A guide to buying a snowboard

Buying snowboard gear for the first time can seem like a daunting task. Here we offer some help and advice to make the process as easy as possible.

If you need to buy new equipment for your course we generally recommend that you purchase it in resort. Having said that, if you are coming for 2 weeks or less then it may be worth arriving with equipment to ensure you get maximum time on snow. If you are wanting to buy a particular product in a particular colour etc. it might be worth buying in advance to as local stores have everything one needs but not every range of every brand in every variable.

If you're joining us for longer than 2 weeks and are looking for some support with your purchase then buying in resort is likely to be best for you as you'll get the best advice - specific to local conditions, you'll be covered by the local warranty if anything breaks, you'll make friends with the locals, and lastly, you won't have to travel with it on your outbound trip. Additionally, in many of the shops, Nonstoppers will receive a discount of usually around 10-15%.

Here's some handy equipment adivce

SNOWBOARD ADVICE

Type: an All Mountain board- so you don’t compromise your enjoyment or ability.

Length: between your nose and the top of your head – shorter is always easier though.

Width: slightly wider than the length of your foot.

Camber/Rocker: test a few out and see what you prefer!

Base: extruded or sintered depending on what you want out your board and what you’re willing to do maintenance wise!

BOOTS & CLOTHING

You can never completely tell if the fit is right when trying a boot on in a shop. It is not until you have used a boot a few times that you can feel the imperfections in the fit. There are many things that can be done to a boot to make it fit better and these adjustments are usually free from the shop you purchased the boots from.

The locals know what works best in the conditions you'll be riding in. They'll know what waterproofing vs. insulation you'll be most comfortable in. Make sure you learn the ‘lingo’ when buying outerwear as things like insulation and waterproofing are very important points to consider.