[Thomas95]

Hi everyone, I am beginner (I would say advanced beginner, I can link turns pretty smoothly on intermediate runs while still figuring out how to ride switch down easier slopes. Haven't ridden a black slope yet).

I went snowboarding only 6-7 days, but I feel I can progress quickly maybe due to the fact I've skied from 2 to 13 years old. I rode mostly very easy rocker boards (the last one was a 155). Now i decided to buy my own gear so I ve watched basically every YouTube videos out there and read most of the reviews about any kind of topic related to snowboarding (boards, shape, profile, boots, bindings etc.) in order to find the perfect gear for my size and level.

After a lot (A LOT) of researches I ve basically narrowed it down to the YES basic (cam/rock profile). I forgot to mention that I am looking for an all mountain/freestyle board to ride mostly groomers but can be also playful to let me mess around with it (doing some tricks, presses, little jumps and so on). I ve chosen the Yes basic because of it s profile which I guess would be more stable when gaining some speed and riding flat bases than a Hybrid rocker profile (like GNU money I was considering as well).

Here comes the issue. I am 5'10, 160 pounds (sometimes 155) and got kinda big feet (I do not know actually my boot size yet but I ve measured my feet and they are 29/29.5cm so I guess it ll be around 11.5/12US). The YES basic comes in 155 (25.1 waist width) and 156W (25.9 waist width); so if we consider my boot size I would be better go with the 156 Wide, but on the YES website the weight recommendation for this boards is 150-200 pounds so my weight would be barely ok. Plus I am still a beginner, plus I want a playful board (so shorter is slightly better) so I am afraid the 156W would be too big for me. On the other hand Yes suggest for a boot bigger than 11US to go wide and to not even consider a regular board.

I have watched several videos about this topic and it wasn't helpful at all since for some people you must go wide with size boot 11 and bigger while for some other there is no need for a wide board even with a boot size 12. I do not want to buy a board and then go to the mountain and realize I am screwed up whether it's too difficult to manage or too narrow to cause heel and toe drag

Thank you for your time guys, I am open minded so any advice would be awesome! I really appreciate that.

 

[LeDe]

I think unless this will end up purely a park board, you need a wide. You wont be able to progress and carve with a 25.1 WW.

The wide is actually still fairly narrow for you. There a few options for wider twins, you could also look at volume shifted boards.

 

[Thomas95]

I think unless this will end up purely a park board, you need a wide. You wont be able to progress and carve with a 25.1 WW.

The wide is actually still fairly narrow for you. There a few options for wider twins, you could also look at volume shifted boards.

Thank you, do you think my weight (barely 160) is enough for that board (range 150-200) or should I go with something like a Gnu money 154w (26.2 waist width) which fit my weight better? Is the gnu a good all mountain freestyle or is just park specific?

 

[SoaD009]

You have monstrous feet for 5'10" lol. Can you post pics? We must ensure that you are measuring correctly.

 

[boisell]

Go ahead and get the 156W. If you're 13 (or still young) with those size feet, you'll grow out of the board by the time you really need to start worrying about two or heel drag. Then it can just be used as your park board.

 

[Thomas95]

You have monstrous feet for 5'10" lol. Can you post pics? We must ensure that you are measuring correctly.

yep pretty big, I've measured multiple times and usually I wear shoe size around 45EU and checking the length it s 29/29,5cm as well. So it should be fairly accurate.
i d really like to go with the regular 155 but I am worried that ll be too narrow even if I got some of the best reduced footprint boot out there like the Adidas Samba or the Burton Ruler

 

[Thomas95]

Go ahead and get the 156W. If you're 13 (or still young) with those size feet, you'll grow out of the board by the time you really need to start worrying about two or heel drag. Then it can just be used as your park board.

Go ahead and get the 156W. If you're 13 (or still young) with those size feet, you'll grow out of the board by the time you really need to start worrying about two or heel drag. Then it can just be used as your park board.

i am 26 unfortunately, so that ll be my board for ever maybe. That s why I am so struggling. I can t go wrong

 

[LeDe]

Thank you, do you think my weight (barely 160) is enough for that board (range 150-200) or should I go with something like a Gnu money 154w (26.2 waist width) which fit my weight better? Is the gnu a good all mountain freestyle or is just park specific?

