Planning on going snowboarding for the first time ever this coming March with a group of friends. Luckily one of the lads, although a competant skier, is going to try boarding so at least I'm going to have someone to fall over and look daft with! Anyway, just wanted to see if someone (James300 are you out there?:D ) could advise me on a few things. Wondering how much all the get up is going to cost and where are the best places to buy from (I guess I'll be hiring the board itself over there)? If there are any other bits of advice people can offer to a complete novice that would be great!

 

Cheers,

 

Leigh.

Leigh, you will love it mate, it is such a good laugh.

 

Where abouts are you going? and what time in March?

 

The resorts hire out pretty good boards these days tbh. In fact you can hire everything there. But if you are planning to go again, I would buy trousers and a jacket. With boots you gotta remember that March is getting towards the end of the season and you will have months of people before you wearing the boots, I'm saying they might be a bit smelly and thrashed. But fine for the job. What size feet are you? I have a pair of Vans that cost about £160ish and I've hardly worn them, you can have them for £50.

You can hire stuff out over here that will be in better nick than the gear over there but all depends how bothered you are.

 

Anything you wanna know - just give me a shout bud.

Hey James, had a feeling you'd be able to help after seeing your sig!:D Believe it or not, I'm not entirely sure where we're going! One of my mates goes every year and he's the fella arranging it only this time me and my best mate thought we'd tag along and see what its all about. I know we're going to France but that's about it so far...Val de something or other! What I do know is that we're going the first week in March. I used to be well into skateboarding from 16-18 so I'm really looking forward to it (that and the apres-ski;) ). I'm a size 8 mate so if the boots will fit I'll gladly take them off your hands!

 

Cheers for the advice mate!

 

Leigh.

Originally posted by friday

I'm a size 8 mate so if the boots will fit I'll gladly take them off your hands!

 

Feet...dont you mean? ;):D

 

I doubt you'll find ANY blokes boots THAT small! :rofl: :dance ;)

Ah, Val D'sere.........that a good resort. Check this link out if you have the time http://www.valdinet.com/

 

You are in luck if you fancy those boots, they are size 8. Tbh a little too small for me as I am 8 1/2. I will post a pic of them in the morning, they are red and black. They really will do you a treat.

 

I will be going again, probably France, around Feb early March. Tignes, I expect.

Don't mean to put a downer on anything, but make sure you get some insurance before you go. Just saves you having to worry about forking out a fortune if you have any minor mishaps. I've had the.. erm... odd incident, but always been covered.

 

Might be worth having a go on dry-slope before you go. If you've had a bit of practice on that you'll appreciate boarding on snow a whole load more. Maybe more desirable, a couple of lessons somewhere like Xscape (Milton Keynes) or Tamworth, could point you in the right direction. Depends how much you wanna be trying to learn while you're out there.

 

If you're after cheap kit, try ringing round snowboard shops. The best one round here (The BoardStore) usually has some pretty decent second hand stuff, or knows people that'd be willing to part with some. It could be cheaper to buy some seccy stuff and know what you're going with (try it out and get yourself all set up before hand) rather than renting once and not knowing what you're gonna get.

 

Hope you have a great time! I'm betting now, you'll get right into it and won't be able to describe just how good it is - that always happens! Be prepared for a bruised ass to start with... I learnt on dry-slope tho. Probably also worth buying some pads... especially if you're like me and throw yourself into these sort of things with reckless abandon. They won't set you back much - wrist protectors are kinda handy (s'cuse the pun)... I've never had any but you can buy shorts with padded areas in too, with a bit to protect your coccyx. I've "wow'd my botty" many times in the past (slam your butt so hard you think you're gonna sh*t yourself because you can't keep your sphincter shut)... come to think of it, I always try and squeeze a poo out before getting on the mountain just in case this happens some time in the day.

 

Anyway, have fun!

Cheers James, I'll check out the pic when I'm online again tomorrow night!

 

Eating your words yet Shrimpster?:D

My feet may not be big galumping clod-hoppers like some, but concerning what people say about the correlation between shoe size and...other things...I like to think it's always nice to prove an old adage wrong...;) :D :rofl:

Yeah man, agreed. Slamming so hard on your butt is not funny. I would invest in some pads for sure. You don't think that sounds too bad???? Tell me that after you get back!

I was going to say about lessons, really try and squeeze at least one in. I went to Milton Keynes, its really good there with some excellent instuctors.

Insurance is a must. Don't even think about going without it.

"wow'd my botty"!! Jesus. And before that I was just concerned about breaking something...ouch!:D My mate and I have decided to give the local dry ski slope (at the Ackers Trust) a miss and take a few trips to Tamworth to use the snow dome. Hopefully by the time we get on the slopes proper we won't look quite so stupid and be more able to just get on and enjoy it! :) Cheers for the advice mate will deffo be taking out insurance!

