Seriously why do people put these on? They all look ugly and I just don't understand why anyone would need one? Surely it's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist??
I think the real question is "Why the fuck do you care what someone else does or doesn't have on their snowboard?". It's all a matter of personal preference and opinion. I can ride with one or without. My preference is to have one if the topsheet of the board is a slick finish. If it's more of a matte finish, then I don't find it necessary. Point is, why care? Just go ride.
I think the real question is "Why the fuck do you care what someone else does or doesn't have on their snowboard?". It's all a matter of personal preference and opinion. I can ride with one or without. My preference is to have one if the topsheet of the board is a slick finish. If it's more of a matte finish, then I don't find it necessary. Point is, why care? Just go ride.
Hey sorry, I didn't wish to cause offence and I didn't realise it was such a touchy subject. Stick whatever you like on your board, it's yours I just don't really get the need for them. I've never missed not having one. I guess I'm curious if people put them on out of an actual need, or if they just put them on out of habit/accessorising. Actually I agree, it's a pointless thread, I don't care enough about the answer to upset anyone over it.
For the record, I never suggested anyone shouldn't be using them. Though I do think they spoil the aesthetics of the board. Like everything else that's just a tradeoff I guess. The question was merely a curiosity that should have stayed in my head, or better answered by trying one myself. My apologies. I have zero problem with this thread being deleted.
One of the wisest pieces of advice I ever got when buying a board is worry about how it rides, not how it looks. If you are actually using it, who cares anyway? It should be covered in snow.
Funny, though, the first SERIOUS board I bought (after half a season with my Sports Authority beginner package) was mostly because of how it looked. A now-orphaned Dynastar Karma, made during the one or two years they were sponsoring the Olympic snowboard team. I looked at it and fell in love...and it was and end-of-season markdown from $650 to $275. How could I resist? But I'd only been riding one season...turned out this board was one of the "flagship" serious big mountain boards. Stiff as a piece of granite...so fast, especially compared to my cheap Liquid (K2) beginner, that I nearly shit my pants the first time riding it. But man, it forced me to learn quick! And I felt kewl because everywhere I took it, people would ask me about it. Loved that board. I still have it, but haven't ridden it since I got my Never Summer Titan. The last year they made that one, too. I have a knack for buying one-season models.
I am actually seriously considering getting a stomp pad to see the added advantage when getting off lift, or gliding my way to the queue up for the chairlifts. I have no issues with egos.
I have a clear one. I use it because my deck has a slick finish and If the lift is busy and some scrub is getting squirrely off the lift I'd rather not worry about my leg flying off as I have to dodge people. If anyone wants to hate on me for having one, they can kiss my ass. Too many egos on the mountain.
Ok, I really don't think this needs to be an ego thing. If something's useful to you great no harm in that, my doubt was in the difference that they make. I obviously worded my post badly in general. Clearly people feel they are strongly beneficial and that's cool with me.
In a bit to try and bring this back to a positive thread, perhaps people that don't use them could offer tips/techniques on how they manage without them?
My board has a slippery top and it's not uncommon to have to unstrap a push through deep powder for a little ways to get setup for big natural features drops ect......
If you don't need one good for you....do you seriously care what your board looks like....are you showing it off to people in the parking lot or something?
I ride my board with the goal of thrashing it to pieces
Stomp pads are for newbs that can't balance on just the front foot if necessary. I used to ride with one and I wouldn't slip if I had one. I rarely slip but sometimes do. I just don't like the way they look and I don't slip much. I don't like stickers and all that either, but to each there own.
Virus is starting to put this into some of their boards... Supposed to be 1.6x the strength of kevlar. Used on the mars rovers, F1, and other money is no object applications.
I like stomp pads...the other day I didn't feel like strapping it just to do one quick green run on the way to the lodge pub, so I did it one foot...stomp pad made all the difference since my top sheet is slick as shit. Do I need it to get off a lift? No... But I like having one the other times you have to ride one foot. I would rather not destroy my knees in a one-foot wipe out and any little bit helps.
Things I think look totally stupid in comparison to a stomp pad:
- tons of stickers (are you sponsered? No?... Then quit that shit)
- giant headphones (in-helmet or in-ear or get lost. You're not spinning vinyl on the hill DJ, you look like an idiot)
- long baggy hoodies, shirts, jackets, etc... Just looks terrible
- GoPro on top of your helmet? You look like a retarded teletubby.. buy a Contour
I have a Sessions Mob Stripe jacket; the collar has pockets on both sides for headphones, like the Skull Candy discs that fit in helmets...add a little 4 watt amp and they kick ass, are invisible, don't get yanked out of your ears, and have a remote for vol and pause/play/skip.
I agree with just about anything regarding the long baggy clothes. Ugh.
But the comment about the GoPro is just stupid. It is a GREAT camera, and just because you like the shape of the Contour, you still have a the protrusion on your helmet. And not everybody uses the GoPro on their helmet, or even on the mountain. Mine has come in damned handy while surfing and diving. The Contour might be all you want/need, but the GoPro still sets the standard. I don't care what it looks like...I can't see it while I'm riding.
You're way too hung up on how you LOOK. I could give a shit what the GoPro looks like on top of my helmet, I don't see it. I prefer to be able to see the HD vids at the end of day out.
You're missing the whole point. This thread is about stomp pads and the OPs opinion that they are stupid. My point is that lots of things are stupid to different people. I think you look like an idiot with a GoPro on your head, you think I'm stupid for caring how that looks. The whole point of it all is that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and really... who gives a f*ck
sometimes I expect people to dig a little deeper into my comments, but I guess I shouldn't expect much on a internet forum these days
Not true. I said they were ugly not stupid. But also questioned if they are that helpful (enough to actually bother sticking one on your board).
My top-sheet offers zero grip but I'm pretty sure that as well as putting my foot against the binding (as mentioned by others) I also hang the toe or heel of my boot (depending on which way I'm urning) very slightly over the edge of the board and that offers a surprising amount of grip. Certainly enough to get off the lift, steer around people and stop ok.
Agree GoPros look dorky on a helmet too btw. I still use one from time to time though... though my beef with them is more that it's actually pretty difficult to get useable footage from them than anything
You don't care how you look? Of course you do, otherwise you wouldn't need to record yourself in 1080p so you can watch yourself over and over again at a later date. You can't get much more into yourself than that. It's ok to admit that you do care about how you look.... You just have really bad taste, that's a whole different thing.
Oh and when GoPros first came out and everyone was wearing them On their heads, I was the guy who said "that looks completely stupid, I'll wait for someone else to come out with a better option" ....and low and behold.. It didn't take too long.
Someday everyone will be as awesome as you! Keep thinkin' that!
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