+1 for salomon.
+1 for Tir-City too
Great boots. Really comfortable. Got last season Salomon Dialogues last month at Tri-City for $100. They are a $215 boot. Get there soon because they sell out of common sizes.
As for boards, most everyone has hit it on the nose. cheap that fits your needs. make sure it isn't too long either. I made that mistake with my first board.

 

if any of your guys gf's needs a pair of boots, i have a pair of DC boots size 9 i don't like. ill let them go for super cheap.

 

There are quite a few things to look at when deciding on a board.

Ability Level
Type of ridding you 'plan' on doing (park, pipe, powder, everything)
Your height and weight
Boot size

Your weight is not as important, just use the spec. board weight limits as a basic guide line (i.e. I weight 230lbs but I don't ride a board that has 230 anywhere near the board spec'd weight limits).

Stiffness of the board is a pretty big factor IMO. I don't recommend a stiff board for a beginner. Kinda takes the fun out of ridding due to always having to be super alert and always on edge...for the most part. A softer board will be a bit easier to ride as far as you can just cruz and not have to worry about your board throwing you to the curb (i.e. catching an edge). So, something on the softer side (entry level) would be best for maybe the 1st season depending on how often you ride.

If you have a big foot then you may want to consider a wider board...or go with a normal width board and add Palmer Plates (riser) which lift you off the board a bit, give you less toe and heal drag, allows you to turn or get on edge quicker than on a wide board. This may be kinda advanced but it's just something to think about. A wide board is kinda hard to get on edge to carve compared to a 'normal' board. It's kinda like some one with small feet trying to ride a 'normal' width board. It sucks. So just make sure to get one that works for your foot size. The bindings also help get the toes off the snow with little toe risers built into the bindings.

Board length - it all depends on what type of ridding you plan on doing. As some have said, you can use any board for pretty much anything when it comes to directional or non-directional boards (twin-tip). Basic rule of thumb is if you plan to do more park and pipe then you may want a non-directional board. You can ride this board switch or normal much easier than a directional board. A twin will put you in the middle of the board for a more centered stance, with a pretty close to equal tip and tail measurements. If it was a powder day you may have to set your stance back toward the tail to keep the nose up and you on top of your board So, again as a "general rule" you should have a board that comes somewhere between your chin and your nose. A longer board will have you going faster and also have you floating a bit better, but may turn a bit slower depending on sidecut and board width. A short board will allow you to move the board around a bit more but may require more work in powder if you're not in the back seat.

There are tons of boards that will work for you and your ridding style. Tri-City should have some good deals on last years boards or just get a used one with low miles

You may want to purchase a good pair of boots and then rent a board from a local shop the 1st three or 4 times you go up. Then you can kinda get an idea of what works for you. In addition, resorts have demo days where the board manufacturer (Santa Cruz, Burton, Salomon, etc.) will help you find a board that is best for you. You can ride all of their boards and try and get a feel of the difference between stiff, soft, short, long, wide, narrow, etc. That way you know what you like before you spend your cash on gear that may not work for you.

Again, these are just my opinions…

 

For your size and height I'd recommend a 155 board (something thats about chin height), if you have big feet you may want a 'wide' model cause heel/toe drag sucks. Im 5'10.5" 195lbs and ride a 159 Burton Bullet 'wide' (size 12 boots).

As far as brand, just buy the cheapest/bestest deal you can find and ride the crap out of it for a season or two. That way you can learn and thrash it and not worry about. As a beginner I ran over dirt patches, logs, rocks and crashed into trees, its inevitable as a beginner, you cant manuever that well. Once you get down the basics, then buy a nice board that fits your riding style(park, freeride, tech, ect...)

 

+ infinity for tri city

their sales are for an indefinite amount of time.

20% off all new stuff

50% off all one-year old stuff.

i just got some brand new 2005 Northwave kevin jones boots for $120.

just for reference, i'm 5'6", 140lbs, and ride a 151cm board with 26.0 boots (8 US). the boot size should be the exact size of your foot. ie. its not like getting tennis shoes where you have an inch in front. if your foot measures out to 29.0cm, then get size 29 (9 US).

 

+1 san jose Sportmart all the way

 

the station is so overpriced. I'd rather see you buy a board at zumies than at the station.

Seriously....go to tricity. in our area they have the largest selection and the best deals.

Beyond that I'd say out in redwood city I think it is...go skate has a lot and great deals. Or head out to santa cruz and check out Pacific Wave or whatever it is down town. Selection isn't the greatest but they have santa cruz boards....what more could you want. Few other places in santa cruz have nice boards as well.

Or hit up one of the swaps. Good place for a first board. You can find barely to never used complete boards one season old for like...$250 to 300. It's amazing how many people will go out and drop a grand on quality gear without ever trying snowboarding.....go once and never go again.

 

try city is only good in Feburary... when they are getting rid of their stock.. they start 3at 30%.. then go to 40% then go to 50 by march...

contratry to what most people say.. board stiffness and length depends on person's weight..

if you weigh more then what a stiff board on a light person wil feel less stiff.. just physics..
i'm 5.7" and weigh 160 with my gear on... and i ride a 156 burton....

 

nice suggestions everyone, i'm still waiting on powerband to get back to me before i go and check out all the places suggested.

 

Cheapest place for a hot wax?

 

its so easy, do it yourself. ( well, if you ride a lot, its worth buying the iron, wax, and scraper; its cheaper in the long run.)

 

As stated above, it is very easy to do and cheaper if you buy the iron and wax. I think I paid the same for the iron and wax as I would have to have it done one time, and I have done it at least 10-15 times.

 

Your garage. If you don't have a garage, use your living room. like mentioned above, it is really easy to do, and is much cheaper than paying someone else to do it. There are many How-to's on waxing online for reference as well. Just last Saturday I finished waxing 4 boards and a pair of ski's with also working the edges and p-tex into any rock or tree injuries.

 

all i know is Lombardi's has the BEST billboard I've ever seen........

"Get your snow gear here."










"Even if you're kinda ugly."


10th & Market if you wanna peep it. I'm sure they get a bunch of business just cuz that billboard cracks people up.

 

REI is expensive, but their satisfaction gaurantee offers peace of mind.

Things like boots...may feel alright at the store, but after a day of boarding you may notice little misfits w/ your feet.

Same for the bindings and board...they may not "feel" right for no apparent reason than your feet are jacked up.

It's totally no hassle returns at REI. If you don't like it, return it either that year or in a couple of years. If you're a member, you don't even need your receipt.

I've been a bargain hunter all my life and I've come to appreciate that in the long run, spending a bit more to get excellent customer service, is worth it to me.

I've bought gear at Tri-city, got like 50- 75% off stuff...walked out the door with boots, binding, and board for ~$300. After a season I've wanted to return boots, binding and board. If I spent another $100 or so at REI, I could have pretty much had unlimited exchanges until I found the right fit.

Most place won't let you return unless there's a defect...at REI just tell them you don't like 'em. Can't beat that.