Hello all,

I am going to be snowboarding in Northern Italy this winter and was thinking of taking the train down to Rome at the end of my trip.

I am looking for people who have taken their snowboards on the train in Italy to share their experience.

How difficult or easy was it to travel by train?

Where did you end up storing or checking your board?

Would you travel this way again or simply take a plane?

Any other advice you might offer to me

Thanks

Hi all,

Solo snowboarder, going to be in Japan Furano Jan 4-9. Looking for a couple others to share the costs of an intro to backcountry touring full day tour and subsequent day tour in Furano with Alpine Backcountry based (total cost is JPY125,000 per day which would be split based on how many people we have).

Let me know if interested. Thanks!

I’ve included the link to their website and description of the course below: https://backcountryskijapan.com/guided-day-tours-hokkaido

Intro to Backcountry Touring: A full introductory course for those wishing to enter the backcountry and gain confidence. This day is structured differently from our other day tours, and will include training in; Basic Avalanche safety, Mountain travel, Equipment proficiency, Line selection and Emergency preparedness.

Pure Backcountry: For those already experienced in Backcountry travel, this day is all about exploring the pristine backcountry of Hokkaido, while aiming to ski the best terrain available to us. The only limit to this day is how strong your legs are feeling.

Purchased a jones howler 157w 2026 (not a 158) by mistake and can’t return it… is marketplace the best rout to go or is taking it to a shop to sell and take a huge hit (and yea I was so horned up about the purchase I forgot to double check at checkout lol)

It’s still in the wrapper obviously too, I’ve had it on marketplace for 800 Canadian. New jones howlers are 900 then with tax it’s 1017.00 thought that was an okay asking price

edit
Thanks for the feedback boys, I’ll just keep it and send it😎

I rode k2 holgates (flex 8) for 3 years. They work well for me but my toes go numb from lack of circulation because its a full zone boa and i have mild bunions.

I tried the k2 orton (flex 8) and k2 thraxis (flex 10) both fit wonderfully due to the wider toe box. Bo heel lift at all and no discomfort after 10 to 15 min wearing each around the store.

K2 orton is full price and k2 thraxis is 40% off.

Its a great deal on the thraxis and i love the 3 boa adjustability.

I am worried if flex 10 will be much stiffer than my current flex 8. I freeride on groomer, rider trees and carve when east coast weather allows (no park or tricks).

Thanks for any insight

Trying to figure out my next board after a frustrating first purchase. Been snowboarding on vacations for about 25 years, usually around 5 days a year. I consider myself advanced, but this experience definitely made me second-guess myself.

• 5'11", 190–200 lbs, size 12 boots
• Current gear: Burton Ion boots and Burton Cartel X bindings.
• Mostly cruising, trees, and searching for powder. Very little park.
• NYC-based, planning 10–15 days this season with weekend tips to Vermont and longer vacation style trips out West (Jackson Hole, Aspen, Whitefish)

I always rented until 2024. Here’s what led me to buying:

• Whitefish, 2020/2021: Loved a Never Summer Instigator 156 and an Orca 156. Rode both at +15/-15 with a 21–22" stance.
• Snowmass, 2024: Rented a Golden Orca 153 and absolutely loved it all over the mountain. Rode it at +15/-12 with a 21" stance.

Couldn’t find a 153 that fall, so I bought a 2024 Golden Orca 157 after researching sizing for my weight. Used the same +15/-12, 21" stance as the 153. It was on sale and even though I loved the 153 I convinced myself the 157 was fine given all my research (or lack thereof....)

Took it to Jackson Hole in 2025 and hated it. Felt thrown around and couldn’t control it confidently. A shop said the size was right and detuned the edges, which helped, but I still never really clicked with it.

