Snowboarders?

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 And while the boots and bindings are functional, they're outdated and the new stuff is WAY cooler.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.

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?

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!!!

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.