Went snowboarding.. now addicted.
 

Last weekend I went snowboarding for the first time. Wow that shit is fun. I can't believe I've been missing out on this for 23 years.

Decided to buy some snowboarding gear since this will definitely be a 2-3 times a week thing.

Who else on here snowboards a lot? I know thesnowboarder obviously does since he posted that video. Anyone else? Where do you guys go to board, where have you gone? What gear do you use?

I'm in NY so there are a few pretty nice hills, nothing special. I just picked up last years model of the K2 Darkstar and Burton bindings/boots. My friend said it should be a good beginner setup, hope he is right.

Most important part of your snowboarding setup is your BOOTS. Trust me, if your boots dont fit you right or are uncomfortable, your going to be hatin' life. I rarely go now, most of my snowboarding buddies from high school moved out of state and i have since moved to scuba diving. It is fun once you start hitting the booters, or the first one on the pow in the morning. Buy a helmet, there's been a few times where if i didn't have one on i would have been in a life threatening situation. 100 dollars or so is a cheap insurance.

I used to snow board in Idaho couple years back a place called bogus basin! man that was soo fun, I miss it way too much. since then I moved on to surfing, wake boarding and long boarding (florida life lol)

I am definitely getting a helmet. That has saved my life too many times to count back in my skating days.

backcountry freeride > *

Actin like you ride, sheesh.


I ride, alot. Lake Tahoe, Ca mostly. I took a trip to Boulder this year and plan on going back. Have ridden in Calgary Canada, Utah and would like to get to Whistler as well.

If you want to get better, ride with people who are better than you, i find myself only trying new things and progressing when i am riding with people better than me.

Have fun.

I picked it up a few years ago and definitely wish I did earlier. The fall is not so bad when you're shorter.

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000 on the helmet. On a snowboard you are much more likely to have a "rotational" fall from catching the edge and if you hit ice or hard snow you're in a lot of trouble without a brain bucket.

Play around with stances. I finally switched to a duck 12/-6 stance and shifted the bindings about 1-2" towards the rear of the board and wow what a difference. 1000x better.

Otherwise have fun its addicting.

Helmets are for pussys. I've been snowboarding for 6 years now and it's awesome. We just took a trip to killington, VT with 13 friends for 3 days on new years. Snowboarding gets expensive, I don't know how your going to afford 3 times a week unless your still at your rents house. Go to VT alot of big mountains, killington has that new natural park that it's fucking awesome, you can gring a shed, trees, logs, pretty sick.

I'm a pussy then :D I'll be wearing helmet.

2-3 times a week would be at what I would imagine is a pretty crappy hill, I don't really know since I've only been to one place. So the price is pretty low.

Better stick to the crappy hill then cause VT lift tickets are running at $85

I doubt at this point I'd even get much more out of a better hill. So for now, shitty hills.

I don't snowboard, I ski. Been doing it for like 21 years now. (27 years old now). I freaking love it. We always go at least 3 times a year. This year has been pretty sucky thought and we havent had time to go yet. Usually end up going to Camelback or Big Boulder since it's not too bad of a drive there (under 2 hours). I have been to Gore Mountain twice though and that was awesome. Now I can't wait to go again.

Where are these located Artie?

How good is the snow?

What is the altitude?

I had plans to go to Taos this year but... it won't happen :mad:

I just got back from 12 days at vail/beaver/creek breckenridge and plan to go back for 12 more days in February. Epic pass FTW. If I can find my camera I'll take a pic of my board. I put my car part stickers on it :p

The most important piece of equipment is a helmet. I hit my head really fucking hard too many times before I got a helmet. Now, I can lie down carefree. Next is boots, bindings, then board. In that order.

Go to sierrasnowboard.com They have great sales and you can get very good gear for much cheaper than at physical shops.

FWIW my stance is 30f/27 rear on a burton custom. I don't do tricks except for little jumps and my favorite thing is bombing moguls, choppy powder, and powder.

Camelback and Big Boulder are in the Poconos in PA.

Gore Mountain is somewhere in NY. lol I was on a bus trip both times so I really dont know. It did take us like 5 hours to get to that area though. We stayed at a Polish ranch hotel near there.

Link for Camelback - Camelback - Camelback - Pocono Mountains Ski Area

Link for Jack Frost/Big Boulder (2 mountains, 1 Ticket) - Jack Frost Big Boulder | jack frost big boulder + where snow comes first

Link for Gore Mountain - Gore Mountain Ski Resort

The Pocono ones are OK. The Gore Mountain one is by far a lot better than the other 2. Much longer trails. The only downside for me for that one is the time involved in driving there so we stick to the more local ones.

