Snowboarders?

[firecracker22]

I think I might dust off the old board and give it a try again this winter. My darlin' will be out snowmobiling and I don't have one, so I might as well find a way to amuse myself this winter. However upon bringing it out I realized it's probably no longer the best board for me--it's about 3 inches too short (it's been about 8 years since I bought it, and I've grown since then). And while the boots and bindings are functional, they're outdated and the new stuff is WAY cooler.

So my question is, are there any gals--or guys, your girlfriends/wives/sisters/daughters--riding the women-specific boards? Are they really all that different? I doubt I'm rider enough to tell the difference.

I'm thinking of buying now to catch pre-season sales.

 

[KTA]

I've been boarding for about 7 years or so and it is by far the best way to get down a mountain.. . . womens boards are not as wide and generally come in shorter sizes (as well as pink and purple colors. . .haha). . . . but they are really not that much different from a mens board. as far as newer gear that is cooler... it may look cooler but it doesn't function any better... unless the bindings you have are ancient. . . i would stay stick with what you've got until you are good enough to need something that performs better.
. . .personally i like a shorter board.. i find it more manuverable.. . . but either way.. . good luck.. have fun... snowboarding is great!

 

[Jake T]

I work as a snowboard intructor at the local ski area and one of the biggest mistakes
I see is people dumping cash buying new gear thinking it will make them better when all they need
to do is just PRACTICE. Or you could hire a good teacher, such as myself ;), and learn the basics within a hour.

 

[Milquetoast]

An 8 year old snowboard is like riding skis from the 1950's. Designs and quality have improved greatly since the early 90's so I'd get a new board or at least rent one to see what you think. There are 'demo-days' at the resorts sometimes, maybe you could try out the new stuff there before dropping the cash. Bindings are still stone-age designs, and boots have improved a bit, but the boards are really good now and worth a try (IMHO). :)

 

[fatty_k]

I agree with roost. I took lessons my first time out, and within an hour I was turning both ways, stopping and sideslipping, and 7 years later Im still loving it. I dont think the board is the major part for me. I think having COMFORTABLE boots and bindings are first. Because it really sucks not being comfy out on the mountian. So if your gear is comfy, stay with it. If its not, maybe go with something a little newer that fits better.

 

[firecracker22]

Well I like the fit and feel of new boots--they are much lighter than mine although mine are perfectly good Airwalks so I might not bother. My board is a Lib Tech Jamie Lynn 139--I spent a lot of money then, but at 5'7" a 139 is way too short now. The hills around here have softer snow and more powder than the hills I learned on so I end up having to take the darn thing off and hike much more than I'd prefer. I learned how and boarded for the rest of that year and most of the one after, then I moved out of my parents house and suddenly lift tickets were too expensive. I think I've gone once in the 5 years since I moved out. Anyway a new board is definitely on the list but since money is not coming out of my ears I will probably use my old boots etc. My bindings are Bent Metal baseless and now I'm told that baseless bindings are old school. I didn't know that, they were cool when I bought them and they were much better than what I started with. I guess I'll be old school, lol.

I will probably pay for a couple of lessons too, and one of the guys I work with is pretty good and offered to babysit a couple times. I'll be ok.

I'm really looking forward to the winter now!

Any good snowboard sites with an active women's forum like here?

 

[Big Tuna]

I bet your knee guy would cringe if he heard you were getting back into snowboarding. The specialist here at the university pretty much told me to give up riding, snowboarding, and hockey, and no word of a lie wanted me to take up power walking. He said that he had to give up B-ball, and now he really enjoyed the power walking, yeah right, and maybe he knows where I can take some good needle point classes.
The renting and trying out the updated stuff is a good idea; only bad thing is then you "know" what your missing.
Good Luck

 

[NVR FNSH]

Originally posted by Big Tuna
I bet your knee guy would cringe if he heard you were getting back into snowboarding. The specialist here at the university pretty much told me to give up riding, snowboarding, and hockey, and no word of a lie wanted me to take up power walking....

My ortho just laughed at me when I asked if I could the next spring - surgery in Nov. His only comment was wait until the next year. Not a peep about riding, skiing, volleyball or basketball. Gotta love a good doc:D

Brian

 

[dirty~d~]

FC~ Snowboarding chicks kick bootie! ;) As far as the difference between a 'chick' board and a non-'chick' board... length and width... that's it. In some boards they MAY be slightly lighter in weight, but usually not enough to make that much of a difference. Oh and you can get them in pretty pink colors too.... GAG! I have a size 9 foot so I have to use the unisex boards when I go out boarding. I haven't gone in about three years though. I'd probably kill myself... I'm just drawn to the tree line for some odd reason.

 

[Hucker]

Finally a subject I know lots about :) I've been boarding for (thinking.....) 13 years. Started out with Burton SwallowTails if you can remember that far back. Usually girl boards are shorter and a bit narrower, also the flex pattern is a bit softer and more forgiving. The side cut is toned down a bit to so you don't end up introducing yourself to the snow face first. I'm 6'3, I ride a 155 with a 21 inch duck stance. Basically my feet are pointing in opposite directions kinda like this....\ / Great for riding switchstance. Your out west right? If your into big mountain riding I wouldn't go with anything less that a 155-160. If playing in the park is your thing, a smaller board would be better. But if your into highspeed, steep, powder, get yourself a 160, even a 165. With a stance about 2 inches back from center. Front foot at about 25--30 degree's, back about 5-8 degree's. Makes it alot easier on the knee's, and also easier to ride when both feet are facing in somewhat the same direction. Stick with softboots, hardboots or ski boots will wreck havoc on your knee's and make mush out of them in no time with a couple of nice spills. Thats about all i can think about for now. I'd love to get back out west for a couple of weeks of riding, this east coast icy conditions crap is horrible...

