All Mountain Board
Posted: 25 August 2009 06:49 PM
Hi guys,
I just decided to open another topic as this does not really fit in the ‘Blacklight setup’ thread anymore.
To quote Rich’s last reply to my questions:
If you’re looking at all terrain rides you might want to look at the Lib Tech Travis Rice, the Atomic Alibi and the K2 Turbo Dream, they’re all nice rides for advanced riders but you can ride them in a cruisy way too, they’re also a little bit more directional. The Turbo Dream got a rocker profile too which gives a little bit extra float in powder.
Out of all these three you named, I liked the K2 Turbo Dream best! The art is not really one of my favourites but one has to lower one’s sights in some situations.
Some boards I casted a glance on:
Ride Concept UL (expensive but sounds to be exactly what I am looking for)
edit: mhm, maybe just forget about the Concept again. Seems to be too stiff and aggressive for me; even more than the blacklight. Is it maybe comparable to a Nitro Pantera?
Rome Headline (maybe a bit too much freestyle-ish?)
My informations again:
I would guess I am jumping kickers (sometimes a bit pipe) for around 20% of the time I’m on track, 80% is shredding, carving,.. as I am mostly accompanied by skier mates.
I am 180cm/70inch tall, 154lbs
Any comments/recommendations on this? =)
P.S.: Allmountain = Allterrain ?
Posted: 02 September 2009 02:27 PM
Well the Concept UL is stiffish but it’s certainly not unmanageable, it’s actually pretty rideable for snowboarders of all levels. THe only problem with the UL is that it’s not a patch on the K2 Zero, which is effectively made in the same factory (Ride and K2 are the same company) but absolutely kicks it’s arse, if you’re linking carves and hitting jumps confidently then this board will take you all the way to uber pro. I’ve not ridden the Pantera, but I gather it’s got a taper so I think it’s more in the Burton Supermodel X area of snowboarding. I wasn’t blown away by the Headline, it’ll ride everthing but it felt a little bit clumsy, it’s certainly not too freestyle, you can deffinitely notice the longer nose. Yeah all terrain is all mountain.
Posted: 06 September 2009 11:07 PM
Oops, somehow I overlooked your post here before..
Could you maybe explain to me what you meant by “it’s not a patch on the K2 Zero” in detail? I do not really get the message, sorry :x
What’s the specific difference between the Zero and the Concept UL then?
I was looking through almost any of the brands and boards here but couldn’t really find any boards matching my needs better than the TurboDream, the Zero, the Blacklight and as you say, maybe the Concept UL. Though the Trice is still in my mind as well as the Alibi.
Jeeez.. that still makes ~6 boards minimum to decide between. So- which criterion to choose by next? Design? Price?
Posted: 07 September 2009 01:47 AM
To me the Zero was just a little bit more refines, more enjoyable in and out of carves, damp without loosing pop liveliness and so light you wouldn’t belive. But essentially they’re both ridiculously light cambered boards with a directional shape. It’s a tuff one but all the boards you’rve mentioned are the business… try and get on a test and try some of them out. I think the board that offers the best value for money is probably the Atomic Alibi… that boards an absolute bargain!
Posted: 10 September 2009 10:33 PM
Okay, so I will try to get one of the above mentioned boards as they seem to be all great ones.
As most of them are pretty lightweight, as you said in your reviews, what binding would you recommend? The K2 Auto Ever seems to be nice but I did not find any ‘review’ yet and additionally the auto ever is pretty expensive.
Would the Blackhawk be like totally out of place on boards like these? What other bindings would make a fine setup for these kind of boards?
Posted: 10 September 2009 11:21 PM
The Black Hawks would be great with any all mountain boards, some of the Nidecker bindings are looking great too. Bindings are all about personal comfort, weight and highback stiffness. Can’t really go wrong in my opinion. THe only bindings I’ve ever found I didn’t like were the Salomon Relays, but then a couple of my mates have them and love them. I’ve got Rossignol bindings, as far as I’m aware, I’m the only person on thw planet with them, but they feel great even though the bolts keep falling out. Definitely personel taste with bindings.