Thanks Artie,

Did you see this special for this coming weekend at Gore: Special Deals - Packages & Lodging | Gore Mountain Ski Resort

I used to snowboard all the time, but now that I live in the South, it's nowhere near as much as I'd like. I used to go to VT all the time when I was in CT - Mt. Snow mostly, Killington, and Stratton. I was snowboarding at Powder Ridge in CT when I worked there. It's small, but they had a decent park and it was lit. I've also been to Colorado - Vail, Keystone, and Breckenridge. I'm hoping to go to UT next.

All I would say is when you are learning, find a place that has really wide trails so you can easily avoid stupid other people. While you're learing, also develop your switch riding so you don't get stuck only feeling comfortable in one direction. Once you get better, find bigger mountains with tighter and steeper trails or good terrain parks if that's your thing. Fewer idiots exit the green areas.

As far as equipment goes, Definitely get something very snug but comfortable (bring the socks you'll use when trying them on). Get the smallest boot that doesn't hurt, you'll have better control and use less effort. For boards, it depends on your style, but if you like going fast and carving hard, get a board that doesn't flex much torsionally. Torsional flex causes the board to wash out under high strain. Ass Mann said, try stances, too. I would start out with something like 5/-5 and perfect center or slightly back (depends on if the board is directional, most are slightly). Then the next day, try something a little different and see how it feels. Some binding will allow you to adjust your position toward an edge, which can also help if you don't get an edge very well (usually toe). I recommend bindings that at least have a wedge under the toe and adjustment for the calf.

For clothing, get yourself a jacket with a nice powder skirt that you can tie, too. Nothing sucks more than snow up your back. Removable liners are also quite nice. Pants are all pretty basic, just get something with decent water protection and good gloves.

+1 on helmet. I don't wear one, but I should.

Thanks TrickerZ, lots of good information. I am so excited to go this Friday.

Spend your time learning on blues, not greens. It's difficult to learn to carve on greens and while blues may look steep, you'll be forced to bend your knees and get a good edge. Your transitions will also work better.

Keep your weight on your lead foot at all times. You will crash or suck when you put your weight on your back foot. The more weight you have on the front, the more control you will have.

Turn your head, not your shoulders to see down the slope. If you turn your shoulders too much, you will get screwed up.

If possible, try to learn on a good board, bindings, boots. A good snowboarder can do well with any package but it's a lot easier for a noob snowboarder to learn when they don't have to be crippled by shite equipment.

Music always improves the snowbaording experience 100%. I use a metal ipod shuffle clipped on my helmet.

I didn't even think about music while boarding, definitely doing that.

I had issues when I first started with putting too much weight on my back foot. Once I shifted my weight forward I did much better. Obviously I had a lot of issues turning. But now it's pretty easy.

I agree with faeflora on going on blue instead of green. Greens tend to get you stuck as a snowboarder, too. Basically, you need to be comfortable going faster, which sounds counter intuitive, but it's actually easier the faster you go. As he said, control is all in your weight balance. You'll notice toward the end of the day when you start to suck (or suck more), you put more weight on the back leg. It's not good, but it's hard to avoid when your muscles are fatigued. I know for me, it takes a lot of concentration toward the end of the day to keep my weight forward. I try to ride switch more toward the end of the day since I naturally put more weight on that leg.

If you're dealing with poor equipment, make sure you at least have a good edge. Really flexible boards are horrible, though. My first board you could practically bend in half and it felt like I was going to lose my edge all the time. There's nothing you can do but buy a better board.

My favorite board that I demoed (albeit like 10 years ago) was the Palmer Carbon Circle. Amazing design - flexible honeycomb tips for pop and lightened weight while spinning, carbon strips across the front and back for torsional rigidity, and honeycomb in the center to reduce weight. It felt so stable, I would have dropped the $600 to get one if I had it. It was $300 for me since I worked at a shop, but I still didn't have that. If you find a chance to go to a demo day, do it. There are usually reps from just about every company if it's a decent demo and you can try out every board and boots to see what works for you.

Oh, I should probably mention, to test torsional rigidity, take the board and sandwich it between your legs, then grab the end and twist it. The less it twists, the better. To test the lateral rigidity, jam one end of the board into the ground and push your knee into the center of the board while holding the top. Stiffer boards torsionally are better for everything I would say (some may disagree, but I don't see why), but lateral stiffness is better for carving and bad for pipes. You want a pipe board to be springy.

