Board Choice Help Please

[keepTheSport]

I have read quite a lot about board choice. My statistics are: Height 1m72.5; weight 54kg; Shoe size UK 7 which I think is roughly Mondo 26.

Okay from the above and following instructions I would choose the EC 168S. Is this correct? I note this board would be good for laid turns in icy, hard packed, groomed conditions.

Could I use this board just to carve (NOT laid turns) my way down the slope a) without the nose caving-in (in soft/slushy snow) b) would board still grip well carving (but NOT laid carves) on ice , hard pack groomed and un-groomed etc . c) Would I be able to go off piste on powder (but NOT laid turns)? This paragraphs sums up the type of snowboarding that I would also do, especially if conditions did not allow me to do fully laid turns-as I don't want to nose-dive or break the board.

I noted from my reading that some people would get a slightly stiffer board for varying (eg soft snow to stop nose caving-in) conditions but is this because they would try and do a LAID turn on soft snow for example whereas I would just carve.

I ask these questions as my weight is quite light and to go for a 168M (say to use in soft snow) I may not be able use board properly? However, to choose a 161M or H (for softer snow) I may have boot over hang.

Well, I appreciate any further help

[tali]

Hi!
For your 54 kgs (I strongly hope this is your fair morning weight without snowboarding gear ) I would consider a 161S or a 161M, 161S being a preference.
What would be the length of your hardboot (like here)?

[keepTheSport]

Hi Tali

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the 54kg is without the snowboarding gear on I noticed when I followed the instructions on the link you provided that due to my height a little over 1.72m I would have to go for a 168 and I saw on a boot size translator that a UK 7 would be mondo 26, again by the linked instructions it suggests a 168. This is why I would choose a 168S- the soft because of my weight ( or lack of ) but hey I'm working on putting some weight on (muscle of course, probably take me all year )

Shame on me but I still have not found my measuring tape to check my foot length

[vizsyn]

Hello!

After reading your post and recalling my own experiences in determining what to buy, I thought I'd weigh in with my thoughts and share my opinion.

Since you are 172.5 cm in height and 54kg in weight, a 168S would seemingly be the right fit. But like Tali, I do think that perhaps a 161S may be more appropriate.

Weight: 54kg
-168S is rated for riders below 66kg. BUT the 12kg differential of 54kg body weight from the 66kg reference point is pretty substantial. My concern would be that the 168S could possibly be just a tad bit stiff.
-161S is rated for rider weights 46-55kg. your weight falls correctly within this range.
Based on the parameter of weight, I'd say 161S

Height:172.5cm
-168cm would work well.
-161cm should still be considered since rounding your height off at say 172cm, you are right at the borderline between the 161 and 168 board lengths.
-as a reference point, Patrice is 177cm height and rides a 168(difference of 9cm) Jacques is 186cm height and rides a 175(difference of 11cm). You are 172.5 height, a 168 is only 4.5 cm difference, a 161 puts you right at 11.5cm difference)
Based on the parameter of height, I'd still go for the 161, although the additional length 168 would arguably be a bit more stable at speed.

Boot Shell Size:UNKNOWN

This is the BIG question. This factor may well close the case for you in determining which board to buy.

BOOT SIZING/FITTING:
Go buy a metric ruler to precisely measure your foot length to determine Mondo Point size. DON'T attempt to convert your regular street shoe size to a Mondo conversion chart. I've talked to many experienced ski bootfitters and they all tell me that converting street shoe sizes via these Mondo charts very often leads to incorrect sizing. After determining your Mondo point by actual foot measurement, go visit ski shops and try on ski boots of that Mondo size, they should feel very similar to what an alpine snowboard boot will feel. Yes, wear appropriate ski/snowboard specific socks, regular socks for summer sports isn't gonna cut it. Skking socks are a safe bet, since an alpine snowboard boot fits very much like a ski boot.

BOOT SHELL LENGTH:
Once you have a pair of properly fitted boots, you can then measure the Actual Boot Shell Length, as illustrated on the SWOARD site. The key here is to get as low boot angles as possible without toe/heel overhang.
-if your boot shells measure 291mm or shorter, then the 161S would be the clearcut winner, considering your height and weight.
-if your boots are greater than 300mm, then the 168S would be back in the picture.

All said and done, I would advise that you make your boots your top priority at this point in time. Once you have correctly fitted(and probably spring-modified too) boots, you can then measure shell length and factor that in to arrive at your final board choice.

here is a useful link regarding bootfitting from BomberOnline
http://bomberonline.3dcartstores.com/Bo ... _c_22.html

Then click on HOW TO FIT MY BOOTS

Good luck

[kieran]

given the mentions of '(not laid turns)', powder, and my own personal experiences of scottish ski runs, you may be better off with a titanal/carbon all-mountain board that has some taper and a bit of a nose.

