surfinsmiley wrote:I`m fairly set on starting out on the soft boot path mostly due to the "wife friendly" areas I have to use most of the time
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Being newly married my leash isn`t very long yet and last season induced a couple of teary claims from the wife because she just had to come with me down that run that was just a bit too much.(She`s been sking for 30 years and I was in my 4th day of snowboarding ever......bloody girls)
So........ lots sightseeing trails for me with a few carves thrown in for good measure.
I`ll pick up the Freerides and then go boot shopping with your recomendations at the top of the priority list.
I`ll wait until the following season until I try the hardboots path. I know it will be just like longboarding, first you just want one, then, before you know it you`ve got a quiver.
I don't see the point in your choice.
Whatever softboots or hardboots you have won't change the pistes you go to.
Well, except that maybe with softboots you'll prefer off-piste.
I don't think at all it's a beginner issue. Begining hardboots seems much easier to me, at least you feel that you control something. Unless you take lessons and expensive board and bidings you won't learn much with softboots. Take an easy freecarve with cheap alpine bidings and boots, it will be better on every point (except off-piste, but if your wife is a skier, she might not love it either).
Even if i'm not a super rider, I practiced hardboots and softboots for some years. I know the differences.
Learning alone with softboots is the best way for your body to learn wooden legs and counter-rotation, everything you'll have to unlearn later.
And don't think of learning carving with such gear, for it will take much longer (i really mean MUCH) than with an alpine gear (if you ever achieve it). With an alpine board it is not-to-carve that way sometimes seem difficult.
For a beginner i'd recommand a middle sized freecarve board (160 and more) with short sidecut (i'd say 9m is nice), large waist (for an alpine 210 mm would be a minimum) and not to stiff. For exemple: a 150 lbs 6 feet rider could try the F2 Speedcross 161W, it would be a good (and cheap) starting point.
If your board is large at waist (more than 210mm) you will even appreciate off piste with it.
Donek sells an excellent board for that: the Axis.
Regarding money, a second hand board is certainly a good solution. Don't forget good second-hand alpine boards are cheap because alpine is unpopular.
Don't take a too stiff board, look carefully at the recommanded weigth. You should maybe buy a board aimed for riders a bit lighter than you. Of course if your legs are superpowerful don't follow this advice.
While learning don't try to bomb speed. For carving deep turns, strong legs or a soft board will help better. But don't go to slow neither. Moderate speed and staying on the edge is the key.
For good snowboarding don't forget to flex legs (always) and rotate your shoulders inside of the turn (whatever you think you will never do it enough).