Edit: Correct term is longitudinal, not lateral flex.

Snowboarding is basically my reason for living. Its absolutely the best shit ever. Seriously, ever since i started 4 years ago ive been addicted and have gone at least 30+ times a season. In the summer its hard not to be bummed and waiting for the winter. OTOH i have my car, and i like to bmx in the summer, but snowboarding imo is better than both.

+1 on seirrasnowboard.com, you can get all your gear 50-70 percent off if you shop pre season.

Park boards are shorter and softer, all mountain terrain boards are longer and stiffer. I prefer the mountain to the park, but kickers are sure fun.

I wakeboard like crazy in the summer to cope. It takes a hell of a lot more fitness, though. I never really breathe hard snowboarding, but wakeboarding, I have to lay in the water and rest between runs to catch my breathe. In my opinion, it's just as much fun as snowboarding. Wakeskating is another option.

If I had the time and money, I'd definitely be snowboarding 30 times a year. I have to drive a few hours to get anywhere, though and the size and conditions suck.

One of my first points when trying to teach friends how to snowboard...whichever way you lean, you will go that direction as long as gravity agrees...if you lean uphilll (back foot), you're fighting gravity, and gravity wins every time.

Ohh man i love wakeboarding too. Ive only done it a few times though.. when i lived in texas.

If i had the means to go wakeboarding(A boat, lake, gear, and other people to go with) i definitely would in the summer. The only way i can get away with snowboarding 30+ times a season is i switch to part time on my job, and get a season pass(before i go part time so i can afford it). The rest of the time im on a tight budget, but get to snowboard my ass off.

I love snowboarding dearly as well. We are hopefully going to relocate and one of our prime criteria is situating ourselves within an hour or so of great slopes. It's looking like Seattle is choice. Plus then, my 3071 can ride it out with jay's 3076 :)

Another tip-- Snowboarding on ice sucks. If you are good, just try to get over the ice as quickly as possible. If you're not, and you're going slowly, ice can easily make you crash.

You want to crash on a snowboard the same way (I think) you want to crash on a motorcycle. You want to lay down. You do not want a heel or toe edge to catch and for your face or the back of your head to slam into hardpack. Wearing a helmet keeps you from KO'ing yourself but you can still get whiplash, mild to severe. If you feel you are going too fast or are getting out of control, depending on your edge, lean backwards or forwards into the hill. If you are on heel edge, just sit down. If you are on toe edge fall slowly into the hill and break your fall with your forearms. Do not try to break your fall with an outstretched hand or you might sprain your wrist. Practice falling backwards and forwards a few times while stationary. Falling is not that bad if it is done on your own terms, and it is immensely superior to crashing.

Great advice as well--I just went to blue "ice" mt a week ago and it was an ice skating rink as usual. I still can't fathom how its so popular with those horrific conditions.

Artie, camelback is the best in the poconos short of elk...I go to all of them and they are always on top of things and the first to make snow.

Elk in union dale has the best conditions by far but the lifts are super slow. The trails are great and tons of powder but its quite a ways away.

Camelback starts at about ~1400 feet and goes up to over 2200. While its not much its still enough for it to be colder and less icy then the rest of the pocono mts. If you're coming from south or east its the way to go other than NY.

Vermont is nice but a long drive and expensive. At camelback I get the $50 camelcard and the whole season I pay $20 for a lift ticket and every third one is free so I go quite a bit when work permits.

Couple beers some great feel good music / hardcore metal put me at the top of my game. Rails i was always scared to do suddenly i am boardslide/50-50ing them. On booters id usually just ride it out but i actually throw some grabs. When trying new tricks your gonna fall but once you got it down its fun to throw them down. Damn now i really wanna go up.

Snowboarding FTW :D

Going tomorrow, we are supposed to get a couple inches of snow too so that should be good. So excited!

Awesome, have fun! I was looking at Burton's site and they have a demo at Mountain Creek Resort – Vernon, NJ, February 27–March 1, and Stowe, VT March 6-8. I didn't realize that most of the demos are only for retailers, but that one's open to the public. If you can, check out their stuff and see what you like. Personally, I'm not a Burton fan, but other people swear by them.

Some other brands to check on in order of my personal preference:
Palmer
Rossignol
Arbor
Ride
K2

Am I the only one here who skiis? I ski a Volkl Supersport 168 80-underfoot. Great for crud, powder and packed.

