Demo’ing Gear

Every year snowboarders try to figure out what the hell to purchase for the season. What boards, bindings, boots to get that will suit them the best…and every year I make it known the best way to find out what suits you is to try it out!

Last year I spent probably ten days of the season doing demo’s. Ten full days spent on the mountain just taking one board after another out from the demo tents. I usually kept track of which boards and sizes I had as well as writing notes down about how the board or bindings rode.

How to find a demo?

1. Check out your resorts web page for upcoming events. I love the resorts that really promote the upcoming demo days. Here in CO, Loveland is probably my favorite for promoting the demo days.

2. Check the snowboard company websites. I usually look through the site for upcoming events and demo days. If they don’t mention any, it doesn’t hurt to email them asking as well.

3. Your local snowboard shop. Most local snowboard shops demo out the brand new gear and will knock off the demo price if you end up buying it. But these are not free you pay to basically rent them for a day. Sometimes you can bribe your shop with beer to waive the demo fee.

Some pointers for demo’ing

1. I try to use my personal bindings every time I demo…so then the only difference is the board and seeing how the board is. Not the board and bindings…it can be harder to dial in what exactly each feels like.

2. I usually keep to the same run or runs on demo days. But I also make sure the run has everything that I need for testing that board. One run at Steamboat can mean taking the gondola up, freeriding through some pow and trees to get to the pipe and then bombing down to the base after riding pipe.

3. If you have your exact stance that you prefer…make sure it gets set up correctly on the demo board. I personally love my stance and it’s the most comfortable for me. I will notice if the stance is set up differently than mine cause it’ll feel “off” when I’m riding.

4. I take a small camera with me to get shots of each demo so at the end of the day…I have some recollection of the board and proof that I rode it (sometimes I get called out on forums if I’ve rode a board so proof is good).

5. Be nice to the reps and their demo boards. It doesn’t hurt to get to know your local reps and be on good terms with them. Even though they are demo boards, they can make you purchase them if you trash the boards during your demo…so be nice!

Just remember!

-Take your drivers license and a credit card! You must have those to demo!