teach Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I have been looking for boards for a few beginning riders and am curious to know what people think works. That is, what characteristics reduce the initial frustrations while not promoting bad habits. For example, some of the boards aiming to ease beginners into riding have an extreme base bevel. Others twist like crazy. Full rocker doesn't seem too common on beginner boards other than rentals, but early-rise tip/tail seems to be a feature of a few boards at least. Burton has some boards featuring "convex" nose and tail... takes "detuning" to the next level (unless I misunderstand). Anyone have any experience with any of these? What do you look for in a board for a beginner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 rental stuff is pretty good for the first day or two out. more forgiving than older rentals I have been on. worth a try but good instruction is the key IMO. certainly is nice to give instructors the best tools though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I have been looking for boards for a few beginning riders and am curious to know what people think works. Never-evers, or new to hard boots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teach Posted January 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 One never-ever, one getting comfortable and working on linking turns. The first seems pretty certain she's left-foot-forward, the second rides a skateboard right-foot-forward but seems to prefer left-foot-forward on a snowboard (and winds up going both directions, so a board that rides the same backwards might be reasonable). They both need to learn the basics of turning/controlling speed. If they want to jib/butter/nollie/whatever they can get a specialized board. Later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckmann AG Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Anyone have any experience with any of these? In side by side tests, the average adult on typical eastern hardpack preferred the 'conventional' board to the LTR product. No mystery there. What do you look for in a board for a beginner? Directional board, properly sized for weight/leg length. (E.G., Cruzer over LTR) Excess width is a hindrance. (Toe overhang is desirable) Binding configuration is paramount. Flat, clean base with camber. Torsional stability. And while you're at it, a pitch of 8.5 degrees, with a straight fall-line, and a flat run-out. And 2-4 inches of fresh, unpacked snow. certainly is nice to give instructors the best tools though. And the LTR stuff ain't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teach Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Thanks for the comments. The 2-4" of fresh snow is a big help. What do you find wrong with the various "features" of LTR etc? Just harder to ride, or producing bad habits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 And the LTR stuff ain't it. and now I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckmann AG Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 What do you find wrong with the various "features" of LTR etc? Just harder to ride, or producing bad habits? Learning to ride should be a simple, organic experience, devoid of unnecessary contrivance. The 'rounded' base creates a 'vague' area of contact between the rider and the supporting surface. Given that our ability to find our location in space is largely dependent on our sense of touch, this is a clear disadvantage if we wish to remain upright on a fickle, slippery surface. Most novices make large, somewhat unrefined movements. The extra base bevel creates a 'toggle' effect on turn entry, whereby the rider will lean in (too far) until they feel edge contact, followed by a correction, and a second inward tilt as the board swings around. That kind of 'tippiness' is absent on 'conventional' boards. Obviously, the base geometry allows for easier pivoting, but beginners shouldn't need to, nor should they be encouraged, to pivot as a means of turn initiation. (in part because rotational movements require both an anchor to commence, and a similar anchor to conclude. This type of sequential, multi-skill movement can be problematic for the novice.) If you always have deep, sticky, wet-granular spring snow in your teaching arena, then the LTR board is much less of a handicap. Properly sized and configured conventional boards work very well, despite the fact that they are often the cheapest product available from a given manufacturer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teach Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Thanks, that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcarver Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Think those boards keep you from catching and edge and slamming down hard like all beginers will tend to do the 1st day. As stated above a conventional type board would be best to learn on. Needs to be softer flex. The correct size and set up properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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