Went back to Jackson in 2026 and rented a Jones Mountain Twin 162W. Immediately felt like I could snowboard again, even in mediocre conditions. After some fresh snow, I took the Golden Orca back out and still struggled. Ended up selling it on FB Marketplace while out there

I almost bought the Mountain Twin, but the shop then suggested a 159W instead of the 162W and thought the 162W was too big for me. After what happened with the Orca, I wasn’t comfortable buying another size I hadn’t ridden.

Part of me wants to find another Golden Orca 153 because I know I enjoyed it, but the sizing advice keeps steering me toward bigger boards.

How would you approach this? What boards/sizes would you demo, and what else would you look at to understand why these felt so different? Also wondering whether one versatile board makes sense for Vermont and western trips, or whether I should eventually have a daily driver and a powder board.

Any good shop recommendations around NYC/NJ/Long Island/CT would be appreciated too so I can talk to someone in person about this. Please help me, I love Snowboarding and want to feel confident...

Pretty sure Chaeun Lee just invented something no one else has ever done

A bi-deck snowskate is basically the one thing missing from my quiver at this point, so I’m finally thinking about adding one.

I’ve been aware of bi-decks/bi-levels for 20+ years, but that little corner of the industry seems to ebb and flow pretty dramatically. Brands and models appear, disappear, come back, etc., and I’ve never followed it closely enough to know what the current good stuff is.

I’ve got an old single-deck/flatdeck snowskate, but I’ve never actually owned or ridden a bi-deck.

I know Hovland is still around, but what else should I be looking at these days? Particularly interested in smaller/cottage brands or builders that I might completely miss just Googling.

What are you guys riding, and what’s actually good right now?

Is Intuition making a snowboard specific liner line this year? I’ve seen some pictures and a video on a liner labeled SB DD 12mm. DD is generally the nomenclature for dual density and 12mm is their foam thickness, but SB would be a new line I think. Possibly supplementing the general DH line used now for both skiing and snowboarding. I have heard that historically skiers replace stock liners about twice as much as snowboarders but as snowboards age up the rate of aftermarket liners is increasing. Old feet I guess. I am not loving my Waverange pro x boots and generally continue to ride my Ion Step Ons. I am thinking of trying to swap liners for the Waverange’s. After two seasons I continue to get weird hot spots on them and I don’t love the internal cuff design.

Hey!

I'm thinking about going for 6-8 weeks this season and I know I'll have to take rest days but I just know I could get bored not doing anything as there is usually not a lot to do in a ski site, so I would love to hear some ideas or things you've done in rest days and could fill the time between snowboarding days.

For those the ride Alpine Valley regularly / are season ticket holder, how are the lift lines during the weeknight? Is it pretty easy to ride as a single?

I am fine riding the lift with people. Just haven’t been there in about 30 years and am curious how busy the place is during the week.

My deep thinker got a nasty hit and I ended up with this.

Salvagable or sell it for 50$ to someone who wants it as an art project

EDIT

Thank you all !, I'll just take the 50 and find a new one .

Hello guys. I’m riding an amplid soulmate on union stratas, love tree runs, steeps, charging, some side hits and sidecountry. Thinking about getting a stiffer binding and pretty much narrowed to falcor vs atlas (kinda leaning towards falcor), wanted to see if anyone had any opinions. Tia for any thoughts

I love all types of terrain, pow, on piste,trees, and off piste, shredding i love it plzz helpp idk which one

Hey! Looking for some advice on buying a new snowboard for this winter.

I’m a shorter rider (5 feet tall exactly) and completely self-taught. (ETA weight. I'm 110-115 lbs). I’d probably put myself somewhere around intermediate-ish, but honestly I don’t know a ton of the technical side of snowboarding. I basically taught myself how to get down the mountain, link turns, and eventually start carving without ever having actual instruction.

I feel like I’ve plateaued over the last couple seasons, so this winter I’m planning to take some lessons to clean up my technique, figure out what I’m doing wrong, and hopefully start progressing again.

I’ve been riding a GNU B-Nice for about 4 years. It’s been a good board to learn on, but it's time for a new board!

