Choosing A Snowboard. Don't Be Hasty. Be Thorough And Reap The Rewards.

When choosing a snowboard you need to know what to look for. Why does one brand work better than another. Why do prices differ from one board shop than another? Should I let price matter? What if I buy and not like the board?

Unless you have money to burn your best bet is to find a shop that will rent you a board with the understanding that if you don't like it you can walk without obligation, but if you do like it then the shop will deduct the rental fee from the retail price.

Do not be in a hurry. Rent a few different boards. Try to get the feel of each one. Make a real effort to resist buying and do not get caught up in the hype. Every board manufacturer will tell you their boards are better. That is human nature at work. Remember, graphics do not make the board better.

The one point you really must understand is this. Nearly every board is made the same way. The core is wood. It's covered on top with fiberglass and the bottom is plastic. That is all there is to it.

Sure, some manufacturers spend more time sanding, painting, designing and applying nice graphics. Some also spend a fortune on advertising material, but when it comes right down to it, one board is about the same as the next.

The most important factor in the equation is how does the board feel to you on the snow. Choosing a snowboard means all of the above PLUS trying it out on the slopes. Experience the feel for yourself. Do not believe the advertising hype because most of it is a play on words. In the long run, you and you alone will decide what you want and feel.

When you enter a snowboard shop or an on-line shop the first thing you will notice will be the tremendous variety of boards available. Name brands such as Burton, Abbigliamento, DC, Dragon, Gnu, K2, Roxy, Salomon and dozens of others fill the walls. If you question the clerks and ask for their opinion of the different boards you will get the impression that they must spend all of their time testing every board out on the hills. If truth be known, they will probably have one board they use personally. The rest of the information they will pick up from brochures and advertising material.

Choosing a snowboard is a matter of elimination. By trying a board you will either like it or love it. Compare the stiffness of one against the other.

Do not skimp on the bindings. You bought a great board but fitted it with a cheap binding. Big mistake. Advances in binding manufacturing have resulted in equipment that will last for years. Nothing will wipe you out like having that cheap binding give out, ruining a day of what should have been perfect boarding. Now it is back to the shop, buying the more expensive binding. Why not do it all once. Buy the best you are able to afford.

Once you have purchased the board and those great bindings get out there and try it out. Be sure to check how the board and bindings are working together, sort of as a team would do. The employees at the shop are usually very helpful. Do not hesitate to return for binding tweaking.

So there it is. Choosing a snowboard need not be a tough task. Be aware of the pitfalls of paying too much for a fancy board. The cheap one will do just as good a job for you. Place the dollars on the bindings and really enjoy your days on the trails.

About The Author:

Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website Whistler-Outdoors is a must visit for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.

How to Choose the Right Snowboard

Buying a new snowboard is fun and exciting, but it's also a big investment. When faced with several hundred bright, shiny new snowboards in the shop, choosing the right board can seem almost impossible. Burton Snowboards alone produces 47 different snowboards between their men's and women's lines. However, with a little research, it's not difficult to narrow down your choices to a handful of boards, making your decision that much easier.

How to Choose the Right Snowboard:

Define Yourself as a Snowboarder

To narrow down your choices so you can choose the right snowboard, think about what type of riding you do the most. If you're into freestyle snowboarding, you'll want to look at different boards than if you're an All Mountain rider.

Check Out the New Catalogs

Snowboard companies start delivering their new brochures and catalogs to shops in August, just a few weeks before the new gear actually arrives. Stop by your local snowboard shop and pick up a few brochures - this will give you a head-start as you go about narrowing down your choices. Pick out a bunch of boards from the catalogs, but don't put too much faith in what they say, because after all, they were written by the marketing departments. Trust - you can never be too careful!

Research, Research, Research

Snowboarding magazines like Transworld Snowboarding, Snowboarder Magazine and others typically publish an annual buyers guide before the season starts (usually in September or October). These guides offer a wealth of information on nearly every snowboard model being sold for the upcoming season. Companies send new product to the magazines towards the end of the previous season for testing, so you can be sure the opinions and information contained within the annual buyers guides is legit. Take that list of boards you picked out from the company brochures, and read up on 'em as much as possible.

Hit Up Your Local Snowboard Shop

Pick their brains. Seriously. It might sound gross, but the guys and gals at your favorite shop probably know more about this year's line of boards than anyone outside of the companies themselves. Head on in, let 'em know the important things - how long you've been riding, the type of riding you mostly do, how much you're looking to spend, and the boards you've been reading up on. See what they say. Note what they say. Buy NOTHING that first day.

DEMO, demo, demo

This is the most important step. All the research, knowledge and recommendations in the world don't mean a thing until you've actually ridden the board. Don't believe me? A few years ago, the industry was falling all over themselves in praise of the Burton Custom, an admittedly venerable board. I took a demo model out for a few runs and came back unimpressed. The next day, I tried out a different Burton Board (an Un Inc.) and absolutely loved it. Had I listened to "everyone," I'd have been one unhappy rider.

• Resort Demo Days: Resorts usually hold demo days in the beginning of the season (December is prime-time for product demo's). Call up your favorite resort, or ask around at the local shop to find out when, where, and who will be at the various product demo's in your area, then get out and ride, ride, ride! By the time you get to this point, you should have your choice narrowed down to two or three boards - take each of them out and let 'er rip.
• Shop Demo Programs: Most snowboard shops will let you try out a demo model of the board you're interested in for a small fee, which they'll usually put towards the purchase price of the board if you decide to buy. Just like with resort demo days, bring in your list of two or three boards and try each of them out.
• By Christopher Del Sole...About.com