Wanted to ask about this
Was goofing around and doing some window shopping, ended up looking into boards for the future. This is the board I ride now, a 160 pure pop Instigator, which iirc I got because it was a better segue between the upper-level Custom and the barebones Ripcord and would be a great learning board.
The 2½ seasons I've had it, I spent a year learning how to ride red (intermediate ones, forgot what the NA equivalent of Japanese trail routes are) and even some easy blacks -- and this past season was spent taking the greens (the easiest pistes) either half in switch or fully switch, with some time in the pow and a few days helping people who are *super* new to the sport get a feel for riding and beginner carving. I'd like to think after the end of this season, I may not be a "noob" in the purest sense but I'm certainly no expert.
I've dabbled in a little park (basically just spent a March day riding off boxes and working on stomping my landings), but I guess I'm asking for my more seasoned riders, when did you realize you needed to graduate from your starter board to something more intermediate?