Men’s boards that women should try?
Posted: 12 April 2010 07:44 PM
Hi guys! This site is amazingly useful. Thanks so much for putting it together.
So…I need advice.
I’ve been riding for about 5 years, heavily for the last 2. I just got interested in the park this season so I’m a beginner there, but on the rest of the mountain I’m pretty advanced and sometimes hike out to the back country. My current board is a men’s 148 Morrow Fury (I’m 5’5”, size 9 women’s boot) that I was able to snag cheap off of craigslist. It has treated me surprisingly well and I’ll be holding onto it for the park and low coverage days, however I need a more advanced board for general use, something longer and faster that will float better in light Utah powder.
I’m not sure I want or need to switch to a women’s board. Is there really that big a difference? Because I don’t want sparkles or flowers on my board unless it’s going to make me a much better rider.
Can you recommend boards I should consider that are made for men but girl friendly?
Posted: 12 April 2010 08:04 PM
Hi Attrice,
THanks for your kind words about the site, stoked that you’ve found it useful… I’m just trying to come to come to terms with the fact that it’s coming to the end of the season and within a matter of weeks I’ll have another 500 snowboards onto the site!
Ok, regarding your question. I’m a firm believer that female riders are best suited to female specific boards. Women tend to have lighter frames, shorter stature, smaller feet and on the most part ride slightly less aggresively than men (on the most part… I know tons of girls who can kick my arse on a snowboard so I’m not trying to be sexist).
To find a board for you that’s going to help you progress, I’m going to need to know your weight (sorry I know you shouldn’t ask a lady her weight but at least your anonymous on here :-) ), got your height so I don’t need that, oh when you say a women’s size nine boot, is that a standard US9 or different? Lastly, just to confirm, you’d like an all mountain board that you can take to the park, cruise on the pistes and nail some fresh when you get it? Which type of terrain are you going to be riding the board in most and which area of riding are you wanting to progress, i.e. park or pow?
Cheers
Rich
Posted: 12 April 2010 09:15 PM
I’m just trying to come to come to terms with the fact that it’s coming to the end of the season and within a matter of weeks I’ll have another 500 snowboards onto the site!
That’s a lot of new boards! It’s been a little hard to think about the end of the season out here in the western US even though it’s so close because the snow keeps coming- it’s snowing right now actually. We’ve had a pretty good spring. That’s why I’m starting my shopping so late.
when you say a women’s size nine boot, is that a standard US9 or different?
I think you are asking if men’s and women’s boot sizes are different here? Yes they are.
US women’s 9 = US men’s 8 = UK 6.5 = Euro 40.
Ha, no problem with the weight thing.
I’m 156 lbs.
Lastly, just to confirm, you’d like an all mountain board that you can take to the park, cruise on the pistes and nail some fresh when you get it? Which type of terrain are you going to be riding the board in most and which area of riding are you wanting to progress, i.e. park or pow?
Correct on the first part. I expect to be riding mostly piste but it’s in powder that I really want to progress. The park’s a secondary thing for me- something to do when everything fluffy has been tracked out.
Posted: 12 April 2010 10:30 PM
Hi Attrice,
Right so it’s an all mountain deck which is going to kill it in pow but has the versatility for a bit of park riding. Id look at the following boards:
Palmer Halo
Palmer are renown for building boards that go fast. The Halo is their intermediate female ride, it has a superfast 4.4k sintered base and Palmer Klothoid sidecut which means turn initation is easy and the board is stable when you’re turning up the speed.
Atomic Polarity
Atomic’s top of the range women’s all mountain board. A medium flex, but using triaxial glass and carbon reinforcement so it’s going to hold an edge on all snow conditions. It won the Future Snowboarding mags nest female board so I’m guessing it’s pretty good. Atomic pack one hell of a spec for the price.
Capita Midnight
Capita have produced a price point all mountain deck with a pretty tight graphic. Biaxial glass is going to mean easier turn initiation and the carbon stringers should help you with popping ollies and getting lots of energy out of turns.
Never Summer Infinity
The Infinity uses RC technology, a camber rocker hybrid which loosens up the board by raining the start and end of the effective edge. Still tons of pop in this board and extra float from the reverse camber between the bindings.
Rossignol Justice
The Rossi Justice is the women’s version of the much respected Rossi Angus, a board that’s been cleaning up awards in all the magazines. Tons of float from the rockered tip and tail, so great in pow and easy buttering in the park. Camber between the feet means this board still carves hard and the short running length means the Justice is nimble iin the park.
Signal Calliope
The Calliope is medium stiffness park, pipe and powder board with a slight taper for increased float and improved edge to edge response. Also probably got the least girly graphics.
Head Tiara I
More of a freeride board, this deck has responsive intellifibres which stiffen up the faster you ride. Just got to put up with the gold glitter graphics… quite bling!
I’d look at a length around 150 to 152 cms.
Let me know what you think.
Rich
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