Freeride board advice please

Posted: 01 November 2010 10:20 AM

This is a great site…
I like the comparison between boards rather just one off customers’ reviews of boards.
Cheers…
...and hopefully you can help me out.

I’m looking for a new freeride board.
I’m 42, 68kg, 178cm, size 8.5 UK boot.
I am an advanced rider. I tend to spend most of my time off piste, often with with skiers in chutes and on steeps. They’re better than me and push me hard.

I am looking for a
Over the years my boards have included:
Ride Timeless 161- my pride n joy til I hit a rock, found it tough to get on top of deep snow though (may be better now).
Custom x 164- a bit too soft and perhaps too long for me, held edges but I found it a bit dull.
Nitro shogun 160- probably my favourite but wearing out.
Burton Fish 156 & now a Fish ICS.
Bindings include Drake Matrix (heavy but nice n stiff) & Burton CO2 with an ICS disk.

I’m looking for something with some stiffness that’ll push me harder but get above the snow a bit quicker than the ride and nitro, go in a straight line and hold edges at speed.
Perhaps that’s asking a lot!

Ones I’m considering as on sale:
Nitro Blacklight 160
Rome Anthem SS 159 (is this a bit short?)
Burton Supermodel 160 9I shink it may be too soft too)
Bataleon Undisputed 159
Ride Prophet or Concept TMS 161

Would be grateful for some pointers as heading out to Tignes for the opening weekend.
-Where’s the snow?!
Cheers
Bruce

Posted: 03 November 2010 09:33 AM

Hey Bruce,
thank you very much for the props on the site, appreciated!
Saying that, sorry for the late reply, it’s just really busy here at the forums these days and I do not have too much time to spend here, so.. sorry again.

Definitely check out the Jones snowboard range here at our website. Founder and snowboard legend Jeremy Jones emphasizes on building some of the best allmountain/freeride/bigmountain rides out there!

I will have a more detailed look at your suggestions later that day, now I got a bus to catch~
Let me know what you think about the Jones boards!
Cheers, Tobi

Posted: 04 November 2010 10:11 AM

Hi Tobi
The Joneses look great. Reading through reviews, The Rossignol Experience was on my list and looks pretty much like the Jones Flagship. Sounds like a great board. With a camber nose, is there any problem on hard pack?
I’ve never bought a board (except the Nitro Shogun on sale) without trying it out first. A Jones would be full price so I would want to demo it.

If I was going for a last year cheapie is it worth considering one of the others I put in my list (Nitro Blacklight 160, Rome Anthem SS 159, Burton Supermodel 160, Ride Prophet or Concept TMS)?

Cheers for your help
Bruce

Posted: 06 November 2010 01:27 AM

Hey Tobi
Did you catch that bus?
Any ideas on my other options?
At the end of the day the Flagship looks like the best or…
...theres a Nitro Pantera LX. Nitro Shogun was my fave.
There’s to many sweets in the shop to choose from
Bruce

Posted: 07 November 2010 05:54 PM

Pantera LX, now that’s a serious gun! If you like cambered boards with plenty of punch it could be a good choice. I think it has a little bit of taper too, so you shouldn’t have any problems with it floating… I reckon if you want to try something new and a bit difficult, the Flagship is a good choice, as nimble as your fish and as stable as your 64 Custom X.

Posted: 16 November 2010 08:29 PM

Hi Rich
Cheers for chipping in…
Yes, the Pantera has a slight taper…
The Flagship looks great…
One last thing, have you ridden this year’s Rossignol Experience. I saw Tom raved about it last year.
Is there any real difference between it and the Flagship?
Sounds as though there’s a little less rocker and a bit stiffer so could I see it as a compromise between the Pantera and Flagship?
Sad thing is, it’ll be near impossible to demo them before buying.
Thanks again
Bruce

Posted: 06 December 2010 08:30 PM

Have taken the plunge and gone for a Rossi Experience…
Had a look at the Flagship and was a bit surprised at how flat it was between the bindings.
Cheers for your help. If the snow starts falling in France I’m off next week and will let you know how it goes.
Cheers
Bruce

Posted: 06 December 2010 10:30 PM

Hey Bruce, sorry for not getting back to you, I’ve been crazy busy with the site, my paid job and trying to get a few days of riding in… not enough hours in the day.

I’m certain you’ll love the experience, it’s a freeriding machine, all you have to do is watch Xavier de le Rue hammer it in Verbier and you know it’s a board that can handle the most insane terrain and lines you could never dream of.

Definitely let us know how it goes… but don’t be tempted to go off piste if the snow looks thin. Out in Austria we need at least another 2ft before we can get out in the backcountry.

Looking forward to your review,

Rich

Posted: 30 December 2010 10:02 PM

Hi Rich
Well, have taken out my new Rossi Experience 163.
Thanks for your help. Here’s my bit…
I’m less than 70kg, have stiff boots and bindings (Malmutes & Union Force MC).
The last couple of seasons I’ve been lucky with snow in Canada BC and Japan so I’ve spent much time on a Burton Fish.
I’ve been looking for a good stiff freeride board that would push me to improve a bit rather than just have a lot of easy fun.
Being pretty light I was apprehensive at getting a bigger board but thought I should push the boat out to have a good bit of float.
The first shock was the wonky edges (ah- Magne-Traction edges)! Got it out of the box and thought the machine had gone wrong. I got over it once I’d taken in the wood and stuff.
Having seen the Jones Flagship and been put off by how flat it was between the bindings I was reassured to see a good bit of camber and the rocker starting well towards the nose. The bindings are setback a bit so it looks pretty directional.
Anyway, I was only away for 3 days in Chamonix for the first weekend of the season, and was lucky to have 30-40cm of powder.
This board is crazy-sick!
You need next to no speed to get on top of the snow. Even being a bit long for me it manoeuvered well in trees. The fish is easy on chutes, you can just get your weight on the back and it turns on a penny. I’m not sure why or how but the Experience is as agile without the cut off tail. I have never had so much confidence at speed in trees.
Conditions weren’t all great. The visibility was poor and snow changed from powder blown into chutes to windblown and hard pack. Not only is this an incredible board in powder but it holds an edge like a knife on ice!
Oh… On piste this is the first time in years I have had to bottle it pointing downhill without having the excuse to stop of the board flapping around all over the place. You could carry on straight-lining it or carving and accelerate indefinitely.
It is hard work as it accelerating turn to turn but is a real thrill. I was knackered each day.
This was the best board for me and a much better board than I am a rider. I hope I catch up quick.

Posted: 30 December 2010 11:34 PM

Bruce. So stoked that you’re loving your new board, and getting to put it through it’s maiden voyage in Chamonix in a ft of fresh is amazing. I know what you mean about tapered fish shapes and the way you can pump yoyr weight though the tail to slow your self and control your speeds. I’m definitely going to invest in a gun next season, But I think i’m going to go around 172 and then do a custom split job on it. There is so much accessible terrain where I live that I’ll never ride unless i get out on a splitty and the whole idea of making one my self is a massive draw!