Snowboards 4u

Head injuries are naturally something you want to avoid at all costs so make sure you choose exactly the right type of snowboard helmet for your needs. 


First of all, it’s important to bear in mind that just as there are lots of different snowboards, there are also a few different varieties of helmet to choose from. Generally, most snowboarders will require a three-quarter shell helmet that is bucket-shaped and designed to protect the back, sides and top of your head. However, if you are a serious snowboarder or often board at high speed, you might want to consider a helmet that also offers comprehensive protection for your face.


When choosing a helmet, it is important that it meets the relevant safety requirements. Ideally, you should only buy a snowboard helmet that has got at least the ASTM F2040 Certification label. There is also an EU standard safety label to look out for – CE EN1077.

It is important that you choose a helmet that is comfortable and sturdy, so look for an option that is made out of a robust material such as carbon fibre or polycarbonate plastic. You should also look for a snowboard helmet that is well ventilated and lined with a material called EPS foam as this is especially designed to protect your head in the event of an impact.

Finally, getting the right size helmet is as important to your protection as getting the right safety labels and materials, so make sure you try your potential helmet on before making your purchase.

The annual British Snowboard Test is held in May on the Kaunertal Glacier in Austria and is the showcase for the coming seasons snowboard, bindings and boots for all the UK suppliers. This year the date was moved back a week so that it didn't clash with that all important "Royal Wedding" and all the suppliers and shop staff still managed to get t the event on time and even more important, have a good old social, do some networking.

Snowboards4u sent 3 guys to attend and do some product testing and with the weather being sunny all week, we had a great 5 days on the glacier and have used their time to test boards and bindings from all the brands that we stock and quite a few we don't ( but want to! ). We found that things are in a state of flux and the argument about "rocker" against "camber " is still ongoing and looks to be good for a few more years  yet. .

When we had time in the evenings, we got into some lengthy discussions with some of the pro riders and some of the other shop owners and the result seems to be quite divided. The more freestyle orientated riders all seemed to love the boards with "Rocker", but all also said that they would always keep a more conventional cambered board in their board bag for fast burn up days and also for riding the pipe, Why? because the cambered base gives more control and grip -- OK if you can afford a quiver of boards?

The shop owners and staff all thought that "Rocker " was the future and that the easier turning, faster response and general "Fun" feel of the boards was most important to people who will get maybe 2 weeks on snow every year and that means that very second counts when you arrive in the resort. Being in the shop side of the argument,  the Snowboards4u guys all came down in favour of the new rocker shapes and we will try and get as many of the new shaped bases into stock as possible, to make your time on the snow more fun and  to minimise the amount of time you need before getting your boarding legs under you .

A visit to the "Snow Avant Premiere " Snowboard test in January 2012 was a real treat and to test some of the 2013 snowboards before they have even been shown at ISPO, the International Sports exhibition, was a great privilege. 

The event was open to both the French and UK dealers and was held in La Clusaz  France, chosen because it's only 1 hour from Geneva airport  by taxi, so retailers from all over France and the UK could fly in, see and test the new 2013 Kit and meet the importers and pro riders from the brands they were interested in and get back to work a couple of days later. The organisation was great and for us the whole thing worked like clockwork, with the added bonus of a couple of days riding on new 2013 boards and bindings in good snow conditions and even rarer, good weather conditions.The whole test venue was set up at the Le Falme lift above La Clusaz, with all the major brands having a presence in the tented village. No messing about with these guys, everyone had to have a security barcode, which felt a bit like I was some stock item on the shelves in a supermarket, but allowed you to take out on test any of the new boards and then when you retuned the equipment, you were zapped back into the compound.This way, nothing could go "walk about" and if a board wasn't returned, they knew who to go to to get it back. 

The whole test was superbly done and the organisers even laid on a basic high carb lunch on site, so that you didn't have to go out to the local mountain bars and restaurants and lose time waiting to be served. Great idea, great organisation, can't praise them enough and they eeven organised good snow conditions and blue sky days as well.We will be back next year for sure.

Boards of note for 2013.

Arbor RX Element
Nitro Blacklight Gulwing
Ride Highlife
Ride Beserker
K2 Slayblade
Capita Normal Snowboard