FAQ

GENERAL - BONFIRE AND SALOMON

I have a warranty issue, what do I do?

Bring your product to an authorized Bonfire or Salomon Snowboards dealer first. An authorized dealer will contact the sales and distribution office in the country where the product was purchased to Asses the warranty issue. If you do not have an Authorized Dealer in your area, then contact the local subsidiary in your country for further information, advice, or questions using the Contact area of our web site located in the lower right hand corner of the page.

Bonfire and Salomon offer warranties against manufacturing defects on its products for 1 year from the original date of purchase when purchased new from an Authorized Dealer. Please keep your sales receipt as verification of purchase date. Bonfire and Salomon will repair or replace the defective product with an existing comparable model at our discretion. This warranty does not cover damage caused by accident (such as burns, rips, and tears) improper care (disregarding product care instructions), normal wear and tear, or misuse of the product.

How do I contact Bonfire and Salomon Snowboards?

Contact the local subsidiary in your country for further information, advice, or questions using the Contact area of our web site located in the lower right hand corner of the page.

Where can I purchase Bonfire and Salomon gear?

Go to the Dealers section of the website for a full listing of Authorized dealers near you.

I want stickers! Who do I contact?

First, stop by the closest authorized dealer and request a sticker. If they don’t have any, write to the local subsidiary (distributor) in your country for further information, or send a self addressed envelope with a letter requesting stickers. Use the Contact area of our web site located in the lower right hand corner of the page.

 

BONFIRE

What is the best way to wash my outerwear?

Here’s a few steps to keep your gear performing.

1. READ THE INTERIOR LABEL. Care is different on many styles. Basic instructions are always provided on the garment label.
2. Wash at least FOUR times per season. Fully close all zippers and Velcro. Set washer to WARM setting (104° F/40° C). Use Powder or Liquid detergent and NO bleach. Do Not DRY CLEAN. Special detergents are not required/recommended. Do NOT use wash-in waterproof treatments since they clog the breathability elements of the fabric. Do NOT use fabric softener. Rinse thoroughly, so no detergent remains in your outerwear.
3. TUMBLE DRY ON WARM SETTING * Do not OVER DRY * OKAY to use a cool iron on outerwear fabrics; place a towel between the fabric and Iron. * Use a DRYER BALL or NEW TENNIS BALLS in your dryer to prevent bundling in the dryer.

How do I remove stains from my jacket or pants?

Use a pre-wash treatment such as Shout® or Spray-n-Wash®, following its manufacturer’s instructions. Rinse well.

What is DWR?

DWR stands for durable water repellent. This is the coating on the shell fabric of outerwear that keeps water from absorbing into your jacket or pants.

How do I reactivate the DWR on my jacket or pants?

You can re-activate your DWR by tumble-drying on a warm setting. Using SPRAY ON DWR enhancers is ok. If using a spray on waterproof treatment, test spray the inside of garment first, check for discoloration.

What size should I wear?

Check our size chart to find your closest match to Bonfire sizing. For jackets measure your chest, waist and hips. For pants measure your waist, hips and inseam. Take those measurements and match them to our size chart and choose the correct size.

Do you offer shorter/longer length pants?

Yes, Bonfire offers the men’s Spectral pant and women’s Prism pant in both classic, short and tall lengths to better serve riders of all sizes.

What do the waterproof breathable numbers mean?

Bonfire’s waterproof ratings are measured in millimeters. The waterproof ratings measure the volume of water a fabric can withstand over a 24-hour period of time before it leaks. Here is a simple way of viewing our Dry Levels and waterproof/breathability ratings: Dry Level 1 – 10,000mm waterproof/ 8,000mm breathable = Bonfire starts where other brands stop. Keeps you dry in light rain or on an average snowy day. Dry Level 2 – 15,000mm waterproof/10,000mm breathable = Versatile performance. Keeps you dry in moderate rain or snowy conditions. Dry Level 3 - 
20,000mm waterproof / 15,000mm breathable = Bonfire’s best. Keeps you dry in severe weather conditions.

Is breathability important?

Yes, breathability represents how much perspiration vapor can escape through a fabric from the inside out. Bonfire measures breathability by testing how many grams of water vapor pass through a square meter of fabric in a 24-hour period. The higher the rating number, the better the breathability.

Where is Bonfire located?

Bonfire’s world headquarters is located in Portland, Oregon, USA in the shadows of legendary Mt. Hood. We house global design, develop and marketing in Portland with sales subsidiary offices around the world.

Where can I find out about Jobs or Internships?

Send a cover letter and resume to the Bonfire headquarters in Portland, OR to inquire about internships and job openings.

How do I get sponsored?

The best way to get sponsored is to contact your local sales representative or local subsidiary. Send them your resume along with links to any vimeo footage that shows your ability.

Do you sell online?

No, but our authorized retailers do. See our listing of online retailers in the dealer locator area of the website.

Can I get a catalog?

Visit your local authorized retailer and grab a poster that includes our full outerwear range, but the best way is to view the entire product line on the website.

 

SALOMON

Do boards come ready to ride? Or do I need to wax first?

