Beginner snowboard

OtherDonnieGuy

OtherDonnieGuy

Location
Illinois
Anyone have any good recommendations for a newbie on what board/binders to get? Like a bang for the buck? I've only went twice and made progression each time. First time I used a rental and ate poop most of the day, second time I borrowed a Burton and did really well with it from the get go.

I'm 6ft tall. Size 13 shoe. Im 270lbs if that matters. Ususlly ride on fake snow packed slopes. Believe I need 158cm board. Been looking at used board on ebay. Any recommendations??
 
Roseand

Roseand

Ready to RIP
Site Supporter
Location
Wisconsin
Just a suggestion to a new boarder. Make sure you get boots that are properly fitted and give good arch support as well. I was fitted by a shop that ended up not knowing crap, and I permanently damaged my arches due to having loose boots and over working my arches when shredding(heels were constantly moving up and down, your not supposed to lift them up at all..) . It's not as big of a deal if they're short hills, but real mountains with runs that last a few minutes killed me. Ended up having to rip off my boots and cool my feet in the snow to ease the pain. I couldn't run for more than a mile without having to give up for over a year, and had a hard time using tight footholds.
Just don't make the same mistake I did :)

Well what kind of riding do you want to do? Just carving and fooling around? Or more freestyle, hopping around, etc? For what it's with, I started with one of the cheapest boards out there and it was real stiff but I still loved it. You'll get used to whatever you get, just don't go for anything extremely flexible. I'd look on Craigslist for boards and bindings too. Lots of cheap stuff pops up there. At least that's what I did. Got my first setup for 70$ and rode it for a couple years.

Also, if you don't know what they are, look up and get a stomp pad. You'll thank me later.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Ducky

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
What is your budget? Ive been shredding for years and years and know my stuff pretty well.

As a beginner, I would suggest Flow Bindings. They are simply awesome. They are so easy to get in an out of and you wont waste as much energy everytime you need to strap in, giving you more energy to actually ride. I currently am riding either Burton Cartel EST bindings or Burton P1 Wingtips, but I plan to get a set of Flows again this year because they have been my all time favorite binding. Some "purists" will clown on you for not having 2 straps, but who cares lol.

As for boards....its really a "pick the brand and design you want" type thing. There are definitely differences between all mountain boards, park boards and powder boards....but pretty much every brand makes a board for every type of riding. Ive had Burton, GNU, Rome, and Rossignol boards. I am currently riding a Burton Custom X. Its a great do it all board. All my boards have been all mountain boards, because I usually shred with skiiers more than people that board.
 
VXSXH20

VXSXH20

Sionis Industries
Location
Mid-Atlantic
As Matt has already stated above. Hard to beat Flow bindings for the price and product. They'll fit the bill and do the job if your piecing a set up together over the internet. We Just bought my wife a burton genie last year and she's a total newb its flexible and light weight. love the fit and finish of it. ( not recommending womans board by any means) We have had a lot of boards. Burton twin/K2 jujus/zepplins/Morrows/Salomon etc. I currently have a Ride Decade with a pair of older Burton custom Bindings. Get an all around mountain board to start out on and don't over pay if you can avoid it this time of year. Burton has a nice product and price point. I'd start there. AS Rosie pointed out as well.. TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET First! It makes for a good day VS a long bad day and over all experience. Good Luck
 
OtherDonnieGuy

OtherDonnieGuy

Location
Illinois
Roseand said:
Just a suggestion to a new boarder. Make sure you get boots that are properly fitted and give good arch support as well. I was fitted by a shop that ended up not knowing crap, and I permanently damaged my arches due to having loose boots and over working my arches when shredding(heels were constantly moving up and down, your not supposed to lift them up at all..) . It's not as big of a deal if they're short hills, but real mountains with runs that last a few minutes killed me. Ended up having to rip off my boots and cool my feet in the snow to ease the pain. I couldn't run for more than a mile without having to give up for over a year, and had a hard time using tight footholds.
Just don't make the same mistake I did :)

Well what kind of riding do you want to do? Just carving and fooling around? Or more freestyle, hopping around, etc? For what it's with, I started with one of the cheapest boards out there and it was real stiff but I still loved it. You'll get used to whatever you get, just don't go for anything extremely flexible. I'd look on Craigslist for boards and bindings too. Lots of cheap stuff pops up there. At least that's what I did. Got my first setup for 70$ and rode it for a couple years.

Also, if you don't know what they are, look up and get a stomp pad. You'll thank me later.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


thanks for the tips. ill look into new boots then.

stomp pad is for the center of the board, when getting off the lift correct? Last time I went my buddies were betting beers on which direction I would fall getting off, and if I would take anyone out in the process hahaha. thats how bad. think ill get one

I would mostly be just carving around at first, but I would love to hit the park. im just not sure how long it will take until im ready to do so.
 
