QandA - What Beginner Riders Should Look for in Snowboard Gear
Q: I'm a beginner and I don't know what things I should look out for when buying a board, bindings, or boots? I guess any help is appreciated!
A: Of course the easiest, fastest, and best way to get your gear would be to visit your local shop where the rep will hook you up with gear that a.) fits and b.) is appropriate to your riding level. Fit is the most important thing you deal with when gear shopping, if it doesn't fit than there's nothing you are going to do that will make it work.
As a beginner you should look for a true-twin (nose/tail same length, shape, and flex; binding screw slots are centered on board-;aka no setback).
Most manufacturers rate their board on a flex rating. For beginners, on a scale from 1-10, you want a board around the 3s.
There are two measures of board flex: along the length of the board for presses/ollies, and across the width of the board for control and initiating turns (from heel to toe; if you strapped your board in sitting down and pushed the ball of your foot down on your binding like a gas pedal, your board will twist. This is flex across your board). An beginner board needs to flex just as soft across as it does along the length, since beginners rely on some extra give when they are mastering their balance and turning technique. This will minimize edge catches and maximize board control.
Entry-level boards will have a longer effective edge/shallower sidecut to produce long, controlled turns. Think longboard versus short board in skateboarding or surfing: A bigger, wider board in surfing or skating equals a board with a longer effective edge and shallower sidecut in snowboarding.
In terms of board height, no higher than your chin. Even if you are young and growing, if you get a board too big for your weight and height you are going to have a lot of trouble controlling it.
Now for the big question, should you buy reverse camber or not?
I think reverse camber has a place helping beginning riders who are not able to engage/complete turns or are catching edges frequently, but if you are past that don't rule out camber. I think once riders get over basic errors in connecting turns, they need to progress to intiating the turn, shaping the turn, and changing edges using the loading properties of a traditional cambered board. This is very technical, I know; but trust me, if you get a cambered snowboard you will not regret it as you progress into the park and steeps. Grab yourself a reverse camber deck when you start nailing advanced park stuff, or for deep powder excursion.
A common misconception is that if you get an entry-level board as a beginner that you will end up needing a new board sooner than later to start hitting the steeper and more challenging parts of the mountain, and this is simply not the case. Most any board properly sized to the rider will go anywhere within resort boundaries that you want it to, but one constructed specifically for beginners will make your learning experience more enjoyable.
For binders, get something softer flexing so you don't dig an edge in every time you shift your weight; it goes without saying you want the binding (S, M, L) to fit your boot.
For boots, again it would be smart to go with a softer flexing boot at first. Or if you intend to ride more than 30 days, you can accomodate for added flex during break-in by buying a stiffer boot. BOOT FIT is something so important that I made it bold, then underlined it. Forget personal taste and company preference for a second, you need a boot that is right for your foot and ankle shape. Your boot needs to fit *snuggly*, meaning your big toes should be touching.
Subtract at least a size from your shoe size to adjust for break-in. Again even if you are young and growing, accept the fact that you are buying new boots every year because if your boot doesn't fit you can stifle progression or even end up quitting altogether in frustration; it makes things that unpleasant.
The only fool-proof tip to boot shopping? Go to a shop and try on as many boot companies and models as you can; there will definitely be standouts that felt way more comfortable than others...and bring legit snowboard socks.
I'm not much for specific model recommendations, but here are some companies with solid snowboards, boots, and bindings:
Humanity
Ride
O-Matic
K2
Burton
Salomon
Nitro
Never Summer
Rome
Capita
Nidecker
Head
Vans
DC
ThirtyTwo
Stepchild
LibTech
GNU
Forum
Union
and plenty more, but that's a running start. Most companies will say outright that a board is beginner friendly, but if not you will generally find boards with the construction I described under $400. When in doubt, e-mail the company and ask; they are always stoked to help out a potential customer.
QandA features real answers to real questions from real people. Help out by sending your snowboard related questions to DesertsDontSnow@gmail.com.
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