good beginner looking for the gear to push to a good rider

Posted: 22 November 2009 09:29 PM

I am looking for:

  [*] Board
  [*] Binding
  [*] regular straps
  [  ] fast-entry system (Flow/Cinch/..)
  [*] Boots
  [  ] Other

Measurements:

  Body height: 180cm
  Weight:  175lbs
  Shoe size:10.5 US

  Riding level:

  [*] Beginner
  [*] Intermediate
  [  ] Advanced
  [  ] Expert

  Riding style: (multiple selections allowed)

  [*] Piste   [  ] %
  [*] Powder   [  ] %
  [*] Park   [  ] %
  [  ] Rails   [  ] %

  Price Limit:    [ 850 ] €

I’ve only been once, loved it and i’m looking for my own gear. i’m at a level where i’m comfortable riding reds, done some powder rides and like the thought of park riding. i’m looking for a board that can take my riding to the next level and don’t want to have to buy again for some time. I went to the snowboard asylum and they recomended the artec novice or Burton deuce. these boards are at the lower end of the scale and i was worried that i would want to upgrade after a couple of years. although i have read good reviews of the artec novice, yes’s 159 board has caught my eye and the reviews say it has a lot to offer.

i’ve tried salomon Dialogue’s on and they fit great, very comfortable, was worried that they are the cheapest in the range. they also recomended the cheapest ride or salomon bindings, again this worried me.

would you recomend any of this gear or suggest other alternatives. was hoping to get some advice for someone not trying to sell me something!

Posted: 23 November 2009 02:57 PM

Hey Benn,

Firstly I’ll start with boots and bindings. If you’ve found a pair of salomon boots that are really comfortable and lock your ankles nicely into the heelcup then you should buy them. Being the cheapest in the range the likelihood is that they’ll be fairly soft so it might be worth buying a pair of relatively stiff bindings to add response and support. To be honest it sounds as though the guys at the TSA were trying to sell you quite a jibby set-up (i.e. for rails and playing around on in the park). The Salomon Chiefs are a well-priced, stiff-ish binding that would complement the Salomon dialogue boots…...I’ve been riding Salomon bindings for the past four years and I love them. Nevertheless brands like Drake, Flux and Burton all make good bindings.

On to boards. Being a beginner you don’t want a board that is going to be too stiff, as this will prevent vital foot movement and torsional flex. But the likelihood is that after a couple of weeks on snow you’ll want a board that isn’t too soft because you’ll want that extra bit of rigidity for added stability and confidence. In the past shops would always sell people in your position a Burton Custom but the Custom is a little stiff and advanced for someone in your position and it would really hinder your progression. If I was you I’d have a look on the site at the following boards, they’re all fun and lively decks that will aid your progression from a beginner to an advanced rider and will be able to shred everything on the hill:

K2 Believer
Burton Easy Livin
Nitro Rook
Stepchild JP Walker
Option Logic
Salomon Answer

If you’re to be riding regularly at an indoor slope then the two boards that the chaps at TSA recommended could be more appropriate. The boards above would be much more suitable if the majority of your riding will be spent a couple of weeks a year on a real mountain.

Hope this helps,

Tom

Posted: 23 November 2009 03:07 PM

Hi Benn

I actually agree with the TSA boys on this one. The Artec Novus is a great board for people of all standards but especially for someone making their first purchase. It’s got a sintered base and the flex sounds perfect for you…. it’s also the Elan factory’s own brand so you get great value for money. Personally I’m not sure about Burton’s lower range boards, they’re really expensive this year as Burton have tried to level the prices across the EU so our Euroland cousins can’t inport Burton from the UK and save some serious dollar… but it means that it’s well expensive in the UK. YES. boards are pretty tasty but it might be a good idea to get some miles under your board befor you look at those decks.

Rich

Posted: 23 November 2009 03:23 PM

Elan Novus has a lightweight fibreglass laminate that is very forgiving…....which is great for learning and for jibbing around but I’d be cautious about having something that is too jibby for your first board. Actually getting your piste riding to a higher level where you can carve aggressively and burn down bumpy slopes in confidence might take something with a little more torsional strength. I’m not saying it’s not amazing value for money but as an instructor I’m more than aware of the kind of board that will aid progression and help you have a better time.

Posted: 23 November 2009 03:43 PM

En-guard miseur La Bomb… It appears we have a dual!

What’s with the two 2 zero camber decks if it’s carving that’s important?

Perhaps we should agree to disagree…. i’d consider the Novus… at £250 you won’t be disappointed, I do agree with Tom’s point about getting a board that carves well though and can handle a bit of chop. Thinking along those lines maybe you should look at the Endevour Live series and the Omatic Boron (heard gread things about this board), these two boards will add a little versatility. The beginner steps are extremely quick snowboarding and although when you’re starting to carve you’ll appreciate a softer biaxial glass for commiting to the fall line and ease of initiating carves, it’s probably worth going for a light triaxial weave to give you that extra bit of grip until you decide whether you want to be a park rat or an AK legend.

Posted: 23 November 2009 03:48 PM

I’d steer well clear of the Boron unless you’ve got ridiculously big feet…...probably the widest board I’ve ever seen.

Posted: 23 November 2009 04:09 PM

Hate to bicker with you but the Boron comes in a standard width and is available as wide…. the 157 is 25cm wide.

Posted: 24 November 2009 10:46 AM

Come on Rich, this ain’t bickering; this is high-level discussion we all love! =)

On-topic: I actually wouldn’t go with the cheapest bindings in the range as I feel like you really notice remarkable differences in processing and used materials. The Chief Tom already suggested would probably be a good shot but you might also want to check out Ride bindings (http://ridesnowboards.com/bindings/) like the Ride RX.

Posted: 24 November 2009 01:37 PM

With regards to zero camber boards and carving…......zero camber boards are still very easy to carve but you don’t get quite as much resistance against the board in the carve and they don’t pop you out of the turn quite as much. That said, unless you’re planning on getting you face to touch the snow I wouldn’t worry too much about buying a zero camber board…....it generally means you can buy a higher-end board that is slightly more manageable and fun.

Posted: 08 January 2010 06:22 PM

hi guyz,

sorry to misleading the topic but i’ve seen you were talking about the Artec novus board.
my question is, with the same *or at least simiral parameters than the topic owner* would you recommend the Artec Gabe Taylor?
the price of the board is perfect, it’s come from elan factory and also it was on the top of the list of under $400 board in the Transworld Snowboarding’s test.

Oliver

Posted: 08 January 2010 07:14 PM

Sure as long as you’re confident turning the Gabe will be fine… if you want to be riding it fast on all types of piste I’d go for the 159, I thought riding the 155, it was a bit chattery at speed.