my custom x died

Posted: 17 November 2011 09:21 PM

hey, i’m just posting because it’s time for me to get a new board.  i have been riding a custom x for the last few seasons but at the end of the season 2 seasons ago my board cracked when one of friends hit me (he was trying to showboat for a POV camera).  i then had to take last season off for some medical reasons.  but i’m back baby—i can’t wait to hit the slopes again, one year off and it has felt like an eternity!

i live in the midwest but make it out west to board 3 times per season.  i like to go pretty fast and make big sweeping carves.  i love powder when i can find it and i’m comfortable between the trees and on mogul runs.  i like natural terrain jumps and ill also hit the park for the small and medium jumps.  i don’t really do an jibbing.  my home away from home is jackson hole and i pretty much stick to their double blues and blacks along with off piste.

i really loved my x for the high speed cruising; i always felt secure on it.  but for those days when i’m in the midwest, i hated how stiff it was—no fun for buttering, and i found it pretty unforgiving when trying to do spins off jumps (although i admit i am pretty sucky at spinning).

my goals for this coming season are to improve my switch riding and jumps, and possibly to work on cruising through mogul fields since lots of my friends are accomplished skiers and they love the mogul runs.

it seems to me that i’m a classic all-mountain kind of guy, i just don’t know where to go for my replacement board.  i’m afraid that if i get a board that is too soft or too much a rocker that i won’t feel secure.  i have been considering some never summers (SL, heritage), ride (DH2, arcade UL), burton (custom flying v), and c2btx boards but basically i am just getting more confused every day.  going forward i might add a second board to my quiver but for now i need a one board solution.

i would love any feedback!  thanks.

Posted: 18 November 2011 10:00 PM

Hey goose,

I think the NS SL wouldn’t be too bad! I first thought about recommending the NS Raptor to you but then I read that you felt like your Custom X was a bit too stiff..

If you don’t really have a budget, also check out the Palmer Honeycomb and the Endeavor Next (especially the 159 rocker version for better float a bit more forgiving flex and feel).

The DH2 probably won’t do you any good for carving and serious pow riding. This year’s custom V is supposed to be a great allmountain ride. No question this will be great for hitting medium sized kickers and butter around a bit but again- for serious freeriding and carving, have a look at the boards I mentioned above!

Hope this helped a little, Cheers Tobi

Posted: 19 November 2011 08:28 AM

thanks so much for the information.  i was totally unfamiliar with the palmer until i saw your reply.  based on some quick googling, it looks like the board is pretty much only available in europe and is pricey to say the least- probably close to 1k.  i might be able to swing this but at that price should i be consider vapor/method?  as an aside, i love the topsheet on the honeycomb.  the endeavor looks like a sweet board too.  i am a little worried that these boards will be too stiff for buttering but am i asking the impossible?  a board that can charge but that can also butter?  also with my goal of getting comfortable switch, should i be looking for a twin? as for pow, as much as i like pow (like any boarder) it seems like i only end up in good pow 1-2 x / year.  i can always set my bindings back a little if i end up with board that is only ok in pow.

also, what gives thegoodride.com?  do they hate all Ride and Burton boards?

again, thanks for taking the time!

Posted: 19 November 2011 10:54 AM

Hey there,

yeah sure the Palmer boards aren’t cheap but they are of wicked quality!

Anyway, to answer your question: yes, it’s kind of impossible to find a board that carves like you are on trail rails and butters like a Dopamine or Scallywag or any other park/rail board.

You could have a look at the Amplid Paradigma. It’s Doomsday Camber (Zerocamber, flatliner) makes it less stiff compared to a regular cambered board and provides a little more float while not losing too much of it’s ability to carve!
It’s an overall really good allmountain ride and you will be able to do some flatland tricks on it as well (I’m riding the older model with regular camber and I do it but I have severe muscle ache afterwards most of the time, hehe).

And now that I come to think of it: Check the Nitro Team Gullwing. Rich absolutely loved it and it might be a really good board for your needs!
Have a look!

Always glad to help,
Cheers Tobi

Posted: 26 November 2011 12:53 AM

sorry, been crazy busy with the holiday.  i appreciate all of the feed back.  i think the amplid might be a little out of my price range. it’s tough to get a sense of this board because besides for you all i can’t seem to find out much about the board. a flat board seems like such an obvious solution to the camber/rock dilemma it makes me wonder why everyone isn’t doing it.  the graphics are cool though.

i know i mentioned Ride earlier, any thoughts on the Ride arcade UL?

