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How's this package for a beginner?

4K views 15 replies 4 participants last post by  kimchijajonshim 
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#1 ·
Was checking out some deals for myself.

Found this one most in my price range for now.

Best Price on Rossignol Scope Snowboard Package - Men's

I'm 5'9, 125 lbs. Went snowboarding once last season and loved it, will be going again next season and would like to own my own board.

Is that a good setup for a beginner?
 
#2 ·
The board itself is not bad provided that you fit the weight range, and have smaller feet. Also, I REALLY hope you had a chance to try those boots on. It's no guarantee that you'll like them if you havn't tried them on, and those few bucks you saved buying online would probably go to waste if you have to find new boots because these ones don't fit properly. And the bindings...eh, they stink. If you go out once a season, this set up will get you by...but if you do go any more than that, do a bit more research, and find something better.

Edit: Ooops, just read your weight range, and it looks like the length is just fine for you.
 
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#3 ·
yea think its a pretty good set-up...just the only thing is if you have big feet you would probley get some toe drag or if your still pretty young you could grow out of it soon...also dont just buy boots you have never tried on. i went yesterday to anymountain and tried on what i thought were kickass boots but they had no support i hated them. i think you should go buy boots from a store or find the boots you want and the size and then order them. but you should always try a boot before you buy it.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Thanks for the replies. After seeing your opinions, I think I will get everything seperately so that everything fits and feels good.

Deciding between these 4 boards:

Best Price on Rossignol Scope 149cm Snowboard Snowboards Snowboarding Gear Equipment

Best Price on Sims Source 148cm Snowboard Snowboards Snowboarding Gear Equipment

Best Price on Ride Catalyst 148cm Snowboard Snowboards Snowboarding Gear Equipment

Burton LTR Snowboard

Do you have any recommendations for binding and boots? Will probably go to the store and try them on. Are there any methods to see if the boots are right by just walking around since I won't be able to see if they're comfortable while riding until later this year.
 
#5 ·
Any store worth their salt should be able to fit you into a pair of boots. It's not like I can take a pair of boots out to the slopes and see if I like them.

Boots are the one item you should try at the store. What works for me might not work for you. Plus even two pairs of the same exact boot can fit differently. This is the one purchase I recommend not looking at costs on. Look at what fits you right.
 
#6 ·
I don't know how old you are or if you are still growing or anything, but if your feet are pretty much as big as they are going to get, I'd invest in a boot with a heat forming core. They use heat to permanently match them to your feet. Feels great and helps you maintain better control since they are form fitting.
 
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#8 ·
Thanks a lot guys/girls. I will check out boots and bindings later in stores. Can anyone help me pick a board please. One of the 4 listed above or any different ones in the same price range would be nice. Looking for a flexible board that is easy for beginners.
 
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#10 · (Edited)
I can't speak for the other boards (other than when I was looking in to investing a Rossi for my first board, it was really stiff and wouldn't have done me too well), but we bought my friend a Ride Catalyst for her first ride from good ole's Sports Authority. (Hey, don't judge, she had a 90-100 buck budget.) Wasn't really the best choice for her because of her shoe size and the board's waist width, made for a bohemoth to turn, but she seemed to be doing all right on it. Little stiffer than most beginner boards I've seen in my opinion but it's decent. I think you should be fine on the 148, just pay attention to the waist (if you have big ass feet) so you don't get too much draggage and end up being miserable any way.

Also, I wouldn't recommend buying from the House. They're notorious for over-charging on old equipment, for example the Catalyst they were selling for what, $150? I don't think it was even last year's model, but the 05/06 model (I'm pretty positive we bought her set up two years ago, not last winter, but I could be wrong. My memory sucks sometimes.) Though the free shipping is nice, we were able to snag one up at Sports Authority for $90, and it wasn't even outdated at the time. I would glance around E-bay in your size (148ish?), and see what comes up. You might even be able to find a better deal on a better board. Ebay's a goldmine, sometimes. :)
 
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#11 ·
Another decent beginner board to look into is the K2 Illusion. When I started I was about your height and weight and I got the 04/05 Illusion 155cm. Its really forgiving and a great board to learn and progress on. However, I found that once I started to get better I wanted something a little more advanced.
 
