Signal, Dinosaurs Will Die and maybe something in the K2 lineup. Try not to get tempted by overloaded tech and ignore what they say about the camber - make your own mind up when you try them.

To be honest, advice from most of us will be general at the moment because most people haven't tried the new boards, advice will get more informed later on. Maybe I'll manage to persuade someone to send me to the board test next season... (hint hint)

Don't worry about asking questions this early, it only gets annoying later in the season when most of the questions have been asked but people don't use the search button Wink