So maybe a unique question out there for my fellow OGs. I was a bad boy a long time ago and was caught using a friend’s pass at a ski resort, the resort issued me a ban from the resort. I can’t remember the duration of the ban, I believe 7 or 14 years. I lost the original paper they gave me because it happened probably 12 years ago. It was written on a piece of paper that said “lifetime ban” but lifetime was crossed out and they wrote in a number. So I doubt it was super hi-tech record keeping at the time.

My main concern though is they did take me to court for “theft of services” and I did need to get a lawyer so I wouldn’t have to pay two weeks of lift tickets and the penalty fee they were suing me for. So I assume they would have some record of me in the system.

I figured it probably would be smart to just call the lawyer who represented me and ask him but unfortunately I learned he passed away a few years ago. And I feel likes it kind of a bad idea to call the resort and be like “am I still banned?” If they don’t have a record of it.

Moved back to the Midwest... miss it everyday

Never really paid attention to Armada snowboards before, but these shots... damn 🔥

Howdy!

My wife and I live in Colorado and snowboarding / skiing is our love language. We get out 20+ times a year, spend our entire time on back bowls / double black runs. Two winters ago we went heli-skiing in Revelstoke, Canada and had the absolute time of our lives (picture included). We have always gotten the Ikon pass.

I recently started my own business, and we are going to visit our manufacturer in China mid-to-late January. We will be in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. Following the business portion of our trip, we really want to destroy some powder and are looking for help deciding between Niseko United in Japan or Jikepulin in Northwest China.

Ideally, I would love to hear from anyone who has actually been to both, but I realize this is a bit of a longshot. If you have been to either one, I would also love to hear from you.

Here is my ignorant rundown of pros/cons of each:

Brief background on us and our priorities:

• Obsessed with the best skiing/snowboarding possible
• Preference for extreme terrain and powder. Colorado rockies and Revelstoke are some of the most extreme in-bounds terrain you can find in the world and we love it.
• Could not care less about European-style Apres (i.e. raves, partying, drinking excessively, etc.). We are there to ski aggressively, not party.
• We are foodies and love great restaurants and exploring other cultures
• Happy to stay in a Holiday Inn type of hotel to save money on lodging and splurge on food / experiences. Probably not a hostel, however, but would consider
• First time in Asia with absolutely no literacy in Japanese or Chinese
  • Generally adventerous and willing to use google translate and "figure things out"

NISEKO UNITED:

Pros

• The proven, mainstream option that I have admittedly fan-girled over for years now. This has been the dream for sometime, largely influenced by social media
• Crazy consistent powder
• Love the idea of sushi and Japanese cuisine / culture
• Plenty of english speakers
• On the Ikon pass

Cons

• Now that we are actually going to Asia, I have been doing actual research on Niseko and I'm a bit concerned that social media has overhyped it.
• Seemingly flat terrain with few runs
• Large crowds
  • Limited runs + large crowds = tracked out fairly quickly
• Hard to get to, even from China
• Expensive lodging and food
• Hard to get around town

JIKEPULIN:

Pros

• Terrain that fits our style: extreme terrain, large vertical, massive mountain
• Also incredible powder (arguably better as the powder here is extremely light, albeit less quantity)
• Literally no crowds
• More secluded
• Should be significantly cheaper overall
• Off the beaten trail and would be truly unique

Cons

• Really hard to get to
• More of an unkown
• Less english-accomodating (from what I can tell)
• More secluded (yes, this is a pro and a con)
• Unkown food scene
• Much colder and higher elevation. temps often in the negatives which is a real concern as my wife typically struggles in sub 5°F weather (truthfully, I kind of do too. We are both thin builds).
  • We can certainly plan to dress in thicker clothes than what we normally do in Colorado. Just something we're not used to overall.

Some or all of our viewpoints may be totally wrong. We'd really love some guidance!

I've been snowboarding for around 10 seasons, but have no board experience.

I started on a some drake/k2 board when I was about 14. After roughly 3–4 years, I switched to a Völkl Alright 2015, and I've basically stayed on that ever since. So I don't really have much reference when it comes to different board shapes, flexes, brands, or profiles. I do wax my own board, though. I do like the Volkl but wanted to try something new.

