Freesytle or Freeride Board for a beginniner?

Question

I just bought a Salomon Arnie 5000, I couldn't resist the price. I'm still a beginner and I've just been boarding twice, just learning how to carve.

Was this Freestyle board a good buy, if i'm just learning how to carve? Or should I have gotten a freeride/all-mountain board?

Also, what angles should I set the bindings at?

http://global.skipass.com/gearguide/snowboard/2007/salomon/Arnie-5000.html

Answer 1

set the angles to the angle you normally stand at... then adjust from there while on the mountain. be sure to bring a multi-tool or binding tool or ask the pro shop to borrow their screwdriver

Freestyle is gonna be better tuned for the park, but honestly when you're learning a board is a board. I'd recommend an all mountain board to learn on, but really when you're just learning it doesn't matter that much. The added flex of a freestyle board will probably help with you learning how to carve. You probably won't get as much speed out of it as you would an all mountain board, but that's a relative measure.

Answer 2

Freestyle boards are softer flex (more bendy) and are good for park/pipes because it can mold to the shape of the pipes and you can also bend it downwards to make gliding on rails easier.  For beginners (if you're primarily going on green), freestyle can a good choice because the soft flex also makes turns easier and is more forgiving.  However, this is only true when you are on gentle slopes.  When you're going fast down steep slopes, the soft flex will tend to give less control and you may feel floppy.  All mountain board's flex is in between freestyle and freeride and it's the most common type.  Personally, I would go for all mountain if you don't plan on doing park stuff because I imagine you'd eventually go down steeper slopes where all mountain board would be more suitable.  My board is all mountain/freestyle.  It's designed to both (but obviously not gonna be as good for freestyle as freestyle specific boards).  That's another problem with all mountain... since it's trying to have the best of both worlds, it won't be the best in either category.  I still think it's the best for people who just plan to snowboard leisurely.

Binding wise... front feet is usually between 10 and 30 and back feet is usually between -15 and 10.  I have mine set at 15/-12.  Play around with different setting to see which stance feels more natural to you.  The most important thing is you feel comfortable.  Different people use different angles and that's why it's adjustable.