Need Help deciding which snowboard to buy?

Question

I've been snowboarding about 7 times this year and getting tired of always renting a new board. I went 2 weeks ago and rented a 152 Burton Blunt- I loved it. I was going off of jumps and 50/50 board sliding like nothing. Last week I had to get a mountain board and got stuck with a Atomic 155 Wide- I sucked all day and could not land a jump. So I've decided I need to buy a board but with so many options on the market I'm lost. I love the park, but I live in the Pacific Northwest and we got dumped on this year. I want a board that I can take in the park, and go off kickers, but will allow me to hit the mountain during pow days - These are the boards I've looked at

GNU Carbon High Beam 153 2006/07
Rome Crail 153 2006/07
Rome Graft 153 2006/2007

If any experts out there could point me in the right direction I'd be stoked.

Personal SPecs
Goofy
5'6
155 Pounds

Answer 1

Boot size is important. If your feet happen to be bigger than size 11 (I suppose that's doubtful at 5'6") you want a board with a waist width of AT LEAST 25cm. In which case, you'd have to look at mid-wide boards (short length but with wide waists). But it doesn't sound like that will be a problem for you. You can stick with lengths from 150-155. And, of course, you're obviously focusing on park/pipe riding. But don't worry: that won't preclude you from enjoying the powder. You'll just have to adjust your binding angles and stances really.

That being said, I'd highly recommend you look at the Lib Tech Phoenix (Sock and Cat models are the same, different graphics). Also the Lib Tech Travis Rice model is excellent (and higly rated).

The Forum Youngblood and Eddie Wall signature models may suit you as well. Forum is owned by Burton, so you get that kind of quality without paying for the Burton name per se.

Of course, Burton is Burton. And the Burton Dominant (don't get the Slick version) is worth a peek.

Rome is coming on strong to be sure. As well as Academy.

Transworld Snowboarding should have their latest "Good Wood" ratings on their website. That will help you. If the 2007 Buyer's Guide is still on the shelves anywhere, grab that.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I thought I answered this right after you posted it, but apparently not. I can't remember what I said exactly, but long story short is that while I haven't ridden these boards, I've heard amazing things about the Carbon High Beam. To be fair, Rome has gotten some great reviews from riders saying they are great boards, especially for the price. That's not an exact answer, just a summary of what I've read through the many forums and posts online. Hope it helps a little. As everyone will tell you, it comes down to preference. Try to find one with a good flex otherwise you'll be eating it all day in the park.

Answer 3

It souneds from what you have written that you need an all mountain/freestlye board. The boards you have listed all look like good choices, but to be honest ive never ridden any of them. Boards that i can recommend through personal experience are the Atomic Hatchet and K2 Darkstar both these boards are classed as freestyle boards but can also perform well when freeriding and in powder, and are both really easy to ride. I agree that its best if you have enought money to buy your own board if you can, as rental boards are often in bad condition and you often get fobbed of with a board thats not suitable for you. I imagine you founed that Atomic hard to ride as it was too wide for you, so it wasent actually you that sucked all day it was just that you was given a board that wasent right for you.

Answer 4

Your best bet would be The Never Summer Pandora board! But I also snowboard in the parks and stuff and I have the Ride Rapture snowboard size 147 and I love it! It works great! and don't worry about it being small it's actually easier and I prefer a smaller board!

Answer 5

i say the burton blunt is a great board, because that's what i currently ride. but i think and even better way to go is rome. the graft seems like a good board, and the next board i plan to buy is a rome artifact. i do not suggest the the artifact for powder though. its doable, but that's pretty strictly a park board. GNU is also a very respectable company, so you shouldn't be disappointed by them. there are a lot of good options, but that rome graft sounds like what your looking for.

Answer 6

Those are good choice boards also i can suggest the burton Shaun White, Jeremy, Jussi, Tadashi Fuse. Depending on your boot size i dont know many options. Go to www.burton.com/Boards.aspx

Answer 7

Get the Ride DH