Trix n Tips
Setup
This page is designed to give you some trix n tips that will enable you to make some better decisions about what equipment might be suitable for you. This is only designed as a guide for a more personal appraisal of what might work best for you, better to drop us a line on our contact us page. We will be happy to help.
What angles should I ride?
How you ride and what you like to ride, are the main questions here. Freeriders/off-piste riderstend to only make turns in a forwards direction will probably opt for a forward facing stance something like +24’ on the front foot and +6’ on the back foot. Riders more focused on freestyle will probably take a duck stance which is basically both feet facing out at the same angles +15’ on the front and -15’ on the back. This is good for going in both directions. A good all round stance would be +18’ on the front foot and -12’ on the back. A notch either way on any of the above is perfectly O.K.
What is a sensible stance width?
Stance width is dependant on your height, what your preferred style of riding is and plain old personal preference. If your stance width is too narrow you will find it difficult to torsionally flex your board. You could also have a loss of stability at speed or on rough terrain. A stance which is too wide can also block movements and can potentially be dangerous for your joints. If you have a board of the correct size most people will be on the middle or outside holes on the board. This should feel as if you are standing in goal in an agile, balanced, strong position and should not feel like you are standing waiting for a bus. One tip is to divide your height by three. Use this measurement from centre to centre on your bindings. It works pretty good.
What are highbacks and what do I do with them?
High backs are the section of the bindings that support your calf muscles enabling you to tilt the board more effectively into a turn. The more the high back is angled forward the more response you will have. However if you over do it you will experience foot pain and thigh burn. If you are focused on freestyle, less angle is quite often used whereas speed demons and carvers will probably crank it up. Most brands use a 1 to 5 system. Set both left and right bindings to 2 or 3 for a sensible set up.
Board Tech
What size board do I need?
Generally between the chin and the nipple is a rough guideline, but a lot depends on your skill level and what you want to do with the board. The smaller the board, the easier it is to turn and do freestyle tricks, whereas if you choose a longer board, it will be easier to ride off piste and in the powder. Remember, if you have a large foot you will need a wide board. Most manufacturers make a wide model across the range so don’t worry.
What type of board should I buy/rent?
What you intend to do with the board is what counts here. Freeride boards are “directional”. That means the board is set up with the feet slightly towards the back. This design is for riders who mainly go in a forwards direction, and don’t ride switch that much. Freestyle boards are as the name suggests, for doing tricks on. However, a relatively soft freestyle board can be a very good board to learn and progress with generally, not just for tricks. The shape is forgiving and the board is happy going either way, backwards or forwards. There are also “all mountain” boards, which are a bit of both. But remember, no one board does everything.
Don’t get suckered into the top of the range super stiff stick either. Price does not always reflect how well you will be able to ride the board. It’s all about choosing something easy to ride so that when you get on the slopes you don’t have to work too hard.
Should I buy or rent a board?
We are lucky in Tignes as Rebel Alliance works with an excellent rental shop and a super reliable home delivery service. Check out our links. Having said that renting means that your equipment could be different each year so your setup is constantly changing. The advantage of having your own equipment is that the bindings are set up for you. Si will take a look at your board, and help you set it up, then you never need to touch it again until you decide to upgrade to a newer model. Snowboards last a long time if you don’t hit too many rocks, but once you get the snowboard bug buying a new board can be quite exciting. Buying in resort is recommended as Si will be able to give you lots of advice on what would be right for you. Equipment in resort is comparable to the U.K, so there is no real advantage to buying at home. Si knows better than most shop assistants what is right for you. Let him help you, don’t be suckered into something that is not right for you, just because someone wants to clear out some stock. There are some good shops in the U.K but they don’t see you ride. Si does.
Base Profiles.
These days there are a multitude of base contours, S rocker, V rocker, flat bottom etc etc. If you are going to buy a board before getting to resort, there are a few things you might want to consider. The more of a banana shape the board has the less performance it will have at high level riding, especially on firm, icy conditions. V rockers or reverse camber boards are playful and work well in soft snow and are great for flatland freestyle.
The more you head to the camber side of the spectrum the more performance the board will have. Camber boards grip incredibly well in firm, icy conditions and carve like they are on rails. If you buy one soft enough, they can also work well for freestyle.
There are a bunch of boards which sit somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. My personal favourites are Flying V and Camber humps, sometimes called hybrids. My advice is test in resort. Snodroppe let you test any Burton board for pretty much nothing.