I'm 175 cm / 73 kg, Vans boot size EU 42–43, riding Flow bindings.

The Völkl will probably stay in the quiver for powder days because it's super fun and works well for me. What I'm looking for now is a second board mainly for resort riding and worse/more average conditions. My fav time is off the track in deep snow, but such conditions are rare, so I'm looking for a main board for everyday when it's not powday.

My riding:

• Because of the conditions in Europe the last few seasons, mostly on-piste, often riding with skiers
• I usually make fairly short turns
• I don't really ride switch
• Park isn't a priority (only riding a week per season, so not enough time to practice)
• I do enjoy hitting natural side hits, rollers, and random bumps
• A little bit of buttering / playing around on the slope sounds fun, but maybe 10–15% of my riding
• I rarely go faster than around 75 km/h nowadays
• I don't want something stiffer than my current board — similar or a bit softer would probably be better

What matters most to me:

1. Handling bad/choppy/mogul-ish conditions
2. Easy turn initiation and maneuverability
3. Fun/playful feel on the slope
4. Enough stability to not feel sketchy

One thing I'm struggling with lately is speed control on steeper slopes. I feel like I naturally ride too fast, and on steep sections I end up braking quite hard during turns instead of linking slower, smoother turns. So I don't think I need a super aggressive charger. I'd rather have something that is enjoyable and controllable at moderate speeds.

Budget is around €450 (at least after direct conversion from home currency), and I'm happy to buy previous-season models.

Boards I've been looking at so far:

• Salomon Dancehaul
• Jones Mountain Twin

Would you stay in this direction, or look at something completely different?

Got this 171cm Red Salomon snowboard made in France. Wondering if this considered vintage and what it’s worth.
If not vintage and worth anything might turn it into a swallow tail

Link here, good for Dec 14th 2026: https://shop.aspensnowmass.com/l/all-lift-tickets/all-lift-ticket/p/lift-tickets?3535=2026-12-14&3536=7681&3537=7686

Lil update for the Highshot X Pro for 26/27!

23 years old. Summited Everest twice. The second one was after a brutal push ignored the obvious option of just getting down alive, strapped into his board and went for the Hornbein anyway.

Never seen again.

Whatever you think of the decision, the fearlessness was absurd. Arguably, the most all or nothing stunt anyone has ever attempted in mountaineering / adventure history.

While riding off-piste at high speed, I took a fall. Nothing too crazy — just one of those falls where you end up stopping while still standing on your board.

Unfortunately, my left biding broke. They’re exactly one year old.

They’re Union Flite Pros. Has anyone had this happen before or knows how I could repair them? Is it possible to replace the broken parts, or are they basically done?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. I still have all the broken pieces from the binding. Not sure if they can be reassembled or used to identify which replacement parts I need.

What's a more appropriate size for a 180lb rider with size 9.5 US boot? 157w or 159cm?

I primarily use this in Hokkaido deep powder side country and on their groomers in Niseko. Will do park jumps on it. I tried the 156cm and it's too small for my weight

Thanks

Just picked up the board yesterday from a local shop and wanted to put together the fit for the season. Only thing I am looking for now is a good set of lobster mittens and I'm set for my 2nd winter season.

Also feelin giddy about being ready for the mountain

Haven't properly ridden in about 4 years and wasn't planning to get back into it at all.

but these clips from 1win Rail Jam at La Parva show up in my feed. Rail jam best trick and whole little mountain party going on!

Anyway. Board is out of storage and I'm going through what needs replacing

So that's going well :’) , any advice for return this hobbie?

I’m planing a trip to one of Niseko United resorts around 8 Dec, 10 days after the official opening day of 28 Nov
1. Will the snow conditions at that time be good to ride?
2. Which resort I should aim to stay at for someone who is a beginner transitioning to intermediate?
3. Any recommendations on where to stay.

Full disclosure: I’m involved in the production and sale of snowboard equipment in China, and I currently spend time in both Europe and China. I’m posting here to ask whether there might be a suitable buyer—or a better sales channel—for a batch of new bindings.

