Wed, 02/24/2010 - 11:57amBuying a snowboard: an introduction

Hidden in these pages we have1000s of reviews of all the vital snowboard gear you will ever need.

We understand that trying to find the perfect snowboard when there are 100s to choose from is a daunting task.

And while we would always suggest heading to your local store and talking through what you want to ride with an assistant there, there’s nothing like arming yourself with a few good phrases before you go in.

On the links below you’ll find features on all the basics of snowboard design, these pages should answer all your tech-y needs but in the meantime, read on to see how this all works.

Before you start looking for your dream piece of kit, it’s worth knowing the answers to a few questions:

  

• What are you looking to buy? (A snowboard, boots, bindings or all of it!)

                             
• What is your budget? (If you’re buying for the first time don’t forget you will need boots, bindings, a snowboard, outerwear, goggles, gloves as a minimum)

• What terrain or style of riding will you be using your equipment for?
 

The terrain that you want to ride will dictate many things about your snowboard from the shape, size, materials to base materials.

There is a lot of cross over amongst snowboard categories but these are how we have spit up the collections here:

• JIB

Designed mainly for rails or simple slushy days – perfect for indoor domes

• JIB / FREESTYLE
Mainly for rails and slushy domes but will hold there own on jumps or even in the pipe as well.

• FREESTYLE
Snowboards for freestyle action across a range of terrain. From the  parks and pipes to the great outdoors.

• PARK & PIPE
Aggressive freestyle snowboards only really aimed at blitzing terrain parks and halfpipes

• ALL MOUNTAIN
A snowboard to do everything, it should stand up in the park but equally charge fast and float a little in powder

• ALL MOUNTAIN FREESTYLE
An all mountain snowboard aimed a little more at freestyle antics, good for a bit of everything and backcountry kickers.

• ALL MOUNTAIN FREERIDE
A little bit of everything but with a leaning to fast charging rather than 360s

• FREERIDE
These include solid snowboards designed for stability at speed.

• BACKCOUNTRY
Snowboards for deep pow, if one of these are your only snowboard you are very lucky person as in all reality you won’t get the chance to use them too often in Blighty! Some of them even split into two so you can walk with them.

                                      

• How much experience do you have?

Most of these categories offer snowboards at different price points and aimed at different levels of ability.

We have pitched our ability levels like this:

Beginner

Anything from no experience at all, to first forays into freestyle. Typically a beginner rider will be contemplating their first few trips to the mountains and will be by no means experienced in the mountains or snow centres. Beginner riders will be staying clear of black runs and all but the smallest jumps and rails in the park.

Intermediate

Intermediate riders will probably have clocked in at least three weeks on snow and possible regular UK slope visits. Intermediate riders will have ridden black runs although they may not enjoy them. The park and halfpipe will be on the radar but not necessarily featuring too highly at the moment.

Advanced

Advanced riders are comfortable and experienced in all areas of the mountain and enjoy pushing themselves. It is unlikely that you are at an advanced level if you have spent less than 10 weeks on snow. Black runs are no problem, terrain parks are a part of the day and backcountry excursions fit the itinery.

 

Back to Document's Gear Finder

---

Related stories:

Snowboards

• An intro to buying a snowboard
• Jib snowboards
• Freestyle snowboards
• All mountain snowboards
• Freeride snowboards
• Backcountry snowboards
• The shape
• The topsheet
• The base
• The sidewall

Boots

• Buying a set of boots

Bindings

• Buying bindings

Back to Document’s Gear Finder

---