 

[YZ Joust]

I tried snowboarding once and I did nothing but face plants for about six hours.... Beat the crap out of me.... Now here's my question, I'm somewhat ambidextrous, (I shoot a gun left handed, shoot a bow right handed, write left handed, throw right handed) so I figured since my dominate eye is my left eye I figured I would go w/ the goofy footed board... Do you think this was the cause of the face plants? Keep in mind I used to ride a skateboard w/ either foot out front, it didn't make a difference as far as control.... :|

 

[Jake T]

When trying to figure out which foot is a person's dominant foot what usually works
is having them throw a baseball and see which foot steps out first. That foot would be your
dominant foot.

 

[fatty_k]

Or, you could push them from behind, and see which foot they step out on to. It only works for some people, becuase Ive tried it on a lot of people and some people use different feet every time. But give it a try and see for your self. I ride big mountian, steeps, deep powder and I ride a 156 with my stance at almost 0 degrees, both feet. I find that is very uncomfortable to have an angle over 10 on the front. I just experiment and try different stances an adjustments, until I find something that is most comfortable. Kinda like suspension on your bike. BTW, I rarely see the park or air under my board. My name is Kyle, and I am a freerider! :)

 

[firecracker22]

My doc didn’t give me any special no-nos, but I think I will wear my braces just in case. (Hey Billywho, are Asterisks cross-sport approved?)

When I rode before I was not even close to knowing what type of stance I should have. I am ambidextrous in my feet though—I can ride either way. One bad habit I developed because of it though is to ride in a “falling leaf” kind of pattern—I never learned to turn with my back facing downhill. It freaks me out. I was doing a little better by the time I quit riding but I slipped back into it the one time I have gone since then. Right now my stance is perfectly straight. I should probably put my gimpy knee in front now though since it’s weaker, which makes me regular footed. (strong leg in back, right?)

As far as boards go right now I’m looking at price so 5150 and Lamar are the two I keep seeing in the right price range. There’s a local sports outlet store with last year’s boards on sale and they have a Sims women’s model for $260, which is a reasonable price to me. It’s about the right size (I’m told I should look at the 147-152 range) and it’s NOT pink. In fact few of the women’s boards I’ve seen so far are “girly” at all. Not by major companies, anyway. And it had the right bolt pattern to use my current bindings. So I might go back for that one soon. If it’s gone though I’ll keep looking. I looked at higher priced ones today, specifically Burton and Ride. They seemed really nice and the salesman really talked up the Ride, but I honestly don’t think I’m rider enough to appreciate the weight transferring design and spring and suspension and so on, nor will I be any time soon. He made the Ride sound really nice though, really talking up its cornering feel and handling, but $400 is too much for me right now. I just don’t need it. I will be more worried about staying upright!

Hucker, thanks for your input, but wouldn’t a 155 be too long—I’m only 5’7”? I will be staying at the smaller local mountains for now, maybe one or two trips to Silver Mountain or Crystal Mountain or something but there are two within two hours’ drive with far cheaper lift tickets.

Thanks all! I’m really looking forward to winter now! Especially because my bike is also going to get taken apart and cleaned, painted, etc. That should be fun! I’m thinking a metal flake orange with lots and lots of clear coat would look really cool on the frame . . . LOL!!!

 

[Hucker]

In order to figure out which foot you should put forward (regular or goofy) Get the person to close their eyes and tell them to fall backwards. Which ever foot they put out is their dominate foot. After 13 years, I can ride just as good both ways, but it takes some practice. FC22, braces would be a really good idea. I dislocated my knee and snapped my ankle when I was 18 , trying to attempt a nice big road gap :) If I don't wear them, they feel really sketchy..

 

[MXbabe]

FC,
I've been snowboarding for about 7 years. When I first moved to CO I had no clue how to snowboard. I went shopping for a snowboard and ended up with a Burton. It was a 151 if I remember correctly. Well, I got the wrong board for the type of snowboarding I was doing. It was a race (carve) board for hard bindings but I didn't know and rode it with the soft boots and bindings for 2 seasons. Then my husband (boyfriend at the time) bought a Jim Ripey (157) and gave it to me. It was a twin tip and a lot fatter. Needless to say, I had no problems moving up to this board and actually it improved my riding. I too am 5'7" and did not have a problem on the longer board. You will want a longer board for the soft snow and powder. I would try to look for something longer than the 147-152 range. I would shoot for 153 (minimum) to 157. It will not be too long, especially for the powder days. I thought the same thing going from a skinny 151 to a fatter 157. It was a huge improvement and made the riding that much easier. Like dirty~d, I have a size 9 foot and could not use the women's board. I think the women's boards tend to be geared for the shorter, smaller foot sized women. :silly:

Good luck and I hope you find something.

Do you guys have ski swaps out there? In the fall here, there is always a huge ski swap with TONS of gear for cheap. I would check into it. It might be worth holding out for.

Also, being in a ski town, we have lots and lots of knee injuries and I always heard that snowboarding is better on the knees than skiing. A lot of people with knee injuries go from skiiing to snowboarding because it is easier on their knees. Hopefully, that will be the case for you.

In order to figure out which foot you should put forward (regular or goofy) Get the person to close their eyes and tell them to fall backwards. Which ever foot they put out is their dominate foot.

I've always told people to imagine sliding across a sheet of ice and whatever foot they put out is the dominate foot. (never thought of that way, that works too) ;)

Kyla

 

[firecracker22]

Hm, going from a 139 even a 151 looks big but I will consider some larger ones. I might rent and try to find some demo days or something if I can. I did find a REALLY cute jacket on sale! LOL Shopping is fun.

I should get my forks revalved before I do anything else though . . . I am just all fired up about snow now.