New Board, Suggestions?
Hey guys, it’s time for me to upgrade to a new snowboard. I have only had one snowboard in the past, a 5150 Vice 2009 146cm. This was the board I learned to snowboard on and I used it for the past three seasons. Since then, I have grown about 25lbs. Here is my information:
Weight: 150lbs (I have a goal of 160lbs, weight lift everyday)
Boots: Size 10 K2 Raider BOA Coiler (Probably going to need to up them a half a size next season)
Skill: Intermediate
Stance: Goofy
Style: Freestyle
Age: 18
Budget: $600 (bindings not included), obviously the cheaper the better (without compromising quality/performance) since I’m a poor, unemployed college student
Location of Riding: Northeast USA [Connecticut (small mountains: Ski Sundown & Mohawk Mountain) w/ occasional trips to Vermont (Bromley, Okemo, Killington)]
Frequency: Around 3+ times in past seasons w/ desire to board more this year
I was looking at a Burton Whammy Bar (2012 Pink Floyd edition) or Burton Verdict but I heard Lib Tech/GNU make the best boards and I want it to last. Definitely between those three brands. Plan on getting a pair of Union Forces L/XL (could be persuaded otherwise) because I have heard nothing but the best about them.
What I’m asking in this post:
What is/are your suggested board(s) based on my information (Biased towards a good brand like Burton, Lib Tech or GNU but willing to take other suggestions)?
What is your opinion on the Union Forces bindings, would you suggest something different?
Thank you for any help provided.
welcome to boardworld mate
have you had a chance to read this article on the site
https://www.boardworld.com.au/snowboarding/content/category/snowboard-selection/
there are a few things on there that will help you determine what type of board you want…besides brand
mainly Q4. What type of terrain do you like to ride and which areas of the mountain will you spend most of your time riding?
and Q5. What is your ability level?..be honest with yourself on this one
after these
you will need to decide on camber
Normal, reverse or hybrid
Also think about wether you like a stiff responsive feel, a soft forgiving flex, or somewhere in between!!!!!
Oh yeah, and welcome to Boardworld, Wanted!!!!! 
Does Libtech, Gnu (Mervin) make the best boards, hmm dunno but I have 2 of them and so far so good. Witht hat said they aren’t the lightest boards somewhere in the middle of the road but from a construction point of view pretty damn good. Burton is Burton and make good products as well. Never really looked into Union bindings seriously, only had a passing interest as Rice rides them so I’m guessing they must be decent.
Personally I would go a true twin board, nothing will help your riding more than learning to ride switch and a true twin in both shape, direction and flex will help with this. I’m also taking a punt that on your coast there snow is fairly hard so edges like Mervins magnetraction will definitely be a bonus, Burton does a version of this as well. In terms of rocker, I don’t know what your current board is but have you thought about which rocker profile you think you would like? For freestyle generally speaking for your average rider rocker or hybrid would be the best bet. With size 10 feet you can probably get away with waist widths in the realm of 245 or so. If you’re hell bent on Mervin maybe a Lib TRS is a decent idea or a Gnu Park Pickle. About the only board in the Burton range that intrigues me is the Nug, not sure that’s right for you though.
Thanks for the nice welcome everyone. To answer your questions, I like to do some all-mountain snowboarding but I definitely hope to get in to parks more now that I have been snowboarding for a few years. I definitely want a board more geared towards that. As I said earlier, I would classify myself as an intermediate. I can ride switch already so a twin would be nice. I’m leaning towards a softer flex board with reverse camber or a hybrid with rocker in the middle. nthnbeachesguy was right in saying that the snow here is harder which is why I want a magnetraction board. Thanks.
Hey WA, if you’re doing a fair bit of all mountain the C2 rocker is probably a good idea, I would also look at the Attack Banana with the EC2 rocker profile, it’s a bit softer flex than the others from what I can gather and is more playful, it was next on my list till I got excited about the DC Ply or Mega.
Never really looked into Union bindings seriously, only had a passing interest as Rice rides them so I’m guessing they must be decent.
Travis was keen on using NOW bindings, until Union lured him away with the big bucks.
I have pretty much decided on the Lib Tech Attack Banana. I was wondering what size would be recommended. Probably the 153, correct?
153 will do just fine I’m just over 165lbs and I ride a 154 Banana Magic no complaints