I do not know the Basic but a 156 does feel like a humongous board for you.
If you plan to keep it for a while you'll need the width. Again you may need a bit wider than that.

You could consider something like the Warpig. No camber, but you could go short (151) and have more width.

 

[bazman]

I think the 156W Basic will be great for you as an all mountain board

Another very similar option is the 156W Typo, which has a faster base (you may or may not want that) and is directional for better all-mountain.

 

[boisell]

i am 26 unfortunately, so that ll be my board for ever maybe. That s why I am so struggling. I can t go wrong

If that's the case, a short fat (like the Warpig mentioned above) would probably be the better choice. A 156W for an all mountain board wouldn't be that big (or get the Typo for the riding you're describing). Rome has some good beginner/intermediate boards with wider options. If you really want a Yes, the Standard may be wider at the inserts (has a narrow waist due to the midbite), but you'll probably need to grow into it.

 

[Thomas95]

I do not know the Basic but a 156 does feel like a humongous board for you.
If you plan to keep it for a while you'll need the width. Again you may need a bit wider than that.

You could consider something like the Warpig. No camber, but you could go short (151) and have more width.

I think the perfect size for me would be the 155 if I hadn't big feet (slightly below the chin I guess). It's frustrating to hear that a board only 1cm longer and 0.8cm wider would make that big of a difference. I don't like volume shifted board so I guess I can just give up

 

[Thomas95]

Thank you all for your time guys. I ve seen some of you suggesting me the Ride warpig, but unfortunately i do not like volume shifted boards at all.


These were my alternative options to the Basic:

• GNU money 154W (waist width 26.2, Hybrid rocker, magnetraction). Thought this is more of a park oriented board and maybe not as stable while riding groomers, steeper slopes, flat bases and gaining some speed). Forgot to mention I am not interested in park stuff at all
• Salomon Sight 155W (waist width 25.6, cam/rock). I thought it wasn't clever to choose this board over the basic only for a board 1cm shorter and 0.3cm narrower
• Bataleon Blow 154W (26.3 waist width) or 155 (25.5 waist width), basically cam/rock. This I think would be more stable than the GNU but still park oriented, plus it lacks of features like magnetraction or underbite

Any thoughts about these boards, without considering the width too much. Are they good for all mountain/freestyle or are they just park specific boards?

 

[LeDe]

I think the perfect size for me would be the 155 if I hadn't big feet (slightly below the chin I guess). It's frustrating to hear that a board only 1cm longer and 0.8cm wider would make that big of a difference. I don't like volume shifted board so I guess I can just give up

1cm wont make that much of a difference, I'd get the wide of I was you. You will grow into it.

Have not look at reviews on that one yet, but what about a Jones Mind Expander twin in 154. Curious tp hear from others if that could fit your need.

Or Bataleon magic carpet? Too pow oriented?

 

[Thomas95]

1cm wont make that much of a difference, I'd get the wide of I was you. You will grow into it.

Have not look at reviews on that one yet, but what about a Jones Mind Expander twin in 154. Curious tp hear from others if that could fit your need.

Or Bataleon magic carpet? Too pow oriented?

I guess so, I think the bataleon blow or the gnu money could fit better my riding style. They re also shorter and wider than the basic. The only downside is that they seem to be more park oriented; the bataleon has a camrock profile so maybe more stable than the gnu (hybrid rocker), but the Gnu has magnetraction so better grip. The basic has both (camrock and underbite for better grip).
Dammit, I wish I had smaller feet

 

[Thomas95]

I do not know the Basic but a 156 does feel like a humongous board for you.
If you plan to keep it for a while you'll need the width. Again you may need a bit wider than that.

You could consider something like the Warpig. No camber, but you could go short (151) and have more width.

Actually I am now considering the ride twinpig 151 but I am not sure it would be a beginner friendly board. It looks fun though!