The Best Snowboards for Kids
Snowboarding is new enough that its first generation of riders are still riding, but they're getting old, settling down and having kids. In the 1980s and even into the early '90s, you'd have had a hard time finding a childrens' snowboard but the market is now flooded with two kinds of kids' options: small snowboards for children and children's boards. There's an important distinction: Children's boards are often plastic with loose bindings; small snowboards for children are miniature versions of adult boards.
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Buying Guide
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First-time buyers should primarily consider the size of a snowboard and then its flexibility. Try to find a board that comes up to between your child's collarbone and chin, to be sure he can maneuver it well. If the board is too long, it will be hard for your child to control. "Softer" boards are boards with more flexibility, which are easier to turn and prevent edging -- or falling on either front or back edges while carving.
Amazon Reviews
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A quick look at the snowboarding kids section on Amazon highlights the two different types of snowboards available for children. Boards that are very small (95cm, for example) are usually made of thick plastic and have slip-in plastic bindings. Though cheap, these boards aren't appropriate for groomed snow. The boards are lacking metal edges and ankle support, which makes turning nearly impossible.
Amazon is a good resource when purchasing, because all of its products are reviewed to some extent by customers, giving you a good sense of which snowboards are most popular and which companies are most reliable. But it's not the only resource.
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Burton Boards
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Burton has three snowboards in the top 10 on the "Buzzilions" kids snowboard reviews page. Among these three, the Burton Chopper has a perfect 5 out of 5 based on seven reviews. The reviews indicate that the Chopper was highly recommended at a few different board shops. The Chopper features Burton's Easy Ride Technology, which makes the board soft and flexible to allow for easy turning for smaller riders. Two other Burton snowboards make the top 10: the Custom and the Operator, which receive ratings of 4.7 and 4 out of 5, respectively.
Rossignol and Morrow
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Rossignol and Morrow are big names in snowboard gear, and both manufacturers received perfect scores on "Buzzillions." The Rossignol Alias Kids board was only reviewed once, but the reviewer raved about its agility and maneuverability. The Morrow Generation snowboard also had just one review to obtain its perfect score; it's recommended for boarders looking for control in all-mountain settings -- on groomed trails or with a bit of powder.
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References
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