Beginner snowboarding- freestyle board ok?

Question

I have a couple of (noob) questions regarding snowboarding. I'm a beginner, buying my first board this weekend.

I was recommended to buy a 157cm freeride board, but I'm having a hard time finding one that isn't completely crummy. I'm living in Norway, everything is literally 2 times more expensive than the states.

I was offered a very nice used board, its a 155cm freestyle. In your opinion, would this be ok to learn on? The board is decent quality and not too stiff flex, but I have no idea if this or a directional board is better to start with.

The second question is on stance- would it be terrible to start in duck stance? Or is this more difficult? Standing like that feels more natural to me and I have better balance. I just don't know if that would be the case on a slope!

Third question: 5150 boards- absolute c**p, or not a total waste of money? I'm wary of anything inexpensive.

Would love your opinions...

Answer 1

The general rule of thumb for snowboards is that the snowboard should come up to the bottom of your chin when you stand it up on end. Also for a beginer a freestyle or multidirectional board is a lot better to learn on then an Alpine or One Directional snowboard. The Alpines and O.D.'s are built for pure speed halling @$$ down the mountain. As a novice you will also have a lot more fun on a freestyle..5150 isnt a bad snowboard company but if your gonna spend the money and want the best always go with Burton Snowboards ..Burton is the Mecca or King of Snowboards..Good Luck and have fun

Edit- Sorry didnt answer your stance question..Yes Duck footed is fine I have a friend who boards like that..The best stance is the one that you are most comfortable with..Im right handed and I put my right foot in back straight across and left foot in front at a 45 * angle..it doesnt matter how you stand just whats most comfy for you..

Answer 2

well there is a website that you can find what length your board should be but i forgot it so search something like snowboard lengths size chart or something like that but 5150 im not sure about there board but i love their bindings

Answer 3

sizing for a snowboard has to do with riding style and weight, if your going to be in a tone of powder go with a bigger board, if your in park and groomed trails then you can get away with a smaller board.  a smaller board is going to have more flex, a larger one less.  a freestyle will have more than a freeride.  you dont want too much flex because then the board will be unstable at high speeds and if you are going off jumps it could break easier.  as for board choice, 5150 isnt a bad bord to start out on, after a season or two then you can set up on a nicer board.  dont think that you have to have a burton.  people think that burton is the best, but they are not, there are alot of other great companies that make great products for a fraction of the price, burton was the pioneer of snowboarding but are not the mecca. burton was'nt even the top contender in the good wood awards.  It seem that only rookies think that burton is the greatest.  they are good but think outside the box.  good luck and have a good season

Answer 4

This is the size calculator that others mentioned:

http://www.frostyrider.com/tips/size-gui...

5150 is better than Morrow or the other cheap boards out there, but not much - it would be a good beginner board. I think a freestyle board would be fine for learning - you could always mount the bindings one hole back toward your rear foot to give you a little setback - that seems to help learning how to initiate and link turns for beginners.

The duck stance would be fine, but don't go crazy with the angles. Most duck riders do +12 front / -12 back but I don't think that would be ideal for learning. Try either +6 / -6 or +9 / -3. What ever feels the most natural.

Good Luck

Answer 5

a 5150 board will be just fine for you.

155cms is a good length if you are from 5'7" to 6 ft tall

most experts say a duck stance is best: imagine what feels most comfortable for you in sports - like if you were standing up and i was going to push you or throw something at you , you would want to be in a duck stance. if you were to jump up and down same thing right?

i think freeride boards are best all around first board because they offer the most options