If your kids have had a chance to experience the thrill of riding down an untracked slope of powder on a rental snowboard, their next demand at the dinner table is almost inevitable: they'll want you to buy them their own snowboard. Don't despair. The news is better than you think. Children's snowboards have come a long way over the past few years, and if you've ever bought a snowboard for yourself, you'll be happy to learn that most of the same buying advice translates into buying kids' equipment. Children's snowboards are very similar to adult snowboards, just smaller. As with other types of snowsports equipment, it's always a good idea to rent before you buy. There are literally hundreds of different children's snowboards available, so you'll want to make sure that your child likes a particular board before you buy it for them. There's also a trade-off between renting equipment versus buying it. A good rule of thumb is the "10 day rule." If your child expects to ride fewer than 10 days a year, it's probably a good idea to continue renting. However, if he rides more than 10 days or has specific equipment needs, it makes more sense to buy him his own board.
What to Look for
One inevitable fact of life is that kids grow. So, like it or not, the board you buy them this year will probably be too short or too small for them next winter. It's important to buy them the correct size board. If it's too big, they'll have trouble controlling it and will have difficulties improving their riding technique. If it's too small, their toes may hang over the side of the board and interfere with turning. Buy the correct sized board. A good rule of thumb is to rest one end of the board on the ground by their feet. The other end of the board should come somewhere between their nose and chin. Snowboards are categorized by riding style and include "freestyle," "freeride," "backcountry" and "carving" boards. If your child is just learning how to snowboard, buy them a freestyle or freeride board that is fairly flexible and easy to turn. Snowboards are made with a variety of materials. Some are stiffer than others, so be sure that they try the board before you buy it. Snowboards also use a variety of binding and boot combinations. The easiest to use and most versatile are the "strap-on" bindings. Strap-on bindings are sold independently of snowboards, so your child will be able to use his boots on other boards if he wishes.
Common Pitfalls
One of the biggest mistakes a parent can make is to buy a snowboard that is too large for their child, hoping that they'll grow into it. Don't make this mistake. Like other types of sports equipment, snowboards are highly specialized recreational tools that must be properly fitted to the rider. If you try to save money by buying the wrong type of snowboard for your child, chances are they'll find it too difficult to learn and get frustrated. Instead, look for the end of season sales at your local snowboard dealer. You can often save as much as 50 percent on brand new equipment.
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