Snowboarding during Black Friday

Judge, Phase or Control: which DC boot to choose

The three DC Shoes boots stand out for their stiffness and lacing system. The Phase, the softest of the lot, fastens with a single BOA dial: it forgives mistakes made on the early days and is popular with riders who play with the terrain in freestyle. The Control maintains a forgiving flex but adds a double BOA that tightens the instep and the top of the boot separately. The Judge, rated around six out of ten by the brand, is the most responsive of the trio: its zone-locking double BOA secures the heel for better transmission of weight to the board on hard snow at high speeds. The Black Friday comes at just the right time to transition from rental boots to a pair tailored to your feet.

The other winter sports offers

The Black Friday winter sports deals also include:

• Ski.
• Textiles.
• Helmets.
• Glasses.
• Shoes.
• Snowshoes.

All offers can be found on the winter sports page.

Waterproofness: understanding the numbers on a snowboard pant

The waterproofness of a snowboard pant is measured in millimetres: it indicates the height of the water column that the fabric can withstand before letting moisture through. Ten thousand millimetres is sufficient for dry snow and a few outings a year; the DC Brigade overall reaches up to thirty thousand millimetres, with a breathability of twenty thousand grams, to keep you dry when sitting in wet snow to put your boots on. Its sealed seams cover the last weak point, and its zippered vents with mesh allow heat to escape during walks uphill. The overall design, which extends over the bust, prevents powder from getting into the back with every fall.

Roxy and Colourwear: outfits for girls and women

Roxy, the women's line launched by Quiksilver in 1990, designs its snowboard jackets and pants on women's and girls' patterns, instead of downscaling men's cuts. The girls' pant Banky Ice combines a waterproof and breathable DryFlight membrane with WarmFlight insulation, featuring an adjustable waistband that adapts as she grows from one winter to the next and snow gaiters that close over the boot. The Crystal Clear and Snowflare jackets style the young riders, while the Snowyhill Puffy, padded, keeps chilly women warm on the chairlift. Colourwear, a Swedish brand born in Gothenburg in 2010 among rider friends, creates the Cork pant in its laid-back spirit.

Fleece Quiksilver: the mid-layer

Under the jacket, the fleece forms the mid-layer: it traps warm air while allowing moisture from the base layer to escape. The hooded fleece Quiksilver Ocean View, made by the Australian brand that started in 1969 in Torquay, can be worn under a shell jacket on very cold days and alone in the chalet or in the resort car park. Its hood protects the neck from the wind on the chairlift. In snowboarding, where you alternate between intense effort in the powder and long breaks sitting in the snow, a breathable fleece is better than a cotton sweater, which retains sweat and cools the body as soon as you stop.

Frequently asked questions

Snowboard or ski: which one is learned faster?

Both or the first two to three days of snowboarding are often harder, with frequent falls on your bottom and knees. Once you get the hang of turning, progress becomes quick, while skiing is easier to start but takes years to refine.

What size should you get for snowboard boots?

Choose your regular city shoe size or half a size below: when trying them on, your toes should touch the front with your leg straight and pull back when you bend. The liner compresses after a few days, and a boot that is too big will allow your heel to lift.

How to dry your snowboard boots after a day?

Remove the liner from the shell, loosen the dials, and let them dry at room temperature, away from a radiator which can deform the thermoformable foams. A warm air boot dryer speeds up drying without damaging the lining.

Do you need a different jacket for skiing and snowboarding?

A snowboard jacket is generally longer and looser, to cover the lower back when sitting and allow more movement in the arms. Its inner snow skirt, which attaches to the pants, prevents snow from getting in during falls.

How to maintain a waterproof snowboard pant?

Wash it at thirty degrees with a mild liquid detergent, without fabric softener that clogs the membrane pores. A tumble dry on low heat, if the label allows, reactivates the water-repellent treatment; otherwise, a waterproofing spray restores its effectiveness.