Salomon, as well as most other boards, comes ready to ride with a factory wax. These waxes do wear off, however, and it's a good idea to wax after the first several times you take your board out. Also, remember, waxing is never bad for your board so if you think it should be waxed, do it!

How do I choose the right size board?

Choosing the right size board depends mostly on what you're going to be doing on the hill. If you're just starting out, you want the board to stand somewhere between your chin and your nose when it's upright in front of you. Add or subtract a little on the length of the board if you're heavy or light for your height (less length for lower weight, more length for more weight). The shorter the board is, the easier it'll be to turn and the longer it is, the faster and harder it will be to turn.

In general, you'll want to size your park board shorter than what you would for an all-mountain board (so that you have less to huck when spinning 7's in the park), and backcountry and powder boards should be sized longer. As you progress in the sport you'll start to learn what you want in a board and can begin to decide what length will be best for you. If you have any doubts or questions at all, the guys working at your local shop will know all about helping you find the right size board and should be happy to help.

Do I need a wide board?

Wide boards are made for people with large feet in order to eliminate the problem of “drag”. This can be either toe-drag or heel-drag and happens when the boot is too large for the width of the board and hangs over the edges, dragging in the snow when you turn. Generally, you want to look at getting a wide board if your feet are size 12-13 or larger. Drop into your local shop if you have questions or doubts about whether you need a wide board or not. Salomon makes wide versions of some of the best boards; if it's a Magnum version of the original (Such as the Grip Magnum), it's a wide board and will perfect for those larger-footed riders.

How should my boots fit?

Boots are your link to your snowboard and what give you control over your riding. A bad fitting boot can make the difference between the best day of the season and the worst. If you're going to buy one piece of equipment new, make it the boots.

You want your boots to fit snugly, not bone-crushing tight or loose like a street shoe. Remember, the boots will pack out a bit and are going to be the tightest they'll ever be the day you buy them. That being said, stay rational; if your foot starts to feel uncomfortable or falls asleep while you're trying them on in shop, they're too tight and you should try either a different size or a different boot. The perfect boot fit will feel like this:

When standing, your toes will just brush the inside end of your boot. When you bend into them and the boots are flexed (as if you were edging on your toe-edge), your toes should come away from the front of the boot and not really be touching anymore.

Your heel should fit snuggly into the heel-cup of the boot and have little to no lift when you try to lift your heel out of the boot. “Heel-lift” is bad for your riding and reduces the amount of control you'll have over your board.

Remember to pay attention to any pressure points or hot spots you might feel when trying on a boot; these will be ridiculously uncomfortable and usually cause an early end to a day of riding on the hill. Salomon boots are designed in Italy by professional boot makers who pay attention to all of the details, so they're some of the best-fitting and comfiest around. Get into a shop and try on several pairs of boots before you make a decision; make sure you're comfy and secure in your boot!

How do I choose a stance/set up my bindings?

Bindings will come with all the hard wear you'll need to attach them to your board and be ready to shred. You'll need a Philips head screwdriver to mount your bindings to your board; make sure the head fits snuggly into the top of the screw. If the screwdriver is loose and you try to force it you can strip your screws and be a little, well, screwed when you try and take your bindings off your board. In terms of stance, everyone's going to be a little bit different. Bindings will have numbers around the base plate (the disk that the screws are holding down), and these numbers are the degrees of your stance. There will also be a small tick mark at either the front toe-area of the binding or the middle of the heel-area that you want to reference your “zero-degree” line mark with. A common beginner stance has the front foot set out at a greater angle (somewhere between 10 and 15 degrees) and the rear foot at a smaller angle (anywhere from 0-10 degrees).

There's also width (the distance between your two bindings on your board), which is also something to take into account. You want to make sure your feet are far enough apart that you can really bend your knees, but not too wide that they stress them.

It usually takes a bit of time and riding to determine your “perfect stance”, so play around with it! Try out a certain set-up for one to two days (or longer) and then switch it up to try something new. If you like it, stick with it. If not, try tweaking it again just a bit. If you get a complete set-up in a shop, they'll usually put it together for you when you buy it (or just ask), and can help determine the best stance for you to start out with.

What do I do if my bootlace breaks?

Bring it in to your local shop and they'll fix you right up!

My binding broke. How do I get a new part?

Snowboard retailers will either have extra parts lying around or the ability to get you a new one. Bring your binding in with you to your local shop and the guys there can help determine how to get you fixed up and riding again soon.

How do I turn my snowboard?

You control your board using your feet and entire body. It isn't just a simple: “Pull steering wheel hard left to go left!”, your feet, knees, torso, shoulders and head all work together to get you where you want to go. Getting a lesson from a trained instructor is the best way to start out your snowboarding career; some people bypass this because it's “too expensive”, but if you look around to the right places you can find private lessons that won't bankrupt you. Taking one beginner lesson usually eliminates days of frustration and get you out there having fun way sooner. Also, unless your friend has worked as an instructor, it's usually not a good idea to have them teach you. Often you find yourself mad at your friend, frustrated, stranded or a combination of all three.

If you do, however, find yourself in a position where you really can't get a lesson, here's some golden advice: Keep your knees bent, stay centered and look where you want to go. If you can do all these things perfectly, you can learn any trick, carve any slope and drop any cliff. Happy shredding!