How and where should a beginner choose a snowboard?

Question

Please keep in mind, that I'm looking in San Diego area.

Answer 1

Id look up your friendly neighborhood skate/snow shop (prefereably one that isnt inside a big sports department store- theyre too impersonal from all my experiences), and take a trip over there when you have some free time.

When I went for my 1st board, I walked in there with no clue as to what I want.  They talked to me for a little while to see what I wanted to do/what I was into, and reccomended a few different things as far as boots, bindings, and boards went.  

After asking a few questions myself, I ended up leaving the shop with an entire new set up.  It was perfect, and they def knew what they were talking about.

Good luck and have fun!!!

Answer 2

For my first board, (I'm still a beginner!), I went to a swap thing at a convention center in my area (definitely not in San Diego). I bought a cheap, crappy board with decent bindings for $100, but I didn't really care that it sucked, cause getting that is like the price of three rentals, and I knew I'd be going for more than that.

I went to get the edges gone at the shop in our sports store and the guy who did it accidentally brought the board up too high on the edge-turner. So the board shot 30 feet up in the air and came down and got busted of course. They gave me a brand-new $250 board for 50 bucks. So that's the one I have now.

I would say its fine to go used for your first board, check on the Internet, ask around if people are selling theres. Tons of people upgrade around now (especially if they get a new board for Christmas or whatever), and I just found out my friends brother is selling his sweet Rossignol board. Or check at used sports stores, if you have any.

If you don't want to go used, look around at the sports stores. We have Sport Chek and Sport Mart up here. They have put of flyers, and I brought a flyer in asking for a promotion they had on - a certain board with good bindings for like $150, plus your choice of boots for 100 bucks more. Sometimes they'll have deals on. Check for deals after Christmas, my brother got a pair of ballin skis for 40 at an outlet mall in the States.

Depends on where you go, but the guys in the shop at our sports stores usually know what they're talking about and can help.

Ooooh also look at reviews on the internet

http://www.snowboardreviews.com/pick.htm is one site I've been on.