How To Pick The Ideal Dirtboard For You

How to Pick the Ideal Dirtboard for You

Friday, January 20th, 2012

While dirtboarding (aka mountainboarding, all terrain boarding) isn't anywhere near the popularity of skateboarding, there's still plenty of a selection of dirtboards out there to make any rider happy. There are many different styles, and you'll find that the differences make certain boards better suited for different styles of riding, and different sizes of riders. The trick is figuring out how to choose one, and it can be especially tricky if you are new to the sport.

What To Look For When Choosing A Dirtboard

What you look at when choosing a dirtboard depends on the style of riding you plan on doing most, your price limit, and what specific features you want. The basic types of riding include freeriding (riding trails, grass hills, etc), and freestyle (doing lots of tricks, hitting ramps, rails, etc).

First, Test As Many Dirtboards As You Can

Test as many different ones as you can. If you can, take advantage of testing out different models. This is the best way to determine which kind of dirtboard is best for you. If you have friends that have their own boards, try them out and see which type of board you feel most comfortable riding. If there is a store that sells them near you, even if they don't let you take it for a spin, at least see if you can strap your feet into it and see how you feel standing on it.

Determine What Style Of Dirtboarding Fits You Most

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photo credit: humphrey the camel

Know where and how you plan on riding. The terrain you plan on riding most and your preferred riding style will play a big part in your board selection.

If freestyle riding, mastering tricks, or kite landboarding is your thing, you might prefer a smaller and lighter model because tricks are easier to land when the board is lighter and smaller.

If you plan on freeriding most of the time and bombing and carving down long slopes, a longer board with bigger wheels may better suite you. Also, bigger wheels will help to absorb bumps and a longer board will give you a more stable ride.

Dirtboard Bindings

Another factor to consider is bindings. Some people like the kind where you can step in and step out without having to unstrap, while others like the full blown snowboard style bindings where you are stuck until you let yourself out. NoSno makes dirtboards with this type of bindings, although most boards out there will let you swap out the bindings for different ones.

Deck Stiffness

One more thing to note is deck stiffness. If you plan on landing big jumps a lot, you will want a stiff deck so that when you land, you don't bottom out. Also, some mountainboards come with a weight limit, so make certain that the board you are looking at can handle your weight. Larger riders may need bigger and beefier boards that can safely support their weight.

Price Limit

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photo credit: James Qualtrough

Know your price limit. Probably the biggest factor in choosing a dirtboard is how much you want to spend. As a mountainboarder I've tried many different boards and to be honest, there isn't much junk out there. Unlike most other products where the cheapest option is usually garbage, in this sport even the cheapest models made by the top companies still provide an awesome riding experience. I still own the dirtboard I started on (MBS Jeep Renegade) over 8 years ago. Although I've changed boards since then, as much as I used it, it still is in usable condition.

Know what specific features you need. There are a couple of features you may want to consider depending on your riding style. The preferred method of stopping on a dirtboard is called a powerslide. If you don't know how to do this yet, or if you are planning on riding down trails and freeriding most of the time, you may want a hand brake. Stopping on a mountainboard on a narrow trail is extremely difficult, and for safety reasons, a brake is an excellent idea.

There are a few different trucks to choose from. One kind is basically a skate style truck, and the other uses springs and urethane dampeners. If you want the best carving/turning experience, the spring trucks are the best option. If you just want to get started and need to save money, skate trucks are the cheapest option, and they still work fine - but just like skateboards you'll just need to make sure to replace the bushings in the trucks as they will wear out.

Decide what you can live without. There are plenty of features that you probably won't need, especially if you are just starting out. From fancy bindings that may just look cooler or be a tiny bit more comfortable, to the lightest most high tech trucks, it is good to know what you can live without. For most riders, low to mid-range boards are going to be more than enough. Unless you are planning to go pro, you really don't need a pro-level board.

photo credit: .Cest.

In the end, your decision ultimately depends on how much money you are planning on spending, where you plan on riding most, and what your preferred riding style is. Once you know these, choosing a dirtboard is a whole lot easier. Just remember that bigger wheels are better on rougher terrain, stiffer decks are better for landing big jumps, brakes are recommended for trails, trucks with springs are better for turning, shorter and lighter boards are better for freestyle riding, and if you plan on doing it all then just shoot for a board that falls in the middle of the pack.

ATBRiders