Whittal
12-23-2008, 07:00 AM
Hi everyone, I joined upto the forum yesterday but I have been reading it for quite some time, just getting opinions and information on Skiboarding.
I started Skiing when I was 11 and went away once a year with my school until I was 15. I got to a pretty good standars and I was doing pretty much any run I liked. I've been Skiing in France, Itally and Austria as they have really the clostest and most affordable resorts and pistes to England.
I just got back from Val Thorens, France, on Saturday and it was my first time back on the snow in 6 years. I remembered the Bigfoot boards from when I was younger and wondered if there was anything similar and found that Skiboarding had come about in my absense. The most similar thing i could find to hire close to Skiboarding was the Solomon Skiblades, which, to be honest, weren't that great. They were extremely heavy and far too thin for my liking.
The main reason I decided to choose Skiboarding this time around was because all of my friends who came with me are Snowboarders. Don't get me wrong though, I don't have anything against Snowboarders, it's just that I didn't want to spend the entire week learning to Snowboard. I wanted to start having fun straight away, whilst being able to keep up with them in whatever they did.
Now although the Solomon Skiblades did the job for the week I want to try something proper that I can use all around the mountain and the Revel8 Revolts drew my attention as something that might be good for me. I like to carve as well as go off piste in powder and also kickers, drops, etc. If anyone can think of a better Skiboard for what I need it for could you please suggest it, although I get the feeling that someone might suggest KTP's, though, I don't know what the major differences with the Revolt's are.
With binding's I'm stuck choosing, not between the models, as I have absolutely no clue about them, but between the types. I understand the Pro's and Con's between each but I still cannot make a decision.
I would like the non-releaseables because they are lightweight and apparently allow for better flex and connection to the board, although correct me if I am wrong. Now the only thing that is putting me off is the fact that the rsk of injury seems to be much higher, and as a Rugby player for my university an ankle or knee injury would put me out for months. If anyone has a better insight into what might possibly be best for me, or if you know of good lightweight releaseables please let me know.
Finally I am still wondering about boots. As a Rugby player I have quite big calf muscles and I find it difficult to find a boot that will fit me right in the foot (size 9-10, wide) and actually manage to fit around the calf without making my foot loose in the rest of the boot. Is it just a case of trying on boot after boot and getting them moulded correctly, or are there certain boots that are just better for this? Also again i would like something reasonably lightweight again. This isn't because of a lack of leg strength, I would just rather have it feel as natural going down the mountain as possible, and I hope some of you can relate to this. I know it is unatural to be gliding over snow but I'd like to have it feel as I have as little on my feet as possible.
Sorry for the long first post with lots of questions but this seems like the best place to ask it. I hope all of your experience will help me to choose the best equipment for my next time out on the slopes.
Just a little photo of me off piste with a friend. Only a little 15 minute trek though, nothing special.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1202/88/38/550100947/n550100947_1729206_7710.jpg
I started Skiing when I was 11 and went away once a year with my school until I was 15. I got to a pretty good standars and I was doing pretty much any run I liked. I've been Skiing in France, Itally and Austria as they have really the clostest and most affordable resorts and pistes to England.
I just got back from Val Thorens, France, on Saturday and it was my first time back on the snow in 6 years. I remembered the Bigfoot boards from when I was younger and wondered if there was anything similar and found that Skiboarding had come about in my absense. The most similar thing i could find to hire close to Skiboarding was the Solomon Skiblades, which, to be honest, weren't that great. They were extremely heavy and far too thin for my liking.
The main reason I decided to choose Skiboarding this time around was because all of my friends who came with me are Snowboarders. Don't get me wrong though, I don't have anything against Snowboarders, it's just that I didn't want to spend the entire week learning to Snowboard. I wanted to start having fun straight away, whilst being able to keep up with them in whatever they did.
Now although the Solomon Skiblades did the job for the week I want to try something proper that I can use all around the mountain and the Revel8 Revolts drew my attention as something that might be good for me. I like to carve as well as go off piste in powder and also kickers, drops, etc. If anyone can think of a better Skiboard for what I need it for could you please suggest it, although I get the feeling that someone might suggest KTP's, though, I don't know what the major differences with the Revolt's are.
With binding's I'm stuck choosing, not between the models, as I have absolutely no clue about them, but between the types. I understand the Pro's and Con's between each but I still cannot make a decision.
I would like the non-releaseables because they are lightweight and apparently allow for better flex and connection to the board, although correct me if I am wrong. Now the only thing that is putting me off is the fact that the rsk of injury seems to be much higher, and as a Rugby player for my university an ankle or knee injury would put me out for months. If anyone has a better insight into what might possibly be best for me, or if you know of good lightweight releaseables please let me know.
Finally I am still wondering about boots. As a Rugby player I have quite big calf muscles and I find it difficult to find a boot that will fit me right in the foot (size 9-10, wide) and actually manage to fit around the calf without making my foot loose in the rest of the boot. Is it just a case of trying on boot after boot and getting them moulded correctly, or are there certain boots that are just better for this? Also again i would like something reasonably lightweight again. This isn't because of a lack of leg strength, I would just rather have it feel as natural going down the mountain as possible, and I hope some of you can relate to this. I know it is unatural to be gliding over snow but I'd like to have it feel as I have as little on my feet as possible.
Sorry for the long first post with lots of questions but this seems like the best place to ask it. I hope all of your experience will help me to choose the best equipment for my next time out on the slopes.
Just a little photo of me off piste with a friend. Only a little 15 minute trek though, nothing special.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1202/88/38/550100947/n550100947_1729206_7710.jpg