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Looking for some Board Guidance

3K views 12 replies 4 participants last post by  kojack19 
#1 ·
Hi Everyone,

2 month lurker/first time poster looking for a little guidance on buying a board. Sorry for all the info but thought it would be helpful for background and also to make sure I am spending my money the right way.

I am old-42 and am 6'2 about 185 or 190 lbs size 10 boots. I snowboarded a fair amount back in the late 90s for two years (could handle all NE groomed surfaces without issues and very comfortable cruising and carving hard at speed and doing some basic jumps and tricks) with my then girlfriend now wife. I have a lot of board experience-long time surfer and as a long time skier who did some recreational racing back in the mid eighties.

After a bad fall ( put in a sled down the hill after hitting my head on NE ice), work and twins fast forward to 2012. 6 year old twin boys went snowboarding for the first time loved it and my wife wants to do nothing but go snowboarding now. I spent two days getting reacquainted with my 1999 Burton Canyon 168 and then rode a Custom X in a 160 and a Flying V Custom in 158 from the Burton Store at Stratton. Both boards felt good to me-when I got going custom x felt really good but at slower speeds it did not feel as loose as the flying V. I have some concerns about edge hold with the flying V as it is sometimes less than perfect in Vermont.

Given that it looks like I will be spending a substantial amount of time snowboarding I figured it might be a good time to look at upgrading my gear. Unlike my wife who took off like a bat out of hell our first time back, my memory of my fall is keeping me back a bit and really am looking to get my confidence back on some more user friendly gear. I was having a ball and know that we have a lot of great times in front of us so it is just going to be a day or two more before I started pushing again.

Given that much of the next few years will be a few hours of free time to ride and a few hours with the kids where I will be with them each day, most likely going fairly slowly, I was thinking that some form of a twin or directional twin with rocker or a hybrid system would be easier to ride both as I re-develop but also when I am hanging and helping the kids along. Of the boards I have researched and from the store close by where I live further south in New England, they have been recommending the flying V custom, Joystick, Never Summer Proto, Never Summer Evo and the Arbor Element RX. I can get a really good deal on some of the leftover 2012s or even some lightly used 2013 stuff but want to get what is right vs what is available.

I would appreciate any input and guidance on what your recommendations might be and thanks in advance for the help.
 
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#2 ·
Since you don't sound like a park guy I'd recommend the following from the burton line - I'm mid 40's same weight and shoe size as you, ride a lot with my kids who are 8 and 11 yrs old:

1) Custom X - high performance, great for charging hard, stiff cambered deck that will have good/best edge hold in ice. Reality check - you and your twin boys are probably going to be riding greens and blues for the next while so unless you can get out on your own a lot you won't have many chances to really open things up on this puppy, might be wasted potential, and maybe you're older and wiser now and don't plan on bombing hills like a madman anymore anyways.

2) Custom camber - a little softer, great all around board, camber shape will be good and grippy on ice. A little cheaper than the custom X too, might fit the bill without any wasted potential.

3) Custom flying V - all around board that will be more skatey and fun to ride, won't catch an edge as easily as camber. Might be a good choice for you, I ride a flying V board with my kids (Sherlock) so I can have fun working on tricks. You give up a little traction (not much) on ice.

4) Burton Antler - twin shaped flying V board with all the high tech in it, a little more fun oriented than the custom flying V. I demo'd one and really liked it, lightweight and really fun to ride. A little more expensive than the custom flying V, new board this year.

I wouldn't be too concerned about edge hold in the Flying V, it's gotten better in the last couple years and a lot of it is modifying your riding style.

Good luck, others here can comment on other manufacturers.
 
#3 ·
Since you aren't doing any sort of freestyle, you really don't need a twin unless you like to do some light freestyle or ride switch a ton.

The Burton Joystick is probably my favorite board from that brand. However, it's softer than the Custom and is a full rocker rather than a hybrid. It is a directional twin though. Very fun board to mess around on and still handles the steeper runs well. V-rocker is a pretty mellow rocker so it won't feel too loose.

If you want to look at the NS line, try and see if you can demo or get an SL.

Though the Proto CT is a twin, it will work great for your purposes so if you can get a deal on it, don't hesitate to grab it. Keep in mind that it has blunted tips. So the 157 will ride more like a longer board, but will give you the handling characteristics of a 57. Mid-flex, lively underfoot, and very snappy.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Nah, you mistake simple man for a "Know it all"
When I say "Custom" I mean the custom, not the Custom X or the V but the basic but badass custom... Although I don't think it would hurt him with his abilities (he is use to riding a giant canyon on grooms) to ride any custom. Sorry for the confusion
My bad if you were not trying to sound like a know it all, I thought you sounded like one of those people who scoffs at anyone who might re-sale a board cause they got so much money.
 
#9 ·
Nah, you mistake simple man for a "Know it all"
When I say "Custom" I mean the custom, not the Custom X or the V but the basic but badass custom... Although I don't think it would hurt him with his abilities (he is use to riding a giant canyon on grooms) to ride any custom. Sorry for the confusion
No worries. Next time I'm in Incline Village, we should ride. Loved that town when I was there couple seasons ago. I want to buy a cabin there when I retire.
 
#13 ·
Just wanted to say thank you for everyone's guidance and input. It is much appreciated. I ended up finding a mint condition Burton Antler on Ebay yesterday for about half the retail price. Based on the description of the board and my testing Flying V it seemed like the right board at the right price.

Now I have to figure out bindings....
 
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