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#12 ·
Thanks a lot. Been looking around and finally decided to go with the K2 Illusion recommended by NJ SHREDDER. Now I just have to go to the store and try on bindings and boots. What kind of binding should I get? How can you tell if they're good or not. Boots should be easier since I can tell by the feel I guess. Are there any brands I should stay away from?
 
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#13 · (Edited)
With bindings, I guess if you know the materials used for their production you can tell. Personally I just go by friend's opinions/commentary on different bindings, usually from ones who've gotten the chance to demo them (since we rarely get demo opportunities over here). I don't have a vast knowledge of "awesome mens' bindings" except for the 390's everyone raves about, but other than that, I'll leave that for the boys to answer. Depends what you're looking for too, if you want something more stiff, something flexi, something inbetween. you know.

Boots, yeah you got it, gotta try that shit on! Though I will say avoid "Sports Authority" boots at all cost, like we're talking the $80 Morrow, 5150, Lamar pricepoint crap. Just trust me on this, lol. It's not fun later on in the game. So looking in to trying on boots from companies like Salomon, Vans, 32, etc should be good places to start. But like I said, just try as many boots on as you can, blahblahblah, I'm going to go get a soda.
 
#15 ·
I find that when looking for a quality binding, it has to LOOK visually strong. (I think strong is the wrong word, but I can't come up with anything else ATM)Like, if a binding looks and feels like it's made of cheap materials...then it probably is. When you go to the store, play around with the binding, flex the highback by hand, etc etc. It won't give the most accurate feel, but it's an idea that you can take and run with.


And I agree with Chelly, stay away from cheap price point companies like Lamar, 5150 etc etc.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Don't buy from the House. That's one of the worst snowboarding shops on the net. They bamboozle folks into thinking they're getting a great deal, but what they're actually doing is getting rid of overstock that might be a few years old.

Here are some better shops:

Burton Snowboards and Skis, Burton Bindings, Burton Boots, and snowboard reviews
evo | Skis, Snowboards, Wakeboards, and Apparel
Dogfunk.com: Snowboarding Clothing and Gear from Burton, Volcom, DC Shoe Co., RVCA, Nixon, Oakley, Vans, Reef, DAKINE, Forum, and Zoo York

In my experience, those sites have the best prices and are fairly reliable in terms of customer service. However, I did a quick run through and it looks like they're the pickings are slim from board that might work at your size.

As everyone has sad, get good boots and try them on. You can get used, but I would have them heated to reset the liner. It won't be quite new and as Avenger said it kills the liner faster, but I have had good experiences with it, and I personally think it's the way to go when you're trying to figure out what fits your foot. There's nothing worse than dropping $250 on boots that fit perfectly in the store and turn out to put you through agonizing pain on the mountain.

If you are sure you like boarding, I would suggest getting moving past the pricepoint range (past $300 or so retail) an all-mountain freestyle board in the $350-450 range. These boards will be the most versatile for you. They are typically moderately flexing, so they won't buck you off at every turn, and if you progress past them freeriding, you can always turn them into more park-oriented boards. They may not excel, but they'll be able to handle most everything you throw at them, short of the extremes (high speed backcountry pow riding, super technical jib tricks, etc). I suggest something along the lines of the Salomon Prospect, K2 Darkstar, Rome Agent, etc.

You might want to check ebay and Craigslist, but be wary and consult with someone who knows what they're talking about, someone who knows the right questions to ask (what condition is the base in, has the board ever been serviced, have the edges been dulled at all, any sidewall damage, etc.). There are some great deals out there, though. I picked up a Salomon Prospect LTD 2006 used in great condition for $100 bucks.

For bindings, you'll probably want something soft-to-medium-stiff-ish without a ton of natural lean. Something along the lines of the Burton Mission or P1, Salomon SPX 45, etc. A lot of people would recommend Rome 390s or Arsenals, but I haven't ridden either so I can't comment on that. All I can say is that they seem very well constructed and designed.

Don't rush to buy. A lot of people do that and ultimately end up wasting their money since they buy crap. Do some research, considers the various factors (what you want to do, how much growth you might have left, etc.) and make an informed decision.
 
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