I was out shopping with my wife and I saw some Never Summers at the the local snowboard shop.  They were of course sold out of the SL and proto but they had a heritage.  The carbonium topsheet on the heritage was very cool.  I worry however that the Heritage will still be too stiff for buttering etc.  Also the sales people were very keen on the libtech TRS (goodwood 2012) and the Travis Rice, and I wanted to see what you chaps thought about those boards.

thanks.

Posted: 26 November 2011 01:57 AM

Plus the Capita BSOD, the Ride Bezerker, the K2 Turbo Dream, the Jones Mountain Twin, Yes GBOH, Forum Conflict or for the more freestyle orientated approach, Burton’s Mr Nice Guy (the replacement of the Love series) ...

And yeah, the TRS gets good reviews, as does the Rossignol Krypto

Posted: 26 November 2011 01:59 AM

Hey goose,

I have quite a bit of experience with Never Summers and can give you a little advice.  I own a Heritage, and it is not the ideal board if you want to mess around with buttering.  The combination of a set back stance and a stiffer flex requires quite a bit of muscle to get it into those types of tricks.  It’s great for bombing groomers, laying into carves, and a blast in the powder.  I actually picked up an NS Revolver this year so I could have a softer more buttery friendly board for park riding and playing around on the groomers. If you’re going for a single do-it-all board, and want to stick with NS, the SL or Proto are going to serve you much better.  Sorry I can’t give you any advice on the Lib Techs, they seem to be pretty solid and popular boards though.

Posted: 26 November 2011 06:31 AM

Thanks for taking time on the never summer boards.  It is clear to me now that there is no one board that will solve 100% of my needs so I am definitely thinking more freeride than freestyle right now.

Posted: 27 November 2011 08:30 AM

ok, it seems like i have been going about this the wrong way. to further explain my riding profile
when i’m in the mountains:
on piste 60%  (45% groomers 15% bumps)
off piste (big mountain/powder) 15%
park (jumps) 15%
park (rails) 5%
pipe 5%

but here in the crummy midwest:
on piste 60%
park (jumps) 30%
park (rails) 10%

i have ridden burton and ride in the past, and i love snowboarding, ergo, i think i love burton (and ride), but really it just a lack of experience on my part that drives me towards those familiar brands.  i can probably spend up to about $700 which only excludes a few ultra-premium boards like the vapor, method, and palmer honeycomb.

when i really examine my needs, i have come to realize i am just trying to get a slightly more playful/friendly custom X.  i would be pretty unhappy if my new board couldn’t charge down groomers the way i can now, im just hoping for a board that will be a little more forgiving when spinning, riding switch, and possibly allow me to do some ground tricks.  i will probably get a less expensive noodle next season for true park riding.

i am really worried that the custom is just to squirrely on flat and doesn’t hold an edge well enough to suit my needs.the boards that have really caught my interest include the paradigma, arcade UL, libtech travis rice hp, never summer (proto/SL/heritage??).  which of these boards would continue to allow me to charge but be slightly more flexible and jump/switch friendly?

thanks for sticking with me.

Posted: 30 November 2011 02:03 AM

Okay,
I have “found” extra funds and my list is down to the amplid paridigma and the nitro blacklight.  What (if any) would you say about the differences in these boards?  Has anyone ridden both?

Also, I need to pick a board size.  I’m 6-0, 160 lbs.  My ‘08 X was a 160.  I have smallish feet, 9.5us

The paridigma comes in 152-156-159-162
The blacklight comes in 157-160-163

Thanks!

Posted: 30 November 2011 07:32 AM

Based on the fact that your Custom X was a 160, I’d probably stay with something close to the same size, so 159 for the paridigma or 160 for the blacklight.

Posted: 30 November 2011 11:56 AM

Both are made at Elan so they’re both super high quality decks. You might find the Paradigma a touch faster edge to edge because it has a slightly narrower waist… and if you’re looking for a slightly softer flex than your Custom X then the Paradigma is on the money really. I haven’t ridden the Blacklight but I’ve heard great things about it, it’s whether the firmer full cambered flex is what you are after? This will be very close to your Custom X, perhaps a little harder work than the Paradigma in pow and playing about on jumps and jibs but a real weapon for slicing up the groomers.

I’d agree with Pete’s size recommendations.

Posted: 30 November 2011 03:12 PM

awesome, thanks for all the advice.  i’m going to shoot for the paridgima in the 159.  i’ll send out some photos if i’m able to get a hold of one!

goose