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Trying to find the perfect board

3K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  GTDad 
#1 ·
Sup y'all!

So, I have been boarding for 3 holidays now (1 week of lessons and 2 weeks of going with friends), and am thinking about buying my own snowboard. I have ridden a rocker beginner board 2 times and my last holiday I asked for a camber board. I actually really liked the camber board, how it held an edge and learning how to carve. These rental boards are often really flexible, which is something I do not really like, when I try to get some speed down the hill they tend to be very bumpy and unstable. Is this true for every flexible board at speed?

I went to a snowboard store a few days ago to ask for some advice on what I should buy and what a complete set would cost. Basically, I just want to learn how to carve really well and learn how to get stable at high speeds. Just hammering down the hill and blasting through powder is what I would really like to be able to do and which I feel I already did kinda well, I do not feel a lot for the kickers in the funpark or jibbing down a hill. I will probably pick that up later, when I get comfortable cruising down groomers at decend speed, but it will never be my priority. The shopkeeper said it would be a good idea to buy a stiffer board in that case (which I already thought of myself).

So, when I searched for boards I often found freestyle all-mountain boards, a lot of which are still quite flexible. I found the Jones Mountain twin and the Capita Mercury, both relatively stiff and reviews saying both of them do quite well at speed and powder. Since I am still in my beginner-phase, is it a good idea to buy such a snowboard? I kinda want to keep the board as long as possible, learning how to become really good at it and even when I'm nearing intermediate skills the board can still excite me. That said, I am planning to go twice a year on a winter holiday, because I really enjoy it! Do you guys have tips or a better choice of board for the kind of riding I'm going to do?

Also, a friend of mine has these Flow rear-entry bindings (an older version), and he really likes it. They seem really nice, just stepping in, closing the panel and setting of so fast. The shop I went to had the newest version of those bindings, quite expensive but they seem really good, do you guys have experience with these?

I look forward to hearing from you!

Mohawkje
 
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#3 ·
There isnt really anything wrong with getting what most consider an "advanced" snowboard at your level. The learning curve might be a little steeper but you definitely wont outgrow your board. However, I think there are some other options out there that will shortne the learning curve without really sacrfifccing the time you'llbe able to effectively use the board. Also I wouldnt get too hung up on camber, a cambered rental board has about the same level of edge grup and precision as a mediocre full rocker retail board. Keep that in mind as you look at my forethcoming list.

Arbor Coda, Yes Typo, K2 TurboDream, Ride Berzerker, Rome Mtn Division or Agent Rocker, Slash Straight, Capita Outerspace Living, Salomon Ultimate Ride, Niche Aether, or a Flow Drifter. You will be happy on any of those. Read up and come back with a few that peak your interest and I can help narrow it down.



Very helpful.
 
#6 ·
No such thing as a perfect board. Different boards are good at different things. Some are park noodles, others are surfy pow boards. Sounds like you want a bomber. Lots of options, pretty much every company makes one.

Some to check out:
Jones Flagship
Never Summer 25 or West (Although I fly really fast on my Proto TT, but it wouldn't be the best on pow)
Burton Custom X or Flight Attendant

Those are the 3 brands I'm most familiar with but there are about 10 other great companies you could go with also.

Fuck flow bindings. Those things suck. You will get more response from a real binding. Learn to strap-in standing up and you will only save about 3 seconds using flow bindings. Get a higher end binding from Union, Burton, or Now. Personally, I like Burton bindings the best but all 3 are popular. Take a look at Burton Cartels, Malavitas, or Genesis and you will be happy. I have Malavitas and I f'ing love those things!!!

If you still aren't sure, just tell the shop guy you want to go fast. Oh and try to get a stiffer boot, don't cheap out on boots they are most important. And make damn sure the boots fit good, not too big.

That's my $0.03. Stupid inflation.
 
#7 ·
No such thing as a perfect board. Different boards are good at different things. Some are park noodles, others are surfy pow boards. Sounds like you want a bomber. Lots of options, pretty much every company makes one.

Some to check out:
Jones Flagship
Never Summer 25 or West (Although I fly really fast on my Proto TT, but it wouldn't be the best on pow)
Burton Custom X or Flight Attendant

Those are the 3 brands I'm most familiar with but there are about 10 other great companies you could go with also.
Well I will have to practice for quite some more time before I would even try to actually bomb haha, but consistent speed and stability is what I am trying to achieve in the future yeah. That Flight Attendant looks really good! I will look into that one when I get to the shop next week, thanks for the tips!
 
#9 ·
Most of us who have been riding awhile probably learned to ride on a stiff as fuck cambered board. I know I did. Yeah, it makes for some painful slams here and there, but by god it'll make you learn to ride the RIGHT way because you'll pay for getting sloppy. As you advanced, a lot of the hybrid cambers and what not do make riding more fun (I don't own a single pure cambered board right now) but when you're starting out they'll let you get away with sloppy riding technique. I'd rather learn to ride the right way first than use equipment that lets me get away with bad technique, but to each their own.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for all the input! I do realize all to well that there is no perfect board, quite a stupid idea of me to put that in the title, if there was one everyone would be riding it. It was more meant as the 'perfect' board for me to buy at this time haha. I just want a board which I can use to really learn how to ride better, I want to progress, I don't care crashing a lot to better my riding in the upcoming years. That said, I really appreciate all the input and I am going to look through all of the recommendations in the upcoming days and see if I can test ride a few at the shop.

