Advice on boards? - Snowboarding Forum

nejflow · 01-09-2012, 12:20 PM

Female @ 5'4 & 238lbs
8.5 in Mens (for the wide width)
Mostly groomed trails
26 years old
Under $500
Mountain CreeK NJ, Mount Peter NY, Hunter NY, Windham NY and ungroomed hills in local Parks.

I am new to snowboarding. I have been snowboarding twice, once in Dec and a few days ago. I rented equipment once from the resort and the other time I rented from my local ski shop. For the rest of this season I do plan to rent. I am hoping to buy what I will need when the season is over because prices tend to drop. The ski shop said for my weight i would need a 160cm board but they gave me a 151cm board which I used and did pretty well with. The ski shop says 160cm is a lot of board for a beginner and would be too hard to control.

I was also informed by my local ski shop to make sure to invest in a really good pair of boots, so that will probably be the first thing I go and try on in store and purchase. I am not in a rush to buy a board, but I am taking my time and trying to research as much as possible.

The shops do not really want to recommend boards unless you are intending to buy that day because of how many people get the info they need and then purchase it cheaper online. So I figured I should start asking other boarders on some forums. Renting from the ski shop was great but eventually it will become costly and I am always afraid of it getting damaged or stolen and then me having to cover the cost. I am hoping to cut down some future costs by planning to by a board in the near future.

info or advice is greatly appreciated!

redlude97 · 01-09-2012, 12:48 PM

Finding a good setup for that height/weight will be somewhat hard to do. Something in the 160 range would be ideal but you will probably have too narrow of a stance and it would be very hard to learn on. Get something in the 152ish range that is a stiffer all mountain/freeride board so it don't feel really soft. Something like a Ride Antic/highlife or a Neversummer SL.

nejflow · 01-09-2012, 01:02 PM

Yes you are right, I already know it will be difficult. The ski shop gave me a Salomon 151 board for my rental. I don't know what kind it was though sadly but it felt way better than what I was given at the resort. I did find it a little harder to initiate & control my heel-stop. I don't really need anything too aggressive, I don't plan to do any tricks, rails or pipes. Just cruising the groomers at a steady pace. Not too fast either, possibly some ungroomed hills at some local parks. I won't be on the slopes everyday either, I assume maybe 3 times a season at the resorts and then the rest of the time at the park weather permitting.

linvillegorge · 01-09-2012, 01:06 PM

Most shops still use the old height bullshit to determine board size.

It's gonna be awfully tough to get your stance narrow enough. Even set as narrow as possible and flipping the discs on the bindings to go even narrower may still be too wide.

nejflow · 01-09-2012, 01:17 PM

Well, finding something that's not perfect but works would still alleviate the worry and tension I have while renting from places. What about the Burton ME Nug 150? It was also recommended to me since it's design is to be ridden shorter.

The first resort rental gave me a Rossignol trick stick 145cm. (LOL) It was in horrible condition and hadn't been waxed in a long time. The length and weight of that board however were fine, I could toe-stop and heel-stop just fine. Not to mention I was on ice (it rained the day before) Now when I was riding the Salomon 151 the ride itself was very smooth (the fresh waxing perhaps?) But the heel-stop was a harder to do. The snow conditions were perfect though.

nejflow · 01-10-2012, 07:15 AM

I got in contact with someone from my local Burton store on the store's facebook page and they suggested the Burton Feather 152W. What do you guys think of that?

bseracka · 01-10-2012, 10:35 AM

The Feather is really designed as an entry level beginer board, so it's really soft. In a 152 it will most likely be way to soft for you. I hate to suggest a proprietary system, but Burton's channel system (ics) boards may allow you to ride a longer board with a narrower stance.

nejflow · 01-10-2012, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bseracka

The Feather is really designed as an entry level beginer board, so it's really soft. In a 152 it will most likely be way to soft for you. I hate to suggest a proprietary system, but Burton's channel system (ics) boards may allow you to ride a longer board with a narrower stance.

Can you explain the burton channel system (ics) a little bit? I tried to google it but I am not even sure what I'm looking for.

jdang307 · 01-10-2012, 03:10 PM

Burton boards have a proprietary mounting system that instead of seeing 2 lines of holes running parallel you see just a slit where the bindings go.

Possibly look at shorter but stiffer boards and go from there IMO.

If you did ok with the 151 start looking around that size (even a little higher). Mens boards are usually stiffer too.

EatRideSleep · 01-10-2012, 03:59 PM

nejflow, check out shayboarder's reviews if you haven't already. She rides and reviews a LOT of men's boards. I think her site would be a good resource for you for board options.