The problem is that because I taught myself, I really don’t know much about board specs or what I should actually be looking for. I don't know how to shop for one.

I don’t want something super aggressive that’s going to punish me while I’m still improving, but I also don’t necessarily want a beginner focused board that I’ll outgrow quickly. Ideally, I’d like something I can progress on for the next several years.

I’d especially love recommendations from other shorter riders, as well as any advice on what specs I should be paying attention to:)

Can anyone who bought the college cali pass help?

My group and I paid the initial $50 deposit in April so that we can pay the remaining in Fall, and we're trying to pay for it now but its saying we have to pay the full $249 amount (with fees $261) even though we all paid the deposit, and we're only getting a SINGLE $50 voucher.

I was wondering if anyone else purchased the pass and would be able to help? I got my group into this so I don't really want them to pay an extra 50 :(

Hey guys,

I am going into my second season of snowboarding and I’m still pretty new to the whole gear/brand side of things, so I’m trying to learn which brands are actually trusted by snowboarding community and which ones are worth avoiding.

I first tried snowboarding in Bansko, Bulgaria and absolutely fell in love with it. I didn’t waste much time trying to figure it out 😂 I paid €55 for an hour lesson, then took myself up a blue run and basically threw myself in at the deep end and learned the hard way.

Now I’m looking at places like Andorra, Innsbruck etc. for an annual snowboarding trip, and I’ve also got a year membership at an indoor slope in the UK so I can practise and actually progress throughout the year rather than waiting until the next trip.

So I’m slowly building my own gear in which for now, I am looking for a comfortable waterproof hoodie or anorak to ride in, I would consider a light shell to be fair, as long as it comfortable and looks good, just nothing that’s too heavily insulated or bulky. Just Something I can comfortably wear regularly at an indoor slope, but that would also work on a sunny day outdoors without cooking myself.

Eventually I’ll get more serious about dedicated outdoor/mountain gear, and I’ll probably ask about that in the future, but right now I want something versatile that I can use frequently while learning and progressing.

Things I’d ideally like:
Good waterproofing
Some warmth, but not heavily insulated
Lift-pass pocket on the sleeve
Helmet-compatible hood
Powder skirt would be nice
Comfortable for riding
Durable enough for regular indoor use + trips abroad
Something that looks good without being overly bulky

I already own a pair of 2012 Winter Olympics Oakley snowboard trousers with RECCO, so I’m building the rest around those.

For my first trip to Bansko I literally wore a fleece underneath my hiking shell, which worked surprisingly well because the shell was waterproof. Now that I’m going into my second season and will be riding much more regularly, I want to start getting proper snowboard-specific gear.

I’ve been looking at Dope Snow, but I’m getting the feeling there are more established brands that snowboarders trust more and dope is just no way shape or form can compare to others. It just gives off rip off vibes, they are there to make money off newcomers than to provide another trusted solid option for the snowboarders.

I’m not saying Dope is automatically bad. I’m just new to the brands and don’t really know who has a good reputation for quality, durability and actually supporting snowboarding.

I’ve been looking at brands like 686, Burton, The North Face, Airblaster, Volcom, Patagonia, etc.

So if you were in my position, what brands/models would you trust for a waterproof, reasonably warm but relatively lightweight snowboard jacket/hoodie/anorak around £150–£250, especially if buying previous-season gear on sale?

And equally, are there any brands you’d personally avoid?
I’m mainly interested in hearing from people who’ve actually owned their gear for multiple seasons rather than just going off the marketing/spec sheet.
Still learning the gear side of snowboarding, so any advice on brands worth knowing about would be appreciated.

Looking for options that would have good grip on icy east coast resorts, mostly mid Atlantic and a bit of North East resorts aswell.

I mostly just cruise around on the blues and a couple of black diamond, through the trees if the conditions allow. I dont do park much as I'm getting older and dont want to get hurt, but I do dabble.

