Guest RC51Stunna Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 She wears size 7.5 womens boots/shoes. She is 5'5 and weighs under 150 lbs. This is her first time trying alpine boarding and I am just looking for some advice on ideal products to meet her needs. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. TIA Jason J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoom Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 On my way to bed, but for me (very similar size to your gf), the very short answer is *soft* - board, boots, bindings. More forgiving and easier to learn/advance on. Rebecca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RC51Stunna Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Thanks so much rebecca. What do you think about this combination of gear? Do you think it would be a good starting set-up? This board: volkl 153 cm sl with an 18.5 waist These boots: Burton Casa 2008 womens boots and these bindings: SALOMON SPX 90 MED. Q19 Jason Johnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshack Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 You need hardboots on the volkl (when Rebecca said "soft" above, she meant soft for hardboots). Check the classifieds and ebay; I'm not sure if a women's 7.5 is too small, but there's been a lot of size 23 raichle stuff floating around. You could try heads, but at least for me (wearing a 23.5), the middle two buckles hit each other when the boot is flexing, and restrict your range of motion. For bindings, get some burton plates, snowpros, xbones, or F2 Challenge comps (if you want to go intec). At that weight, for a beginner, you want a good amount of controlled give in the setup. If you want to get her a softboot setup instead/as well, you can grab those burtons, but since they tend to be less (if at all) heat-moldable than some other brands, you won't be guaranteed a great fit. Personally, I'd find a pair of boots with a thermo liner, like 32's, and a quick-lace system (boa, speed zone, or just a pull-lock). It'll make her experience a lot more pleasant. As far as softboot bindings and boards go, you need size small on the bindings, and a women's board, because most men's boards will be too wide for her to have good leverage across them. If you've got to invest in one thing, though, make it the boots- their comfort will decide whether she rides again after the first time out, so measure her feet, buy the right size, and get some thermo liners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retronaut Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 New to carving... Depends on a couple things: experience on a board and if she is more timid or aggressive at skiing/boarding. Complete beginner and wanting a gentle introduction, get something like a Donek Pilot or an older Burton Alp. Keep the length short < 160 cm so it is easier to manage. Avoid slalom decks (under 10m turn radius) that force her to change edges too fast. Many older and cheaper decks are short (Rossi, Burton, Sims). Alot of short, older boards end up on the bay. If she is already good on a freestyle board and will likely progress quickly at carving, get something a little stiffer Donek FC or older Oxygen Proton, Burton Ultra Prime. The Donek Pilot is a great choice either way; it is well built and current. The board is more forgiving and well suited for light-weights. Most other current makes are too stiff for lighter riders. They are $375 brand new from Bomber. http://www.bomberonline.com/store/boards/donek_pilot.cfm You can get an older board like an Alp for $100 or less. There are not many shorter decks on Bomber right now. I am looking for similar gear for my wife but in the advanced category and a little longer. Rossi Race 156 http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=19469 Another Rossi http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=19216 Oxygen Proton 149 - shorter but more advanced http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=18934 Burton Alp - but it is 164 http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=18657 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RC51Stunna Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Wow, everyone this is sooo much great information. Thank you! I will work on digesting all of it and ask more questions as they arise. Thanks thanks thanks Jason & Cristina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RC51Stunna Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 Retro, thanks so much for those links! Sooo helpful.. How do I decide between any one of those boards? Narrower or more full bodied? What benefits would we get with the $400 pilot versus the $100 used boards? Thanks again for all the help New to carving...Depends on a couple things: experience on a board and if she is more timid or aggressive at skiing/boarding. Complete beginner and wanting a gentle introduction, get something like a Donek Pilot or an older Burton Alp. Keep the length short < 160 cm so it is easier to manage. Avoid slalom decks (under 10m turn radius) that force her to change edges too fast. Many older and cheaper decks are short (Rossi, Burton, Sims). Alot of short, older boards end up on the bay. If she is already good on a freestyle board and will likely progress quickly at carving, get something a little stiffer Donek FC or older Oxygen Proton, Burton Ultra Prime. The Donek Pilot is a great choice either way; it is well built and current. The board is more forgiving and well suited for light-weights. Most other current makes are too stiff for lighter riders. They are $375 brand new from Bomber. http://www.bomberonline.com/store/boards/donek_pilot.cfm You can get an older board like an Alp for $100 or less. There are not many shorter decks on Bomber right now. I am looking for similar gear for my wife but in the advanced category and a little longer. Rossi Race 156 http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=19469 Another Rossi http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=19216 Oxygen Proton 149 - shorter but more advanced http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=18934 Burton Alp - but it is 164 http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=18657 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshack Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 IMHO for the $400 you'd spend on the pilot you could probably hook up: -both a sub-$200 dedicated carving board (rossi race, proton, shorter burton ultra prime, sims) and an all-mountain board (alp, wider rossi, burton coil) for days when you want to carve but also plan on hitting some trees/pow/etc. -a used prior 4wd, which I've heard is a great all-around board that can carve eerily well. look for a 159. these go for around $300-$350, depending on condition. -a used madd in the f1 flex, though they're hard to find. similar price to the 4wd above, and a better carver, but less versatile. I'm on one of these now, and it's heaven when you have groomers, but I toss the plates on a freeride board for pow days. Things I've learned as a lightweight, beginning carver stretching a budget: -Too stiff: bad -Raceboards in powder: bad -Well-fitting boots: absolutely essential (this one is universal to all carvers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronG Posted February 10, 2008 Report Share Posted February 10, 2008 You can definitely pick up and older Burton Alp in the 150 range, one just sold on Fleabay for 50.00. Another board you might be interested in is an Arbor alpine board. They are very soft in flex, longitudinal, and have a small sidecut radius so they are quick to turn. http://cgi.ebay.com/Used-Arbor-Alpine-Race-Carving-Snowboard-155_W0QQitemZ270209232297QQihZ017QQcategoryZ21250QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem The Alp is wider so she wouldn't have to run steep angles, the Arbor is a bit narrower so the angles would be steeper during her learning period. Don't forget about a Burton Coil or even a Burton Amp. You could get one of the latter boards for cheap. Less than 100.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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