HELP choosing the right beginner board - confused

Posted: 17 December 2010 06:56 AM

Hi.

I have been reeding on couple of forums, many board descriptions and lots and lots of reviews. I honestly thought I knew what I was looking for. Until I stepped into first snowboarding store…

Now I’ve visited several stores around Calgary - but almost every store recommends completely different stuff.

I’m a girl, 5’7”-5’8” weight around 143 lb - so I’m looking at a board sized between 150-154. That’s about the only thing all the shops agreed about :)

I have been looking at girls-boards until now, cause I’ve been told that they should be lighter and obviously better for girls. I’ll have to say though, that I haven’t yet seen one design I actually liked, all the flowery pinkie stuff just NOT my style. Although I am blessed with feet size 10, so - I’m wondering if that could be my ticket for buying a male board..??

I’m a beginner-only boarded twice, but loved every second of it. I want a board that is easy to learn on and at the same time one I can progress on and keep for more then couple of seasons. The first amount of time I’ll probably would be spending on the mountain, but I definitely want to give park a try when I’m feeling comfortable enough about my skills. The board I’m looking for should be capable of both, but first of all fun to ride.

A. Most of reviews I have read pointed me in the direction of reverse cambered board, as it should be easier to learn on and funnier to ride then the traditional cambered ones. At that point I have set my mind on GNU b nice, which is a girls board and had a cool magnitraction feature to it (although I don’t know if I’d feel difference) price 399$ (online) 429$ at the source. The design is not cool (although bearable). As a male alternative I’ve been recommended GNU pickle at 489$. It seems like a park board to me though, so I’m not sure how good that recommendation was…

B. Today I have visited another snowboarding shop, they were literally talking me away from any kind of reverse or zero cambered boards, as they were unstable and much harder to ride on for a new beginner as me. Also, that boards are slow and that I’ll probably would spin a lot and have difficulties controlling it. Basically totally opposite of what I’ve been reading so far and told at place A. Place B showed me a pretty sweet looking board which was ordinary cambered board. 2010 Salomon Sanchez Magnum 153 for a price of 300$ - which i liked!

C. Shop C pointed me in yet another direction. Board that basically can it all - it’s in between cambered and reverse cambered and should be easy one to learn on - and yet progress on for several years from now. Of course that was the most expensive board I have been looking at so far, but i do admit that i liked everything about it but the price. It was 2010 Bataleon Goliath for a price of 499$

So here I am, knowing much more about different kinds of boards - but yet so confused which one would be good for me.

I didn’t wanted to spend that much money on a board in first place, but if it’s really worth it and I can have the board for several years and still be happy to ride it - it does make a good investment!!

What is your opinion about different suggestions from A, B and C.?
What should I go with (if I should go with any of them at all)?
Is there other cheaper boards that might be suitable for me instead and still do the job?

Hope you guys can help - I really need opinion from somebody else then a salesperson…!!

Posted: 17 December 2010 09:01 AM

lol, I’m a salesperson in Calgary too boot so I dunno if you should continue reading my post. :)

A - buy good boots, period.  Spend more on the boots then the board if need be.  Good boots will fit well and last you several seasons of progression whereas you might need to buy a board (or two) before you need new boots.  Most women I have helped have leaned towards the Boa system (a ratchet quick-tightening system)...  I prefer laces but to each their own.  Also buy a pair (or two) of snowboard-specific socks and consider a custom insole.  Sportchek at Market Mall has Foot Balance insoles which cost $80 a pair but should last the life of your boot…  it’s heat molded to support your foot and at $80 is a fraction of custom orthotics which run in the hundreds.

B - I like putting newbies on rockered boards.  They tend to be more playful and responsive at slower speeds.  This will speed up progression and learning.

C - at size 10 boots you should probably go with a men’s board.  women boards tend to have narrow widths so to be safe a mens board will have you covered…  just make sure to get the size right for your weight (the sticker on the back of most boards will have weight ranges).

D - stick to boards with a softer flex, they will be easier to turn.

That being said shops like The Source, Mission and Royal have a great selection but a steeper price tag.  I work at Sportchek and they carry most entry-level gear that will probably be friendlier to your wallet.  Last weekend all 2011 K2 gear was 20% off, always some type of sale going on.  I love the shops in the city, I don’t care if you go to Sportchek or not but you should always shop around for the best deals especially when starting out…  nothing worse to buy the best gear and find out you don’t really like it (again, I hope that doesn’t happen but…)

Posted: 17 December 2010 06:32 PM

LOL, salesperson….. I was going to buy good pair of boots anyway.

so which board does this leaves me with?! Not a cambered one I guess, but is it a good idea to buy GNU b nice or Goliath!? Or should I go for something cheaper?! -in that case suggestions needed.

Thanks!

Posted: 17 December 2010 06:51 PM

I’m completely with Steve on this one, than man knows his onions.

Reverse camber boards are so much less twitchy than cambered boards when you are learning. The only conditions I would think camber would be better for beginners would be on hard a rock hardpack, apart from that rocker is better. For sure there might be instances where you spin out a little but it will encourage you to perfect your technique, leaning into the fall line and waiting for the board to come around instead of digging your edges hard in and counter-rotating your body to complete the turn.

As you’ll probably have to ride a gents board because of your boot size, I’d check out the

K2 Anagram
Ride Agenda
Salomon Salvatore Sanchez
DC Tone
Rome Graft Rocker

These are entry level reverse camber freestyle snowboards that will meet you needs as a beginner. You could also check out the K2 Raygun for a bit more of a directional ride.

Actually it’s worth looking at the Arbor Westmark too. It’s a bit pricier and probably a bit more advanced but it’s really easy to ride and has grip tech edges which put a bump at the feet in the sidecut giving you a touch more grip on hard snow. A very easy board to ride.

Posted: 17 December 2010 10:02 PM

That was very useful, thanks!

I’m already looking at Solomon Salvatore Sanchez 2010 - the colours and graffics are wicked!! :)
Found a deal of 350$ which is ptetty sweet too.

Last question before I ran out and buy it.. Is it good as all around mountain too?! I won’t be at park from the start on.

Thanks again!

Posted: 17 December 2010 10:51 PM

It is a park specific board yes but it’ll certainly help you to progress through the first stages of riding quickly, i.e. linking your turns… moving to carving… trying butters and jumps… and nailing the fast sections before a long flat section. If you want something a little bit more gutsy for riding then check out the K2 Raygun, Arbor Formula and Gnu Carbon Credit Series.

Posted: 18 December 2010 08:41 PM

Thanks for your help! I got the board-let you guys know how it works out for me once I take it to the mountain!

Posted: 20 December 2010 05:30 AM

I couldn’t wait - so took it to COP today, and you know what?! RIPPIN’...!! I was in this beginner group with and I don’t know if it was me picking up so easily or it was the board that did the job - but I had a AWESOME experience.. I never thought I would do that fine already - SO SWEET!!

I LOVE this board even more now and would recommend it to anyone who thinks about getting it! Not only it’s cool to look at, it’s wicked to ride!!

Thanks for helping me pick!

Posted: 20 December 2010 07:59 AM

lol,  good stuff.  I’m hitting COP tomorrow morning, I saw they have the whole terrain park and super pipe opened as of today.  Going to be wicked cold but should be good times.

I’m glad the board rides as good as it looks, that’s important. :)