Anyone here snowboard?

[Brutus1]

After skiing for years, I'm going to take the plunge and move to snowboarding this year.

Is picking a snowboard based on height, weight or both ? Like skiing, is a shorter board used first?

Thanks

[BoxCar_Willie]

Most of the time people ask: What length board is best for me? An often unasked, but equally important question is: What width board is best for you? Both snowboard length and width factor heavily in finding and buying the correct size snowboard.

Length

Length is measured in centimeters and is sometimes abbreviated to just the last two digits. Hence, a Burton Custom 56 is a snowboard made by Burton that measures 156cm from tip to tail. Kids' boards run as short as 100cm and long race or powder boards can be upwards of 180cm.

To find the correct length for you, start by comparing it to your height. When holding the board on its end, a short board will come up somewhere between your collar bones and chin. Because shorter boards are easier to maneuver, they are great to learn on and are preferred by riders who do a lot of trick, park and pipe riding.

A medium length board standing on end will come up between your chin and nose. This length is for the all around intermediate to advanced rider who may ride a variety of terrain, including parks and steeps.

Long boards go from eye-level to several inches over the top of the head. Long boards are for high-speed carving, deep powder and big mountain terrain.

Riders who are heavy for their height can stay within these guidelines, but should look for boards that have a stiffer flex. Lighter riders will need boards with a softer flex. Also, remember that these are general guidelines to get you started; personal preference can also strongly sway your decision of what length board to buy.

Width

While board length has some room for personal preference, board width is directly tied to your foot size. Riders with small feet need narrow boards; likewise, riders with big feet need wide boards.

Board width is measured in either centimeters or millimeters and can be found in the board's specifications under waist width (usually on the tag or in the manufacturer's catalog or Web site). The best way to find the correct board width is to stand on a board that is flat on the ground. Strap or step into your bindings, or place your feet exactly how you would have them when you ride. (This is important because the more angle you ride with, the less your foot will span across the width of the board.)

When standing in riding position, your boots should be flush or slightly over the edges of the snowboard. If your toes and heels don't come close to the edge, you won't be able to apply proper pressure to your edges during a turn. If, on the other hand, your feet hang too far over the edges of the board, your toes may catch in the snow while turning and send you reeling. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as "toe drag", and it is a drag.

[gbearbuck]

just get on the thing and go... it's all about riding an edge (and not catching one ). If you're a decent skier you understand the importance of edges. Just remember you're almost always on an edge with a board. Wear a thick hat (or helmet if you like) and some extra padding on your knees.

When you catch a back edge the back of your head will smack the ground... if you catch a front edge your knees will get drilled into the snow. Snow boarding is very, very, very easy to pick up... at the end of your first run you will prob. be good to go (esp. if you did any skate boarding as a kid). falling on a board hurts more than skies, however it is much easier to learn.

Don't know if you are taking a lesson or having buddies teach you... just remember to keep your shoulders and hands facing down hill (just like skiing). Don't "surf" (one hand in front/one behind). Boarding is fun for a change of pace and is off the charts in powder (you literally float on a board)...

I've been skiing for most of my life (started in late elementary school... should have started sooner, however my folks thought I'd hurt myself ) and boarding for well over a decade... snow sports are great!!! enjoy!!!

ps if you have questions on where to go, just post it or pm the question. I've basically been anywhere you're looking in the U.S., and can give you suggestions (outside of the recent past, I've gone out west a couple times a year for almost two decades, as well as countless trips east)... I have not been to Europe, however that will change in a year. We are currently scheduling our Alps trip planned for next Feb/March (ten days in the German, Austrian, and Italian Alps... how's that for a ski trip )

[exhawg]

Snowboarders have [censored]ed me off for years, so I could never be one of them. I hate how most of the snowboarding kids just decide to stop and camp out on the middle of the slope. Try not to face plant. I would like to apologize if you get dusted by a huge guy in all black, my bad.

[BuckBackHome]

I tried it once on a skiing trip to CO years ago. I never thought I was going to get to the end of the trail. Totally different muscles and movement than skiing.

[scarletandgrey]

Originally Posted by exhawg

Snowboarders have [censored]ed me off for years, so I could never be one of them. I hate how most of the snowboarding kids just decide to stop and camp out on the middle of the slope. Try not to face plant. I would like to apologize if you get dusted by a huge guy in all black, my bad.

sorry hawg if I offended you.

Anyways if your going to buy a board and all the gear don't go to sunsports they are over priced and have very little to select from and definately shop around. I know Aspen ski and board has a lot of good deals on last years merchandise right now. You can get a killer deal on boards and bindings some up to 50% off.

[Brutus1]

I've just gotten bored with skiing around here. It's just too boring skiing at Peak n Peek, Holiday Valley and Seven Springs and unlike GBear, can't afford to take 2 trips out west a year (sounds like a great trip to the Alps, though), so I figured I'd try boarding for something different.

Another thing is, I hate ski boots. I've tried many different brands, styles and they all hurt like hell after 4 or 5 hours of hard skiing. I love the comfort of board boots.

I'll still ski on trips out west, especially next year at Alta where, as far as I know, still does not allow boarders.

On a side note, I have a pair of the short boards that are a blast at the local areas. They're curved at both ends, so you can do spins, tricks and ski backwards all the way down the hill. They really work great if you're teaching one of your kids how to skid because you can stay in front of them all the way down the hill going backwards and turning when the kids turn.

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by scarletandgrey

sorry hawg if I offended you.

You know what they say. "The bigger they are the more it hurts when they run your ass over while you're sitting in the middle of the slope."

Skiing anywhere in Ohio pretty much sucks unless you are just learning. Peek 'n Peak and Holiday Valley are big enough for me to have a good time. I really have no desire to go out west. My buddy and I got the pick-a-day pass at Boston Mills/Brandywine a few years ago and it was fun until we got to the point where everything was too weak except for Tiger at BM that is too advanced when they have moguls. As far as Ohio skiing goes I'll take Snow Trails or Clear Fork. I'd rather save my money and go up to NY one or 2 times a years now.

[Brutus1]

Originally Posted by exhawg

I would like to apologize if you get dusted by a huge guy in all black, my bad.

Johnny "hawg" Cash on skiis? I'll keep an eye out for you, and make sure I'm on the side of the trail. I'll agree that it's aggravating when people just camp out in the middle of the trail, especially on the steeps when you can't see them until you're almost on them.