Another first board/bindings type advice asking thread!
Posted: 14 April 2010 03:54 PM
Hi!
I’m very much a beginner, having completed the beginners course at CFe in Manchester and had a few other sessions, and starting to look at getting my own board, not least due to the potential for a bargain out of the current sales.
I’ve got boots sorted already (Northwave decades) chosen based on fit and comfort, as the hire boots I was using really didn’t fit right in either a 7 or 8. Mine are a 7.5.
I’m 5’9” and weight about 10 and a half stone.
Looking for some advice on boards, board sizes, bindings that will suit the boots for fit, bindings sizes and just about everything really!
So far, after doing reading of forums and the market blurb, stuff like Signal’s Omni/Park Rocker, Yes, Bataleon Evil Twin/Goliath seem to sound intersting, but I’m also unsure as to how suitable they’d be for a beginner.
Thanks in advance for any pointers!
Posted: 15 April 2010 12:36 PM
Hi Mrblackbat… or is it batman?
You said you’ve been learning at the Chillfactor in Manchester. Are you intending to start going to the freestyle sessions, riding the rails and the small jumps, or is this board for hitting the whole mountain when you’re out in the mountains of Europe?
Rich
Posted: 15 April 2010 01:57 PM
Yeah it’s mrblackbat, has nothing to do with batman just a silly name from when I used to live in the attic room in old my student house, and since stuck….
I’ll definitely be going to the freestyle sessions at Chillfactore, and probably one or two trips away each year.
I’m hesitant to say what sort of snowboarding at this point I’ll want to do all the time, seeing as at the moment everything I do is fun and cool (even falling on my arse in a funny sort of way), but I do think that seeing as my regular place to ride will be an indoor snowdome, suggesting I’ll be a big mountain freerider may be a little silly….
Thanks for the reply!
Posted: 16 April 2010 09:54 PM
Popped into subvert this evening, really nice guys, they said the following as decent suggestions -
salomon answer
burton hate
rome artifact
rome headline
forum manual
aside from the soloman they were all about 154-156s, the salomon was a 159.
In terms of bindings they were suggesting burton missions.
Any thoughts?p
Posted: 17 April 2010 11:11 AM
That’s quite a varied selection of boards. It’s a shame the Salomon Answer is a 159, as in a shorter length it would be an ideal board, but 159 is going to be a bit long for indoor riding and you’re only 10 stone so I think you’d find it a bit of a handful.
The Forum Manual, Burton Hate and the Rome Artifact are all park and rail specific boards. They use Biaxial glass and durable but slightly slower extruded bases and have features like thicker steel edges so you’ve got less chance of damaging it on kinked rails and on jibs. So if you want to focus your progression on park these boards are ideal. The Headline is the only all mountain board in the list, so it seems like the most suitable. When I rode the Headline I rode a 160 which was too big so I found it a bit unweildy and not particulary exciting, but from people who’ve ridden the board in a more freestyle length (for me it would be a 156), I’ve heard really good things.
So you have to make a decision, do you want a softer board which is going to be great in the chill factor and for improving your park skills and probably easier to ride to start with. Or do you buy an all mountain board which might feel a little stiff for the small park features you get indoors, but will carve really nicely and deal with all the different types of terrain and snow you’re going to throw at it on a holiday. Most UK fridge riders have one of each… tough one!
Rich
Posted: 17 April 2010 01:00 PM
Cool thanks for the advice. I’m gonna try and pop into tsa tomorrow as well to see what they have.
The headline does seem to appeal as the most versatile. In terms of the other three is there any one that stands out should i decide to go for the park/indoor board?
EDIT- been to tsa now, they didn’t really have much in the way in bindings, and heartily recommend the burton missions so I’ve gone with those.
In terms of boards, they suggested the following:-
Yes 149
Bataleon Evil Twin 151
Signal Park 154 (longer cause its softer)
Artec Novus 150
with their top recommendation being the evil twin.
Posted: 18 April 2010 12:26 PM
Hmmm… I thinks it’s a case of those guys suggesting boards that they have left. Boards around 150 are too short for all mountain riding. 149!??? that’s definitely too short, and the waist width on the YES 149 is like 24.6cm… I like TSA and Jeremy who runs the shops is a legend.. but I think on this occasion they’re giving you bad advice. Of the previous boards at Subvert, I’d pick up the Burton Hate. Not a board I know an awful lot about, but it’s got the thicker 10:45 edges which are bombproof (had them on a dominant, if only the rest of the board was as durable as the edges!), and it has zero camber which will mean the deck just locks into slides. If you can get it around 153-154, it’ll be great… plus you’ve got the mission bindings which have the 3 bolt baseplate option.
Posted: 18 April 2010 12:52 PM
Thanks again for the quick reply.
I did think that they all seemed a bit short, considering the other boards recommended, especially the 149; to the point that I mailed both Yes and Bataleon to ask; Bataleon said it’s personal preference but would suggest the 155, waiting to hear from Yes yet but I was originally looking at the 154 there. Think both those two boards are sold out at the moment, though.
So, with the suggestion of the Hate, think it’ll be a flip between the Hate and the Rome Headline, depending whether I want to focus on riding here in the domes, or something that will be a bit better for taking abroad.
Thanks so much for the tips!
Posted: 18 April 2010 03:23 PM
No probs, glad I could help.
As it’s drawing close to summer, thinking about it, you’re going to be restricted to fridge riding for the next 7-8 months. Kinda makes sense to hit up the burton Hate, get some tricks down, and if you want a more all mountain board next season, I’m sure there will still be the odd deal about.
All the best, and thanks for using the site.
Rich
Posted: 21 April 2010 08:12 AM
Picked up the Hate in a 155 last night along with the bindings. Definitely a marked improvement over the hire boards! Feels so much lighter and I found it much more comfortable turning, especially from heel to toe.
Really great service from Subvert too, they came out riding with me and tweaked my setup after seeing me ride.
Thanks very much for the advice!
Posted: 21 April 2010 09:07 PM
Good looking setup! Really like the blunted tip and tail. Enjoy!
Posted: 07 October 2010 12:12 PM
Been riding the 155 burton hate for a while now and feeling really comfortable on it on the indoor slopes. However, I’m not booked in for my first trip away in January, and just wondering whether I should really consider looking at getting a more all mountain style board to take with me. I do find when I start to get some speed up that things get a little bit unstable at times, particularly through bumpy parts of the slope. Not sure whether this will be down to my technique or whether it’s partly the board as well.
I’ve about 30 hours or so in the domes, and starting to learn rails and a bit of buttering, mainly just 50/50s and manuals at the moment.
I remember looking at boards like the signal omni, yes and so on last year as well, but they were pretty much sold out by the time I was looking.
Any thoughts, and also if I do look at another board what sort of length I should be looking for?
