here’s what i need in a board. can you tell me which boards out there satisfy my requirements?
Posted: 16 February 2011 02:02 AM
hi everyone,
i would really appreciate any advice you can give me on what kind of board i should get. i’d like to get one for my birthday which is in 2 weeks from today.
i am a beginner and have only been able to go snowboarding a couple of times in the last 2 years. but i can do turns. here are my specs:
5’ tall
95 lbs
female
women’s shoe size 5
i do ballet and tango dancing and this is important because:
i need a very lightweight board, mainly because a heavy board wreaks havoc on my knee and ankle on the lift.
i like to maintain symmetry. when boarding, i switch feet so that i can work both sides of my body equally. this works out great for me because i don’t have a dominant foot. therefore, i think i need a twin board. is twin flex also a good idea?
also, the reason i fell in love with snowboarding is because of how much it reminds me of dancing. i love the one-to-one communication between me and the snow. i don’t care too much about going fast or doing tricks… yet. but i like to savor the trip down the slope and to take in every little bit of each turn. i want a board that moves with me like a ouija board… or like a magic carpet that can read my mind %-P snowboarding is a kind of zen experience for me. i want a board that let’s me talk to the snow, to feel everything it’s telling me, and that makes it easy for me to talk back, negotiate, indulge, without stuttering…. anybody out there feel me on this?
Posted: 16 February 2011 12:03 PM
My other half has just got a K2 VaVaVoom. She loves it, it’s light and playful, a true twin and rockered for extra fun. Not sure if it will help you convene with the other side like a ouija board but it might be worth checking out.
Posted: 17 February 2011 12:55 AM
that one looks like a great option. thanks!
i have a question about true twin vs. directional twin: if directional twin boards are shaped like a twin but have more flex in one end than in the other, does that make riding it regular feel different from riding it switch?
someone told me that directional twin board were good for beginners, but i’m not so clear on why?
Posted: 17 February 2011 09:52 AM
Directional twin snowboards offer a touch more versatility in different snow conditions than true twin boards. You might find yourself riding both regular and switch with ralative ease on nice easy well groomed runs but bets are when you start riding powder, moguls, steeps and ice that you will naturally pick up one way of riding which feels more natural than the other. Having a directional shape usually means that the nose is softer than the tail. A soft nose is better for absorbing bumps from chop, they tend to rise up easier in powder snow and initiate turns slightly easier. A stiffer tail also provides more pop for launching off jumps and and for snapping out of carves. A slightly directional shape means there is usually a touch more nose, again for performance in deeper snow. Until you are a good rider you won’t notice the benefits of riding a true twin becaue you won’t be doing technical switch tricks in the park, however you will notice the benefits of have a slightly directional board as it will help you to adjust to different snow conditions.
I think for your first board the Blender is probably slight overkill, the mid spoon in the construction is probably of zero benefit to somebody who isn’t riding rails yet.
My advice would be to use our “board Select” and select the following:
Riding Terrain - Park and Freeride
Board Shape - Directional Twin
Women Specific - Yes
Cost - Medium
This will give you a ton of options.
Most boards are around-about the same weight give or take a couple of hundred grams, the best place to start is to invest in a supportive boot. This will take a lot of strain out of your leading ankle on the chair lift, and then make sure your on one of the two end seats that way you can swivel your body and put your board up on the ski rests without upsetting the people sat next to you.
Rich
Posted: 18 February 2011 09:07 PM
Thanks for the advice, Rich.
Can anyone tell me if there are any disadvantages to a board that is too soft and flexy, besides that it’s slow? I don’t mind slow at all, but I was just wondering if that’s the only issue.
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