[keepTheSport]

Vizsyn, your answer has been very logical, clear, concise along with good comparisons followed by valid points, to which I thank you for. You have added some clarity to my thinking

Okay I have measured my bare feet and each foot is 25.5cm in length (perhps mm or two under). Thanks for explaining re 'get boots and then measure boots too re to help make decision on board length' I shall read your link too.

Does anyone think then that I could possibly (assuming boots fit a 161) go for a 161M and that would then allow me to do stuff in softer, slushy, off piste snow (as opposed to buying another board) but would also let me do the EC laid turns on proper conditions?

Kieran, thank you for your suggestion I shall have a look at the boards mentioned but if I am honest I would rather have 2 Swoards (if I have to buy two boards to suit the different conditions). Or at least to begin with buy 1 Swoard for EC laid turns and just keep using my Nidecker for the different conditions (although I'll be soft booting )

Well it seems I am getting there and of course I shall be looking to buy boots first and for not thinking to try on ski boots just to get a feel of how they fit. (2 planking or anything to do with it never occurs to me )

If my weight keeps causing these issues, then I'm gonna' throw in a couple extra Kgs in my back pack, then that should make the board bend (168 that is) Although I joke, I don't really understand how someone who carries a lot of fat as opposed to muscle makes the board work better as their legs won't be any stronger ?? Is it purely related to the fact that the board will break, as opposed to being able to manoeuvre the board with muscle power?

[keepTheSport]

Kieran, I have sent you a PM. Not sure if you got it, although I hit submit it is sitting in Outbox (as opposed to sent box)??

[Abrax]

This is because messages like Outbox very much But they get used to this place very fast and once this happens, they decide to leave to the recipient. You never know when this happens

Few more facts that should be taken under consideration:

Bigger board (longer):
+edge length; better edge grip (more often to lay down)
+more stable at high speed (you don't need this kind of stability because going EC usually means going slow at speed)
+more place for boots, lower angles allowed (this is not an issue due to your small bootshell size)
-bigger radius (need for wider slope)


Smaller board(shorter):
+smaller radius,
+easier to control
-narrower (short shells needed)
-narrower (poorer performance in deep snow or on fresh snow) if you ever decide to go outside of the slope.

Generally:
Going to fresh snow on Extremecarver is still possible but it is a nonsense. DUAL is the weapon here. But it is still far more pleasurable than going there on any other race board... Anyway this clearly shows that a longer board (which is wider) is a better choice.
You learn faster on shorter board, while longer board points your mistakes more often (but not ExtremeCarver -> with this board progress goes so smoothly forward...) .
Learning to control the board to a level which lets you try the longest boards is not so long, so IMO it's better to have a bit too long board than a bit too short.
Even ExtremeCarver 175 is not really any kind of a long board. My friends usually ride on 185cm boards. I often ride my 178 FactoryPrime. So don't be scared of length!

[tali]

Does anyone think then that I could possibly (assuming boots fit a 161) go for a 161M

With feet 25.5 cm and weight 54 kg - I would go for a 161S.
The "S" does not mean that the board will be soft for you... Not at all...

[kieran]

This is because messages like Outbox very much But they get used to this place very fast and once this happens, they decide to leave to the recipient. You never know when this happens

maybe they stay in 'outbox' until the recipient reads them.

[Abrax]

Sure thing... Till then you still can edit the message!!! Great feature!!!

[keepTheSport]

Abrax, I like that EDIT tip of yours it was a life saver. I misread a PM and entered a reply. Then I read it properly and went to edit the text but instead sent it blank What I'm getting at is sending a blank message is better than sending one with a load of c**p in it

Kieran, I'm getting hang of it now

Again cheers for tips on boards and PMs

[keepTheSport]

Tali, I appreciate your input again My current board is a 156, I learned on a 155, so a 161 won't be too much of a for me - I hope.

Abrax, I also understand your view too and you seem to go for boards that are longer. I lose my edge a lot on my current board on ice (me being more rubbish than the board)and I do like the idea of more edge hold because the board is longer. TBH I'm not afraid of trying a longer board (the 168) or the fact the learning could take longer- I can be patient with these things. I am more concerned that I won't be able to twist and bend the board enough to hold the edge on a laid carve-that's all.

If I was 56Kg in weight and bearing in mind I am 1.725m in height would I be okay with a 168S?? FYI I have recently bought an indoor gym for weight training so I am sure I could put on 2kg of muscle over the year.

Thanks everyone, I do appreciate your patience with me.

[Abrax]

My weight is 93kgs... So any more edge is always better. With your 56, this should not be an issue. If the board loses it's edge it's turn technique not weight...

I'm sure you will be comfortable with 161S. One or few kilos this or other side does not really matter.

[keepTheSport]

Abrax, I was hoping increasing my weight to 56Kg would mean I could get a 168S, to fit better with my height. Would my weight be okay then for 168S?