I am very confused!!!

Posted: 25 January 2010 11:47 PM

Hi,

I really need your help, I’ve been snowboarding for a few years and I’ve decided to get a board I been talking to loads of people and been in to TSA quite a few times and all I get if different info and iam really confussed. I recently found your site and its great loads of good info from people who have ridden the boards and they know what there taking about, not some half wit suggesting the most expensive board!
but I still really need you help:

I am looking for:

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

Measurements:

Body height: 6.2ft
Weight: 69kgs
Shoe size: 10 uk

Riding level:

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

Riding style: (multiple selections allowed)

[*] Piste [ 35 ] %
[*] Powder [ 30 ] % (when I get the chance)
[*] Park [ 35 ] %
[ ] Rails [ ] %

Price Limit: [ 600 ] £

I would like a good quality board that helps me to progress to the next level but will last a few years, I have told the ride clash was good and so to the burton blunt. I not to fussed about burton it seems every time I go everyone has a burton board, after reading your top ten all mountain board I like the look of the ride concept ul or the k2 Zero?

I really need you help!! I go in two weeks and i really want my first board!!!

Cheers

Olly

Posted: 26 January 2010 12:30 AM

Hi Olly,

Yeah it’s a confusing world out there! And shops aren’t always the biggest help. They’ll try and sell you what’s in stock!

You’re in a kind of unfortunate realm of being quite tall and light with ish large feet, fortunately I think you’ll be cool riding boards between 157 and 160cms. The K2 Zero is an absolutely brilliant board.. and even though it’s really advanced, it’s quite subtle and really progressive. I found the ride was really surfy and pumpy… not your usual top of the range Carbon reinforced ironing board! Unfortunately the waist is going to be a little too narrow for your feet and they don’t make a wide version. Fortunately K2 do make the Slayblade which is fairly similar except for the fact it has no camber… which should make it even more forgiving. I think the 159 is as big as you should go with the wide, although it’s a top of the range board I think you’ll be just fine on it. You could also look at the K2 Podium wide 158, which would save you a few pennies. If you’re thinking that you’re going to ride more and more park then you could look at the Ride Antic 158 wide.

I’d go for a board with a stiffness of between 5 & 6 out of 10. Waist between 25.5 and 26.2 ish cms and length around the 158cm mark (because you’re quite light). Look for a directional shape or directional twin, the latter if you’re more interested in freestyle than powder.

Have a look at the boards I’ve suggested and post back your thoughts.

Cheers

Rich

Posted: 28 January 2010 01:46 AM

Hi Rich,

Thats been helpful, I like the look of the slayblade I’ve heard good things about as I think its won a few awards but I have also read that it not very durable? have you heard anything? also the podium sounds good as well would you have any preference given my ability?

Thanks for the suggesting on the wide I didn’t think I’d need one but it something I’d never asked!

Could you suggest a good set of bindings? this is again is confusing me, I have a friend who’s has some flows but I never liked them, would it make a big difference to which board I choose?

Thanks for all your help,

Olly

Posted: 28 January 2010 02:02 AM

Hi Olly,

If you look at our basics guide you’ll see a section on board width. For a stable ride that you can carve hard, you want a board with enough width… if you’ve got more than 1-2cm overhand on each edge then you might want to look at a wide.

THere are some people that say K2 durabilility isn’t quite as good as some other brands, but Tom our head of testing has done 3 months in Argentina and 2 months in Verbier on his K2 Believer and he says it’s holding up really well. I can see that the cap style tip and tails might be slightly more suseptable to a delam, but they’re good solid boards.. and you always have the warranty!

As far as bindings go. I’m not a big fan of Flows, I like to be able to crank up my bindings straps independently, so they’re not for me, but there are a lot of good riders who sware by them… it’s personal preference. For a good dolid binding, I’d look at the Salomon Code, K2 Formula and Drakes Czar (you’ll need XLs o the Drake.. and make sure your boots aren’t too wide for the baseplate). I think these bindings represent the best value for money at the moment… are light and have good functions. If you’re worried about findings spairs, the best option is the Burton Custom binding.

Rich

Posted: 01 February 2010 04:46 PM

Cheers rich,

I’ve had a look at the bindings, I realy like the look of the drakes and everyone I’ve spoken to hasn’t got a bad word to say and the customer service seem great. I was recommend the burton missions and I can get a good price on them so we’ll have to see?

Iam pretty set on the slayblade but its quite £££ and I a little worried that it might be too much board for me? can this happen. I’ve been looking at the podium and that still seems a good board and but a bit more reasonable, so is there any reason I should spend the extra?

Thanks so much for the help, and your time.

Olly

Posted: 02 February 2010 11:56 PM

The Harshmellow foam damping under the bindings is pretty cool, it’s one of the aspects of the Zero that I really liked. But I think you’ll be absolutely fine on the Podium for all mountain riding. Carbon pop and triax glass, just the job for progressing your riding.

Posted: 02 February 2010 11:58 PM

Oh and check your boots in a set of Drakes… they’re quite narrow, I had to shave a little of the baseplate on the instep to fit my Vans in. But damn are they comfy!