Buying A Snowboard: Questions To Ask Yourself

Our Snowboard Technical Director, Clarence Gagnon, is going to share some of his expert insights and knowledge as he writes a series of blogs about the sometimes quite overwhelming choice we face of choosing which gear to get.

As I woke up from my first night in Sweden, my home for the pre-season, I looked out the window to see cars and vegetation all frosted up from a cold below zero night. I love it. It is the first naturally frozen water I have seen in about six months. Every year, this gets me really excited, because it is my alarm, it tells me it is time to get ready. I go over various teaching scenarios to prepare mentally. My body needs to be fit as the five-month long season I am about to begin is harsh and physically demanding, so I mend and train to perform. And last, but not least, I hit every single shop to see what's new to make sure I have the appropriate gear for the coming season.

As the month of September ends, most snowboard shops have the main part of their winter gear on display. The old classics show new colours, the fresh boards smell like they are just out of the factory, and from the corner of your eye you notice the odd new shape that everyone is raving about. Take a deep breath and find yourself. There are questions you need to ask yourself before you spend that hard earned money on something that will give you the time of your life.

Do I want to make snowboarding an art and fly like Travis? Is there a mini Jeremy Jones on my shoulder telling me to ride hard and fast on the deepest steepest slopes I can find? Or, is Haakon my religion and I wish to freeride like Terje? See, these guys all have something I would kill for. It's not fame, fortune, nor the fact that they get to ride the most amazing places on earth. It is the power to design their own weapons of gnar. Travis has an extremely damp board which allows him to go big. Mr. Jones has his own company, which draws boards for the big mountain rider, instruments of precision for daring descents. Terje works closely with Burton to test and develop products that will please him, but also the masses. There are hundreds of pros out there, all with their own style, hence the hundreds of different boards. It is your duty to determine what kind of rider you are, so that you can invest your money wisely, and have the most fun possible on the slopes this winter, and for years to come!

If you already own a snowboard, have a look at it. Is it still rideable? Have I had some good times on this piece of wood? Do I want to buy this year's version of this board (or a very similar one) because this one is a few years old? If you've answered yes to all of these, then why not go for something different, something that will give you a completely different experience. Is this one board you have your "all-rounder"? Try something that will expand your horizons. Get a freeride board which will allow you to dig some deep trenches on the corduroy and soar down the gnarliest slopes on the hill. Go shorter and softer to improve your butter and rail game. Experiment with different powder shapes to find the one that makes you soar on those bottomless days (trust me, this one is really worth it in Canada). If you're a fan of those sunny park days, maybe a poppy true twin is in order. Of course "all-rounders" will allow you to ride everything, but not without certain limits. Having a quiver will let you pick the right tool for the right job. You ever tried hammering in a nail with a screwdriver? Well, I have. All my boards were in the repair shop on one of the deepest days of the season and had to borrow a 152 soft park board from a friend (for those of you that don't know me, I require >162 on a normal day, let alone a powder day). It was a fun day, of course, and I remember it, because of the struggle it was for me to ride in the deep snow, on such a short and soft board. The memory would be a lot more positive if I had had my own powder board available to me that day.

Having a one board quiver is not something that is wrong either. To each's own. It is important to understand a few concepts in physics in order to make the right choice though. In the last ten years or so, the snowboard industry has seen so many different shapes and bends come to life. They are all good for something, as long as you understand what that something is when you buy. Camber and rocker (reverse camber) cause different things to happen to the board, the snow, and the way you ride. Mixing them as hybrids can give you awesome sensations and versatility that only one type of camber would not. Length and width will also determine the way you handle the board, the quickness at which it will respond to your actions. The sidecut radius will play an important role on how easy it is to turn. With all these different factors, the possibilities become endless.

It truly is a maze out there. One we are forced to go through every time we go to the shop to get something new or different. As this shoulder season unfolds, follow me in a series of articles that will discuss how to narrow down your board choices to the ones that will fit you, your riding style and the course you are planning to take with us. I will also write about boots, bindings, how to try boards and things to consider while traveling with snowboard equipment. Once the equipment is all sorted out, we will get down to business with more technical articles about the life and progression of the snowboard instructor, a rare breed that feeds on adrenaline and an extraordinary lifestyle.

To finish it off, have a listen to Terje Haakonsen discuss snowboarding, the environment and his view on yoga in this 42-minute-long podcast. The way this man has stayed true to himself over the years is reflected in there and is truly inspirational for any snowboarder.

KEEP READING

Learn more about snowboard design in Clarence's next blog on snowboard shape, which takes you through different styles of camber and what type of riding they suit.

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