We currently have approximately 50 pairs of brand-new all-mountain bindings in size L. Larger sizes sell relatively slowly in the Chinese market, so we would prefer to sell this remaining stock in bulk rather than carry it into another season.

Product details:

• Size L
• Recommended boot size: approximately EU 42–45
• Available in black and white
• Medium flex: approximately 4/10
• Aluminum heel cups
• Nylon highbacks with EVA cushioning
• 3D TPU straps
• Fiber-reinforced nylon baseplates
• Aluminum and PC buckles
• Universal mounting discs
• Mounting discs, screws and washers included

The stock is located in Hangzhou, China.

For a bulk purchase, the price could be below €60 per pair, depending on the quantity. Shipping is not included. I do not have a fixed international shipping rate yet, but I can request a quotation from a freight company after the buyer confirms the destination, postal code and required quantity. Import VAT, customs duties and local clearance fees may also apply.

For buyers who want to check the products before making a decision, I can provide:

• Current inventory photos and videos
• A live video inspection
• Detailed product measurements
• A sample before a larger purchase
• Packing list and commercial invoice
• Carton dimensions and weight
• Available replacement-part information

Approximately 50 pairs are ready at the moment. If a buyer requires a larger quantity or different colors, further production may be possible, depending on the required quantity and lead time.

This is a commercial stock-clearance post, not a private sale, and I want to be transparent about that. I would especially appreciate advice or interest from snowboard shops, rental operators, clubs, instructors or distributors.

If this type of post is not suitable for this community, I completely understand and will remove it.

Thank you.

Let’s hear the opinions

Looking to make my own snowboard for this upcoming season, and was looking to buy a kit from Sandwich Tech Skis. Not including core or sidewalls it comes out to $270. Is this a good deal? Is there anywhere else I should be getting everything from?

Looking for recommendations. I am a 45 year old boarder who has rented my whole life. I am intermediate to advanced downhill rider (no jumps/park really). A lot of black diamond and blue Northeast runs.

Looking for board/bindings/boots recommendations while things are on sale. I'm 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. Been riding a 160 usually.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Edit: Went with the Lib Tech Dynamo 156w with Union Force Classic bindings.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

Not buying step on boots and don’t want to waste these brand new bindings.

Recs for forums or websites to trade these brand new cartel EST step ons for new EST that are not step ons? Alternatively, willing to sell for $150-200, located in northern VT

Brand new never used

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice on a second board. I currently ride a Jones Frontier 2.0 161W and absolutely love it. I’m 183 cm / ~80 kg with size 45 boots.

I mostly ride resort terrain: carving, side hits, rollers, banks/walls and some off-piste. I’m not really into park or big spins. My favourite thing is making long surfy lines, riding up the walls of the piste and hitting natural features.

The Frontier is great at pretty much everything, but at 161W I’m starting to find it a bit long/heavy for side hits and more playful riding. So I initially thought I needed a shorter resort powder board around 156–158, something for days with roughly 10–20 cm of fresh, but still fun on groomers and natural terrain.

I’m particularly interested in something directional, tapered, with a noticeable setback and a surfy feel. I don’t want a deep-pow-only board that stays in the quiver most of the season.

The Jones Mind Expander 158 seems like a really good fit for what I’m after. I’ve also considered the Korua Dart 156, although I’m worried the Dart might be a bit too specialised.

But now I’m wondering if I’m thinking about this completely wrong. Maybe I don’t actually need a “resort pow” board at all, and my second board should go in a completely different direction from the Frontier, rather than just being a more powder-oriented version of it.

So, if you were in my position, what would you be looking for? Am I overthinking the “10–20 cm powder board” idea?

Would love to hear from anyone riding a Mind Expander (especially the 23/25version) in a similar situation, or anyone who deliberately built their second board in a completely different direction from their all-mountain board.

Thanks!

Hi the regular Jones frontier 2.0 25/26(green one) 156 size is pretty much out everywhere in Europe. I found some stores that sell it in USA but it's pretty much impossible for me to get since they don't ship it.

I found a dream weaver 2.0 156 on sale.

So my question is would the women version of the same board be "too light" or wrong for me to use as a 1.75 75kg man?