Women vs Men’s boards

Posted: 25 March 2012 02:58 PM

I’m 5’6 130 lbs size 9 womens shoe; should I buy women’s specific board? is there an advantage other than they are better looking?

Been riding for too many years not to be able to hit deep powder and steeper terrain. Demoed friends 2006 Malolo 158 did good in the POW… should I get a Barracuda or find a Malolo somewhere. It can be icy at Mt Hoods. Like to carve the groomers but I ski those usually.

Posted: 27 March 2012 09:15 AM

WOmen’s boards come in shorter sizes, have narrower waists and softer flex patterns. If a Men’s board fits your feet better then it’s best to get a men’s board… and of course, graphics are in the eye of the beholder.

If you’re riding a lot of powder then tapered boards are super fun and surfy. On the most part edge hold is better on tapered boards than on super rockered pow machines like the K2 Gyrator.

Posted: 27 March 2012 02:49 PM

Debating between finding a Malolo 2011 154 and a Barracuda. Is the Barracuda stiffer?

Posted: 27 March 2012 03:27 PM

I’ve not ridden either I’m afraid, but they’re very similar snowboards. They both have the S-Rocker profile a set-back stance, a big ol’ nose and shorts stubby tail and are both meant to be ridden a couple of cms shorter than your normal snowboard. Main difference I can see is that the Malolo has 5mm more taper and a negative core profile which will make it slightly softer between the feet. Basically Burton created the Baracuda to replace the both the Malolo and Supermodel. If you choose either, they’ll be very similar to ride.

Posted: 27 March 2012 03:56 PM

I don’t know what my “normal” board size is. I demoed my friend’s 2006 Malolo 158 it felt a little too big but not huge. I have a K2 155 Spitfire and a 152 Lipteck Banana. What about the Atomic Banger 157 too big?

Posted: 27 March 2012 06:13 PM

Hi - I’m 5’6” & 125lbs, and I ride anywhere from a 143 (noodle-y jib board) to a 149 Barracuda. My all mountain boards are 144/145.

The length of board you ride is totally up to you as to what you feel comfortable with. I was riding my Barracuda in all the powder that came down in the Alps in early January, and it was nothing short of epic. The 149 was more than fine for me, and provided loads of float even in waist deep drifts. To give you a bit of perspective, my b/f has a 158 Malolo, and he is 6’ and 85kg. Burton reckon you’re actually supposed to downsize 2-3cm for the Barracuda due to the s-rocker, but I found the 149 to be just right for me. It was good to have that length in trees - anything longer and I think I would have struggled in getting the board to turn quickly enough in the tight spaces. It also works really well on the piste if you have good conditions, but can be a bit of a handful on cut up and choppy pistes due to the long nose and short tail.

I have no problem riding a 152 generally - it gives great stability for my height/weight if I’m charging on a piste, however I usually want my boards to be suitable to hit the park with as well, and be able to do flatland butters etc, which is why I feel more comfortable with a shorter length. I don’t really have an issue with feeling unstable at speed on a short board, but I think that comes down to the boards I ride and having a level of confidence in your ability.

Personally, I think the 157 would be a bit too big. I have previously ridden by b/f’s 156 K2 Slayblade, as well as a few of his other boards (157 NS Proto, 154 Joystick), and it felt like a barge. Its more difficult to bend a stiffer board anyway, without having the extra length to contend with as well. 

The big problem I had when buying a board specifically for powder was that very few companies take into account people of our stature who would be better suited to a smaller board. I struggled to find a 149 Barracuda (they’d sold out in Europe by December so there obviously IS a demand). I looked at quite a few but for powder specifically, I’m really glad I went with a specific tapered shape with a long nose rather than a hybrid shape - my b/f tried his NS Proto in powder and although it did OK (and better than a normal camber board), it didn’t do nearly as well as the Malolo did.