[Shaun W]

I have been snowboarding for 3 seasons.
Age: 23
Height and Weight: 6'4", 240LBs (working on losing weight, hopefully down to 230 by snowboarding season).
Boot Size: 11
Budget: Lower the better but will invest money if it will make experience better.
Type of riding: Love Speed (gone over 50 mph down east at MT High) and currently working on jumps.

I have only snowboarded at MT High and Bear Mountain in CA. That is what I am used to. I am planning on making some trips this season to bigger better mountains in north Cal, Colorado, Oregon...

My current setup in a 163W Morrow Fury board with Large Lamar Bindings. Most sizing charts would say I need a longer board. Maybe a 169W. The thing is that riding those places, MT High/Bear, actually made me think of getting a shorter board. Easier to turn, take jumps and lighter.

The question is whether a shorter board, 156-159, would be too short even for those mountains and is my Morrow too short for heading up to the bigger mountains considering my size.

:dizzy:
Should I get a shorter board for use on park and use my Morrow for when I head up to pow mountains?
--OR-- :dunno:
Should I stick with my currently board for hard packed groomed mountains and get a longer board for pow?
--OR-- :dunno:
Do I need two new board, shorter for MT High/Bear and longer one for the other mountains?

Any advice helps, thanx!!!

 

[bseracka]

You have a lot going on in your post, I'll try to answer what I can.
1. with size 11s you really don't need a wide board.
2. A pow board is nice, but unless you ride a lot of pow it's not a good place to spend money unless you're building a quiver.
3. 163-167 is a pretty good size range for you.
4. Your current board and bindings while great to get you into the sport is where I would spend money on better equipment.
5. I would suggest looking for a twin with hybrid camber and rocker in the nose for pow float.

What is your realistic budget for new equipment?

 

[SnowDragon]

This thread has "Nivek's" name all over it.
Hopefully he'll post with his thoughts.

While I was reading the OP - and trying to decipher it - the k2 Ultra Dream came to mind.
A second board for the park would probably be a good idea.

 

[Lamps]

Bear in mind that even the best places for fresh snow don't get it all the time, unless you live in heaven powder isn't the typical day.

If you are mostly only expecting to get to decent powder on trips your powder board should be a secondary board, maybe upgrading your regular stuff makes more sense.

 

[hktrdr]

Bear in mind that even the best places for fresh snow don't get it all the time, unless you live in heaven powder isn't the typical day.

If you are mostly only expecting to get to decent powder on trips your powder board should be a secondary board, maybe upgrading your regular stuff makes more sense.

That - most people do not need a pow board, but that does not stop us from wanting one :laugh:
However, there are exceptions - I spend 2-3 months/year in Hokkaido and that calls for pow sticks. Sometimes I go for 2 weeks without riding a 'regular' deck...

 

[jdang307]

I have been snowboarding for 3 seasons.
Age: 23
Height and Weight: 6'4", 240LBs (working on losing weight, hopefully down to 230 by snowboarding season).
Boot Size: 11
Budget: Lower the better but will invest money if it will make experience better.
Type of riding: Love Speed (gone over 50 mph down east at MT High) and currently working on jumps.

I have only snowboarded at MT High and Bear Mountain in CA. That is what I am used to. I am planning on making some trips this season to bigger better mountains in north Cal, Colorado, Oregon...

My current setup in a 163W Morrow Fury board with Large Lamar Bindings. Most sizing charts would say I need a longer board. Maybe a 169W. The thing is that riding those places, MT High/Bear, actually made me think of getting a shorter board. Easier to turn, take jumps and lighter.

The question is whether a shorter board, 156-159, would be too short even for those mountains and is my Morrow too short for heading up to the bigger mountains considering my size.

:dizzy:
Should I get a shorter board for use on park and use my Morrow for when I head up to pow mountains?
--OR-- :dunno:
Should I stick with my currently board for hard packed groomed mountains and get a longer board for pow?
--OR-- :dunno:
Do I need two new board, shorter for MT High/Bear and longer one for the other mountains?

Any advice helps, thanx!!!

