New Snowboard Advice

H

Hotride

Active member
 Nth Qld
I live in a hot tropical climate - so there ain't any snowboard shops around, but I go every year - (going to NZ this August).
I'm still intermediate, but I can hit most boxes/rails and smaller jumps pretty confidently.

I'm looking to buy a new snowboard as mine (Flow Dagger 159) has absolutely no flex and I want something that will allow me to have more control and flex/jumping ability, to progress my skills in the park, but is still decent for freestyle riding. I'm 1.8M (6ft) tall and weigh around 95Kg(200Pounds).

Can anyone recommend a good board and appropriate length for me?

Currently been looking at the Burton Custom 158

Cheers
 
I ride the 2011 lib tech skate banana and can't fault it for all of mountain! Have you got anywhere you can demo them?
 
nope, no where at all to test or even see one in person!! Will just have to buy one and hope its good.

hence why I would like some advice on what you guys think is good before I buy
 
I bought my whole set up on eBay at the end of last season picked up some nice bargins on brand new gear. I ride a K2 Darkstar, an all mountain board, flexible enough to cope with a park but stiff enough to hold an edge when carving.

Check this link for more reviews on loads of boards http://www.snowboard-review.com/
 
ive got a GNU carbon credit (2010 model) with the banana edge technology. I find it amazing, and people always ask me about it when i am in the local snowdome. mine is a 162.
 
It's very hard to give advice on specific models as different riders like different things from snowboards. Also there are so many new technologies around (reverse camber, magnetraction etc) that make a snowboard more complicated than just length and flex.

Size first: You're the same height as me but 20kg heavier and I ride a 163. I'm mostly into freeriding / trees etc, and rubbish at parks. If I was after a freestyle specific board I'd be going for 158 / 160. I'd say you're on the shorter side of your ideal length range.

Models: I recently did a lot of research getting a new board (ended up with a Bataleon undisputed). I narrowed it down to a shortlist of Bataleon, Burton, Lib Tech, Jeremy Jones.

Bataleon has triple base technology and some camber
Burton have reverse camber
Jeremy Jones and Lib Tech have both reverse camber and magnetraction.

Is there any way you can demo a few boards in NZ during your holiday? Or perhaps rent one that you're interested in before buying?

When you say intermediate, how many weeks have you been on snow? I spent at least 6-8 weeks worth of holidays renting (over 5 years) before buying a board. By the time I bought one I wanted very different things in a snowboard than I did just a few years before.
 
Ok I've been doing a bit of research and I think I'm looking at 160 minimum really, as park usually goes for a shorter board.

Intermediate as in I can do black/ double black runs without any issues, and I can do 360's on most boxes, and board slide most rails. Can hit jumps up to say 4-5M high and land 180's. I've had maybe 6-8 weeks on the white stuff over about 4 seasons!

I could wait till I get to nz but boards are alot cheaper on eBay then they are in queenstown lol. I have tried my mates board (condom) which was a lot of fun. But haven't tried a v-rocker yet. Although I often hear they are the way of the future.

Personnally I think I would like a v-rocker as the runs are pretty short, and I find my self spending 60-70% of the day in the park or trying to jump rocks/ small bushes etc.

Really liking the look of the lib tech banana actually, but it's pretty expensive considering it will be getting about 2 weeks a year use. The gnu boards look pretty nice too, not heard of bataleon before but I will look them up. Thanks for the tips :thumbsup:
 
From the sound of your riding, I'd recommend getting a board suited to intermediate to advanced riding that favours freestyle. You want to be able to 'grow into' the board and progress.

It's worth spending a bit more to get more out of the board (both in years riding and progression). I've heard nothing but good things about the Lib Tech Banana and ridden one for about half a day. The Magnetraction is quite something.

All the different rockers and cambers take some getting used to, but they're confidence-inspiring once you dial in.

I've just punched in what I think your preferences are into the Burton board finder:
https://www.burton.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Burton_US-Site/default/Product-BoardFinderShow

Putting park riding as 'likely' gives 162/163 boards like Joystick, Process V-Rocker, Sherlock, Custom

Put park riding as 'all day' gives Joystick 161, Jeremy Jones 159, Sherlock 163, Love 162
 
I have ridden many boards over the years (Burton, K2, Salamon, Lib Tech) and the best board I have ridden without a doubt is my current Bataleon Evil Twin. It is stated as a park board but I had no prob charging anywhere on the mountain on it during my trips this year. The triple base technology on Bataleon boards just works (and hence all the other companies trying to copy it :wink: )and means its very forgiving and hard to catch an edge (great for when progressing in the park!). Check out the site:

http://bataleon.co.nz/en/boards

I first rode a Bataleon board in Queenstown two seasons ago and there are a few shops there that sell them so although possibly a bit more expensive at least you will be able to demo one?

you wont be disappointed with a Bataleon board trust me :thumbsup:
 
thanks everyone - after your advice I think im really leaning towards the Bataleon Evil Twin Classic 159 or maybe Goliath 161 - i know iv'e changed my mind a few times. but this board has some great reviews and iv'e read alot of comparisons between it and the lib tech and burton boards.

main reason I don't want burton is I will also need new bindings, EST type - and then you are kind of limiting yourself to burton in future lol
 
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