Playful and stable?

Posted: 16 December 2011 05:03 PM

Hi Rich,
First up thanks for great reviews - great format.

I’m 6ft 3 and 75kg. Intermediate+ rider just starting grabs and spins. Most of my time is spent looking for interesting things to hit on side of piste. Also like to be able to get some speed going too- since few skiers in group and if conditions allow will hit pow and treelines. Previous board was Bataleon Evil Twin 155 which was superfun - but slow as!

Replacement must be fun, poppy but be able to charge a bit when needed. I’m l looking toward K2 Parkstar or Endeavour BOD but reckon I should get a 157/8. Ride DH2 also being considered but think that might be a bit stiff.

BOD is looking like the fav but not sure if too park focussed.

Foot size is 10.5 uk

Any thoughts or recs?

Cheers

Posted: 19 December 2011 01:59 AM

Hey I’m not Rich, but i might be able to help,
my recommendation is a Contract Cobra, this thing kills it all!
Contracts boards have a really awesome technology called 3D Snake Tech (http://www.contractsnowboards.com/?p=Technology), which makes the board as flexible and fun as a jib specific board, and as stable and poppy as a all mountain board. <check that link for a detailed discription of the tech.
Currently the only company in the US that has this tech is Contract, heres a link to a website that gives you a sweet deal on them (http://acstoke.com/Quality-Snowboards-Skis-On-Sale.html).

My brother has a Cobra and its the funnest board i have ever ridden!

I’ve never ridden a Parkstar or a BOD, but i own a K2 WWW and the Cobra is way better, and my brother had a Ride DH2 and it was fun until it broke halfway through the season, just a waste of money, my brothers and i have had Ride bindings as well which were low quality crap! i would not recommend Ride.

The Parkstar is jib rocker, “Just enough rise in the tip and tail to create a loose, buttery feel on all types of terrain. Contact points stay well off the snow until engaged – eliminating edge hook while maintaining fun pop”

The BOD is a flat or zero camber board, with Dow Tech “Exclusive to the BOD Series, Dow Tech raise the contact points 3mm off the base, creating a ride similar to a reverse camber but with the benefits of a cambered board”

The Cobra is Camber with 3D Snake Transition, and T.R.I.P. “TRIP
Trip technology lifts up the edges at points where the sidecut meets the tip and tail of the board, providing easier turn initiation, safer landings and no problems to ride straight. Easier turning, catch-free ride and powder floating”

Rocker is good for beginners because it raises the contact points so you cant catch an edge as easily, and in pow cause it pulls the tip up, but its not good if your hitting huge jumps, going fast or in icy conditions. you have less control and tend to wash out easier than on a camber board, it is fun for buttering though!

Camber dominates, because it creates way more pop, more edge control, and easier to lock in big landings. 

So my opinion is that the BOD would be better than the Parkstar, especially if you wanna go fast.
But the Cobra would beat both of them, because of the snake transition and camber, and your not gonna catch edges easily because of the TRIP tech.

oh and the parkstar and cobra are sintered base, not sure about the bod, sintered base is the fastest though!

Hope this helps

Posted: 19 December 2011 04:05 PM

Thanks shredcrazy,

I’ve not heard of Contract before - looks very different, but you sound convinced it works.

I’m in the UK so would rather see a board before signing on the dotted line.

Before the Evil Twin I had a K2 Darkstar 160 - very stable but found it quite difficult to access the pop - I and at the time came a cropper on the edge and got a broken rib for my troubles!

So ...from what you have said about zero camber sounds like it could be the better bet for me.  Maybe I should take a look at the slayblade or NS SLtoo.

Surprised about your thoughts on Ride - Thought they were pretty solid co with good products.
For bindings - I’m running Union Force and I think they are great value and no probs so far.

Cheers
P

Posted: 19 December 2011 06:45 PM

Contract is available in the UK, they probably have demos, but im in the USA so im not too sure.  heres a link to theirFacebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Contract-Snowboards-UK/165442983545509).

Yeah i definitly would not reccommend a brand that i havent tested, or hate on a brand that i have not tested.
And I agree, you should try to find a demo or one you can test before you buy it, because what really matters is your riding style, and how the board performs for you.

As far as zero camber (flat), this technology is the middle line between rocker (reverse camber) and camber.  I prefer Camber, the middle bends up, loading it with the most pop, the only downside to camber is you can catch edges more easily, and if you have to stiff a board it will be harder to pop. but the TRIP technology in the Contract boards and the DOW tech in the BOD would eliminate any edge catching tendencies, but still give you the benefit and stability of a camber board, and if you get a more flexible board like a park and pipe board, rather than an all mountain board, you wont have any problem getting pop.
As far as zero camber, I dont think it would have any benefits over a camber board that has lifted contact points (TRIP and DOW tech) unless you get a board that is fairly stiff, then it would be easier to get pop with zero camber.

note that the BOD is a zero camber board with lifted contact points (DOW tech) so i still would recommend the Cobra which is regular camber with lifted contact points. plus the snake tech makes it more flexible and fun, so you can pop easier, but maintains the stability and control of stiffer all mountain boards. 

As far as the NS SL these boards have rocker between the bindings and camber on the contact points, which adds a little bit more pop and stability to a rocker board. but personally i would stick with camber that has raised contact points, so you get the full benefit of the camber, and still have the playful non catch feel.  But If you do go with a Never Summer, i would get the Evo instead of the SL, because it would be more flexible and playful.

Posted: 19 December 2011 06:58 PM

oh and about Ride products, the company is really hyped up, and a lot of people say they are great, but from personal experience, they don’t live up to the reputation.  haha the other day someone said the were getting a Ride DH, and said it was a really solid board for bangers, and that’s before they had bought it, so beware of people giving you a recommendation if they have not tested the product themselves.  I have tested the Contract Cobra and love the board! the tech really works and does what its supposed to.  note i have not rode any other Contract Board besides the Cobra, but i believe the cobra is the model that best fits what your looking for.