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Snowboards?
nightcrawler335
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Okay, so after realizing that I probably can't afford a motorcycle in the near future due to college tuition & living expenses, I've begun looking for another hobby to pick up when I move back to Ohio in the fall. I started snowboarding last year, went a few times, and loved it. I considered purchasing a board at the beginning of this year, but spent my tax return on other things. Anyways, I'm just wondering what people's snowboard brand preferences are, because I definitely don't know about any of them. I mean, I know names like Burton, K2, etc., but what brands are quality? I can tell you that I want an all-mountain board, preferably of length 156-160 cm (I'm about 5'11", 165 lbs.). I would obviously need boots and bindings as well, so recommendations for those are appreciated too. I won't limit myself to a specific price range, but keep in mind that I'm not a pro or anything, so I don't need the latest and greatest board out there, just a quality board that will get me down the slopes & some air 
Recommend away!
Recommend away!
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I don't know if this is still a problem these days but one thing that I used to see a lot was that places would only stock Burton bindings but the boards they carried did not always have the proper hole pattern for those bindings.
also so i asked around about boards and the best advice I got was to "buy something that works for you" so look out for demo days etc where you can ride the latest boards and find out whose boards you like and if your like me find out who makes wide boards (i'm 6'4 with size 13 feet) since overhang happens.
Another piece of advice was to just get a good lower end board (like lamar) for a season and ride it to death then after your first season upgrade (which is what i plan to do).
Snowboarding rules though!!! Luckily where I live the mountains are only 10 minutes away and the season lasts half a year.
Yeah, I've noticed that Burton boards/boots/bindings are pretty pricey. I haven't gotten around to checking out any K2 or other brands just yet. My place in Cincinnati is about 40 minutes away from some dinky little slopes in southern Indiana. They're nothing special by any means, but it's better than nothing, and I want to eventually take some trips out to Colorado and Tahoe, possibly Germany in the distant future, to do some riding.
As far as being able to afford a newbie motorcycle though, I've decided to wait simply because of the cost of insurance. I have too many other expenses to take care of, the most prominent being college tuition, that the bike can wait. Two more years and I'll be out of college debt-free except for my car loan, which isn't much at all and has a very low interest rate and will be paid off by the end of '09. So I figure I can spend upwards of $700-$900 for everything (board/bindings/boots/lift pass) with snowboarding and be okay with it since I won't have ongoing payments.
So, K2 are a brand to look at as well as Joyride being mentioned. Anyone have any other suggestions for brands, or even for specific boards?
Consider what kind of riding you enjoy most before purchasing a board. Are you a terrain park kind of guy? Half pipes, big air, that sort of thing? You'll want a smaller, more springy board. Something symmetrical so you can ride regular or switch with ease. Are you a big mountain kind of guy? Steep terrain, deep snow? You might want something with a little more length and stiffness. Something to keep you afloat on the powder. Enjoy both? There are boards for that too. Most manufacturers websites will describe what each board and binding does best.
I ride a k2, and I've never had any problems with it. If I was going to buy a new board, I would consider Neversummer. I'd probably throw Burton bindings on it, and I'm not sure what boots. You can usually find boot/binding deals through dealers.
I'm wagering you're talking about Perfect North Slopes as being your closest spot for slopes (it's a shame there aren't more spots for skiing in the Cincy area - there are a ton of hills is this 'burg). I would say Sun and Ski in Kenwood might be your best bet for local ski shops. There is also the Cincinnati Ski Club (http://www.cinski.org/); can't promise anything, but it looks like it might be something to check out as well. Can't give you personal experience on any of it though - I've not been to the slopes to ski, let alone board, for years.
Perfect North Slopes -- you got it! I'll definitely have to check out Sun & Ski in Kenwood when I get back to the 'Nati come September. Thanks for the info, I had no idea where any ski shops were in the Cincinnati area.
My first board was a vision, think it cost less than 200 and I ripped the base up on a rock in the mountains. Obviously you are going to want something that you wouldn't be too broken up about splitting in two when you hit a tree or rock.
So, your best bet is to look for something cheap (luckilly, right now is the time to buy), I personally perfer Sims if you can find anything of theirs. However I love my K2 Illusion currently. Burton has been slipping in quality lately and Forum is owned by them, and thus is victim to the same slip in quality. Be careful too since Burton does not use a standard binding mount, because they suck(j/k), but most bindings come with the proper plates now. I havn't really payed attention to cheap boards lately, but Rossignal used to provide good gear. What you should look for is a somewhat stiff board to begin with, you do not want a lot of flex if you are new to riding.
What you really want to spend your money on is a good set of bindings, mine are Ride, however Liquid, and K2 are also good brands.
Ultimately, your first board should be able to take some abuse, as you will fall often. Good luck.
Also, I'm a bit bias against Burton, I have never liked their stuff.
Also make sure your feet dont extend past the width of the board.