NEED ADVICE. TIME IS RUNNING OUT!
Posted: 23 February 2011 04:50 AM
I am new to snowboarding. I am 5’9 180lbs. I got anxious and purchased a used 2010 LibTech T.Rice 157 and 2011 Union Force bindings, which I soon began to regret, due to the board’s stiffness. I searched the net and found a 2011 Rossignol Taipan 158 for less than what I paid for the used T.Rice. I have a 2 day trip coming up this weekend and I don’t know which board to take. Time is running out. The dilemmas is I’m pretty sure eventually I will get the hang of the T.Rice, but I think I would enjoy the trip a lot more on the Taipan. But if I use the Taipan of course I cannot return it and I can only afford to keep one board. I need to either sell the T.Rice or return the Taipan. I don’t know what to do. Both boards get excellent reviews and most of the advice I have received is to keep the T.Rice it’s head and shoulders above the Taipan. But what’s the point of beginner, intermediate, and experts boards if you will eventually get the hang of whatever your riding. I don’t know. I’m very confused. Any advice before this Friday would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post.
Posted: 23 February 2011 08:12 AM
Does anyone have any experience with the Taipan? Pros, Cons? Did you like it?
Posted: 23 February 2011 09:51 AM
I would say its easy to tell someone to buy an advanced expert board over the internet.
Its a lot harder to ride it down the hill.
If you are an adult, and its your dollar/ pound I say screw this “grow into” crap. I say buy gear you will grow out of, not into.
Posted: 23 February 2011 02:19 PM
Take the easy board.
Do as follows: surf in to youtube.com and checkout from videoparts from TB5 or TB 6.
Ask yourself: do I ride this hard?
If the answer is no. Then go with the softer board.
Why? Well you just seen riding from about 95. Their boards were stiff like boiled pasta, same for the bindings and boots. So. You can do a lot with a soft board. A lot more than most of us can think of actually.
So on a two day trip it´s no risk that a guy that´s new to snowboarding grow out of a board (any board).
I rave about my board here beacuse it´s rather stiff and agressive. Well I like it that way beacuse I come from a skiing racing background and started carving gates and boarder X tracks pretty soon.
But modern all mountain riding contains so much more and there is no need for you to take the long way by learning everything on a stiff board. Go for the softer one.
And rember: it´s you who ride the board. Not the oposite. You might hear that a expert board can trow big S 10´s surf pow and so on. Sure. But can you? The board is just the tool for the rider. The riders who ride the TR board to it´s full potential would rock on the Taipan as well.
Sell the TR board. It´s a very popular board. I am sure there will be no problem at al. If you live in Europe I actually knows a guy who would like to buy it right now.
Posted: 23 February 2011 03:49 PM
No. I wish. I live in the states. I guess what surprised me were so many experienced riders telling me to go with the t.rice, saying it’s not that aggressive. This confused me because for one, that is contrary to everything I have researched on the web and secondly, I don’t want to hurt myself or harm another snowboarder/skier while “getting the hang of” the more experienced board. I think some guys get caught up wanting to look cool with a pro riders’ board. I on the other hand I want to actually enjoy riding and something tells me I would enjoy the softer taipan. Thanks guys. I am putting the 2010 t.rice up for sale, which I never should have purchased in the first place!
Posted: 23 February 2011 04:25 PM
Experienced riders tend to give advice to beginners in a very wrong way. They don´t remember their level at the beginning. Soo they give to much of advanced advice.
Tell us how you did like the Taipan!
Posted: 23 February 2011 04:48 PM
And that’s what was so surprising! Not one experienced rider suggested to keep the beginner’s board. Not one person expressed that maybe I would “enjoy” snowboarding on the taipan more, which I I thought was the reason for getting out there in the first place. Everybody just kept saying how better the t.rice was, which was strange advice coming from an experienced rider. If the board is that good then maybe it would end up riding me. And that does not sound like enjoyable. I should have learned from my past experience. I let my cousin talk me into buying a 2008 gsx-r 750 for my 1st motorcycle. Needless to say multiple 3rd degree burns and 1 totaled bike later, I regret that decision! This is not that extreme, but it goes back to the fact that experienced riders don’t always give the most sound advice. Thanks again guys.
Posted: 23 February 2011 06:18 PM
Crash, it looks like you are making the best choice.
Far too many people tell everyone they “need” xyz because it is the best.
The Taipan is rated by thegoodride as a best pick board for a intermediate rider.
It would be great to hear how the board works out for you ....
Posted: 23 February 2011 06:43 PM
Go for it Crash.
I often bought something and after that I knew more/better what I wanted and was looking for or should be looking for.
Reading reviews and getting good advise is 1 thing but your own experience is also as important.
For me that was the same when buying my first computer, my first guitar , my first snowboard ...
Posted: 23 February 2011 06:50 PM
Thanks. I’ll let you guys know how everything works out after my trip
Posted: 01 March 2011 01:06 AM
OMG! And I don’t think that’s a manly term, but OMG! My 2 day trip was so awesome, I didn’t want to leave! I definitely made the right decision with the Rossi Taipan! After about 3 runs on the beginner slope, something CLICKED! I had it and I knew it! The communication between me(my feet) and the board increased 200%! It’s hard to explain, but I could interpret the info the board was giving me and make the proper adjustments with ease! I’m still stoked! Look how many exclamation points I’m using! To make a long story short, by the end of the 2nd day, I was carving on blue runs and I’m not talking about doing the falling leaf. Not only was I carving on blue runs, but more importantly, I was carving with confidence. Next season couldn’t come any sooner! Thanks guys for the great beginner advice. I think this decision will make for a great foundation to continue to improve upon.
Posted: 01 March 2011 09:29 AM
That’s rad. Sounds like the combination of the right board and new board confidence. It’s definitely the perfect board to help you progress.
Rich
(good use of my 1000th post!)
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