First Snowboard

Posted: 09 April 2010 04:59 PM

Hey guys I am just looking for advice on buying my first new snowboard.
Don’t get me wrong, just because it’s my first doesn’t mean I’m a beginner. I’ve been riding for about 4-5 years on and off and am an intermediate rider all round but I usually use rental boards and now feel that it’s time to buy my own.

I’m between 5’11 and 6ft weighing 182lbs with a size 10.5 UK boot.
I’m a heavy piste rider in Europe at the moment and love to carve in anything but am now starting to do more park jumps and rails, I ride powder only about 10% of the time. So I’m really looking for a board that is good at speed to carve, with good edges, response and feel but that will also give me a good time in the park without having to go to a park board that won’t hold on the mountain. I love to try and find features on the piste to pop off and mess around on as well.

I’ve been looking around and the Rossignol Angus really looked like a great board for me but trying to get hold of one is like trying to find an alien in my cereal bowl. Hence, I’ve been very close to buying either the Palmer Timeless, Palmer Burn or Sierra Crew which also look like great boards but are easier to get hold of.
Obviously I can get hold of a Burton board such as the Custom pretty easily as well but i don’t want to buy a Burton just because it’s a Burton.

So any advice on a board and bindings would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance, Tim.

Posted: 09 April 2010 10:44 PM

Just a quick reply: Is money an important factor to you?
If not, you could just wait until next season and shoot a ‘11 Rossi Angus featured with their hybrid rocker Amptek by then!

Probably even better for park riding and jibbing around.

Posted: 09 April 2010 10:49 PM

Hi Tim,

Thanks for dropping bye and choosing snowboar-review to air your qusetions.

From what I’m gathering you’re after an all mountain snowboard with a slight park bias that is going to kill kickers and handle choppy conditions and full speed charging…. hmm kinda like a Burton Custom… but not a Burton. Cool, actually there are plenty of options out there for you, but you’re right the Angus would have been ideal.

Ok here are a couple of boards with links to them which might be worth looking at.. especially as they’re uber cheap:

APO Arthur Longo 159:- the right size for you and a board that’s going to push you in the park. Biaxial glass means it won’t be too much of a hanful to take on rails and longitudinal carbon reinforcement will add plenty of pop and guts for going big and sticking your landings.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=43526

Amplid declaration 157:- I’m actually yet to ride an Amplid board that doesn’t perform like an all mountain snowboard.. even the boards meant for out and out freestyle can carve hard had take any snow condition you can throw at them. The 157 Declaration is built with park riding in mind and with a waist of 259 cm shouldn’t have a problem fitting your feet. If you’re not sure you want to go as park as the Declaration look at the Amplid Falconoid at the same site which is going for £219.. crazy low price for this board. The Falconoid claims it’s a kicker and park board, but this deck can handle it all over the mountain. As you’re a stone heavier than me and 3-4 inches taller than me, you’re going to be an ideal candidate for the 159, which I though was great, just a bit stiff for me on the rails, could have done with an extra stone and 3-4 inches height!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=43503

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=43506

Those are the bargains I found on the net. As far as the Palmer boards go.. both the Burn and the Timeless are great decks.. Palmer construction is fantastic and the new sidecut they’re using is brilliant, sooo smooth, great for high speed riding. I’d look at the Timeless over the Burn… from what I gather the Burn is a board for those already comfortable with going big.

Rich

Posted: 09 April 2010 11:02 PM

Sorry Tim, as you said you’re foot size was UK 10.5 I’ve assumed you live in the UK, if you don’t UK sites aren’t going to be much use, so appologies.