Beginner’s Snowboard help?

Posted: 22 January 2011 07:54 AM

I’ve been searching online for hours for a snowboard and I just haven’t been able to find anything and if I have I’m not sure if I should get it because i don’t know if it’s good for beginners or not. Should I get an all-mountain or freestyle board? I’ve only riden down groomers but I do plan on learning some tricks in a terrain park next year or later this season. I’m 5” 1 1/2 and weight 115-120 (it changes a little sometimes) and a girl. Budget is below $400 preferably but i might spend more . . . it depends. I’ve been told that 140-144 cm is how long the board should be, is this okay? Any recommended bindings or binding brands would be awesome too! This will the the first board I have ever gotten too

Posted: 22 January 2011 07:07 PM

Hi Sourcherry,

You wouldn’t believe how many frustrated first time buyers we get on this site, there is almost too much choice out there. The first step is to do a search using our “Board Selecta”. Select the following criteria:

Board year - 2010/11
Rideing terrain: Park & Freeride
Board Shape: Directional Twin
Women Specific: Yes
Cost: Low (and once you have checked out the results) with medium.

This will bring up a ton of options that will be suitable for you. Have a read through the info on the boards and a look at the graphics, if you like any of the boards post the names on this thread and I’ll talk you through some of their features.

I hope that’s helpful for now,

Rich

Posted: 23 January 2011 01:32 AM

I like the
-Forum Aura 2011
-Rossignol Circus 2011
-Saloman Lark 2011
-Forum Star 2011
-Rossignol Justice 2011
-DC BFF 2010
-Drake Venice 2010
-Nitro Mystique 2011
-Nitro Fate 2011 (i don’t think this comes in the right length though)

I know it’s a lot, sorry! but thanks for your help :D

Posted: 23 January 2011 10:53 AM

I feel your pain…  beginning any hobby/sport can be a daunting task.

Things that make it easier, besides this awesome website you’ve stumbled upon, is connecting with friends that already ride.  Ask around your social circles and see what people are doing…  ask to tag along with trips to wherever they go.  People will give you their opinions and you can take that info and start working it into your searches.

Usually you just need to dive in with your first board…  it will tell you what you like and don’t like.  Even a demo or rental trip won’t give you enough time to experience what a board truly is like.

I will say this, there is no such thing as the “perfect” snowboard…  you will grow, evolve, shift.  That is part of the fun, to outgrow your gear cause you are riding better then you ever imagined.

Enjoy the journey to your first board, it’s your passport to unlimited adventure.

Posted: 31 January 2011 10:45 PM

Thanks! I really appreciate the advice! I just really need to buy my first board and see how I like it first.

Posted: 01 February 2011 07:51 AM

Hi Winnie,

All of those boards are good choices for what you are after.

The Forum Star with Chillidog, Salomon Lark and Rossi Circle are particularly progressive boards that offer the spectrum of profiles pretty much. If you can demo three before you buy these three will help you to understand the benefits of Rocker, early rise camber and camber between the feet and rocker at the nose and tail.

If you can’t demo, I’m sure you will find all of the boards on the list will meet your needs.

Rich