S rockers are the perfect shape for powder and charging at high speed through chopped up variable snow. I do like a good S rocker in the Quiver. Check out the Burton Fish, these really are the ultimate Pow boards.
Never buy a board too big. Seriously. Unless your going to enter boarder cross comps or charge big Alaskan lines, there just not necessary.
My tips are. Go soft, short and spend as much money as you can on the techist stick you can find. Top brands like Burton are top for a reason. They are the best. Don’t believe the Burton haters, Burton have been making top quality kit for longer than anyone else in the industry. They have the best R&D and the return policy is second to none. What would you prefer the Skoda or the Audi?
Equipment
Do I need protection?
Rebel Alliance Snowboarding strongly advise the use of protective clothing. Previous injuries or bad bruises can seriously affect your confidence, which is one of the most important attributes to learning to snowboard. Helmets, wrist guards and bum protectors are the most important. Make sure your gloves fit with your wrist guards on.
Should I buy my own boots?
Definitely. This is the one thing apart from your clothes you should buy. Its not a problem to buy them in the U.K as it gives you time to walk around prior to your holiday to break them in. A nice mid range boot with medium flex by a reputable make should see you through two or three even four years of riding if you are just doing a couple of weeks a year. Don’t buy them too tight; yes they give a little but not that much. Think of it like buying a pair of trainers, you want to feel held in place but not in pain. These are sports shoes and you spend hours and hours in them, especially if you keep them on through après so they need to be comfortable. People talk a lot about heel lift, but seriously I have never owned a pair of boots that had no heel lift, I just crank up the ankle strap on my bindings. Hey presto no more heel lift. Basically, the length is the most important, when you stand up tall, your big toe should just be touching the end of the boot. When you bend or flex your knees, your foot should slide back, and your big toe no longer touching the end of the boot.
What other equipment should I bring?
Looking through any snowboard magazine will give you the low down on what’s hot and what’s not. Like with most things you get what you pay for and being warm and dry is worth quite a lot in my book. All the products that Si uses are in his opinion the best on the market. Basically you need a windproof, waterproof jacket and trousers as your outerwear if its cold, but you could get away with a lighter jacket and pants if you are planning on coming out in Spring. Don’t use cotton as your first layer, cotton stays wet. Instead go for merino wool then an insulating layer such as a fleece. Obviously gloves are essential. Also a fleece neck warmer or balaclava is great to keep in your pocket for when weather comes in unexpectedly. Goggles are essential but never have a gap between the hat and the goggles, you will burn leaving a red line on your forehead like Kit from Knight rider. Not cool! Most importantly, sun block, the higher the factor the better. At 2000 meters you can burn like a crisp so stock up before leaving Blighty.
When looking for clothing on a tight budget you can often find good stuff in TK Maxx. The big thing with snowboard clothing is that you don’t want it tight, unless you are going for the skinny look. The problem with tight kit is you will have restricted movement and you won’t be able to add more layers if you are cold.
Camel backs are a good idea as water in the mountains is both essential and expensive. Make sure you insulate the plastic water piece, or it will most definitely freeze.
Riding
What would be the best way to prepare myself for my snowboard experience?
Fitness!
Snowboarding is a physical sport. Preparing yourself as much as possible will improve your riding and your enjoyment whatever your level. Getting in the gym will reduce the chance of injury. Also if you plan on doing some off-piste with Rebel Alliance cardio will be very important. Get running in the hills or take your bike for a spin. You will enjoy the uphill almost as much as the down hill if you have a reasonable level of fitness. Yoga is proven to be excellent for snowboarding. It will improve your strength, flexibility and general peace of mind. Ohmmmmmm!
Get stoked!
Even though you may live in the city or far from the mountains, snowboarding is never far away. Magazines, the Internet, DVD’s, television, it’s taking over the world!
Snow Domes and Dry Slopes
These days most people have a snow dome or dry slope nearby. For beginners, a couple of sessions would be useful. You will still be a beginner when you get out to resort but at least you will be familiar with the equipment and jargon. Higher-level riders will always benefit from an hour or two prior to coming on holiday to clean out the cobwebs.
Do I need a lift pass and if so which one?
If you are a beginner you will not need a lift pass until Si tells you, as the beginner area is free. If you can snowboard already you will need the full area pass.
