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Absolute newb, rent? Or buy board?

8K views 57 replies 14 participants last post by  tony477g 
#1 ·
Ive only gone snowboarding once and wasn't very good. This year though i plan on taking a lesson to get the basics down quicker. I could get down the hill i just couldnt turn :dizzy: I was also on a black diamond, Imagine that. Anyway I have three options with the board. Rent which would be $35 everytime i go. Buy a cheaper board considering im new, but i'd have to have it for a while and in the long run it'll probably just sit there. Or just go out and buy a board $350 and up and have that one for a very long time. I already have boots I just need the board and bindings.
 
#2 · (Edited)
The "Vet's" here will no doubt tell you this with better detail & reasoning than I can, but rent a board or buy? The Very First thing you should be shelling out money for is boots!!!!

You can get by just fine on a rental board for a while, but good fitting boots will make ALL the difference in comfort and ability to stay strapped in & on the hill for longer periods. Which will also help with skills progression. Rental boots typically SUCK! It's hard to focus on what you're learning and applying good technique when your feet are "Killing You"!

Jm2c!
 
#4 ·
Ive only gone snowboarding once and wasn't very good. This year though i plan on taking a lesson to get the basics down quicker. I could get down the hill i just couldnt turn :dizzy:

I already have boots I just need the board and bindings.
Fuck!! Next time maybe I should read the whole post a little more carefully, eh? DUHHH!!! (...need a really good "Dumb Ass" smiley here!!)

I did get the part about you planning to take a lesson, which is why I didn't mention it, but Lamps is absolutely correct,.. Money spent on lessons is your best investment in the beginning!!! Pays tons in dividends!
 
#5 ·
A lot of places will have a deal on lift ticket, lessons, and rentals for not much more than the price of a lift ticket. Go that way for a few days at least and then make a decision.

You really are best off buying something used for $200 or so as a first board. After the first season resell it for nearly what you bought it for, and then buy yourself something fancier.

I know too many people that bought a Lib Tech T.Rice Pro as their first board. Without ever really being on the snow... :dunno:
 
#6 · (Edited)
you could definitely get a used setup that is a few years old and wont run you much more than the price of a few rentals.

I was just at my local shop over the weekend and they had some used beginner setups for like 75$. find a shop that does gear swaps and you will def be able to find something as good as if not better than a rental setup.

edit: or you could just browse ur local craigslist for snowboarding gear. maybe you will luck out and get one of those moms cleaning out the house who puts up "nice snowboard for sale. there's a weird eagle painted on it - $100." that is if TimmyTard hasn't already jacked it. Search for his thread. he posts good deals he finds on craig's list.

case and point -
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/spo/3467409003.html
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/spo/3412600523.html
 
#7 · (Edited)
Another option is a seasonal lease

There's nothing wrong about buying a high end board....it will kick your ass, take you for a ride and perhaps end up with some medical bills....but if you stay with it perhaps you'll be a better rider for it.

I recommend a used twin intermediate/advanced board...so you can learn switch while ur learning. Then it can be your rock, loaner, backup, or give away for stokage points board,
 
#8 ·
...I recommend a used twin intermediate/advanced board...so you can learn switch while ur learning. Then it can be your rock, loaner, backup, or give away for stokage points board,
:thumbsup::thumbsup: I like that idea!! A little "Snow Karma"!!!
 
#10 ·
My problem with buying used is that I'm not sure what to look for in a board to see if its good. each time I go those $35 will make a nice dent in my wallet after going a few times. Im also really short at 5'5'' and 125 lbs most everything for sale on craigslist is a 150 plus. Which the guy helping me buy stuff at a local shop told me not to get anything bigger than 150.
 
#11 ·
i mean it really depends on what you want. if you just want like an in between freestyle board then it just look into some of your options and go for something that is somewhat flexible but not a super noodle.

honestly, a softer board might be decent for you because it will be more forgiving.

best bet is to figure out the size that you need first. then go from there.

if you think that you might progress quickly then maybe Wrath's idea of doing a seasonal rent would be a good call... again it's up to you.
 
#16 ·
This is what they told me, sounds pretty good? or should i just buy that board and sell it at the end of the season? Its $200 to rent "You would keep the board for the season and bring it back at the end. The board is an Arbor System Rental board which is the same board as the Arbor Formula but with a really plain graphic. The bindings are either Flux P15 Bindings or Burton Freestyles. We have a lot of different boots from 32, Burton, Ride, and DC. Questions are always welcome now worries. Hopefully this helps."
 
