Finally, My Own Gear

After renting gear for a while, it was time for my own set of equipment. But did I do myself a favor, or a disservice?

If you're just starting out with snowboarding, renting gear makes a lot of sense. There's a fairly high dropout rate, and why would you shell out a few hundred bucks for something you are not sure about?

So when should you go and buy your own stuff? There's no easy answer, but if you've been out more than a few times, and you're seriously interested in learning how to ride, it may be time to buy.

In my case, I had gone long enough to know that snowboarding was something I wanted to keep going at, even if it might take a long time to get up to speed. The rental gear wasn't itself too bad, but I resented having to plop down a $300 deposit on the board each time I rented it. I never had to do that with rental skis, after all.

Since I had already paid a fair amount of money for skis, ski boots, and modifications to both (ski alignment, custom foot beds for the boots, etc.), getting top of the line snowboarding gear was out of the question. After all, I haven't given up skiing.

So when word came to me about a ski and snowboard swap, I went.

As it turns out, it wasn't the greatest experience. I went on the final day, and there was little selection left. Still, I did come away with some stuff.

The most obvious need was a board. I could have gone for a semi-scientific approach, but at this point, I don't know enough about my own abilities or preferences to have much of a feel for what I need. Hard boots and alpine boards are out, since I'm interested in all-around riding. So then, freestyle-specific gear isn't that important, either, since it will be a while before I hit the pipe or park.

So I went with two simple requirements (aside from the board being tall enough). One, that it be wide enough to accommodate my large feet. Two, that it not have any of the "teenaged graphics" that seem to populate boards. I wasn't looking for a fashion statement, after all.

Fortunately, I found one (and only one) that fit the bill. The graphic was essentially no graphic. Aside from two solid borders along portions of either edge, the board itself simply has a wood finish. In fact, it looks something like the lane of a bowling alley, with visible grain.

That's pretty cool, actually. It takes me back to my childhood, and to the roots of snowboarding. The Snurfer, a prototype of today's snowboard, was sold by Brunswick. And Brunswick's chief product in that day was ... stuff for bowling alleys. So I have a no-nonsense, "roots" board.

It came with strap-on bindings attached, which could cause problem. I picked up a pair of boots, cheap. I figure that if they don't work out, I can always sell them.

So while this setup doesn't make me a snowboarder, and the purchase did violate all the rules about how to buy gear, it does get me more involved, and sets me on the path to having a familiar situation each time I ride.