First Snowboard (traditional Camber or hybrid)
Posted: 19 January 2012 11:17 AM
Hi there!
This season I want to buy my first snowboard. I’m not a park rider. I just want to improve my snowboarding skills, have fun on the slopes and make some speed (carving)! My budget is not that high. I want to spend approximately € 300-350 euros for a board including bindings. What type of camber you would recommend? I don’t want a full rocker because, like I said, I am not a park rider. Because I like speed traditional camber would be better. However, because I’m a beginner, maybe a hybrid camber makes it more easy for me to improve my snowboarding skills.
After visising some snowboard shops in Holland, I found three boards. The Elan Eragon 2012 (camber) board, the Nitro Code 2010 (gullwing) board. I also found the Salomon Ace 2012 (camber).
Can you help me making a good choice? Maybe you can recommend some other boards?
Information:
Experience: 1.5 weeks
Length: 1.97m (6.4ft)
Weigth: 80kg
Posted: 20 January 2012 03:12 PM
Hi Simon
Basically what you’re saying is that you want a board that is going to progress with you, and i think if you can afford to spend a touch more money, you might get something that is going to be more suitable.
As you’ve said you want to be able to go fast, you’d be best looking for something with a sintered base rather than an extruded base as it allows you to go quicker! It also helps to have it over flat areas as you hold more speed and so can get across more easily.
Regarding the camber of the board, it’s really down to personal preference which one you go for. Full rocker & catch free edges are great to learn with, but can then cause problems in technique when moving to another type of board, so I think you’re right to avoid it. I think you’d be fine with dual camber or full camber - either one will be fine to learn on.
The three boards you mentioned all have extruded bases, and are at the softer end of the flex scale. They are not bad boards to start on, but if you’re planning on going snowboarding regularly, your ability might outgrow them quickly.
If you like Salomon, I think you’d be better off with the Titan. it’s got the sintered base and is a bit stiffer so you won’t outgrow it so quickly. They come up on the web around 250euro. You’ll probably need the 162. This is a dual camber board.
There is also the Ride Antic, coming in around the same price. This also has a sintered base, and can also come in a wide version. You haven’t put your foot size down, but you’re a tall guy, so I assume you’re going to perhaps need the wide if you’re over US size 11 feet. The Antic has a combination of rockers and is stiffer, so it’ll push your ability to start with but will let you improve.
The Burton Honcho might also be an option if you’ve got bigger feet as it specifically has a wider waist. it’s a bit more expensive than the other two - around 300euro. It’s full camber, sintered base, and incorporates a couple of Burton’s features designed to make the board lighter.
Bindings - something entry level will probably suit you. If you go for a Burton board with the channel mounting system, try the Missions. If you go for a board with the traditional hole-mount, try the Ride LX, or maybe the Union DLXs. All are around 120euros.
Hope this helps :-)
Posted: 24 January 2012 12:32 PM
Imo I think rocker is actually good to learn on. It teaches you to ride with your weight centered particularly through carves where the tendancy can be to load up the tail and it also gets you landing with your weight evenly between your front and back foot as tail heavy landings wash-out a lot more easily. The only thing you don’t experience is working a board aggresively through the camber but in all honesty I can’t say I’ve seen many intermediates or beginners properly working cambered boards. Rocker also makes learning jumps and powder a lot less frustrating. Full rocker with a pivot point between the bindings I find can feel a little too loose for all-mountain riding but anything that goes flat between the bindings will provide a stable and playful learning experience.
A blend of camber and rocker is a comfortable mix between the two if you’re a bit wary. Zero camber is also worth a look.
Posted: 25 January 2012 11:31 AM
The Nitro Code 2010 (gullwing) board I’ve mentioned is than maybe the best option? This is the only dual camber board I’ve found in the price-range I can afford. This board has rocker between the bindings and camber directly under the bindings. Does it make a difference in quality that this board is from 2010 (still it’s a new board) instead of 2012?
I thought I had made my decision and intended to buy the Elan board… now I’m doubting again.
Posted: 25 January 2012 02:36 PM
Hi Simon
Snowboard manufacturers have been evolving their camber profiles over the last few years, so there will be slight differences in the profiles available now to ones on boards a couple of years old.
Maybe Rich can help on this one, but I don’t think the Gullwing profile has changed significantly, so you’d probably be OK buying this.
The only thing I would suggest if you’re still unsure is that you try and demo some of the different profiles available if you’re near a dome? Hybrid camber profiles can feel quite different to each other across the brands and it would be a shame to spend your money on something you’re not sure on.
Kat
Posted: 26 January 2012 01:03 PM
I would look towards boards that use a flat-rocker profile as a first all-rounder deck. Two brands that use it extensively in their line ups are K2 and Ride. Basically between the bindings you want the board flat and then it rises at the tip and tail a bit close to the bindings then a cambered board.
As Rich mentioned it makes learning to ride more fun and will greatly speed up your early progression. I used my K2 Parkstar to learn to ride switch, it was SOOOO much more forgiving then the traditional cambered Artec Novus that I also had at the time. Basically if you get caught riding your base flat you have more time to react as opposed to camber which will mercilessly slam your carcass to ground.
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