Just got a new snowboard..what do i need to do to get it ready?

Question

I'm a beginner still, only been snowboarding 5-6 times and have just been renting a board. I just got a new board and was wondering what do i have to do to get it ready. should i wax it? and i heard something about detuning but don't really know what it is. also what angle should i put my bindings to start out with?

Answer 1

Your board does come pre-waxed from the factory, but factory wax is c**p, and not really meant but to keep the base hydrated while sitting around, so your most likely going to want to wax it before you ride it, but it's not 100% necessary. Detuning is essentially dulling the edges some, makeing it a bit less likely to catch an edge, seeing as you are a beginner and probably wont be riding rails, and will mostly be freeriding, I wouldn't worry about detuning the effective edge any, but you may want to detune the nose and tail some, but don't really worry about that to much. Stance angles are pretty much totally preference, and most rental places I know set there angles at 15, 0. You may like that, but the only real way to tell what's best for you is just to play around with the angles until you find a set you like.

Answer 2

dont worry about waxing it or anything.. realistically its ready to go. wen setting your bindings you should consider what type of riding you will be doing and what is comfortable.

if your doing park boxes and jumps and know you might be landing goofy i would set your back foot in the negatives. and your front foot should be set around 15degrees.

i ride 15 front, -15 back. so your front foot is angled like your back except in the opposite direction. looks a little like this.

- \  / -

some free riders just riding the mountain put their foots with a 15 front and 0 back to look like this

- \  l -   where their back foot is straight forward

and depending on how much angle is comfortable will change your opinion. and also depending on your length and height will change your spread between your feet.

once again if your doing park i would spread your legs and feet a lil more for more support at the knees. anywhere between 20 and 23 inches apart.

Answer 3

If you want to get the most out of your board you should DEFINITELY have it hot waxed before using it.  Factory wax isn't going to cut it.  The purpose of hot waxing is to actually get the wax into the base, which protects it from drying out.  Too many people neglect to tune and wax their boards properly and would be amazed at the performance gain and longevity they can get out of keeping a board in proper tune.  Most people I ride with, myself included, hot wax about every 4-5 days, and cold wax (liquid) every single day.  

As for the edges, they'll come sharp from the factory - you may want to run a stone over them quickly to take off any burrs from the board being handled.  

When people refer to "de-tuning" what it really means is that the tip and tail should be dulled.  This is NOT the entire length of the board, ONLY from where the board transitions from flat on the tip and tail, all the way around to the same spot in the other side.  People mistakenly think that in the park you don't want sharp edges - not true!  What you really want is the edges to be beveled - approx. 2 degrees on base and 1 to 2 degrees on side.  This will prevent catching an edge on the rails, but still allow you to ride the rest of the mountain.

Don't take my word for it though if you don't believe me, look around online at some KNOWLEDGEABLE sites.  I know for a fact though there isn't a single pro rider who would leave the house without a quality tune-up - i.e. good wax job and properly tuned edges - sharp yet beveled.

Check it out then try it out - you'll be amazed at the difference it makes in your riding!