Jones, Bataleon, GNU or YES?

Posted: 23 December 2011 02:32 PM

Ok snowboard experts.  I need a new stick.  I’m a decent intermediate but intending to improve big time now that I’m living at the foot of the Italian alps.  Been riding a pretty basic Burton for 10 years (so I’m waaaaay behind) and need something light and flexible, which can go equally freestyle and freeride. 

Researching, I’m keen on:
- Jones Mountain Twin (my current top pick but I’m concerned about the almost flat camber)
- Bataleon (Jam or Enemy)
- YES TDF or Big City
- GNU (eg Altered Genetics)

Anyone has any strong views on the above or could recommend something better?

Thanks!
D

Posted: 25 December 2011 12:42 AM

Hey D,

mind telling us what kind of riding you are going to mainly perform?
I suppose it’s mainly freeriding and pow? Or do you want a board for the occasional jib in the park as well?

I’ll be happy to give a more concrete answer as soon as you tell me a little bit more about your riding style.

Cheers Tobi

Posted: 26 December 2011 04:28 PM

Tobi, thanks for replying.

What I’m looking for is an all-mountain freeride board but with as much freestyle capability as possible without losing the all-mountain side.  I like to fool around on piste and off piste off natural features and play around with some kickers in the park.  I won’t be doing halfpipes or jibbing much - too old to start getting into that! - but I would like something flexible.  Sure I like hitting the pow just like the next man so it needs to handle that reasonably well as well.  I won’t be going seriously big mountain or back country though.

Hope this helps.

D

Posted: 27 December 2011 01:14 AM

For the best of both worlds, you’ll be wanting a board with hybrid camber, preferably with camber underfoot with rocker to the tips.  This will help you bomb about the place and give you that power and edge control from camber, while also giving a bit more flexibility when riding power as the rockered nose will help to give a bit more float.

I’ve not tried any of the boards you’ve mentioned, but there seems to be some question marks being raised about the quality of Jones boards this year, so while the Mountain Twin sounds like it hits all the boxes, you might want to be able to see the board you’re wanting, rather than ordering it sight-unseen from the net.

I’ve tried Lib Tech’s C2BTX on the Travis Rice pro model - albeit in a snowdome - and I wasn’t sold on rocker between the feet and camber under feet, so for me that rules out Lib Tech’s approach. Strangely, I didn’t get this when trying Burton’s Custom Flying V, which takes the same approach, but it felt better for me. It felt a bit more stable, with the contact points feeling more towards the nose than with the Lib Tech where it felt like I was turning from the centre of the board.

I think you should be looking at something with Capita’s Freeride FK (camber between the insert packs, with rocker and then flat kick tips) or CAMROCK (used by Jones, Yes and other NiDecker lines).

Sorry for the long - and unhelpful - post!