Posted: 11 September 2009 02:37 PM
I actually hardly heard about Nidecker so far, but I will definitly check them out now that you mentioned it.
Did you maybe hear anything about how the Auto Ever mechanism works in practice? The theory sounds quite interesting to me but who knows if this is working with iced bindings,.. ?!
P.S.: Nice article about the Union bindings again, don’t stop delivering stuff like that =)
P.P.S.: Have you seen the teasers of the new Isenseven “let’s go get lost"and “Nevermind” (not by isen7) video? Can’t wait to see the whole movie!
Posted: 12 September 2009 04:56 PM
Autos look pretty good compared to most fast entry bindings, but I’d opt for a simple binding as I’m always breaking straps and ratchets so I need bindings I can replace the components easily. In all seriousness that’s the biggest plus of buying Burton bindings, worldwide you can find components in every board shop.
Yeah saw the Nevermind teaser… love Gigi and Romain’s double corks! It’s mad to me that the Double Cork has become a stock trick. What’s next? Haven’t seen the Isenseven teaser but I did see them ride in Mayrhofen in March at the Oakley Jib Vid and I was really impressed, they’re at the top of their game and their movie production is second to none.
Posted: 13 September 2009 12:47 AM
I just found out that tomorrow (Monday) there will be a Nevermore premiere-event near my hometown!
“Riders attending: Nicolas Müller :: Jules Reymond :: Bode Merrill :: (maybe) Cale Zima :: JP Solberg”
I called the cinema: only 4 tickets left. Seems as I better be fast!
Posted: 15 September 2009 08:07 PM
Hello again!
Today I went to Stuttgart to check out SportScheck (local sports shop) for the new season’s stuff.
Luckily I was able to talk to some really capable and friendly salesman who also is a snowboard instructor.
When I asked him about a board for my needs (mainly piste), he suggested (next to an Arbor deck I did not really like) the Ride DH as a real ‘fun-machine’. When I mentioned that I thought this deck is mainly freestyle, he told me that it truly is mainly freestyle but without rocker and still does have very nice edge-hold and stuff.
I read the review you posted about the Ride DH again. I’m almost sure it can not compete with the Alibi or the Zero concerning behaviour on groomer and pow but what about the TurboDream or the LT Travis Rice BTX?
Is the DH more in this league? Because if so, I suggest this would be still ok with me.
P.S.: Bought a pair of Nitro Team TLS boots! They feel sooo great.. =)
Posted: 15 September 2009 09:21 PM
How was the Neverland premier? I hear every section is a standout!
The DH is a popular board with freestylers, because it’s damp on rails, has a tightish sidecut, isn’t heavy (but not that light ever) and has plenty of pop.
I don’t know I wouldn’t say the DH is as good carving as any of the boards I listed. Of couse it’s cambered which theoretically gives it an advantage over the Rockered decks like the TRS and the K2 Turbodream. The Alibi is also about the same cost as the DH. I really would try it before you buy. In my experience the DH is like the Rome Agent. Stable off jumps and on rails but just not that lively edge to edge or in a carve, there are more fun and more rewarding boards for riding piste and pow.
Nice one with the boots, it’s all about the feel, regardless of brand.
Posted: 16 September 2009 12:25 AM
Unfortunately I wasn’t fast enough so I did not get any of the 4 tickets left =(
Seems as I have to buy the DVD now..
Alright, I just wanted to make that point sure. I am not going to buy a board before trying to get on a test, anyway. The Kaunertal-Opening is still on my wish-list! Hope I can get there..
Thanks again, I will probably come back later, hehe.
Posted: 16 September 2009 09:19 PM
No probs. Yeah get yourself to Kaunertal, if not for the boarding, by all accounts the parties are awesome!
If you’re planning on going I’d look at booking some accomodation soon as it’ll be busy! Oh and the drive up to the glacier is like a rally stage… amazing fun.
Posted: 17 September 2009 11:14 PM
Hey there, it’s me again! I really hate being the one only asking question after question here but I really appreciate your opinion and experience. Hope that’s okay for you.
