Need Advice for Buying a Park and Powder Board

Posted: 18 September 2010 03:15 AM

Hey i’m 16 years old and have been snowboarding for 4 seasons. I’m starting to progress in the park and need a board that will allow me to take my park riding to the next level. I want a true twin, reverse camber board with medium flex that will still be fun in deep powder. So far the boards I’ve been checking out are the Forum Destroyer, Rome Pusher and Postermania, and the K2 Parkstar. Is there any other boards I should check out for park and powder riding, and which out of the ones I’ve listed will ride the best? I’m also gonna need new bindings for this season and was wondering if I should get a Union binding like the Contact or the 390 boss by Rome, or something else entirely?

Oh and btw I’m 68 kg and have size 11us shoes, so size 10 in the U.K. I think. Does this mean I need a wide board I’d like to avoid one if possible.

Posted: 18 September 2010 08:03 AM

Hey man,

I think the big kicker is the “fun in deep powder” part.  I have a K2 Parkstar and while I rode it all over the mountain last season I don’t think it would handle well in deep powder.

Somebody more technical then I will be along to help you out.

Posted: 18 September 2010 09:29 AM

yea I ride in British Columbia, Canada so while I do spend most of my time in the park we also get some big dumps here so I need a board that can handle those powder days as well.

Posted: 18 September 2010 12:55 PM

If you’re set on standard reverse camber, the Forum Destroyer is definitely a good choice, nice and snappy for piste riding and enough reverse camber for a little extra float. You could also look at the Amplid Declaration which has a slightly wider waist for your size 11 boots. Tom rode the Stepchild Headless Horseman at the board test, he like it so much, when we got home he was straight on the phone to the distributor to get hold of one for his season in NZ. With bamboo in the core this board is really lively, it also comes in a mid-wide from what I can make out. We don’t have the Stepchild reviews on the site yet, but they should be up in the next couple of weeks.

Alternatively, you could look at a hybrid rocker/camber combination.

Posted: 18 September 2010 11:23 PM

Thanks for the info. The Destroyer would be first choice but it’s just so damn skinny and I don’t wanna step up to a wide board especially bcuz the smallest one they make is a 154. I was checking out the Headless Horseman and it sounds like it might come in a 152 mid wide, which would be perfect for me but I’m still not sure because they’re wasn’t very much info on it.  I’ll have to wait and see on that one. Any info on the Rome Pusher? the way they describe it on their site makes it sound really good but I haven’t been able to find any reviews on it yet.

Posted: 19 September 2010 11:37 PM

Yeah the Pusher seems like an ideal board. Quite advanced with the Basalt V shaped reinforcement and 30 degree orientated Triaxial glass laminates. Even though it’s reverse camber I gather it’s no push over (no pun intended). Definitely more of kicker and backcountry booter board than rail and jib deck although it’ll be fine for riding those. Looking at the width, I reckon at 25.2 cm wide for the 156 it’s going to be too narrow for your boots.