I live in San Diego, but make at least two trips to real mountains each year. I'd just upgrade to a very good all mountain board appropriate for your size. Don't worry about Pow. After 6 trips I only hit pow once and that's 2 days after it snowed but it was CO so it stayed soft and it was Loveland, so surprisingly HUGE pockets of pow untouched by the masses (weird). Mid-thigh deep two days later and I wasn't out of bounds or anything. I was on a 150 NS Evo and centered which is about as bad is it would get for me, and I survived.

Anyway I digress. An all-mtn board will handle any pow you encounter just fine. Get an All-Mtn board that is decent in pow, and just forget about a pow board until you start building a quiver.

My buddy is 215-220 and rides a 157 Rider's Choice. No problem hitting 45mph in Mammoth. I think you can downsize a little bit because your main mountain is Mt. High and Bear. Honestly you can ride a lunch tray and those two resorts and be fine. They're not hills but the fun in those resorts are hitting all of the features they throw in (esp. at bear vs summmit). 160-163 would be my suggestion.

I've hit pow days at Bear (little past knee-deep) and a Never Summer SL. Just fine. I'd recommend something along those lines from any of the good companies. Arbor Coda (extremely fun board and now better for pow according to BA), NS SL, Smokin Superpark etc. etc.

Check out the Nitro Uberspoon. Looks to be a board that's great on groomers, playful and yet great for pow too. I'm literally deciding between the Uberspoon and K2 Happy Hour for my all-mtn board.

 

[Shaun W]

Thanx for all the responses. What I got so far is:

1. Don't really need a board for pow. I am not really looking to have a board for each type of snow, so it makes more sense to upgrade what I currently have.

2. Size wise I could go a little smaller or a little bigger without much change. Since my main mountain is MTHigh/Bear I will probably go a little smaller 156-160. For those bigger mountain pow days I think my 163 will allow me to float well or could still use the new board.

Since I think my current board will be able to handle the deep pow days I think I will probably go for a park board. This way I can get better on jumps and boxes (still too afraid to hit rails ).

I am hoping to spend, if i can find a good one, around $250 for a board from last year.

What do you guys think of Lib Tech Skate Banana 2013 159W? Seems like it would be a good park board.

For bindings I found Ride Revolt bindings for $100.

Any thoughts?

 

[Lamps]

That - most people do not need a pow board, but that does not stop us from wanting one :laugh:
However, there are exceptions - I spend 2-3 months/year in Hokkaido and that calls for pow sticks. Sometimes I go for 2 weeks without riding a 'regular' deck...

Now we're jealous....

 

[Wiredsport]

We need to modify this for boards:

 

[chomps1211]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
WS!! That chart graphic is Fucking AWESOME!
:eusa_clap: :bowdown:

Definitely need one SB specific! :laugh:
(....if nothing else, should be good for business!) :laugh:





[Off topic Edit:]
Hmmnnnnn? It would appear I'm due for a NEW MTB! LOL!

 

[jdang307]

Thanx for all the responses. What I got so far is:

1. Don't really need a board for pow. I am not really looking to have a board for each type of snow, so it makes more sense to upgrade what I currently have.

2. Size wise I could go a little smaller or a little bigger without much change. Since my main mountain is MTHigh/Bear I will probably go a little smaller 156-160. For those bigger mountain pow days I think my 163 will allow me to float well or could still use the new board.

Since I think my current board will be able to handle the deep pow days I think I will probably go for a park board. This way I can get better on jumps and boxes (still too afraid to hit rails ).

I am hoping to spend, if i can find a good one, around $250 for a board from last year.

What do you guys think of Lib Tech Skate Banana 2013 159W? Seems like it would be a good park board.

For bindings I found Ride Revolt bindings for $100.

Any thoughts?

Stretch your budget just a little.

Arbor Coda Snowboard - 2012/2013 at REI.com

Super fun board. I rode a 153 (at 145lbs) and was nimble at bear yet let me ride almost all over Squaw (didn't do k2 since it was super icy). My friend rode a blacklist all over Mammoth so these boards can handle these resorts unless you're going to get crazy. The rocker should help with float as well.

For a full rocker it's surprisingly poppy/springy. Griptech. All around great board.

At your weight and height I personally would go 161 but it's your call