How and what you ride, along with personal preference, are the main questions here.  Freeriders who tend to only make turns in a forwards direction will probably opt for a forward facing stance something like +24’ on the front foot and +6’ on the back foot.  Riders more focused on freestyle will probably take a duck stance which is basically both feet facing out at the same angles +15’ on the front and -15’ on the back. This is good for going in both directions.  A good all round stance would be +18’ on the front foot and -12’ on the back.  A notch either way on any of the above is perfectly O.K.

Stance width is dependant on your height, what your preferred style of riding is and plain old personal preference.  If your stance width is too narrow you will find it difficult to apply pressure to the ends of the board and a possible loss of stability at speed or on rough terrain.  You’ll feel "top heavy".  A stance which is too wide can also block movements and can potentially be dangerous for your joints.  If you have a board of the correct size most people will be on the middle or outside holes on the board.  This should feel as if you are standing in goal in an agile, balanced, strong position and should not feel like you are standing waiting for a bus, or waiting for your next pint at the bar.

High backs are the section of the bindings that support your calf muscles enabling you to tilt the board more effectively into a turn.  The more the high back is angled forward the more response you will have.  However if you over do it you will experience foot pain and thigh burn.  If you are focused on freestyle, less angle is quite often used whereas speed demons and carvers will probably crank it up.  Most brands use a 1 to 5 system.  Set both left and right bindings to 2 or 3 for a sensible set up

Generally between the chin and the nipple is a rough guideline, but a lot depends on your skill level and what you want to do with the board.  The smaller the board, the easier it is to turn and do freestyle tricks, whereas if you choose a longer board, it will be easier to ride off piste and in the powder.  Remember, if you have a large foot you will need a wide board.  Most manufacturers make a wide model across the range so don’t worry.

What you intend to do with the board is what counts here.  Freeride boards are "directional". That means the board is set up with the feet slightly towards the back.  This design is for riders who mainly go in a forwards direction, and don’t ride switch.  Freestyle boards are as the name suggests, for doing tricks on.  However, a relatively soft freestyle board can be a very good board to learn and progress on generally, not just for tricks.  The shape is forgiving and the board is happy going either way, backwards or forwards.  There are also “all mountain” boards, which are a bit of both.  But remember there are horses for courses, no board does everything. Don’t get suckered into the top of the range super stiff stick either.  This is not the board for you, it's a board for Terje Haakinson taking on super steep couloirs in Alaska! Price does not always reflect how well you will be able to ride the board.  It’s all about choosing something easy to ride so that when you get on the slopes you don’t have to work too hard.

We are lucky in Tignes as Alliance works with an excellent rental shop and a super reliable home delivery service. Check out our links.  Having said that renting does always mean that your equipment could be different each year so that your setup is constantly changing. The advantage of having your own equipment is that the bindings are set up for you.  Our instructor will take a look at your board, and help you set it up, then you never need to touch it again until you decide to upgrade to a newer model.  Snowboards last a long time if you don’t hit too many rocks, but once you get the snowboard bug buying a new board can be quite exciting.  Buying in resort is recommended as your Alliance coach will be able to give you lots of advice on what would be right for you.  Equipment in resort is comparable to the U.K, so there is no real advantage to buying at home. We know better than most shop assistants what is right for you.  Let us help you, don’t be suckered into something that is not right for you, just because someone wants to clear out some stock.  There are some good shops in the U.K but they don’t see you ride.  We do.

Alliance Snowboarding strongly advise the use of protective clothing.  Previous injuries or bad bruises can seriously affect your confidence, which is one of the most important attributes to learning to snowboard.  Helmets, wrist guards and bum protectors are the most important.  Make sure your gloves fit with your wrist guards on.  Snowboarders like to wear big baggy cut clothes. They are comfortable, they look good and you can fit all the protection gear underneath. Bigger jackets and trousers also give the option to put on more layers on those really cold days.

