Hey guys ive been wakeboarding for about 8 years now and just recently started snowboarding about 2 years ago. I think its time for me to get my own gear cause im tired of renting, and they dont like it when you hit rails on rented boards..... With that being said, any advice on what i should get? I dont want to have $500 in a setup because it will only get used about 3 weekends a year. Thanks.

Look at academy they are cheep but good. Rossignal is also a good one. Stay away from technine and LTD

Academy boards are great and it's true there are some really good deals out there on last years boards.

Rome Cheaptrick...should suit you fine even w/ your budget

And bindings you can get some cheep burton customs if you look hard for like 100 or last years free styles for even less. They just break alot and are unreliable

stay away from that plastic burton junk & invest in a pair of Rome Arsenals or 390's or Ride Delta's.

i had some burtons one time....then i got a pair of Rome Targa's and i'll never go back to plastic crap...things are bomb proof...

I have been ridin Burtons plastic junk for about 6 yrs now...gotta say I really like riding that junk.

I've rocked burton binders for yrs. <BR>I've never had a problem with my cartels and co'2s. <BR> <BR>The co'2 have over 200 days on the mtn on them and just have some nicks and scratchs. <BR> <BR>If they were so bad I wonder why most pros were them? Even with out sponsor from them. <BR> <BR>Not like on WW where everyone swears on the crap their sponsors give them

Just giving my $0.02.... thats all... <BR> <BR>My GF broke 2 pairs of Cartels (heelcup area) <BR>My buddy had a pair of C60's that the paint chipped away &amp; burton would not warranty them... (paint on a $350 binding...wow) <BR> <BR>I am NOT sposnored by anybody, but I have done MY homework &amp; probably have ridden more boards, bindings,and boots(different compaines &amp; models) to date then most people ride in a life time. So I think I am intitled to voice my opinion, just as you are....

Soli, amen brother to your "personal quote"

paint chipping being a problem and wanting to warranty them that the wow to me. <BR> <BR>Whats binding isnt painted or infused with color <BR> <BR>everyone is entitled to thier opinion for sure though <BR> <BR>my boy bent his ride deltas like a a mo fo but i dont say they suck, just snowboarding is tough on equipment and shizz breaks

I bought a supermodel burton board from: <a href="http://www.snowboardpricing.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?ord=p&amp;st=supermodel+168&amp;auct=on" target="_blank">http://www.snowboardpricing.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?ord=p&amp;st=supermodel+168&amp;auct=on</a> and absolutely LOVE it! The season has started in CO and I've been out twice. I'd defintiely recommend this board.

are ride delta's really that much better than burtons?

Heres a really cheap setup im going to get i think. I only go 2-3 times a year so is this worth it? <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/11975/746093.jpg" alt="Upload">

zach, if you only go two or three times a year, buy the board and bindings used. Try craigslist. There probably isn't a ton on there before the season starts, but will be more once the season gets going. And I bet being in OKC, you could probably find some used stuff that didn't get much use. And the technology doesn't change that much. Anything made in the last 3-4 years, IMO, will be just as good as anything brand new. <BR> <BR>I would buy used over buying really low end equipment. In my opinion, you don't need top of the line equipment, but you will notice when riding equipment below a certain threshold. This may be hard to explain, but the edges of the better boards are a different style than on cheaper boards. I don't even know how to explain it. If you go to a shop and compare, you will see what I am talking about. That said, you don't need a board that retails for 800. Any board that retails for 300 will probably be okay for you. Same is true with bindings. The cheaper bindings don't disperse the pressure put on your feet so when you are hauling balls down the mountain, your feet will hurt if it is just a thin plastic strap as opposed to something thicker and padded. This isn't the best explanation but you probably get my drift.

Yeah thanks man

>>are ride delta's really that much better than burtons?<< <BR> <BR>Which burtons are you comparing them too &amp; what kind of riding are you doing.