Advise please!

Hi

I am relatively new to snowboarding and am looking to buy a board...

I have just bought some brand new boots however cannot afford to buy board and bindings new also and am not sure what i should be looking for so any advise would be much appreciataed.

Female - 5ft 10 - 10st 4lbs

Also - i have seen a few on ebay, but don't always recognise the make...should i only stick to the well known brands??!!

Thanks in advance.

Kat

Some of the best buys on ebay are the brands you don't hear of every day, like Prior and Donek. These are top boards from smaller manufacturers and don't sell well second hand in the UK because the brands are not well known.

It sounds though, that you might need something very cheap to get through this season befor upgrading next year. That's not a bad thing as it's always good to have an old beater board for thin snow cover and to learn about waxing and tuning on.

Use google to check reviews, but more importantly get a board for the type of riding you intend to do. Free ride or free style. A free ride board with a directional sidecut and stiffer torsionally, will be a lot easier to cruise the mountain. A freestyle board with soft flex and less directional sidecut, if you are a park monkey wannabe.

Depending on the size of your feet, go for the most narrow board you can get. Female specific boards are generally narrower, though it's possible at 144lbs you may find them too soft flexing.

There are some great deals on ebay, but also some very old junk. If in doubt about the condition of a board, ask the seller for better pictures.

Trencher

Check the edges are sound (not warped, pulled - where the edge has come away form the board, rusty or nearly gone to due excessive filing).

The condition of the base normally gives good indication of the overall condition - check for deep scratches (superficial ones don't worry about) and any repair jobs (discoloured p-tex fills). Also if poss. check for any wallows in the base caused by poor base grinding.

I realise this is tough to do on ebay - just query the seller to cover yourself for a possible refund.

To be honest, your just getting going so any old board will do. Once you get the hang of it you might think about upgrading. It's good to progress thru equipment slowly. I still ride my old beater second hand board I bought 8 years ago...

I got my board from Ski Warehouse, they do ski sales all over the country and I got a steal on an Austrian board from 'Factory Snowboards'. Great as a starter.

1. Go without one to the resort for your holidays.

2. Tell them your level

3. Ask for a suitable board to hire. choose the one you like the look of

4. Hire it for one day, if you like it

5. Tell them you want to buy an ex-rental one of the same model or similar

6. Haggle a price

7. Tell them you want it, but you also want a full overnight service and assistance over the week

8. et voila, probably the board you will have fondest memories of for a long time to come


Obviously this works better at the end of a season, but you are a girl, so give a few cute smiles, be enthusiastic and you should have no problem. I had a male friend do this, and it is still his most treasured possesion.

tino_11 wrote:....you are a girl, so give a few cute smiles, be enthusiastic and you should have no problem. I had a male friend do this...

Oo er

I really should read what I am writing.

My advice would be buy skis instead. lol