Why You Should Listen to Your Shop Rep

It seems like everyone is an expert when it comes to snowboards these days: You've got your magazines and private sites posting up review after review (paid or unpaid?); then there are always your favorite pro riders, and if they are rocking it then it should be good, right?

Of course your company reps are here to let you know about all of the coolest stuff Company-X thought up for this season... so who the hell do you trust with such a big purchase?

What about that friend who knows about all the latest and greatest gear, and they ride a ton so maybe they will offer the best opinion?

If your friend happens to be a shop rep, then maybe.

In this internet dependent world, a lot of snowboarders have lost touch with why dealing with their local shop is so damn important. When you are dealing with your shop rep, you are dealing with someone whose job is to know every thing about every product they carry. This means they have to go out and use the shit, and you just can't get a better opinion than that.

The best shop reps have a real passion for product; they will test anything they can get their hands on, even if it is total shit, and offer up an awesome objective point of view on it. Every product has it's use, and with your shop reps hands on experience combined with your own criteria on what you want, you will always get you what you need.

Don't get me wrong, there are some stinkers. Keep an eye out for shop reps that are seemingly uninterested in your business, or start throwing their "best"--aka most expensive--products at you (especially if they are literally throwing things). Also watch out for the catalog regurgitator; the rep who seems to have memorized the company descriptions verbatim but knows not a whole lot beyond that.

If your shop rep is friendly, asks a ton of questions about what you are looking for, and seems to have an endless list of recommendations than you are probably dealing with someone who knows what they are talking about.

And it works both ways. You should be able to ask your shop rep any question from "how does it turn at speed?" to "what binding works best with it?" and they will have your answer. That's how you find gear practically made for you, and that's why your local shop rep is invaluable.

Cheers to local shops, and knowledgeable shop reps who have helped thousands of people get off on the right foot with their snowboarding gear.