I'll back autox-racer on the value of demo'ing. The wife and I demo'ed Burtons last year at Heavenly (I tried the Air and Triumph) and I tried a Santa Cruz (don't remember the model) at Kirkwood. I learned a lot in those two days!! The most important thing was what I wanted in a board - float in the powder and stability on the hard pack. I also learned that the techniques I developed on my crappy 5150 beginner's rental board were hurting me on a proper, responsive board. Anyway, the Triumph was the best one for me, so I bought a new but roughed-up-in-the-showroom specimen on eBay for half of retail.