01-09-2012, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
nejflow Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 7	Advice on boards? Female @ 5'4 & 238lbs 8.5 in Mens (for the wide width) Mostly groomed trails 26 years old Under $500 Mountain CreeK NJ, Mount Peter NY, Hunter NY, Windham NY and ungroomed hills in local Parks. I am new to snowboarding. I have been snowboarding twice, once in Dec and a few days ago. I rented equipment once from the resort and the other time I rented from my local ski shop. For the rest of this season I do plan to rent. I am hoping to buy what I will need when the season is over because prices tend to drop. The ski shop said for my weight i would need a 160cm board but they gave me a 151cm board which I used and did pretty well with. The ski shop says 160cm is a lot of board for a beginner and would be too hard to control. I was also informed by my local ski shop to make sure to invest in a really good pair of boots, so that will probably be the first thing I go and try on in store and purchase. I am not in a rush to buy a board, but I am taking my time and trying to research as much as possible. The shops do not really want to recommend boards unless you are intending to buy that day because of how many people get the info they need and then purchase it cheaper online. So I figured I should start asking other boarders on some forums. Renting from the ski shop was great but eventually it will become costly and I am always afraid of it getting damaged or stolen and then me having to cover the cost. I am hoping to cut down some future costs by planning to by a board in the near future. info or advice is greatly appreciated!

01-09-2012, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
linvillegorge Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Evergreen, CO Posts: 4,499	Most shops still use the old height bullshit to determine board size. It's gonna be awfully tough to get your stance narrow enough. Even set as narrow as possible and flipping the discs on the bindings to go even narrower may still be too wide. __________________ "People say that marijuana smoking is going to get in the way of my career. I say to them that on the contrary, my fighting career is getting in the way of my marijuana smoking." -Nick Diaz

01-10-2012, 10:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
bseracka Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 592	The Feather is really designed as an entry level beginer board, so it's really soft. In a 152 it will most likely be way to soft for you. I hate to suggest a proprietary system, but Burton's channel system (ics) boards may allow you to ride a longer board with a narrower stance. Last edited by bseracka; 01-10-2012 at 01:07 PM.

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01-09-2012, 12:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
redlude97 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle/Portland Posts: 993	Finding a good setup for that height/weight will be somewhat hard to do. Something in the 160 range would be ideal but you will probably have too narrow of a stance and it would be very hard to learn on. Get something in the 152ish range that is a stiffer all mountain/freeride board so it don't feel really soft. Something like a Ride Antic/highlife or a Neversummer SL.

01-09-2012, 01:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
nejflow Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 7	Yes you are right, I already know it will be difficult. The ski shop gave me a Salomon 151 board for my rental. I don't know what kind it was though sadly but it felt way better than what I was given at the resort. I did find it a little harder to initiate & control my heel-stop. I don't really need anything too aggressive, I don't plan to do any tricks, rails or pipes. Just cruising the groomers at a steady pace. Not too fast either, possibly some ungroomed hills at some local parks. I won't be on the slopes everyday either, I assume maybe 3 times a season at the resorts and then the rest of the time at the park weather permitting.

01-09-2012, 01:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
nejflow Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 7	Well, finding something that's not perfect but works would still alleviate the worry and tension I have while renting from places. What about the Burton ME Nug 150? It was also recommended to me since it's design is to be ridden shorter. The first resort rental gave me a Rossignol trick stick 145cm. (LOL) It was in horrible condition and hadn't been waxed in a long time. The length and weight of that board however were fine, I could toe-stop and heel-stop just fine. Not to mention I was on ice (it rained the day before) Now when I was riding the Salomon 151 the ride itself was very smooth (the fresh waxing perhaps?) But the heel-stop was a harder to do. The snow conditions were perfect though.

01-10-2012, 07:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
nejflow Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 7	I got in contact with someone from my local Burton store on the store's facebook page and they suggested the Burton Feather 152W. What do you guys think of that?

01-10-2012, 03:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
jdang307 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,063	Burton boards have a proprietary mounting system that instead of seeing 2 lines of holes running parallel you see just a slit where the bindings go. Possibly look at shorter but stiffer boards and go from there IMO. If you did ok with the 151 start looking around that size (even a little higher). Mens boards are usually stiffer too.

01-10-2012, 03:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
EatRideSleep Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 673	nejflow, check out shayboarder's reviews if you haven't already. She rides and reviews a LOT of men's boards. I think her site would be a good resource for you for board options.