#17 ·
So ive been thinking about it and renting is just looking less and less likely. $200 is quite a bit of money to spend on something that I'm just going to give back. Plus if i break something they'll probably charge me to fix it. In reality money isnt a problem for me, I have about 2500 dollars to spend. I'd rather not spend 1000 on a board just yet until i know what i really want it for, but i do want to buy a really good board and bindings and be able to use it for a while.

Heres the resort i will be snowboarding at Brian Head | Welcome to Brian Head Resort, Southern Utah's BEST place to play

I want a board that will help me get down the hill, park and stuff like that will come later on so I'm not too worried about a board that will be able to do that. So would i be looking at an all mountain board, or something else? whats the difference between freestyle and freeride?
 
#19 ·
Look on Ebay for a board/binding setup....my 1st board was a Burton Indie I got off eBay for like 150 with bindings and boots and is still in decent shape 6-7 years later as my rock board. Dont get boots online like I did though, go to the shop and try on every pair of boots and buy the one that fits the best, regardless of price.

Granted if I were just getting into snowboarding now, reverse camber/hybrid camber would be my pick. It will save you some edge catches and make learning not quite as painful....then again if you wanna build your character you can learn like the rest of us did on plain ol camber and not being able to move the next day :laugh:
 
#20 ·
What does the snow report mean? So to make things a bit easier buy a reverse camber/hybrid. Ya I mean I've gone once and used the cheap rental they gave me, the only parts of my body I couldnt move the next day were my arms and sitting on my tailbone was killer!
 
#21 ·
I would not spend over 400 for a beginner board. And before you worry about advanced tech I would go for an all mountain type of board because you need to get the basics of riding down before you even think of hitting the park.

This is a good website for discounted gear. http://www.the-house.com/snbd.html


As others have said boots are the most important.

I hate rental boards but unless you are sure that snowboarding is something that you will do on a regular basis every season then you should rent in the beginning.
 
#28 · (Edited)
I would not spend over 400 for a beginner board.

This is a good website for discounted gear. On Sale Snowboards 40% Off Free Shipping

.
Uhhhh $400 beginner board... where? Don't think you will find too many $400 beginner boards out there.

also, the house isnt a good discounted gear site. departmentofgoods.com is ok but really it's just the House's super leftover shit and they really don't even have a ton right now.

seriously, just get a decent used in between - park/all mountain - board. You don't want super flexy and you def don't want super stiff to learn on.

Oh and please don't buy Burton Freestyles. I can't think of a shittier binding. serious junk.

How much do you weigh and what size boots?
 
#23 ·
You can def buy a beginner board thats on sale from last season or season before....

The house snowboards
Evo
Proboardshop

When i began i bought a board from previous season off of a local seller on ebay: snowdealsnow.com and spent $200

Most snowboard places listed give u discount lift coupons from liftopia....

If u plan on going a bunch of times add up ur rental fees and see how much it would be and if it equals a board n bindings then go buy them instead!!! Boots are the most important tho!

But def lessons....

I never took lessons but i was good w polymetrics and balance and aerobics bc of playin soccer for the last 20yrs and inline aggressive skating for 5.....

I wish i took a lesson or two to brush up basics instead of trial by error but thats what youtube is for now (yes i watch videos on HOW TO to get techniques down and practice in my house w jumping and balance!!!)
 
#29 ·
An all mountain board would provide u w more stability to get ur turning down w balance and precision IMO...whats ur hght/wght?

No need to buy a 2013 $400 board...buy urself a last season or two season ago board...or even a lightly used board....its already broken in....

My first board was an all mountain now i have a park and an all mountain board
 
#33 ·
Reason why I want to go 2013 is because I'd rather shop local. Gives some business to the local shop and can actually see the product in hand, whether they have older stuff is up to the business. I'd rather go in having some idea of boards I want to see rather then ask the rep what board he thinks I should get
 
#34 · (Edited)
so you're looking at like a 140-150 cm board depending on the type, anddd with size 7 feet you may also need a narrow... blehhhh idk man that's going to be tough especially if you don't want to use craigslist or anything like that.

and honestly, don't go 2013. it will be an enormous waste of money since you will most likely be buying brand new.

i think something like this would be perfect for you starting out...

http://reading.craigslist.org/for/3465187791.html

this is just an example of what you can find most likely on craigslist near you.

good luck!
 
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