A Great Beginner Board!
Written: Feb 18 '01 (Updated Feb 19 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great stick to learn on!
Cons: Might be too soft if you work up to speed.
The Bottom Line: The Charger's forgiving flex and edge hold gave me the confidence to easily learn technique from beginner into intermediate runs.
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| webguy's Full Review: Burton Charger |
I've been a longtime skier, but after a freak rockclimbing accident put me in a leg cast for a month, I decided to try something different in winter sports. For some time I've suspected that skiing put excessive stress on my knees, and so on a recent ski trip, I was hip to my friend's idea of taking snowboard lessons together.
At first, the idea of strapping both feet to one slippery board had me a little intimidated. I imagined I would tumble head-over-heels down the slope, leaving a trail of clothing behind me. In reality, I had a great time, and became accustomed to snowboarding quickly, as it felt similar to surfing and skateboarding of my earlier years.
Great, so how does this relate to the Burton Charger?
These details are relevant to my snowboard purchase, because as a beginner, I needed a board that was predictable and consistent. After renting boards a few times, I realized I'd learn quicker if I rode a board with a consistent and familiar feel. Besides, it's great to bypass those rental lines at the resorts!
I wanted to learn with a board that would ease me into the sport; one that had forgiving flex and response. For a beginner, it's very easy to make the mistake of catching the "wrong edge"--where the downslope edge catches the snow, abruptly launching the boarder headfirst into the snow. Experience has shown me the Burton Charger is fairly tolerant of such mistakes. With its soft flex and edge characteristics, the board doesn't place high demands on the learner; it's an easy turner. The Charger is a board the beginner can learn on with confidence.
Did I say it was soft?
While the Charger is an excellent board to begin on, those same forgiving flex aspects might become a frustration as you improve beyond beginner level. As I've progressed beyond the green runs, and now set my sights on the harder blue runs for inspiration, I feel this board is now lagging behind where my abilities are taking me. At higher speeds, the board feels too soft under me, and the edges cannot hold well when carving clean turns; they simply let go. It's like a wet noodle when I'm really pushing it. I'm sure my technique needs refinement, and that's where this board can continue to assist me, but I doubt I'll use this board next season.
The Charger was a great board to learn on. I needed a consistent, flexible board in the beginning, and this board delivered lots of confidence. If there's a downside, it's that those same forgiving characteristics could not deliver precise control as my skills improved on faster runs.
Fit and finish: one downside
If I have a beef with this board,it's with the construction of the edges. In the Burton catalog, they claim their boards' edges are made with stainless steel. Well, this board is an exception, because I discovered my edges had rusted up during the trip home from the slopes. I quickly caught this, but I imagine enough rust could ruin the board's grip on the snow; now I dry it off before stowing in my car.
On the plus side, I like the textured top sheet of this board. It's resistant to scratches, and the surface is grippy enough that I don't need a stomp pad.
The Charger is a great beginner board. Forgiving and easy to turn, I would recommend it to anyone new to the sport. While it's too soft for higher speeds, I think it's a great stick for the first season.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
webguy
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Member: Kurt S.
Location: California coast
Reviews written: 37
Trusted by: 47 members
About Me:
I'm an avid kayaker, biker and hiker.
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