Bottom line, I am down to 2 boards to choose from right now: Atomic Alibi, K2 Turbodream.
The Zero is just too expensive for me, I do not know any shop in my surrounding who has any LibTech (TRS) boards (I also do not really like the design of it), the Blacklight was discarded because of being too aggressive.
As I am still sceptical about the Rocker being the right choice for me, it’s more or less just the Alibi.
As this range is.. well.. kind of very constrained, I spent the day looking for a board alike to the Alibi but did not really find any alternatives. A bit more freestyle-ish would be okay, as well. It just should be around the price the alibi is..
Could you maybe help me out there, again?!
Posted: 18 September 2009 10:59 AM
Ok so I’ve had a think about what you want from what I can gather, you want a cambered board with a medium to firm flex for riding all mountain, but that isn’t too aggressive. You want a direction shape or a directional twin-ish shape so that you can ride it in different snow types. You want a board that’ll be fun off jumps and in the park but really performs flying down pistes and has a fast base so you can beat your skier mates to the bottom of the mountain. Finally it needs to have subtle graphics (no eagles) and a cost below the 450-500 Euro mark…. oh and it needs to be available in Germany.
Ok I’ve got a couple of ideas:
Atomic Alibi - obviously
Rossignol One - Great cambered board, a bit softer than the JDub with a bit more of a directional shape. Cambered and it still has magnetraction. Alternatively you could try the Angus with it’s Amptek camber rocker hybrid.
Volkl Cashew - Directional twin, designed for all mountain performance. Also uses green contruction.
Nitro Blacklight - I’m not sure i’d discount this board, if you get an oportunity to try it, I would. I heard nothing but good things about it at the test.
Amplid Falconoid - Perhaps a touch too aggressive, but these boards are really well put together and so powerful and versatile. Plus Peter Bauer is a Bavarian! THis brand is going to be the biggest brand in Germany and Austria in 2-3 years time.
Burton Custom - My problem with Burton this year is that there prices have increased by about 15% and you have to by Burton bindings with the ICS binding system so you could be talking 900-1000 Euros for a set up… that’s crazy money!
If I think of any more I’ll let you know. You should give the Kaunertal tourist board a ring and find out what brands are going to the opening weekend.
Posted: 18 September 2009 01:14 PM
Ok so I’ve had a think about what you want from what I can gather, you want a cambered board with a medium to firm flex for riding all mountain, but that isn’t too aggressive. You want a direction shape or a directional twin-ish shape so that you can ride it in different snow types. You want a board that’ll be fun off jumps and in the park but really performs flying down pistes and has a fast base so you can beat your skier mates to the bottom of the mountain. Finally it needs to have subtle graphics (no eagles) and a cost below the 450-500 Euro mark…. oh and it needs to be available in Germany.
I couldn’t have summarized it better, you totally got my point!
Rossignol One: Looks really nice! I am definitly going to find out some more about that one.
Volkl Cashew: The design is sweet but apart from it being rocker, it seems to be meant for powder mainly? Unfortunately I hardly get to ride any pow =\
Nitro Blacklight: Yeah, I was going to test it anyway. Maybe it is not too aggressive.. I don’t know. It’s just always this sentence which makes me back away, a bit:
Designed to be ridden at speed by aggressive riders, ...
What about it being mid-wide, by the way? For me as a 180cm and 150lbs rider? Any interferences?
Amplid Falconoid: First thing I noticed- Extruded base only? Why so? As it is not a board for the rails, as you said, why didn’t they equip it with a sintered base?
From the review and the description I did not get the feel of the falconoid being too aggressive but you got to know, as you rode it already..
Burton Custom- yeah.. I do not really wanna look a Burton fanboy. And the price is indeed insanely high.
In general: I don’t know if it is because I originally started with skiing or whatever but somehow I always have in mind that Rossignol, Atomic, Volkl all make good skies but are they really making classy snowboards?!
Any other board proposal is much appreciated!
edit: What about the K2 Slayblade? Looks neat to me, so far..
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