New Board Help!

Posted: 04 December 2009 01:44 PM

Looking for some help with a new board. Currently riding Union Force SL bindings with an old Saloman Official board.

I predominately ride in mixed boarder skier groups over all the mounting, all snow types. I love the back country but do a lot of piste riding too. Do not do much park riding but do hit natural jumps etc. I’m an intermediate / advanced rider.

Looking for a light all round board with a directional focus (can be ridden switch).
Agile and responsive. Do a lot of back county tree-line riding.
Good float in powder but with great edge hold in crud and ice.
Good piste charger without being slow / hard work to turn. Have started getting into boarder cross and slalom.

Boards I have been looking at

Arbor A-Frame.      Looks great for back county powder riding and aggressing peiste riding. Worried that it may not be as agile as I would like.
K2 The Zero.      Looks a great all round board but is it a jack of all, master of none. Not sure how well siuted to big back country riding
Palmer Honeycomb.    Super light and responsive
Option Vinson      
Amplid UNW8

Don’t really care about graphics or popularity. Want a great all round board with a little more focus on piste and back country than the park.

Any help appreciated.

Posted: 04 December 2009 03:39 PM

Hi Trax,

You’re seriously clued up! THose are some banging boards you’ve chosen there.

Ok to start, you’re definitely right choosing a cambered board, and the boards on your list are probably the stiffest most responsive boards we’ve covered on the sight. If you’re serious about boardercross and you want a board that’ll carve hard, ride off piste and hit the odd kicker then i’d choose the more boarder-x specific boards. My coices would be:

Amplid UNW8 - THis board is amazing, all of the flagship technology from Amplid in one unbelievably light all mountain package. Uber fast sintered base, Carbon triax and a honeycomb core… be warned this board is probably the most responsive and snappy ride on the planet so you’ll need to be on your game to ride it.

Contract C62 - Contract are in their first season of making boards. The C62 is their all mountain charger, Triaxial glass, carbon fibre and Kevlar reinforcement a wood/honeyvomb hybrid core with power plates for extra edge grip all in a board that’s suprisingly well priced. Difficulty is getting hold of these boards. It’s their first season and distribution world wide is being put together slowly so if you can find one, you’re one lucky cat.

Palmer Crown LE - An absolute freeride and boardercross monster. Probably the most stable ride I have ever ridden. I’m not joking when I say I couldn’t go fast enough for this board, my gear was actually slowing me down, I’m getting a cat-suite for next years board test.

Arbor A-Frame - Well put together, stable and impressive on edge with plenty of float in the deep stuff. Nice!

Head I.CT Intelligence - THis board is probably the most technical board on the market. The board has the highest grade sintered nano speed base on the planet and intelligence fibres that react to vibrations stiffening up the board the faster you go… technology taken from helicopter composite blade design. I saw UK / Canadian superpipe supremo James Foster traveling at unreal speeds on this deck.. he was raving about the board and said if he wasn’t riding the Palmer Crown he’d hit the ICT up.

If you want to go for a more freetyle orientated board then the K2 Zero, Endeavor BOD and APO amanite are worth checking out.

Rich

Posted: 04 December 2009 04:49 PM

Thanks Rich

Any insights into the Palmer Honeycomb and the Option Vinson?

I had looked at the Palmer Crown LE. I was concerned that this and the Amplid UNW8 may be more for the expert rider. Not ideal for when when I’m getting a little lazy after lunch and cruising around.

Will take a look at the Head I.CT Intelligence.

thanks again!

Posted: 04 December 2009 06:33 PM

I wouldn’t discount the Burton T6…....that’s one responsive, fast and very stable mother. Not cheap though!

Posted: 07 December 2009 05:23 PM

Thanks Tom

I hadn’t looked at the T6. Been a little put off by what seems universal price rised accross the Burton brand. Saying that I will take a look.

Any input on the Palmer Honeycomb or the Option Vinson?

Thanks

Posted: 08 December 2009 04:12 PM

Yeah the Vinson and the Honeycomb are the more all mountain boards on your list. The Vinson is pretty directional and has the typical BC all mountain flex, softer nose for float and a stiffer tail for pop and landing those tail heavy cliff drops. The honeycomb isn’t really a toned down Crown, but I’m afraid I haven’t ridden it, looks a bit more suited to the odd jump than the Crown. I don’t know, having ridden the Crown I wouldn’t want to settle for anything less… it’s an absolute piste devouring monster a rocket ship for snow, I think riding a softer Palmer would make me sad.

Posted: 06 February 2011 01:51 AM

Hi

Sounds like I have the same rider profile as described on this thread, and am looking for a new board. Things have moved on since and I am wondering how the Head I.CT Intelligence - 2010 (if it can still be found) compares with the new Head Force i KERS - 2011?

Thanks