OtherDonnieGuy

OtherDonnieGuy

Location
Illinois
Ducky said:
What is your budget? Ive been shredding for years and years and know my stuff pretty well.

As a beginner, I would suggest Flow Bindings. They are simply awesome. They are so easy to get in an out of and you wont waste as much energy everytime you need to strap in, giving you more energy to actually ride. I currently am riding either Burton Cartel EST bindings or Burton P1 Wingtips, but I plan to get a set of Flows again this year because they have been my all time favorite binding. Some "purists" will clown on you for not having 2 straps, but who cares lol.

As for boards....its really a "pick the brand and design you want" type thing. There are definitely differences between all mountain boards, park boards and powder boards....but pretty much every brand makes a board for every type of riding. Ive had Burton, GNU, Rome, and Rossignol boards. I am currently riding a Burton Custom X. Its a great do it all board. All my boards have been all mountain boards, because I usually shred with skiiers more than people that board.
Click to expand...

I waste so much time and energy getting in and out of the bindings. im on the big side and not that flexible. this almost sounds like a must to go with flow bindings. ill look into those
 
OtherDonnieGuy

OtherDonnieGuy

Location
Illinois
VXSXH20 said:
As Matt has already stated above. Hard to beat Flow bindings for the price and product. They'll fit the bill and do the job if your piecing a set up together over the internet. We Just bought my wife a burton genie last year and she's a total newb its flexible and light weight. love the fit and finish of it. ( not recommending womans board by any means) We have had a lot of boards. Burton twin/K2 jujus/zepplins/Morrows/Salomon etc. I currently have a Ride Decade with a pair of older Burton custom Bindings. Get an all around mountain board to start out on and don't over pay if you can avoid it this time of year. Burton has a nice product and price point. I'd start there. AS Rosie pointed out as well.. TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET First! It makes for a good day VS a long bad day and over all experience. Good Luck
Click to expand...


sounds like you have had quite a few boards. are boards for powdery/deep snow different that boards for hardpack/slick snow? if there is, is it very noticeable to a newbie?
 
Ducky

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
SomeDonnieDude said:
sounds like you have had quite a few boards. are boards for powdery/deep snow different that boards for hardpack/slick snow? if there is, is it very noticeable to a newbie?
Click to expand...

Yes, they are much different. Usually powder boards are a bit wider and longer to they float on top of the snow instead of sink in.
 
Ducky

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
SomeDonnieDude said:
I waste so much time and energy getting in and out of the bindings. im on the big side and not that flexible. this almost sounds like a must to go with flow bindings. ill look into those
Click to expand...

Flows are definitely a great option. Once you get more comfortable on the board, if you are going up a lift where you can just ride off to the slope, you can just strap in your back foot on the lift and just straight shred from off the lift.

And if you have to push to the slope off the lift, once you push enough to where you can keep going down the slope, you can just kick into the binding and flip the back buckle up and no need to sit down and strap in.

Now that I talk about it more, im getting another set of flows lol.
 
OtherDonnieGuy

OtherDonnieGuy

Location
Illinois
Ducky said:
Always....a stomp pad anywhere else is a newb move!
Click to expand...

i think my rental had the pad in the center, which doesnt suprise me i guess. i had a hard time getting into the bindings they were from the rear, they didnt want to go over the heel of my boot. no idea what brand they were. but im not real flexible when i get in my snow gear lol
 
yamanube

yamanube

This Is The Way
Staff member
Location
Mandalor
Good to hear some positive reviews on flow bindings. I have been riding for 16 years and have always used traditional bindings, back in the day Flow bindings where a joke. I am setting my wife up with a new assembly and was looking at the new flow bindings and they look pretty nice..I think I might get her a pair.
 
Ducky

Ducky

Back in the game!
Location
Charlotte, NC
yamanube said:
Good to hear some positive reviews on flow bindings. I have been riding for 16 years and have always used traditional bindings, back in the day Flow bindings where a joke. I am setting my wife up with a new assembly and was looking at the new flow bindings and they look pretty nice..I think I might get her a pair.
Click to expand...

Yea, they are really awesome. I didnt notice any difference in my riding ability going from flow to traditional and back. It really is awesome being able to just ride right off the lift or just kick in and buckle up right after skating to the next slope.
 
OtherDonnieGuy

OtherDonnieGuy

Location
Illinois
anyone ever rode a Burton Cruzer board? been looking into buying one of these. the Custom sounds fun too, but might be out of my skill level for a little while
 
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