My (possible) first board

Getting the basics out of the way.
Weight - 170 lbs
Boot size - not 100% but I know I am no more than a 10
Riding style - beginner so groomers but I would like to have a board that will still hold up in the park when I get to the point where I feel I can comfortably go in there.
Age - 18 so not much more
budget - less than $300 for sure but I'd rather keep it closer to somewhere around $200
Your location of riding - Midwest

I have done a little research and reading and I think the Forum Recon 156 would be a good fit, but I was not sure if there was something else out there that would offer the same for cheaper or something better thats not too much more expensive?

Basically I would just like a few other suggestions to read up on them some more to make a better decision because I feel like it was too easy for me to be able to narrow things down to one board.

I read in a recent TWSnow that the Forum Recon is a good Entry level board.

[arsenic0]

300 for board? Or 300 for board boots and bindings? Having a 300 dollar board and 50 dollar boots is a bad idea..

Originally Posted by arsenic0

300 for board? Or 300 for board boots and bindings? Having a 300 dollar board and 50 dollar boots is a bad idea..

Not for a beginner, don't wanna throw too much money into a beginners setup. Didn't you damage your first board alot?

[Dawg Catcher]

Originally Posted by lonewolf99701

Not for a beginner, don't wanna throw too much money into a beginners setup. Didn't you damage your first board alot?

well seeing as he was looking at a recon which by my research is going form 180-240 you would be left with 100 if that for boots and bindings which would def suck. nothing is worse then horrid boots.

Originally Posted by Dawg Catcher

well seeing as he was looking at a recon which by my research is going form 180-240 you would be left with 100 if that for boots and bindings which would def suck. nothing is worse then horrid boots.

All in opinion, it all depends on what is more important to the rider, i myself put the boots first also, bindings second, then board on my important list. But to some people the bindings are most important, some its the board. And last years Forum Recon is lower priced then that, if thats what Fadeaway is looking at.

[arsenic0]

You should hardly be damaging your beginning board, hense why its a beginner board. You normally wont be doing giant box slides and 20 foot jumps as a "beginner"

If 300 is your total budget for everything expect to spend atleast 100ish on a good pair of new boots...

You didn't damage your first board? I wasn't talking about jumping strait to rails and boxes, there are more elements to damaging a board then jibs. Rocks, stumps, ice, other things on the ground, beginners tend to have less control of there board (hense why its a beginner) thus making it harder to avoid hitting such things on the ground. Which will damage the board, more then just the base too.

Yea sorry that was for the board as I have had a hard time finding places with a Recon for less than around $240 so if you guys know of any deals going with it for less that would be great.

Bump now that I cleared up the money issue.