The journey of every snowboarder includes the exciting step from renting to owning your own snowboard. Once your passion for the sport grows and your participation is so regular that owning your own snowboard is the only option, it is finally time to pick one out. This can be quite a stressful process; after all, knowing what to look for is not always clear, especially for those who have not bought their own snow gear before. With these handy tips, you will be able to walk confidently into any winter sports shop in the world and pick out your ideal beginner’s board.
Look for Versatile Snowboards
Your first snowboard should be competent in all snow conditions. Look out for an All Mountain Regular Camber board – these are the most versatile and are easy to control as the entirety of the board touches the snow.
Get the Right Size
The right size of snowboard depends of course on how big or small you are. Your new piece of kit should be no taller than your chin; a regular width is suitable for most. If you have a bigger shoe than a size 11, you may want to look for a wider width board.
Brands are Your Friends
You can rely on all the major snowboard brands for good durability and quality. Also, many of the branded boards come with long warranties in case of accidents on the snow.
Buy from a Specialist
Buying your first board off the internet can seem like an attractive option – it’s cheaper and you avoid much of the stress. However, nothing beats going into a specialist shop and talking over your options with the staff. Knowledgeable staff are the key to finding the board that best suits your needs, especially if you are not of average height or weight. Getting a feel of your next big investment is part of the thrill and helps to build a relationship with the board.
Don’t Buy the Most Expensive One
Of course, the more expensive boards are the best in general but as a beginner that’s not necessarily what you should be looking for. If you are a relatively inexperienced snowboarder, your first snowboard will be getting bashed about quite a lot, picking up plenty of bumps and scratches. It helps when developing your technique if you don’t have to worry about damaging a very expensive new piece of kit and instead focus on the snowboarding. Anyway, without expert skills you won’t be able to take advantage of the more expensive boards, so it makes sense to save up your money and buy a good one when you are a pro.
As well as investing in some winter sports insurance to keep you protected on the slopes, why not also grab some gadget travel insurance to look after your phone, laptop and other essential bits of tech? After the snow day finishes and you are relaxing in the hotel, you will really miss a damaged or stolen gadget. Travel insurance alone will not cover everything so it’s a good idea to add an extra gadget policy just in case.
Martin Wynn
Nguyen An Tra My
