Finding your Set Up

My Snowboard set-up 

Ever person has a different feel for riding and what type of set-up they prefer and your only going to figure out what you like through trial and error. This is one why you can express yourself before you even set foot on the mountain. You can set yourself apart from other riders, by wearing flashy gear. Besides being flash different gear has different feel which is just another aspect of finding your inner rider.  

A side note, to help you discover your inner rider and which gear is good for you is. If you can find mountains sponsoring test riding take advantage of that. It is a good way to get to try different types of boards and binding to see how they feel and what you think about them before you go and spend all that money. 

After a couple different boards and bindings, all with different feels and from different companies I found what works well for my style of riding and expression. My board is a 2009 Burton Clash which is an all-mountain board; a directional twain. Which means that the bindings are centered on the board but the tail is a little wider for cruising, a good mix of everything. In comparison to a twin which is equal all around designed for tricks so no matter which way you land your centered. Then there is a straight directional which sets the bindings back more and has that wider tail, meant for cruising down the mountain and deep powdery snow. Each person has a different style of riding which is why their styles of expression and its important to find the board that will allow you to do so successfully. 

Now on to bindings, the glue connecting you and your board. I have 2010 Burton Mission bindings, they are also designed for all-mountain riding. When it comes to bindings they are rated on two things how soft or hard they are and their hold. The all-mountain bindings are going to be in the middle of that scale being a little harder than a freestyle binding with medium hold. All-mountain bindings are designed for exactly that, ride anywhere and everywhere on the mountain. Freestyle bindings are going to be the softest with the most hold allowing for easy spins and tricks. On the other end of that scale are backcountry bindings which are hard with strong hold designed to maximize your carving. Just as a board affects the riders ability to express their ride style so do bindings.

The final piece to any set-up is your boots, which my seem unimportant. False, its important to find the right boot. When it comes to picking out boots theres are many factors to think about: fit, feel, are they warm, how heavy are they, will they fit your bindings(not all boots will fit every binding), and flexibility. My boots are 2010 Burton Mottos which I personally like because they are comfortable and fit my feet well, while still being light, warm and flexible. I did not have to worry about them fitting my bindings because companies specifically design their boots to fit their bindings, but if they are different companies always check or ask if they will fit. 

While I may have all Burton, I am not saying thats the only company out there I also like Ride, Thirty-Six, forum, and more. So you do not have to just stick to one company, mix and match and see what works best for your style and allows you to take your expression to it full potential. If you still do not know your style you will, just enjoy the ride, because that is the only way to find your inner rider. 

Just always remember, when you find that perfect set-up treat it as your baby, Just as I do!