ATTN: SoCal Snowboarders. Used board + boots = $40

[Ricochet]

This morning, I went to Chicks in Pasadena to rent a snowboard before driving on over to Mt. Baldy for some fun in the snow. The clerk there told me the selections were dwindling because they were putting all their snowboard rental equipments on clearance. Fortunately for me the board + boots my size were still available.

I was told I could rent them for $30 or just purchase them for $40. My first reaction was :Q. Even though they are heavily used, you can't beat that.

Here's their homepage.

Oh, please don't ask me about brand names and such. I'm new at snowboarding.


UPDATE, 4/9/05: You guys gotta keep in mind that these are rental equipments so of course they are not going to be the best brand or in the best shape. It's always gonna be YMMV too depending on your size and what store you go to. The board I got has the snap-on binding which is crappy for pro-boarders but is suited fine for a beginner like me.

Pic01
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Pic03

BTW, this is intended for those with Chicks around their area. I'm not buying and shipping anything to anyone.

UPDATE 2, 4/12/05: Video footage.

Vid01
Vid02
Vid03
Vid04

 

[intogamer]

:Q is this also at crotched moutain? lol

 

[serialb]

pics?

 

[Ricochet]

Originally posted by: serialb
pics?

Pics of what? The snowboard? If there is enough interest I'll go find a camera.

 

[klingsor]

There's interest. There is an ENOURMOUS gap in quality and functionality between boards. Even a manufacturer name and model would help

 

[czech09]

I agree with what other's have said. I'd be interested as well. If you could find a board and boots that are nice and a decent brand I could paypal you the money they would cost + shipping + a few bucks on top for your effort. Keep us informed if you find out something new.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: klingsor
There's interest. There is an ENOURMOUS gap in quality and functionality between boards. Even a manufacturer name and model would help

Even at $40 for the board and boots??

 

[Ricochet]

Updated with pictures. See original post.

 

[klingsor]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer

Originally posted by: klingsor
There's interest. There is an ENOURMOUS gap in quality and functionality between boards. Even a manufacturer name and model would help

Even at $40 for the board and boots??

Yep. For instance, the board and boots shown are 4 or 5 seasons old. A good setup for someone in their first year of snowboarding. And considering that the learning curve is steep and quick, maybe only their first 10 days. An experienced rider wouldn't even consider riding that setup. But again, that is a very good beginner board/boot combo. For $40, any beginner should be happy with it. Then you can fleabay the setup for $60 when you're better.

 

[schmedy]

Thanks for the pics, I am heading to CA in a week. Called some of the other Chicks and weren't doing anything like this too so just in Pasadena. I have some good stuff but looking for stuff for my daughter.

 

[serialb]

$40 is a steal. I'll let my first-timer friends know about it.

 

[osiris3mc]

Mount Baldy still has snow?!?

 

[genius99]

Cool deal

I looked at the pics and its kinda hard to tell how beat up they are.

Have you used it in the snow yet? Did it work good?

thanks

 

[Tommyboy8]

definitely a good deal for beginners... but that's about it.

but for intermediate and advanced, they'd never spend a dime on that kind of setup.

 

[Ricochet]

Mt. Baldy still had snow last Friday. I even took it on the intermediate run, Bonanza Bowl. It worked fine for me. Of course the only thing I can compare it to is the rentals at Mt. Baldy. It was not as good as some but better than others. That was my 4th time snowboarding so I'm not quite sure if a better board would vastly improve my skill.

I'm gonna try to obtain some video footage that my friend took of me. He had a digital camera with him. This coming Friday, if the snow report is good, I'm going up there again.

 

[INGlewood78]

Originally posted by: Tommyboy8
definitely a good deal for beginners... but that's about it.

but for intermediate and advanced, they'd never spend a dime on that kind of setup.

agreed...FYI...the more you use you snowboard, the more flex it has. (relatively speaking). This increase flex results in a less responsive snowboard. This is a great deal for beginners because most of the time you will be sitting on the snow...so the flex won't be noticed! But you might as well learn on an old board as it will probably get torn up.

 

[klingsor]

Originally posted by: ricochet
That was my 4th time snowboarding so I'm not quite sure if a better board would vastly improve my skill.

Try out a high-end board in the Lib Tech line sometime. I rode the Phoenix Wave this season and it was remarkable. I've been on Libs for the past several seasons. I keep trying others (Forum, Solomon, Rossi, Illuminatti, Nitro, Ride, K2, etc...) and I keep coming back to Lib - they consistently make some of the best boards around. And they look so damned good.

 

[Ricochet]

Thanx, klingsor, for the recommendation. Just curious what are the prices like for the LIB?

 

[klingsor]

It depends. This time of year you can get great deals on ebay. I found a brand new one that cost me about $180, that's without bindings. I think that the guy either worked at Lib or was a sponsored rider, because he had about a dozen for sale, all brand new and cheap. In a shop the board alone would be about $400-$500

 

[Tommyboy8]

here is one of the best advice you will have to buy snowboard equipment:

if you don't care about having the new stuff of the season, then buy NEW equipment at the end of the season, or buy last year's stuff at the beginning of the season.

For example, the 04/05 season is dwindling down and most shops usually start with a 30% off retail around end of feb, early march. This discound usually goes to 40% possibly 50% at some places by may of that season. You will be buying that equipment for dirt cheap, but wont get to ride it that much.

You could also hit up the boardshop at the very early part of next season (around Oct 05) and buy the equipment that was from 04/05... as the shops start to receive the new equipment form the 05/06 season. That way, you get new stuff, 1 season behind, but usually at 50% off retail.

Good not so mainstrem boards:
- Lib Tech
- Rome
- GNU
- Donek (usually for freeriding)
- Arbor (more for freeriding)
- Elevation
- M3

boards in the above category usually run $300-600 depending on the models.

At the beginning of this season (Oct 04), I scored a Supernatural 154 (made by Mervin which also makes Lib Tech and GNU) from the 03/04 season for $150, 50% off retail.

So if you don't want to get the latest stuff, hit up the stores now, or hit them up at the VERY early beginning of next season.