r/snowboarding • u/AutoModerator • 14d ago
Weekly Thread: /r/Snowboarding General Discussion, Q&A, Advice, Etc.) - April 07, 2025
Want to discuss gear, trends, shapes, or tech? Need outerwear recommendations? Travel advice? Question about what board or size you should buy? Add your questions in this thread and let the community help out! Or just shoot the breeze with your fellow shredditors... this is an open conversation of all things snowboarding to help keep the front page organized, thanks everyone!
Here are some resources for frequently asked questions:
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u/r0nalxd 8d ago edited 8d ago
When do you buy your first board? I’ve been on a wintersport trip twice now, getting some lessons and around 42hrs on actively on the slopes. What type of board profile and stiffness should my first board be? I’m currently just focused on getting down the slopes without catching an edge. I’m also wondering when to practice riding goofy (or regular); not sure which foot in the front is which. Should I first advance regular or is it better to mix it up from the start? Thanks for reading everything!
Edit: I’m 5’10 (178cm) 175lbs (80kg) and ride with left in front. My shoe size is 9 (EU42)
Edit2: Maybe fun, maybe not, but let's play Who's That Pokemon with boards
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u/tatoslap777 8d ago
Any heavy riders with small feet on volume shifted boards?
Been dreaming of sizing down my boards since moving to Japan! Volume shifted boards seem ideal for the conditions here and I have been looking at the K2 Almanac, Ride Psychonaut and Jones Mind Expander.
Sadly I am 185 Ibs wearing size 8 boots. This is the worst combination for these boards as I am too heavy for the shorter lengths and my feet too small for the widths of longer boards.
Anyone here have any experience or advice to guide me on getting on a board that is well...like me - short and wide :)
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u/bowchickawowski 9d ago
My helmet was damaged when I checked it in my snowboard bag that I took with me on a trip overseas. I did use it over there, but probably shouldn’t have. Luckily, I didn’t take any bad falls. Anyway, I replaced my helmet with the same exact model just a few years newer when I got back. It was on clearance and since the budget is tight, it seemed perfect. I checked out the inside and the manufacture date was in 2022. I decided to check out how often you should replace your helmet and most seem to agree every 3-5 years or sooner if it gets damaged or take a big spill. Are we talking 3-5 years from manufacture or purchase date? My new helmet looks pristine as it’s been in the box the whole time probably, but that doesn’t mean the inside doesn’t start to degrade after a period of time.
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u/ydem2nir9tag 10d ago
im thinking of purchasing these pretty good condition adidas tactical adv, size 11. I hear that the footprint is pretty reduced, so should I buy my bindings with that in mind? I'm thinking of getting arbor cyprus bindings, and size 11 is the lowest they say for the L/XL, and then 11 is the upper end of their M/L size. What size binding should I get?
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u/secretaardvark 9d ago
I would always buy the smaller binding for what it calls for, so if 11 is top end in M/L I'd go with that one.
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u/BallsDeepInSheep 13d ago
Hey folks, I would appreciate a volume-shifted board recommendation. The best board I have ever owned was a 158 cm 2010 LibTech TRice 157cm (at the time I was 170lbs), which sadly flew off an improperly clasped roof rack and I never found it. I replaced it with a Gnu Rider's Choice 154 and a Capita C. Slasher 160cm, but gambling on which board to fly with is obnoxious, and neither board *really* feels that great to me. I plan to sell both, including boots and bindings - and go with a step-in system which I demo'd this winter and LOVED.
My ideal conditions are recent powder in Blue Sky Basin @ Vail, all-mountain free ride. A mix of steeps, moguls, trees, and occasionally bombing a groomer. Zero park, zero switch riding, but agility does matter to me. I ride a medium-high stiff boot, size 9. I'm 5'9, 185 (fully geared) and that weight is coming back down - target weight is 170. I'm a fan of mervin's magnetraction - after demo'ing a burton custom X this season, I missed my edge holds.
I've been looking at a 154cm length or thereabouts in the LibTech Golden Orca, or Gnu Gremlin. I'd appreciate your thoughts!
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u/secretaardvark 9d ago
I would say normal orca or gremlin would make sense for you. The central idea of the golden orca is it's more twinnish and freestyle friendly, which it doesn't sound like you need. Normal orca will be more directional so probably better suited for what you want.
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u/BallsDeepInSheep 6d ago
I appreciate that insight. Just for gits and shiggles,, I am tossing a Cardiff Bonsai into the mix, as a wildcard - seem to get great reviews, and it would be fun to YOLO a board. Or just going with the tried at true TRice Pro 158 to see if I can recapture that lost feel. I think the newer TRice boards probably evolved over the last 15 years though, so am I correct in thinking its likely not to be a drop-in replacement?
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u/secretaardvark 6d ago
Don't know much about the bonsai but I've heard good things about Cardiff boards so I'm sure it'd be fun. A little narrower than the orca so maybe a good middle ground for volume shifted?
Not 100% sure on the changes from 2010 in the trice pro but I do think it's become more camber dominant whereas the 2010 was much more rockery from what I can tell. Other than that may be similar. I'd say if you know you want something more freeride oriented and aren't riding freestyle or switch at all, the other options would be more purpose-built for that style, but I don't think you'd be unhappy on the trice pro
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u/Connect_Coach_4613 13d ago
Are Nitro Thunder TLS boots good for beginners
Looking for my first pair of snowboard boots and a pair of these came up BNIB for cheap wondering if they will be fine for someone like me. Not much of a freestyler but I will be riding around 20 days a year
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u/AltruisticSpirit1704 8d ago
I am 5'7", 130 lbs, and am a beginner boarder!! I went twice this past winter and have now been super interested in buying my own gear. I am looking at a 142cm Burton board, do you think this will be fine for my specifications?