I used to ski, but now find snowboarding much more enjoyable. My skis were crappy Elans. I demoed quite a few nice ones. Used to ride some twin tips for awhile and tried a few minis and ski-boards.

Well boarding was awesome. My only major fall of the night was on my last run, go figure.

I think the next time I can start hitting a few jumps :D Maybe tomorrow.

snowboarding > skiing

i miss it so much. usually had bad to worse conditions in lower pen. of michigan. but you got pretty good and when you actually went far north or out of state in some powder you were fearless. i remember many nights on ice. even saw someone crack their skull on it one time.

we used to drive 3-4 hrs. to a resort for the afternoon/evening session and get or sometimes buy the lift tickets from people as they were leaving after the morning/afternoon session. then we would get out there and make sure all the lift operators saw us. then they would take an hour break between sessions, and when we would go back out, the lift operators wouldn't ask to see our lift tickets as they remembered us. it was a good scam, and the only way we could hit the slopes 25+ times per season. even back then, at these little resorts they were 45-65 dollars!

i've been trying to talk some friends into going the past few years to new mexico or something. but they're all fat, and now i'm all fat too! lol
in michigan if we weren't mt. biking some bad ass trails, we were playing basketball, beach volleyball, or snowboarding or snowmobiling in the winter.

anyway's, enjoy it as much as you can while you can. there isn't much else you can do that gives you such a good feeling. a good track battle is exhilarating, but it's more rewarding when it's just you and a board.

this is making me wanna get into it! but i cant stand snow and being cold, how do u guys put up with it? i was actually planning a trip to Canada in February so i wanna know beginner tips, and attire, etc.

we have a pretty good selection of hills in new england too. pats peak, various hills in maine and new hampshire, etc...i think i might fight my tropical side and start enjoying new england :D

Lots of clothes. Get the right gear and you won't notice it's cold. After your first run your body will warm up. You need different options for different temperatures. For bitter cold, I have my jacket with liner, sweatshirt, turtleneck, snow pants, thermal pants, jogging pants, wool socks, a mask, goggles, and fleece-lined beanie.

Read the thread for tips, but to start out, you usually use your heal edge and go back and forth slowly, staying on your heal edge. You just add a little more weight left or right to get it going in that direction, then even off your weight again and go back the other way. After you get that down, you go to your toe edge and do the same thing. Then you transition between the two and eventually you'll feel comfortable carving.

I used to live in CT and New England has some great places. The MA ones are pretty weak, but VT, NH and ME all have great slopes.

So just got back from some good boarding. Used my new board for the first time, first two runs were terrible. After that I got used to it.

We took my miata lol. Two boards, full gear, plus some extra stuff such as a small tool box in the trunk. We had to pull the hard top off, slide the boards through the roll bar towards the bottom of the passanger seat... then put the hard top back on.

Going again tomorrow, can't wait.

I wear my motorcycle gear to the mountain. It's waterproof, and keeps me warm at 60+mph, so I figured it'd be fine on the mountain, and it is. This is for gloves and pants, I have a winter jacket with fleece liner. My armored motorcycle jacket would look a little funny. I should note that my waterproof First Gear pants have the knee protector inserts removed.

I went snowboarding once. And it was fun!! Going back this year forsure ;)

So I am going snowboarding on Feb 6th. This will be the first time I have gone in about 4 years. The one thing I remember from last time was that not having goggles sucks. So are there any recommendations for some cheap goggles? I am looking to spend $30 or less on them if that is doable.

I spent $130 on oakleys

my girlfriend spent $30 on some cheapos

both fog up

my oakleys are falling apart

hers are still ok.


Just get any pair with a strap long enough to fit around your helmet!

BTW I made some cheap "snowboard helmet headphones" by taking apart $5 koss headphones, cutting the earmuffs on the helmet, and putting the drivers in there. They sound great.

I have Bolle Shark Goggles at REI.com

I have used them about 3 times now. So far I haven't had issues with fogging or low visibility. I would recommend them if you want something cheap that gets the job done. I got the ones with no tint, but I'm thinking tint might have been a good idea, it gets bright out there! Although not sure how much that would hurt night boarding.

I'm sure the more experienced guys might be able to help out more :D

Been boarding about 8 years & I love it. Just got back from a day in Tahoe, in fact. It's my first time this season and I'm as sore as fuck, but it's all worth it. The 3 hour drive each way is brutal though. Hope you have closer mountains to ride.

I usually just wear sunglasses if the weather's not too harsh. Otherwise I have oakley goggles that seem to be holding up.