Considering the bindings, I have no real experience in those except the few rental ones I had. Did not feel a whole lot of difference in the bindings themselves (they were all quite stiff, so I guess that is ok?), but the different boots did make a lot of difference so I am going to look for a very good fit in those and read some reviews about bindings. I read tons of reviews of different boards already, and I am somewhat sure that I will go try some medium to stiffer flex boards, but we'll see when I test ride a few of them :).
 
#15 ·
You didn't feel a whole lot of difference in the bindings. Cause bindings haven't changed at all.

They attach your feet to the board.
As long as you have proper fitting boots, for their intended purpose.

In my case hauling ass & going as big as possible.
Stiff one's.

You should buy a solid used board, there's tonnes out there.
I even have a few that would work perfectly.

Get good boots first.

And used bindings as well.
If they're all marked up, but still work perfectly, they should be good to go.
Doesn't matter which ones.

And about FLOW bindings.
Maybe 5% of the people in here use em.

But I'd say close to 75% of the guys on bomber use em.

Fruit boots carve incredible, I've only done it once.
The year before last, for 1 single run.

I thought I could lay down a huge trench with my super stiff soft boots on, riding (insert every single board I've ever owned) haha

Not even fucking close, 1 run on an alpine board, made me realize
All I've been doing is skidding around, I haven't layed a single trench in my 30 years riding.
Fo realz. Haha.

If you wanna really carve on a snowboard, it can only be in fruit boots.
No if. And, or buts, that's it.

Now if the guys that really carve on a snowboard are almost all buying FLOW bindings.
Doesn't that tell you something? It should.

I've had a few pairs of Flows over the years, liked every single pair.
The one's I've had were old, I think I've only had one pair with the ratchet adjustments.
They're way better than the old kind.

They were too big, otherwise I might still have em.

I've got a whole bunch of shiny new bindings.
They're all going up for sale.
I just made a couple pairs of Franken-bindings, made up from parts of old bindings.
My favorite parts & pieces from various bindings.
Creating a super binding, with everything I like & nothing I don't.

Spend as little money as possible on gear.
The seasons pass is key.
Doesn't matter where, even if it's indoor.
A seasons pass is a must.

That is all.


TT
 
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#16 ·
I love my Flow bindings..... Even my ancient AMP05s. I'm excited to try the NX2s I just bought. I also bought a Flow Drifter given it's multiple reviews stating it's an easy board to work and stable.

I do have an old, stiff board I'm replacing so I think I'll be basically learning to board again given the tech changes.

As for Flow bindings not being responsive, well physics dictated this to be true in early models, but enhanced tech and particularly the backing cable position have all but eliminated this. New flows are as good, or better, than ratchet bindings. Some people like to parrot what someone else said years ago, because they feel it makes them sound like an authority.
 
#17 ·
I agree with the any board is the perfect board at your stage. However, I would stay away from boards that are too stiff (someone mentions the Jones Flagship, for instance).

You want something accessible and fun that will allow you to progress. I would probably go for boards that are hybrid RCR to allow you to get into powder as well -- I would look at mid to mid-stiff flex (max a 7).

Though a rocker board (with some kind of Magnetraction-like technology) is enticing because it is more forgiving and playful it won't allow you to develop carving technique as much. A pure camber board (esp if centered) won't deliver in powder and will be catchy so a hybrid with camber between the feet will do a bit of both, I reckon.

Also, at your stage I would look at directional twin or twin shapes- learning to ride switch is a major (neurological) step to learning how to be a good rider and I wouldn't want to preclude that by getting a purely directional board (that's for a bit later- after you decide freeriding is your thing).
 
#18 ·
I agree with the any board is the perfect board at your stage. However, I would stay away from boards that are too stiff (someone mentions the Jones Flagship, for instance).



You want something accessible and fun that will allow you to progress. I would probably go for boards that are hybrid RCR to allow you to get into powder as well -- I would look at mid to mid-stiff flex (max a 7).



Though a rocker board (with some kind of Magnetraction-like technology) is enticing because it is more forgiving and playful it won't allow you to develop carving technique as much. A pure camber board (esp if centered) won't deliver in powder and will be catchy so a hybrid with camber between the feet will do a bit of both, I reckon.



Also, at your stage I would look at directional twin or twin shapes- learning to ride switch is a major (neurological) step to learning how to be a good rider and I wouldn't want to preclude that by getting a purely directional board (that's for a bit later- after you decide freeriding is your thing).


K2 simple pleasures or if you can find a k2 Carveair those boards are soooo much fun.
Designed to carve groomers , hit the pow stash's etc. a little setback and it's fun in pow:)
Yesterday I had to avoid a noob skier And did full lay down face and hands on the snow euro carve and popped it up to carver heal side.
My buddy thought I was eating it until I popped back up without stopping.
 
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