 

Leigh.

Yeah - wowing your botty is one of those technical terms that just sounds painful until it happens to you... then when it does (and it will!) you'll really understand ;) It's not so much the pain, cos that's kinda over quite quick... it's the horrible discomfort and the running around trying to keep your butt-cheeks shut, trying not to fill your pants. Always good for keeping the rest of the slope entertained tho :D Be sure to get a look at the grimace on peoples faces - you'll be laughing about that in the bar later.

 

I was trying to think of some more technical terms you might need, but could only come up with a couple: winding the windows... but you won't need that til you start getting some air, and catching an edge (shortly followed by: eating sh*t). "Don't lean back!" is something you'll probably hear a lot while learning. But I just do it for fun now cos I likes a bit of buttering.

 

Try to watch some snowboard vids... that'll give you a massive R-don for it for sure. The TB vids are always good - I got hooked with TB2 many moons ago (when I were a lad).

 

Insurance costs so little - I never get the insurance with the holiday tho, cos half the time they can't tell you if it's off-piste or not (and you don't wanna get into an accident outside the markers if you've not got off-piste!). I can't remember for sure, but I think it's about 30-odd quid for a couple of weeks, off-piste, Europe. Normally get it though a company that advertises in one of the snowboard mags.

 

Tamworth's alright - been there a couple of times. Bit of a treck from here, but the BoardStore crew used to get a coach together and go up for the night. Be sure to take a beanie - they'll probably make you wear a sweaty helmet and it'll make your head stink without one!

 

Hows your guts now James? Standing up straight yet? :eek: I like Tignes. We're thinking of going there end of March, but that'd make it 4 times... so it might be Serre Chevalier this time round.

I will be going again, probably France, around Feb early March. Tignes, I expect.

 

I've been charged with organising a trip over to tignes in early march!!:D Was even contemplateing driving over in the zed with my girlfriend....who knows James, If you spot a Black P reg Zed over there don't be shy!!

 

Friday you're gonna love boarding if you've been a skater, it's faster, less painful, smoother and you can get massive air real easy!! Enjoy!!!:dance:

Leigh,

 

I'd heartily recommend getting some boots, (looks like you got that sorted), good gloves and a decent pair of googles.

I used a pair of crappy googles in Canada and ended up falling down the side of the mountain!!

 

You might want to have a look here;

Tchibo

 

Not the most trendy designs admittedly, but their prices can't be sniffed at and the kit looks OK too.

 

For any more snowboarding quessies you might have, I hang out here quite a bit;

GoneBoarding

 

Me and 16 mates are off to Livigno in January for my 30th B'day, I cannae frigging wait!!!!

 

You'll fcuking love it mate, I've been somewhere at least once a year since the first time I went!!

Pics as promised.

 

This is the size, model, etc.

 

Originally posted by friday

I'm a size 8 mate

 

Hey you might be able to borrow Big Roy's little number ;)

 

 

:rofl:

James: Cheers for posting the pics, I'm deffo interested in the boots, will PM you tonight about 'em mate!:)

 

PHatty: When I was a skater, back in my dim and distant, I used to love it...still kinda miss it in a way, tho I'd probably break my neck if I tried a simple ollie now and the only grinding I get up to is if I get lucky on a Saturday night!;) :D

 

NismO_UK: "I used a pair of crappy googles in Canada and ended up falling down the side of the mountain!!"

Er...right...those are going near the top of my "to buy" list then!

:eek: ;) Just been on the sites you mentioned...glad to see it's not quite as bad price wise as I thought it might be (considering I'm definately on a budget!).

 

ChrisC: Open the link and kiss ma white ass MoFo...:mac1: ;)

Try skating again bud, you will be amazed at how much of a revival it has seen recently. There are almost as many guys my age or older at my local couple of ramps than the younger, bouncy kids! You won't regret it, I promise.

Thanks again for sortin me out with the boots on PM mate....if my friends were still skatin' I might be tempted to give it another go (depite visions of being well and truly shown up by kids half my age! :rolleyes: :p ). Kinda still regret selling my board...ah hell, never say never I guess!;)

Friday i have spare jacket and pants, three boards to choose from a hammer condence,ride mountain and brand new flow unused,the others have been used once in Canada. We have all had new boards bought again this year (christmas prezzies).

Just come back from Val Thorens and off to Whistler 7th of Jan for two weeks cant wait. let me know what size and weight you are and will see if they are ok for you.

Regards the original Grey on Trays

Not the Dick on Sticks:rolleyes:

Cheers for the offer asudo but I'm going to hire my board when I'm over there and I "think" I've got the clothing sorted! It's appreciated though mate!:)