[T87B]

Like the title says, I’m a beginner looking to buy my first snowboard. I’ve been snowboarding before, although years ago. I also live in Texas so I’ll be limited to going 3-4 times a year max as the closest mountain is 10-11 hours away. All that being said, I’m 34 6 foot 215lbs with a size 12 boot. I’ve been looking at the k2 standard (159W), k2 raygun (160W). I’ve also looked at a Salomon craft (160W), a Ride twinpig (154), and a Capita outerspace living (159W), but the Capita is out of stock everywhere. I also don’t want to get something over my skill level that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the few times a year that I’ll get to use it. Thoughts? Opinions? Other suggestions? The 4 boards I listed besides the Capita are readily available in stock, and keep in mind I live in Texas so anything will have to be ordered online.

 

[Gregg LaPointe]

As a beginner I always encourage learning on a camber based board. Might be a bit harder to learn on but once you got camber down you can pretty much ride anything.

 

[T87B]

As a beginner I always encourage learning on a camber based board. Might be a bit harder to learn on but once you got camber down you can pretty much ride anything.

Thanks for the response. What are your opinions on the Capita pathfinder camber? It’s available in a 157W but I’m a little over the weight rating.

 

[Craig64]

These are some of the question you need to ask yourself when buying a board???
Where am I going to ride ie terrain/conditions/environment?
How am I going to ride ie park/freestyle/AM/Freeride/powder?
What is my experience level?
What is my weight/boot size?

As a one board quiver, the safest board is to get is an AM ride as it will cover most bases. Remember there is no such thing as one board does it all. It's all a +/- game as varying profiles, lengths, sidecuts, bases etc all effect how the board performs in different conditions and riding input.

 

[T87B]

These are some of the question you need to ask yourself when buying a board???
Where am I going to ride ie terrain/conditions/environment?
How am I going to ride ie park/freestyle/AM/Freeride/powder?
What is my experience level?
What is my weight/boot size?

As a one board quiver, the safest board is to get is an AM ride as it will cover most bases. Remember there is no such thing as one board does it all. It's all a +/- game as varying profiles, lengths, sidecuts, bases etc all effect how the board performs in different conditions and riding input.

My weight/boot size is in original post. I’m definitely a beginner but would like to eventually get into park riding, but would also like something I can just cruise the mountain on, not really high speed runs or carving.

 

[Gregg LaPointe]

What about thesiders? a bit stiffer little room to grow.? As you get better you will want a bit stiffer board as you know how to drive it.

 

[Gregg LaPointe]

Over the weight rating will just make it softer so perhaps go a bit stiffer head room to grow. Even a DOA or merc could work.

 

[T87B]

Over the weight rating will just make it softer so perhaps go a bit stiffer head room to grow. Even a DOA or merc could work.

So I found a DOA on a Canadian sight in a 159W and a 161W. I’m not sure if they ship to the US.

 

[Gregg LaPointe]

Have you checked USA sites? Evo,tactics?

 

[T87B]

Have you checked USA sites? Evo,tactics?

I’ve checked all the US sites I found, I just found one that claims in stock on a US website in a 159W, but I emailed them to verify. The Capita mercury is in stock at a lot of places. You don’t think that’s to much for a beginner board?

 

[Gregg LaPointe]

The merc is going to be future proof that’s for sure. It’s hard for me to say. I have been riding for 30+years. It boils down to progression and practice really.

 

[Sjubleu]

Definitly the Mercury (reason: camber).

"You don’t think that’s to much for a beginner board?"
IMO, there's no beginner boards, like there's no beginner shoes...

However, I still think a camber board suits a beginner better, although it's against what all the manufacturers are marketing.