Help me shop for a snowboard
September 13, 2010 7:10 PM Subscribe
Help me shop online for a snowboard. It will be used by my daughter on a big hill on the campus of her boarding school in southeastern Ohio -- walk up, ride down, repeat. So, we don't need any intense equipment here. But, the boots must be walkable for the walk up the hill. Ideas?
I'd highly recommend actually going to a shop to have her fitted for boots and other gear. Snowboarding is much more enjoyable with good boots.
Also, how experienced is she? Is she still growing?
posted by k8t at 7:23 PM on September 13, 2010
Also, how experienced is she? Is she still growing?
posted by k8t at 7:23 PM on September 13, 2010
Response by poster: She has a little experience several years ago. She is full grown.
posted by partner at 7:47 PM on September 13, 2010
posted by partner at 7:47 PM on September 13, 2010
As a chronic snowboarder I'd recommend a trip to a few local shops to check out the selection and get properly fit by knowledgeable staff, preferably while wearing the thicker wool socks she'd be wearing while riding. Gear will last for a long time with occasional maintenance barring any catastrophic breakage Of course, if she's just going to grow out of the boots in a year or two it doesn't make sense to splurge on the best right now, but chances are she'll be taking a trip to a real mountain with real lifts sooner or later, so getting the bare minimum might even turn out to be dangerous.
Carrying a board isn't that cumbersome, as has been said. Just make sure the length is correct (coming up to her chin when she's in boots is a fair estimate, shorter boards will be snappier and turn easier and sharper, longer boards will be more stable but turn wider) and she feels comfortable with it.
No step-in boots/bindings. Ever.
posted by knowles at 7:54 PM on September 13, 2010
Carrying a board isn't that cumbersome, as has been said. Just make sure the length is correct (coming up to her chin when she's in boots is a fair estimate, shorter boards will be snappier and turn easier and sharper, longer boards will be more stable but turn wider) and she feels comfortable with it.
No step-in boots/bindings. Ever.
posted by knowles at 7:54 PM on September 13, 2010
Boots absolutely, positively must be tried on in person. Even if you then purchase them on line. I've always found snowboard boot sizing to be unlike my regular shoe size, especially since they need to be snug. Since they need to be snug, they need to fit extremely well. I don't have specific recommendations, but you can't really go wrong checking out Burton, Salomon, or K2. These will also have a decent resale value if she is going to grow out of them in a season or two.
Board choices will depend on her height, weight, style of riding (is she aggressive? Can she work a heavier board? Or is she a more casual rider?), the type of terrain she'll be on (you don't need a long carving board for what she'll be doing), the size of her feet in boots (if the board is too narrow her toes will hang off the edge, too wide and she'll have a hard time controlling it). She needs to stand on an actual board, in boots and bindings. Again, go to a local shop or two and talk about the options and why. Often boards that are designed for smaller riders can be too flexible and floppy for an icy hill, so be sure and tell the shop people the conditions she'll be riding under. Ask lots of questions. They may even have used boards for sale.
I know you said nothing intense, but the wrong size boots and board will be a waste of money, will not be fun for her to ride with, and can lead to injuries. Even just for casual use you need equipment properly sized for the person using it. It doesn't have to be expensive; pretty much every company has entry level ranges.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:03 PM on September 13, 2010
Board choices will depend on her height, weight, style of riding (is she aggressive? Can she work a heavier board? Or is she a more casual rider?), the type of terrain she'll be on (you don't need a long carving board for what she'll be doing), the size of her feet in boots (if the board is too narrow her toes will hang off the edge, too wide and she'll have a hard time controlling it). She needs to stand on an actual board, in boots and bindings. Again, go to a local shop or two and talk about the options and why. Often boards that are designed for smaller riders can be too flexible and floppy for an icy hill, so be sure and tell the shop people the conditions she'll be riding under. Ask lots of questions. They may even have used boards for sale.
I know you said nothing intense, but the wrong size boots and board will be a waste of money, will not be fun for her to ride with, and can lead to injuries. Even just for casual use you need equipment properly sized for the person using it. It doesn't have to be expensive; pretty much every company has entry level ranges.
posted by oneirodynia at 8:03 PM on September 13, 2010
Don't forget that if you go to a ski shop, more than likely they will have demo gear from last year's fleet for sale for a pretty good price. That way you aren't buying completely new gear.
You have to go and get fitted for your first pair of boots/bindings. If you don't know what you want or how you ride, then you need to talk to a professional.
I'd recommend getting boots with the boa system (I don't snowboard, but this technology made the leap to telemark gear) and I will have to say it is one of the most fantastic revolutions in any snow bound sport in a long time.
Also, having toe straps, I have heard from friends of mine that are knuckledraggers, are pretty essential these days.
posted by TheBones at 8:17 PM on September 13, 2010
You have to go and get fitted for your first pair of boots/bindings. If you don't know what you want or how you ride, then you need to talk to a professional.
I'd recommend getting boots with the boa system (I don't snowboard, but this technology made the leap to telemark gear) and I will have to say it is one of the most fantastic revolutions in any snow bound sport in a long time.
Also, having toe straps, I have heard from friends of mine that are knuckledraggers, are pretty essential these days.
posted by TheBones at 8:17 PM on September 13, 2010
Also, if she's serious about snowboarding and will be doing it for years to come, don't buy a good "intermediate" board. The salesman will point you to an all-mountain board that does everything, but doesn't do anything particularly well.
I would recommend getting a board that is, and I'm equating this to skiing now so if I'm wrong someone please let the OP know, a little more stiff with a little more sidecut. Basically something that's gonna push her until she is comfortable. Apparently snowboarding has a much higher learning curve than skiing.
posted by TheBones at 8:20 PM on September 13, 2010
I would recommend getting a board that is, and I'm equating this to skiing now so if I'm wrong someone please let the OP know, a little more stiff with a little more sidecut. Basically something that's gonna push her until she is comfortable. Apparently snowboarding has a much higher learning curve than skiing.
posted by TheBones at 8:20 PM on September 13, 2010
Ugh, I'm sorry, if all she's gonna be doing is snowboarding on a hill at her boarding school, then it really doesn't matter what she gets so you can disregard my last 2 posts. If she is going to be going boarding over all of her breaks, and after highschool wherever she goes to college, that's a different story.
posted by TheBones at 8:22 PM on September 13, 2010
posted by TheBones at 8:22 PM on September 13, 2010
Snowboard boots (and espacially ski boots) are things that you really only should purchase in person. Your ability to control how you descend the mountain depends ultimately on how you flex your feet and how that moves the board through the snow. Get your boots too tight and it will be miserable. Get your boots too loose and you won't be able to accurately control where the board is going and you will hate snowboarding. On top of that you are depending on these boots to keep you dry and warm. If they fail at that then you are going to hate snowboarding.
It would help if you could mention where you are located if you aren't near your daughter's school. There are ski shops in Wheeling, WV, Parkersburg, WV as well as further flung places like Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.
posted by mmascolino at 9:39 PM on September 13, 2010
It would help if you could mention where you are located if you aren't near your daughter's school. There are ski shops in Wheeling, WV, Parkersburg, WV as well as further flung places like Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.
posted by mmascolino at 9:39 PM on September 13, 2010
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posted by partner at 7:13 PM on September 13, 2010