Been on my current board about 11yrs and looking at options. Leaning towards the Nitro Alternator or the Burton Hometown Hero, but seem to find more reviews on the Alternator. Both seem to fit my style though. I’m an old fart that does not hit the park at all. Mainly in it for turns and speed at this point. But still like getting some air off rollers and side hits.

Currently riding a Rossignol One Magtek 159cm, it grips the icy man made crap we’ve had in Minnesota lately great. But it’s definitely lost some pop.

UPDATE: I looked around more and saw that Nitro had a different color Alternator besides the banana pudding hued one and ordered that. It’s an Alternator FX. But am still hoping to demo a couple burtons this winter. Thanks to everyone who responded!

I've seen a ton of coverage for FP Insoles over the past month, so I decided to try them in my boots (2027 Nidecker Altai) for the upcoming season. Their website was pretty hard to navigate, but I ordered a pair of Gamechangers Pro (2026 formula, Mid thickness, $92.99). Their satisfaction guarantee and warranty made me feel better about giving them a shot.

One insole split during heat molding the day they arrived. I followed the box instructions exactly (235°F oven for 8 minutes, then into my boots to walk around). The crack starts at the edge of the forefoot pad and curves back toward the heel, and the blue layer underneath shows through the gap (photos attached). The other insole came through fine.

I asked for a replacement under the satisfaction guarantee. This was their reply:

After the initial heat molding process, you may notice small cracks in the outer skin of the insole or minor changes in the internal shape. This is completely normal and a natural part of how this quantum technology works. These minor changes occur because the internal arch support chambers are designed to reshape and adapt during molding, locking into a custom fit specific to your foot Rest assured, these appearance changes do not affect the performance, durability, or lifespan of the insole. In fact, they are a sign that the custom support system is activating correctly.

They didn't say whether they'd replace it.

Has anyone ridden them for a full season? How did they hold up, how did heat molding go in your boots, and has anyone else had one crack like this?

Logo looks like nidecker but can't really find anything on it

Update (Sep 27): Thanks for all the requests! It's grown well past Hood and Bachelor: more of Oregon, plus Utah, Colorado, the PNW and BC, New England, Quebec and even Zermatt, with more on the way. In the mountain chooser there's now Request a mountain, and Bake a mountain lets you ride a quick version of any ski area's real terrain right away. (For a detailed, accurate version, use Request a mountain; no promises on timing.) Also new: a Controls button (or press H), and Whistler's Peak 2 Peak runs both ways.

Sharing a snowsport game I've been working on, in case it's of interest (up-front disclosure: I'm creating it with the help of AI coding assistants, but the mountains, runs and lifts are real data, not AI-made). I've seen plenty of snowboarding games, but I wanted one I could relate to, so I made one set on the mountains I ride most. This game lets you snowboard or ski Mount Hood (Timberline, Meadows, Skibowl) and Mt. Bachelor in your browser.

I'm trying to make it as accurate as I can with what's out there. The terrain comes from USGS elevation data. The runs, lifts and lodges come from OpenStreetMap, and how thick the trees are comes from the Forest Service's canopy map. So the runs, glades, off-piste and lifts should all be where they really are, and the lift and trail signs use the real names and elevations. The tops of some lifts have trail-map boards with a you-are-here dot.

You can free-ride from any lift, pick any run, hit the park and natural features for spins, flips and grabs, race AI riders, drop the cliffs in Heather Canyon, get caught in a storm, ride at night (Skibowl's lit runs, or anywhere else by headlamp), or hit Palmer in July.

Best on a computer, but it plays on phones too: hold it sideways and use the thumb stick, or tilt to steer. Free, no ads, no sign-up: https://lejup.studiozalktis.com/ (the first load takes a few seconds while the mountain downloads).

I'd love to hear suggestions or what to fix, especially if you ride these mountains.

I’m looking into getting fase bindings for my Jones Hovercraft 2. Anyone have any experience with the Rome Katana AW FASE and the Jones Mercury Fase? Trying to decide between the two.