Looking for an all-round board with a park focus

Posted: 21 September 2010 02:18 PM

Hi,

I’m looking to relegate my Bataleon Goliath to a powder day board and get something else for my main riding.

Most of the day we ride the mountain looking for fun stuff to hit.  Little pops, drop-offs, butters, that kind of thing.  However, I also like to spend a portion of each day riding the park - mainly the kickers and the pipe, but some rails and boxes as well.
I guess it is also worth saying that I’ve just started to spend a lot of my Thursday nights at the indoor freestyle nights on an artificial snow slope in the UK.  So I guess any recommendation really does need to be park friendly.

My Goliath is excellent, but just a little slow to turn and not really flexible enough for easy presses and butters. I’m looking for something to progress my riding around the park, but will not too inconvenience me round the mountain and on the inevitable ice we always seem to hit when riding in Europe.

Definitely looking for a true twin board, as even though I’ve been riding for 10 years (at one week a year) I’m still not convinced which is my favourite direction and often switch for the day.  I tend to ride true duckfoot anyway.

I’ve heard good things about this year’s Typo2 from Yes, but love my Bataleon board so would consider any recommendations from them.
I’m 5’10’‘, size 8 (uk) boot (9 US) and about 70kg.

All recommendations gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Jon

Posted: 21 September 2010 06:05 PM

Hi Jon,

The problem I’m seeing is that the Goliath is the all-mountain directional twin freestyle board in the Bataleon line-up. Looking at the more freestyle specific boards in the range, the Evil Twin flex isn’t too dissimilar and the shape isn’t as versatile as the Goliath. Then there’s the Fun Kink which uses a slightly directional shape and a softer flex, this would probably be the board you should look at in the bataleon range, but I’m not sure it’s dialled for the freeriding you want to do.

The Typo is definitely a board worth looking at. Our testers tried it in the MK dome last winter (well the 154 which is the equivilent of the TYpo) and they rated it the best jib board. I reckon the profile and shape make it pretty handy for blasting around the whole mountain.

There are a lot of boards using hybrid camber/rocker profiles this year, you might also want to consider some rockered boards with magnetraction if you want to really push your dome riding. Boards like the GNU Park pickle or Arbor Westmark grip well on ice and are stable on an edge (they can feel a little sketchy on a flat base in hard conditions). I think they would definitely be more geared for pushing your freestyle. Then there’s the K2 Fastplant, I found it grippy and capable on the pistes but super fun in the park.

If you still want the all-mountain capability, but want a bit more jib/rail capability then the Typo is a good choice. If you want to push your rail and jib riding and have a bit more fun indoor you’ll find boards like the GNU park pickle and Westmark are really progressive. You will find them more forgiving to ride on the rest of the hill than your Goliath, but not as stable.

Basically…. the Typo would be a smart choice.

Posted: 22 September 2010 09:57 AM

Thanks for that - really helpful.

The only thing that is putting me off the Typo is a pretty poor review from the Angry Snowboarder.  I just wish there was more of a try-before-you-buy option in the UK!

Posted: 22 September 2010 02:14 PM

You can demo loads of boards, including YES, at the BIG BANG events which are being organised by TSA at domes around the country:

http://www.snowboard-asylum.com/news/current/836/the-big-bang-2010

Tom

Posted: 22 September 2010 02:43 PM

Other thing to note is that the Angry Snowboarder hates any board that uses the hybrid camber where camber is used between the feet and rocker is used at the nose and tail. I.e. Rossignol Amptek, Nidecker Camrock, Capita Freeride FK, Apo Powder Rocker etc etc. Just because he’s not digging it, doesn’t mean it’s crap. We’re big fans of this way of rockering boards, but definitely agree that the feel different to other profiles. Expect a little less pop than standard camber but a planted, agile and catch free ride. Reading reviews is definitely a good place to start when looking for boards, but i’m sure the Angry Snowboarder himself would agree that it’s all subjective and there’s no replacement for trying before you buy.

Posted: 22 September 2010 02:44 PM

TSA also have a test YES 154 at Milton Keynes. Probably best to ring them first to check it’s still there.

Posted: 22 September 2010 09:30 PM

Some more good points, so thanks for that.

I live about half an hour from the Castleford snozone, and will soon be starting work half an hour from the MK one - so I’m pretty lucky actually.  Maybe see some of you down there some time?
Just need to see if I can hold off the purchase now until I can test one.  Very, very difficult…

Thanks again,

Jon