Reverse camber thoughts!

Posted: 16 March 2010 03:21 PM

Hi there!  I’d be grateful for any advice or thoughts on my next board.  I currently ride a Sapient PNB1 157 with Salomon SPX 88 bindings and Salomon Malamutes (UK size 9) but am looking to enter the world of rocker!  I ride pistes and Japanese pow rather than park but want something more buttery and playful than my super stiff Sapient.  Current thoughts are, in no particular order:-

Ride Machete 155 or 158
YES 154 or 156.5
Libtech TRS 154 or 157
Libtech Jamie Lynn 154 or 157
GNU Park Pickle 156
GNU Danny Kass 155 or 158
GNU Riders’ Choice 154.5 or 157.5
K2 Turbo Dream 156

I know this is a big list but I keep going round in circles and so any thoughts would be much appreciated!!  Stats-wise, I’m 5’10”/178cm and 145lbs/65kg and am more of a mellow rather than super-aggressive rider.  I think a 157 is about the right size for me with regular camber but I know you can downsize with rocker so I’m thinking of going as low as a 154.

Cheers!

Posted: 16 March 2010 04:07 PM

The Sapient PNB1 with it’s pink and grey graphics! I remember that board, one of my mates at uni used to take it upto Plymouth dryslope, it was the envy of the whole slope until he ripped the rail out of it!

I don’t think it’s necessarily true that you should scale down the size of your board if you’re riding a rocker. In many cases brands advise that you size up a little because of the shortened effective edge. Some of the time a longer nose and tail aren’t required as the tip and tail uplift comes from the boards rockered profile, that’s how they keep the length down. For instance the Amplid Fenom, Amplid suggest scalling up by 4cm, where as the Lib McKink has cut down flat kink nose and tail which means you can take 4cms off…. it’s all very confusing. With your height and weight (you’re quite light) I’d think you’de be fine riding a 155-156 ish, you should see a slight improvement in float in pow but I wouldn’t think you’ll be blown away by the increased float. The Machete sounds like a good option, if you want a slightly more park based ride then their’s the DH2. The YES boards have quite narrow waists, but the 154 should fulfill your desire for a playful jib board, the 156.5 is RDM’s deck and is quite a bit more aggressive. I’d probably go for the Danny Kass over the Park Pickle, it just felt a little bit more lively and has a slightly wider waist for your feet, but they’re very similar boards.

Rich

Posted: 16 March 2010 04:28 PM

Thanks for the prompt reply Rich!  Yeah, I like the look of the Machete and it’s had some great reviews.  Of the 2 sizes, which one would you go for if you were me?  I’m currently based in Japan and so need something that’s good in pow but can press and butter like the locals!!!

Posted: 16 March 2010 11:05 PM

If you’re doing more Freestyle I’d go for the 55… if it’s more the pow probably the 58. However, when Tom was talking to JP Solberg at the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show in November, JP was saying that Japenese pow is really wierd and that you can get away with riding normal size boards… in which case hit up the 55. To be honest, I’d have to get a fish shaped board for the deep pow days and a rockered park deck for park and backcountry booter action!

Posted: 17 March 2010 12:12 AM

Thanks Rich!  Sadly my budget doesn’t stretch to 2 boards but if it did, I definitely get a Gentemstick, the local weapon of choice for powder hounds.  Check them out at www.gentemstick.com if you’re interested.  Thanks again for the advice Rich - keep up the good work!

Posted: 17 March 2010 01:33 AM

No probs. Seen those Gemsticks before, they featured in a recent Whitelines mag. Those things are beautil pieces of art! Perhaps a little out of most peoples price range. Enjoy the 20m of powder you’re probably riding!

Posted: 18 March 2010 10:02 AM

Yeah, we’ve had a couple of good dumps this week so a Gentemstick would’ve been great though the Sapient has held up well enough!  Sorry to be a pain but I may have found a place that has both the 154 and 156.5 YES boards in stock.  As these have sold like hotcakes and I like the idea of a mixed camber board, I’m seriously tempted to get one - the problem is which one??!  I’ve read your 156 review and the comments on the 154 in the Indoor Jib Test.  Given my stats (5’10”/65kg) and my riding preferences (pow and pistes rather than park), which size would you recommend?  I’m tempted by the 156.5 for the “Ultimate Grip” and asymmetric sidecut but am concerned that it might be too stiff to butter and play around on the groomers.  The 154 sounds more playful but I’m worried that it might be too soft and/or too short for pow!  Decisions, decisions!!

