Finally time for my second board

Posted: 18 March 2012 02:41 AM

I’ve been riding for 5 seasons now and I think it is time I got a new board. I live in North Carolina and my season usually consists of 3-8 day trips to a local mountain (Sugar Mountain) which is tiny with 2 blacks and terrain is usually either all destroyed by having way too many people on it or its really, really icy. As well as one 4-7 day trip somewhere nice (last year we went to Purgatory in Colorado).

The only board I’ve ever ridden has been my 5 year old, bought at Dick’s Sporting goods, $120 cheepo Morrow (155cm long, 24.9cm wide at the waist) that is just in terrible shape now, the base is scratched all over, deck is beaten off the edges, and edges are getting close to where I can’t sharpen them anymore so I figured it’s time I got my second board.

When I go riding I usually just stay on blacks until my legs get tired (I try to go all out as long as I can, pressing down and digging my edge in on every carve) and then head for some light cruising on blues. I stay away from the terrain park. I guess I would be considered a high end intermediate rider, I can carve down almost any slope as long as it’s not too bumpy, even if it’s really icy (the only benefit of learning to ride in NC).

I am male, 5’11”, 190 lbs, shoe size 11.5, goofy duck stance and I love to carve (though I do not want an alpine board, not in NC lol). I need a freeride board that can handle any terrain, that is especially capable of doing good carves on icy slopes, deal well with terribly broken up and bumpy slopes and can still hold its own for those rare occasions when I get to ride powder. I do want to point out that I don’t ride a whole bunch so I don’t get to train my legs to be able to ride 6+ hours at top intensity, usually 3-4 hours of aggressive riding and I have to start taking it easy and go to the blues where I can relax a bit.

When I got the Morrow I didn’t know anything about snowboarding and I picked the size simply by finding a board that was somewhere between my nose and my chin. Years later I found out that all calculators online suggest about 162 cm board. Since I’ve never been on anything beside that Morrow I have no idea how it would feel, maybe you guys can give me some suggestions about what size my next board should be. I don’t really mind changing, I feel like I adopt quickly and will be able to ride anything.

With all that in mind I was hoping you guys could give me some suggestions at what boards I should look into, I really have no idea where to even start. Price doesn’t matter, but I would prefer to keep it under $600.

Thanks for reading my long post and for your advice!

Posted: 18 March 2012 07:04 AM

So I did some digging around, read a lot of reviews and I think I narrowed it down to a few boards that I think are a good choice.

Rossignol Krypto Magtek
Rome Anthem
Capita Black Snowboard of Death

I am having a hard time deciding between these, again I want something that can hold an edge in icy mid east mountains, carves really well and handles wrecked groomers like a champ. And as long as it doesn’t sink like a titanic in powder I’ll be alright. If I missed some other great alternatives I am open to suggestions.

Again, thanks!

Posted: 19 March 2012 12:34 AM

Rome Anthem
Capita Black Snowboard of Death

Would be my top two picks of your three.
Do you want and more flexy board, or stiffer?

Posted: 19 March 2012 01:24 AM

That’s part of the problem, I’ve only ridden one board so far, I don’t really have a clue as to what I want. Hoping someone would point me in a right direction.

Posted: 19 March 2012 02:38 AM

Well, personally for me, I love a super soft and playful board, but whats because im in the park 99% of the time pressing rails and Jibbing. For you, since you like to bomb hills and high speeds, and do a little bit of everything, my taste in boards is way too soft for you.
Now i do know of a board that Bataleon makes called the Whatever. Which is essentially what it does, Whatever you want, From powder to Rails, you name it, Its an all mountain monster.

The two boards your looking at are both great boards as well. So i dont want to push you away from them if you like them, The Bataleon Whatever may also be a little soft for your taste, im not sure.

Either board you go with, you can’t really go wrong, both will serve you well.

I was in your position as well, I actually had a Morrow Lithium as my first board not really knowing anything about snowboards, Just wanting to try it out. Then I moved to Ride Agenda then Bataleon.

Snowboarding is all in personal preference. Both are solid boards, you can’t go wrong with either.

One question i have, When your riding, are you trying presses? or Buttering around? Having fun pushing your board and just free styling around? If so, i would recommend a softer board because this will be a lot more fun with a soft board. making your riding alot more fun
~Tyler

Posted: 19 March 2012 04:16 AM

I don’t butter, pretty much as long as my legs last I press and dig the edge in and go for as much carve and speed as I can, that’s what I love and that’s what I want my board to do. :)

Posted: 19 March 2012 08:30 AM

Not ridden the BOD or the Anthem… the Krypto you can see the review on the homepage.

All three boards sound like they’ll do exactly what you want them to. I guess the benefit of the Krypto is that it has Magnetraction edges… by no means is this a must though because although they add grip, on normal pistes even hardpack and icy ones unless you are riding a rocker noodle the difference isn’t life changing. If you want a more punchy tail then the Anthem would make sense as it remains cambered. The BOD’s profile is spec’ed as turning into reverse camber from the inserts… the Krypto rises from about 10 cm further out than the insersts so you still have a bit of camber to load and unload through turns, however, they advertise it as rising at the inserts, it definitely doesnt and imo it’s better having the camber extend beyond the inserts. The Krypto shape is more directional then the BOD so it won’t be as good switch, but there’s more nose, the sidecut is set back and the tail is stubbier so it will float better in really deep powder… no bones about it, both boards will float great in pow.

If you’re not getting much opportunity to ride fresh snow then you might find that a fully cambered board with a slight early rise nose like the Anthem or even a board with a hybrid profile that has rocker between the feet and camber in the tips like the Never Summer Raptor feels more responsive on hardpack snow.

If you are riding a duck stance with a 11.5 US boot , I would look at the Krypto 164mW. The BOD in a 162. I think even the Rome ANthem in the 163 is going to be too narrow for your feet, it’s waist is 25cm .

Posted: 19 March 2012 11:30 AM

I would have to agree that the rome maybe a little narrorw, I never even thought to consider that.
The Never Summer Raptor would be an awesome board to check out.
Since you want a board for die hard carving, I would look into Capitas BOD.
Its a really stiff board that will have no problems doing what you need. Plus, since you are at a cross road between some of these boards, you can also consider price points, what boards are cheaper then others, Maybe your not advanced enough for one, but a cheaper board will suit you perfectly and is not as advanced. Just something to consider.

Capita Snowboard of death - $549.00 msrp

Never Summer Raptor - $589.00 msrp

Rome Anthem - $600.00 msrp

Rossignol Krypto Magtek - $469.00 msrp

Of course you can find there boards cheaper or on sale since we are at the end of the season.