Need some advice please !

Posted: 30 August 2010 07:34 AM

Hey guys. Quick question. I’m 5 foot 8 and 74kg with size us10 boots. I’m based in ireland but get about 2 weeks of riding each year mainly in Europe, but am in new zealand now so riding most weekends. Looking into buying a new board but am stuck between a few.
My main interest is freestyle, which I’m looking to improve (not setting the world on fire just yet !) although I do a bit of everything. Buttering and rails would be on the agendas too. The board sieve been looking at are the LibTech skate banana, the lib tech t.rice c2, the Burton custom flying v and the forum destroyer chillydog. At the moment vie been leaning towards the skate banana for it’s freestyle attributes and amazinfg reputation, but am open to advice !
Also any suggestion on bindings would be great. Have been a fan of burtons cap strap for a while so am leaning towards missions or maybe cartels ?
Incidentally, anyone know anywhere that does good demos in Queenstown ? I know this is a long shot !
Any advice at all is greatly appreciated ! Thanks guys !

Posted: 30 August 2010 08:16 AM

Hey, jealous that you are riding right now. :)

All the boards you mentioned are solid.  Skate Banana is more park-oriented then the T. Rice…  actually you have two camps with your board choices.  The Skate and Chillydog represent the more park-oriented side while the T.Rice and Flying V more the freestyle all-mountain.  I’d say if you spend more then 2/3 your time in the park with this board then go for the Skate or Chillydog.  If you are 50/50 park versus piste then stick with T.Rice or V.

In terms of bindings go with the system you like, if Burton turns your crank then stick with it.  There are a lot of choices these days, I personally want to look into the K2 auto technology bindings but I wouldn’t stray to far from what you like and are comfortable with.

Posted: 30 August 2010 11:48 PM

Thanks for that mate ! It’s great to get some specific advice.
In terms of the more all mountain boards, is there much between the custom flying v and the T.Rice ? Any personal recommention between them, or other suggestions I’ve overlooked ?

Posted: 31 August 2010 02:16 AM

Hey Daze,

Not trying to throw a spanner in the works but have you considered the 2011 Rossi One Magtek? It’s not too dissimilar from the T.Rice, has magnetraction and Rossi’s Amptek (rocker/camber) profile…..it’s also a lot cheaper than both the boards you have just listed, probably £200 cheaper in the UK. I rode the One Magtek at the boardtest and thought it was the best all-mountain board that I rode at the test, sick understated graphics too. I’m currently out in QT too and I’m sure that R&R in the centre of town sell Rossi boards, if you wait another couple weeks you’ll be able to pick the 2011 board up for 20% less than the extortionate retail price that all Kiwi retailers are charging at the moment. I’m sure they demo boards too…....if not have a ganders in NZ Shred, next to the bakery.

Tom

Posted: 31 August 2010 02:55 PM

Hi Daze 255,

I’ve ridden both the Custom Flying V and the T.Rice… which one did I prefer… hmmm, actually that’s a really difficult question as they’re really smilar boards.

For the hard man made conditions you get in NZ I’d probably go for the TRice, because it’s got Magnetraction. The Custom Flying V probably makes a slightly better kicker riding board as it’s slightly lighter and tad snappier, but for the opposite reasons I.e. it’s a little bit damper I’d prefer the T Rice for carving and backcountry kickers. Bare in mind too that the Travis Rice has got an extra 1cm of width on the Custom, so the Custom naturaly feels a little more responsive, the Custom also has a slightly tighter sidecut that makes it feel a touch more agile. Again the upside on the Trice being that the extra width, slightly longer sidecut and fractionally firmer flex makes it feel more stable at speed.

Both of these boards are quite transition focused, great for kickers and for pipe, and both great fun carving down groomers and darting into powder stashes, but if you want to focus on jibs and rails then I’d go back to looking at the Sk8 banana and Scallywag. I love the Scallywag it’s sooo much fun and looks amazing, but for the grip on ice and the progressive park nature I’d have to say the Banana is a better fit.

Hope that helps

Rich

Posted: 01 September 2010 07:53 AM

Thanks so much for all the advice. It’s really given me lots to think about. I think my breakdown of riding is probably more suited towards the all mountain/freestyle range. Now just a matter of choosing. Sounds like they all have their good attributes. I see the Rossi getting good reviews everywhere alright. Must have a closer look. If you had to take everything into account which of the trice or custom flying v would you guys go for, overall ?
My other question is size. I was thinking something in the 156 region (I’m 5 foot 8 and 74kg) should be ok for both park and free ride ? Or should I be thinking a little differently ?
Lastly, anyone have any opinions on the da kine low roller bag ? Kinda need a board bag I can throw all my gear into, boots and all. Once again, thank you so much for your help !