Freeride board

Posted: 24 October 2011 02:38 PM

Hello!

I want a two board quiver to use on the mountains (Alps usually).
Last year I tried to find an all-mountain board and ended up with a Turbo Dream. But I’m no totally happy with it. As I read somewhere, it isn’t bad at anything but ain’t really good either. And that’s exactly how I feel about it. Ok, on powder it felt really good and that was what I was looking for, but on piste I wanted little more. Maybe I need more time on it or I’m too used to cambered boards on piste. But I feel I want to include my 157 Uninc in my travel quiver. It is all I need from park to piste and I love it in pipe. It ain’t the best for rails, but who cares.

So I want a freeride board to complete the quiver and right now boards on my list are:
Burton Barracuda
Capita Charlie Slasher
Jones Hovercraft and Flagship
YES Pic Your Line

I believe barracuda and charlie are similar boards, charlie being cheaper and barracuda being able to use my uninc bindings. Also I find Flagship and YES similar, being better on harder conditions that the first two. And lastly the hovercraft, which is pure powder board, but it’s said to be really good on hard pack. I don’t have any favorite yet and I like all of theme. If I had to choose right now, I would probably go for the barracuda because of the EST. But basically everything is wide open.

I haven’t heard anything but good about any of the boards, so I’m not too afraid I’m going to disappoint. But because I probably won’t be able to test any of theme, I have to rely on others opinions. So I will appreciate any help.

So, has someone any experience of some of the boards and could help me. If you want to compare, boards I have own or tested enough to remember are: 09 Uninc 157, 08 Uninc 158, 08 Malolo 162, 09 Rome Anthem 162, 11 Sherlock 160, 10 K2 Turbo Dream 159, older Icon Resistance(?) 168 and some older boards.

And my stats are: 180 cm, 82 kg and started snowboarding mid 90’s. Usually I like to go faster than slower and I don’t need (want) the easiest board to ride.

Thank you for your help!

Posted: 26 October 2011 09:10 PM

I have not riden a single board of those you mention in your list.
My board, however, has a lot of similar features with the Jones Flagship. Camrock. Magnetraktion.
I do like it and from that I might say the Flagship. The howercraft is as far as I know a powboard. For bigger lines I would recomend a board that handles diffrent snowconditions well.

If I go for a bigger board from your list I would pick the Flagship.

ICON has had some serious high speed boards back in the day..now it seems to be a pure freestyle brand.