Notifications
Clear all
Soft Boots
6 Posts
4 Users
1 Reactions
207 Views
Topic starter 08/03/2024 2:14 pm
Hi all,
First of all I want to thank James for creating this site and his great YouTube videos.
I sort of stumbled into carving from a background of skateboarding and a curiosity for attempting to turn without sliding.
I have always rented gear for logistical and financial reasons (all my trips to snow are holiday trips as I live in Sydney, Australia) but the last few times I have rented a board I have just asked for the widest board they have in attempts to carve deeper (my main limiter has always been booting out). This often has mixed results as you can imagine at your average tourist rental shop.
I am sick of renting and booting out and since recently discovering James' content my eyes have been opened to the high ceiling that is possible with carving.
I am looking to buy a board, bindings and boots (and potentially risers?). Going to stick with soft boots for now as I will likely also buy a powder board next (for Japan not Australia lol) and don't want to have to purchase another set of boots/bindings for that.
I am 80kg (176 pounds) and 182cm tall. US10 size boot. I probably want to buy a board which is for high intermediate to advanced riding, any suggestions or pointers are greatly appreciated. Cheers all
08/03/2024 4:55 pm
first of all you have to find the boots. Be sure which is your MP, and then look for the boots.
Then you have to find the combination bindings + board
Only a snowboarder knows this feeling. And once you've felt it for yourself, it's impossible not to want more. It's so addictive that it should be illegal, but it's not and that's why they make such good snowboards that after riding them you want to sell everything and move to the mountains, because a man has to have a balance in his life, and that balance should be 80% snowboarding and 20% working.
08/03/2024 6:39 pm
want to buy a board which is for high intermediate to advanced riding
Thanks for posting that question here instead of the YouTube comments! This was a big part of the idea behind this forum.
Please clarify though: you said advanced riding but did you mean advanced carving or advanced all mountain riding with some carving too? What kind of terrain do you intend to ride and do you want one board to do it all or are you building a quiver? The latter is suggested, two boards at least.
You mentioned a powder board so I assume the other will be carving focused. But there's s big difference between a carving all mountain and a dedicated carver.
If it's the dedicated carver you're after then of course I have to point you to the JJA "working title" board in the store. This is the only wide titanal/rubber freecarving board available anywhere right now. Not the best choice for all mountain riding though, this is the no-compromise, trench digging, corduroy crushing, mono-railing, mitten destroying carving machine that I ride, but slightly toned down for the friendlier ride that an intermediate or advanced carver will enjoy.
I'm just slaying...
Topic starter 08/03/2024 9:49 pm
Thanks for the replies!
How ideal do the conditions need to be for a dedicated carver such as the board you mention? I will likely be doing a large amount of my riding on Australian slopes where pretty much all corduroy is churned up 2 hours after the lifts open and the 'snow' gets pretty slushy throughout the day. I have not experienced riding a dedicated carver (or even recall seeing anyone else on one on Aussie slopes) so I am unsure how that would go.
I suppose realistically I should buy something more along the lines of an all mountain carver for my first board, and look into getting something dedicated after. I am more than happy to compromise on some all mountain ability to get some delicious carving done but I also don't want to hate myself too much when exploring ungroomed and off-piste stuff with others. Any suggestions for specs or boards I should look into? Cheers
09/03/2024 5:31 am
@x Yeah mate, its a tough one, I'm in Vic, so I've been in your boots as it were, and still are to some degree. If we're talking OZ,..You need something you can get the hang of at slower safer speeds, not to stiff, with reasonable effective edge for its over all length. But not to much, or you'll get a kind of locked in feeling, where you're having to wrestle just to come out of, if you get cut off by someone fanging past, or run out of room. I tend to ride my longer board early, by late morning I'm heading back to the car park to grab my shorter board to ride the custard, and dodge the crowds. If you haven't already, take a look at Stranda snowboards, in particular the Biru, at least check out it's specs, its length relative to edge and side cut radius, if my hooves were smaller I'd be keen.
09/03/2024 9:18 am
Yeah, the titanal/rubber construction boards like the JJAs are unsurpassed for grip and forgiveness but less versatile than an all mountain.
Two hours of good groom is not bad at all, I would definetly want a dedicated carver for those mornings. There's a world of difference between production boards and custom metal boards and I'm a no-compromise kind of rider.
If you've made up your mind to get one board then width is a big consideration too. Stranda is known for its carving performance but NeverSummer makes wider boards. For me, I'm happier with a wider board even if it's not the best carver because boot out is inevitably the limiting factor. I can carve anything with sidecut, until my toes start dragging. If you have smaller feet or like steeper angles and risers then Stranda is a good choice for sure.
I'm with @ferryman. I would rather take the time to change boards than settle for a compromise. But snowboarding is probably my highest priority in life (besides my family) and I spend a lot of money to make sure I'm riding the best board in whatever conditions are out there on any given day.
Problem is, the more boards you have the greater the probability that you choose the wrong one on any given day...
I'm just slaying...
Board Doctor reacted
