Need help choosing a board.

**twlee218** · 06-10-2007 10:45 AM

Hey guys I'm a snowboarder that has been injured and been out of the game for about two years. I wanted to get a longboard to do something in the off season and because it looks frickin fun. I've read 100's and 100's of reviews on boards and stuff and the loaded vanguard seems to be an extremely popular board and favorite of many but at the same time I'm not sure if I should be getting a board like that as a first board. I don't want to get a cheap board either. I'm willing to dish out $160 for a complete. I'm not gonna be doing any crazy tricks or anything, mostly just riding around campus and taking on the occasional hill. What kind of board should I be looking into???

Thanks a bunch

**Tai** · 06-10-2007 11:12 AM

Do you prefer a stiff or flexy board? Do you have a length preference?

**Bluetooth** · 06-10-2007 11:28 AM

I think a Kracked Skulls (www.krackedskulls.com) board would be good. Mine should come on Sunday. There's lots of boards in that price range. Also look into Gravity boards at www.gravityboard.com. Or you could look at Sector 9 boards at www.sector9.com, but I wouldn't suggest it (I know hundreds of people will disagree with me though).

**MayHill722** · 06-10-2007 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by twlee218

Hey guys I'm a snowboarder that has been injured and been out of the game for about two years. I wanted to get a longboard to do something in the off season and because it looks frickin fun. I've read 100's and 100's of reviews on boards and stuff and the loaded vanguard seems to be an extremely popular board and favorite of many but at the same time I'm not sure if I should be getting a board like that as a first board. I don't want to get a cheap board either. I'm willing to dish out $160 for a complete. I'm not gonna be doing any crazy tricks or anything, mostly just riding around campus and taking on the occasional hill. What kind of board should I be looking into???

Thanks a bunch

I used to snowboard and i used the carvestik for a crosstraining board. It is a little pricey but well worth the money. It carves really well, not so good for bombing though. haha. I got used to it and bombed hills but anyone who hasn't ridden it to much than you get some gnar speed wobbles! haha.Check them out at www.carveboard.com

**Hopetobecruising** · 06-10-2007 04:00 PM

There is also the Freebord. Created to be a snowboard, essencially. www.freebord.com

**twlee218** · 06-10-2007 04:00 PM

My length preference i guess is anything less than 38. I'm not sure about what the flex of the board determines. I'm about 5' 6 and weigh 165ish. I don't think I'm going to be doing any bombing. If anything maybe a little carving. I looked at the carvestick but I dont' think it's for me. Thanks for the suggestions though. I also looked at the freebord. I was almost 100 percent sure I was going to buy it but then I realized to put the freebord to use, you have to have nice hills. Unfortunately the area I live in seems to lack in hills or at least one's where you can safely dodge traffic, otherwise I would have bought the freebord in a heartbeat.

**Bluetooth** · 06-10-2007 04:35 PM

Get a real longboard. Not a carveboard or freebord.

**MayHill722** · 06-10-2007 05:26 PM

The longboard store ( www.thelongboardstore.com ) has a big selection of boards. You should check them out.

**Tex202** · 06-10-2007 07:38 PM

I highly suggest vangaurds

they are deffienatly great boards

Its my first "official" board (i had a homemade one) and is one of the greatest buys ive ever made

sure, it costs a considerable amount of money, but dont let that hold you back from buying one of the nicest rides I've ever felt

**A.C.** · 06-10-2007 07:52 PM

Well hence the fact that you used to snowboad, this is going to be a pretty fun, and relatively easy thing for you to get used to.

If you really want to have fun, and learn longboarding really well, then I suggest saving up and going for a Loaded Board.

www.loadedboards.com

Check their stuff out.

I really reccomend either the Vanguard or the Pintail. Heck the fish is awesome too. Just depends on what you want to do.

Since you said carving and crusing, definetly get either a Vanguard 38" or a Pintail 35.5".

They are both awesome for carving and crusing.

If you get a vanguard, go for a flex 3 or 4. Pintail get a flex 3.

If you want to cruise and carve get some Abec11 Gumballs 76mm 75a. Softer, but you'll need to wear em' in a little before you can do some good slides...

Bearings, stick with regular DBS Abec7s... You arent going downhill or anything.

Trucks:
Vanguard: Randal II 180mm
Pintail: Randal II 150mm

Either way, that's if you are going to choose your parts from a site like Daddies Boardshop

Either way, they are both awesome boards, and you'll be shredding in no time.

Cheers.
-AC

**head cheese** · 06-10-2007 08:00 PM

i would get the loaded pintail complete on milehighskates...

http://www.milehighskates.com/catalo...oducts_id=1439

it is pricey tho.

**twlee218** · 06-10-2007 08:29 PM

If I were choosing a flex should my weight be on the bottom end or the high end of the weight class. I'm asking because my weight seems to be either near the top or the bottom of the different flexes. or does it even mattere?

**A.C.** · 06-10-2007 10:26 PM

Well whats your weight and which boad are you looking for?

The higher the flex number, the more "flexy" it is... But if you are 100 pounds, you dont want a flex 1 Vanguard for instance... You'd want a Flex 4...

So It all depends on your weight.

I'm around 170ish pounds, and I ride a Flex 2 Pintail. It's perfect for me...