Help! Need a new board.

Posted: 11 August 2010 02:31 PM

HI guys,

Please help I need a new board / boots for the approaching winter session. I’m currently riding a Burton deuce 159 2008 with Burton custom binding 2009 and Burton Moto boots 2008. My riding skill are Beginner / Intermediate. I spend the majority of the time cruzing the mountain popping off small jumps and attempting the odd trick with the occasional trip to the park. Most of my boarding is done in Austria so the terrain varies depending on the weather conditions. My stats are: Height 5.9 Weight 13 stone Boot size uk 9. I have been looking at the Burton Blunt 155 do you think this board is a good choice? Can you suggest anything better? I not to fussed about the price tag. With so many choices of boots I have no idea which to go for can you help.

Great site by the way it been a wonderful help already.

Thanks

Posted: 12 August 2010 06:45 PM

Hi Warran,

Thanks for the props on the site, it’s really appreciated.

So I’ve got all of your stats. You’re currently pushing your riding in a freestyle direction, Is the aim to progress in the park? Are you looking for a slighty shorter park specific board or does your new shred stick need to ride park, piste and pow? Will you be taking your Deuce out on hols with you? Are you looking at picking up one of last years boards or one of the coming seasons releases?

Rich

Posted: 13 August 2010 09:55 AM

Hi Rich,

I would like my board to be more of a park, piste and pow. I would like to progress in the park but the majority of my time will be on the piste playing around and in search of any POW. I will taking my Deuce along with me for the ride, I would like one of the coming seasons releases or if there is one from last season that you think would be better suited I be fine with that.

Your help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Warren

Posted: 14 August 2010 10:41 AM

Hi Warren,

For what your after the Blunt could be a fairly good fit, but at 13 stone I reckon you are right at the upper weight limit and you might find it a bit soft for riding pow and carving on piste. If you are finding the Deuce is holding you back in this area then I think reverse camber is a good idea and but although sticking to shorter lengths is great for freestyling you might find it makes float in pow and edge hold carving a little compromised.

Boards I’d take a look at as well as the Blunt would be:

Signal Omni - THis board uses Wavelength technology which you’ll probably know as Nidecker’s Camrock or Rossignol’s Amtek. It’s camber between the feet and rocker at the nose and tail. You get plenty of grip in carves and the board is super buttery for park jibbing. I rode the 156 which would fit your needs width and stat wise. Signal is a cool brand, we’ve got an interview with owner Dave Lee being posted on the site in the next day or two.

K2 Fastplant - At 13 stone I reckon this is the only board you can ride as short as a 154. Bit of a premium board and perhaps a little park specialised, but the Fastplant is so much fun to ride that I wouldn’t miss it off the list. Ton’s of energy out of carves, smooth pop and forgiving langings, plus the core has a 5 year warranty. To be on the safe side I’d probably ride the 157.

Arbor Westmark - A fantastic board for riding on good snow days. Really light, a fast base and grippy on the edge thanks to Arbor’s magnetraction rip-off called grip tech (basically three radii unblended). THis board is sooo progressive for learning, but perhaps a little too loose for riding on ice.

Stepchild Headless Horseman - Our head of testing Tom’s favourite board of the test. In fact he liked it so much he bought one on his return to the UK. Flew out to NZ for the season and then smashed his wrist to a pulp within 3 days. Even after that, he stands by the Stepchild HH as one his favourite boards of all time. Like the Fastplant and Westmark it’s a reverse camber twin with bamboo in the core. Lively and forgiving and wicked graphics!

Rossignol Angus - We’re big fans of this board on Snowboard-Review.com. We liked it before we tested it, and loved it afterwards. The Angus uses the Amptek profile which provides grip in carves, float in pow and butteryness for jibbing. All thing to all men the Angus excells on jumps, flys out of the pipe and works off piste. With Carbon and Kevlar reinforcement and a 4.4k sintered base, the Angus isn’t as soft ast the other boards in this list. This is the board for stepping it up on.

GNU Carbon Credit Series - Basically a similar package to the Blunt in a GNU costume. Only difference here is that you get Magnetraction edges. Easy to ride, even easier to butter. I rode the 156 thsi year and it was perfect for jibbing about and nipping into the pow for the odd drop and slash. Only thing I found wierd was one footed T-Bar rides on ice tracks… very nearly came a cropper a few times.

Rich