Definitely. This is the one thing apart from your clothes you should buy. Its not a problem to buy them in the U.K as it gives you time to walk around prior to your holiday to break them in.  A nice mid range boot with medium flex by a reputable make should see you through two or three even four years of riding if you are just doing a couple of weeks a year.  Don’t buy them too tight; yes they give a little but not that much.  Think of it like buying a pair of trainers, you want to feel held in place but not in pain.  These are sports shoes and you spend hours and hours in them, especially if you keep them on through après so the have got to be comfortable.  People talk a lot about heel lift, but seriously I have never owned a pair of boots that had no heel lift, I just crank up the ankle strap on my bindings.  Hey presto no more heel lift.  Basically, the length is the most important, when you stand up tall, your big toe should just be touching the end of the boot.  When you bend or flex your knees, your foot should slide back, and your big toe no longer touching the end of the boot.

Looking through any snowboard magazine will give you the low down on what’s hot what’s not and what’s necessary. Like with most things you get what you pay for and being warm and dry is worth quite a lot in my book. All the products that the Alliance coaches use are in our opinion some of the best on the market. Basically you need a windproof, waterproof jacket and trousers as your outerwear. Then as your under layers you need synthetic first layers or anything with man made fibres. Not cotton or natural fibres because when you sweat, cotton stays wet. You can double up on a first layer, or go for a merino wool thin second layer. After this you need insulating layers, again man made fibres such as a fleece is great for this, any thickness. When its super cold, go for a thin fleece, then a duck down vest or jacket underneath your windproof/waterproof jacket. Obviously gloves are essential. Also a fleece neck warmer is great to keep in your pocket for when weather comes in unexpectedly. Goggles are essential but never have a gap between the hat and the goggles, as you will burn leaving a red line on your forehead like Kit from Knight rider. Not cool! Skiers wear sunnies, not sure if you want to look like a skier or not? Most importantly, sun block, the higher factor the better. At 2000 meters you can burn like a crisp so stock up before leaving Blighty.

When looking for clothing on a tight budget you can often find good stuff in TK Maxx. The big thing with snowboard clothing is that you don’t want it tight. You will overheat, have restricted movement, not be able to add layers when cold and not look down with the kids! Camel backs are a good idea as water in the mountains is both essential and expensive. Make sure you insulate the plastic water piece, or it will most definitely freeze.

Fitness!
Snowboarding is a physical sport. Preparing yourself as much as possible will improve your riding and your enjoyment whatever your level. If you have never snowboarded before, no matter how gifted, you will sit down on the snow and stand up dozens of times in a day. This in itself can be tiring. Try to sit on the ground then stand yourself up by walking your hands closer towards your body without moving your feet. This is almost the first thing to master on your board on the first day. If you have the will power, a 10-minute workout of mini squats for the quads and sit ups for the core will defiantly pay off. Also anything that involves balance i.e. cycling, fitness balls, or yoga is certainly a step in the right direction.

Get stoked!
Even though you may live in the city or far from the mountains, snowboarding is never far away. Magazines, the Internet, DVD’s, television, it’s taking over the world!

Snow Domes!
These days most people have a snow dome or dry slope nearby. For beginners, a couple of sessions would be useful. You will still be a beginner when you get out to resort but at least you will be familiar with the equipment and jargon. Also you’ll have managed to get to your feet and understand the principals. Pre lessons are not essential; most people in your group will be starting afresh so you will not feel left out. Higher-level riders will always benefit from an hour or two prior to coming on holiday to clean out the cobwebs.

There are many people who have only snowboarded on artificial slopes even up to a high standard, but find the real mountain environment a great deal more challenging. These people need to talk to our admin before booking on to any Alliance snowboard program. Having said all this artificial slopes can be fun, expensive, productive and to everyone's especially the dry ones. Sorry dry-mat lovers... your buts must have more padding than mine!

If you are a beginner you will not need a lift pass until your coach tells you, as the beginner area is free. If you can snowboard already and will be joining our one of our groups level 2 or above, you will need the full area pass. We recommend the full area pass (Espace Killy) to all of our clients.