Posted: 18 March 2010 03:59 PM

It’s a difficult choice! If you were 5-10 kg heavier I’d say go for the 156.5 withoubt a doubt. The nose and tail are quite firm but the camber in them does make the board a lot more playful. Saying that Romain DeMarchi who’s board it is, is only a light chap, but he rides aggresively. I’d say the 156.5 is going to feel as firm as your sapient, althought the rocker will loosen up the ride (more control at feet), increase float and add a bit of playfullness. If you were squewing to the park side I’d say 100% the 154, but I think the 156.5 is going to be the best choice for piste charging and powder playfullness. Hope that helps.

Rich

Posted: 04 April 2010 01:23 PM

Hi Rich!  Just thought I’d bring you uptodate and this thread to a close because…..........I’ve finally made a purchase!!  I was on the verge of buying the 156.5 YES from the US when I checked out the end-of-season sales in Ochanomizu, which is the “sporting goods” district of Tokyo where all the ski/snowboard shops are located.  No YES boards in sight but I did find a 156 K2 Turbo Dream, a 157 Rossi Angus and both a 155 and 158 Ride Machete, all with 50% discounts which made them far more attractive (everything is so much more expensive over here).  I know you’re a big fan of the Angus and that it has some of the same tech as the YES so I was interested to see one up close.  However, after long deliberation, head-scratching and walks around the block, I finally went for…...........the 155 Machete!!!  My reasoning?  Well…..the K2 was the most expensive and so I ruled that out then I just couldn’t get my head around the graphics of the Angus - I think you either love it or hate it and I’m somewhere in the middle!  That left the Machete (which was also the cheapest!) and I chose the 155 on the basis that I definitely want to get more in flatland stuff and the shorter stick will be better for that, as well as being a better match for my weight than the 158.  I’m hoping that the rocker will help compensate for the 3cm difference when it comes to riding pow, though it’s only 2cm shorter than my non-rockered Sapient and that did ok!  So there you have it - the end of a long, drawn-out saga but thanks so much for all of your advice and patience - much appreciated!!  All the best from the Land of the Rising Sun,  Mick.

Posted: 04 April 2010 01:33 PM

Sounds like a very savy decision, and 50% off is like having all of your Christmases come at once!

I’ve heard great things about the Machete and am definitely looking forward to reading your thoughts on your new purchase. The only reason I didn’t give it more weight in my suggestions is because I’m yet to ride one this season… from what I hear it’s a fantastic board, so a good choice.. it will definitely help you to progress your freestyle riding.

Enjoy your new purchase in Japan’s deep stuff!

Rich

Posted: 27 February 2011 03:50 PM

Well it’s one year down the line so about time for an update!!  I’ve been riding my 2009/10 Machete in Hokkaido for the past 7 weeks and absolutely love it!!  It took a day or 2 (and a couple of embarrassing face-plants) to get the hang of the low-rize rocker but otherwise, no problems whatsoever.  Although it doesn’t hold an edge as well as a decent camber board (like my Sapient), it’s so playful and easy to chuck around.  Riding powder is also much easier with the rockered tip though in deeper pow, I sometimes wish I’d gone for the 158 instead of the 155.  Overall though, I’m very happy with my Machete so thanks again for all of the advice you gave me last year!!

Posted: 01 March 2011 08:16 AM

Cool, nice to see you coming back and giving props. :)

Ride and K2 have the same profiles so they are pretty much interchangeable in my mind.  The Machete gets a ton of positive press so I’m sure you’ll be ripping up with it for a while.

I have to visit Japan some day, got a buddy in Tokyo that skis…  shouldn’t be too hard to convince him of a powder trip.

Posted: 01 March 2011 09:48 AM

Every powder loving snowboarder and culture vulture wants to visit Japan. It’s a once in a lifetime trip.

Posted: 01 March 2011 03:23 PM

Hey Steve, out of interest, what’s the K2 equivalent of the Machete?

I’m lucky enough to live in Japan and am currently doing my 2nd season in Furano, Hokkaido.  Not too many powder days this year but still enough to put a big smile on your face :-)

Posted: 01 March 2011 03:29 PM

Probably the Turbo Dream allthough it’s probably a little more versatile a bit more directional and a tad firmer flexing. The TD is a fantastic board… I believe it’s one Steve’s favourite boards.

Posted: 01 March 2011 03:43 PM

Thanks Rich.  Yeah, the TD was one of the other boards I was looking at before getting the Machete.  Can’t remember why I ended up choosing the Machete but no regrets.