Just like kids – Snowboards are Built Different These Days
Listen, just because you learnt how to snowboard on a piece of plywood with your boots stapled down and you figured it out – doesn’t mean your kid is going to be the same. As you know – kids these days are built different – but we don’t want them to hate it because we were trying to get the best deal on market place.
Now I’m not saying you should spend a million bucks on a new set up – but I’m going to give you some pointers on what exactly to consider when buying your kid a board. I’m a huge proponent of buying used boards as long as your kid is learning, and growing- as their preferences and style is going to change. Along with their size. Hopefully. However, if looking for a used board is a pain in the butt, there’s brands like K2 that have some pretty affordable new options. I wouldn’t be going out and buying a brand new high end Burton Set up if it’s their first day on a board.
Experience level matters
Beginners: Flat. Soft. Rocker. Shorter. This board will get them through the basics of learning. The reason I say don’t invest a lot in this board is the second they graduate out of newbie school – there’s a good chance they are going to want a new board. On the other hand, if you get them an aggressive, stiff, camber board with no rocker they are going to catch edges like mad as they arent’ forgiving. Get them one that’s too big and connecting their turns is going to be painful. The reason you go with this profile is that it’s forgiving – they can do all the wrong things and the board gives them a little leeway before catching an edge and falling.
Intermediate and above: Now that they are connecting their turns and know how to board, they want something responsive that grips. Personally I go with a stiffer board with camber because I like the responsiveness. Responsiveness essentially means, when I initiate an action, my board begins to do the same right away. Essentially it’s the opposite of “forgiving” as noted above. When you’re experienced, that’s exactly what you want.
Terrain Matters
What kind of terrain will they be riding? Is it primarily powder? Is it primarily groomers or icey conditions?
Buying your kid a directional freeride powder board when they plan on ripping groomers all day is going to make their life miserable.
Generally if you don’t wanna’ invest into a plethora of boards get an all mountain board. This will serve them in a multitude of situations.
Buying a board they will grow into (don’t do it)
This is a tempting thing to do – “lets skip the beginner board and just buy them the next one” or “well they will eventually weigh more so let’s get a bigger one.” Are great things to do if you want them to hate it lol. It sounds like it’s the right thing to do to save you a couple bucks – but it’s going to cost them. Plus, if you buy used, use until they are out of the beginner stages – chances are you can sell it for basically the same thing you paid for it.
Height doesn’t matter – weight matters
I get that cousin Jimmy who’s the same height as your kid has a board from 1987 that worked just fine. But your kid is the shape of a string bean and jimmy- well not so much. It’s all about weight distribution. Check out the weight distribution chart on each, and every board you wanna’ buy.
Every board has a profile online that tells you exactly what it’s should be used for
Seems like a lot of information eh? Well – it is but luckily every single board has a profile somewhere online. Whether it’s right from the manufacturer or on a website like evo.com.
Buying a used board on market place -or any used website
Most people don’t know anything about their boards. Which is fine. Just get the name of the board and check out the stats and shape online. Make sure the graphics line up so you can figure out what year it is as companies do change their profiles from time to time. I advise not taking the sellers advice on “who the board is good for” as they usually are completely wrong in my personal experience.
Lastly – but completely unrelated – the lesson is worth it
I probably say this in every post- but learning from mom or dad is usually all kinds of drama and chaos. There’s a ton less tears and their confidence will go up immensely if they learn how to do things right, the first time – without building bad habits. Instead of them taking weeks, months or even years to learn, with a lesson kids are usually putting the dots together by the end of the day. They learn faster than us when they are given proper instructions. It won’t be long before they are ripping past you in the moguls.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jayde Syrnyk
Meet Jayde Syrnyk. Professional marketer by day – adventure enthusiast by night. After growing up in the flat lands of Saskatchewan in 2021 Jayde, her husband and two dogs decided to move near the mountains to a town they had never been to before. Since moving they have fallen in love with mountain sports and have grown a passion for sharing their passions online encouraging others to step outside their comfort zone and be part of the action.
