head-ache or good???

Posted: 09 December 2009 08:54 PM

I am thinking about buying the head intelligences AK. But I heard some really bad things about head snowboards (bad quality)... but no one has experience with head… and does this also count for the more expensive boards of head??? (as the intelligence AK is..) can some one help me???

Posted: 09 December 2009 08:57 PM

What kinds of things have you heard?

I’ve heard mixed opinions on how they ride but never abot the build quality. And saying that Tom, our head of testing thought the Head Team was one of the best boards on the test. It’s also a pretty good endorsement having Eric Themel riding the board.

Posted: 09 December 2009 09:16 PM

I heard that it are mass produced boards (but doesn’t that go for all board producers?? and is that a bad thing?? I don`t think so…)  and that they should stick to making skies…  hmm last year I rented a head board, and the top layer let lose wile I was riding (so that make me think… but I also think that rent boards have a lot to suffer…) but non of the snowboardshops that I went to sell head boards…  And they told me also that head has a bad reputation in warranty cases… but like I said non of them sell head snowboards…

Posted: 10 December 2009 09:18 PM

I’m always wary of a shop that disses a brand when the insentive is to sell you a board they stock. I’ve heard nothing about waranty issues with head, and to be honest there are very few brands built in isolation in their own factory. K2 and Ride are put together in China in their own factory which pumps out hundred of thousands of boards a year, even percieved hand made brands like Arbor and Weekend come out of Elan and GSK. If you’re looking for a truely independent freeride brand hand made in batch quantities then you’re talking about a Prior, Venture or a Windlip.. I wouldn’t pay too much attention to gossip. The majority of manafacturer defects come from hand lay-up issues, like voids in the glass composite… the more mechanised the process, the less worry of human error. I’ve heard good things about Heads AK…. was going to ride a 158 out at the board test, but it would be like riding a jib board in a 168…. I was only interested in 168+ with the AK.

Posted: 07 March 2010 01:57 AM

Hi Rich,

I am the person who kept asking about the HEAD Snowboards I.CT Intelligence snowboard, later i also asked about the bindings you guys used in testing the snowboard…  i hope you remember me.

i have two HEAD Snowboard setup, i currently use the 2008 HEAD Transit i (White) 155 with 2008 HEAD PX7 bindings (medium), and Burton H.O.D. boots…  i also have 2008 HEAD I.CT Intelligence snowboard 153 with 2009 HEAD PX10 binding (medium) - i have not mounted or used the I.CT board yet…

I also want to say that my 2008 HEAD I.CT Intelligence snowboard is made in Austria.

Posted: 09 March 2010 11:21 PM

Hey Rick,

Rich is still travelling around Austria so I thought I’d get back to you…...as I remember your correspondence with Rich. Anyway I’d say that your board choice definitely won’t cause a headache…......all the guys at SB-R love Head snowboards, they put loads of thought into every model.

All I’d question is why the ICT Intelligence you bought is shorter than the Transit i? If I was going to ride a stiffer freeride specific board I’d want it to be longer than my park/all-mountain board.

Thanks for using the site,

Tom

Posted: 10 March 2010 03:33 AM

Hi Tom,

I was actually addressing ‘Ovi’ about the excellent quality of HEAD Snowboard USA.  Like ‘Ovi’, i also read post bashing HEAD Snowboard - saying they manufacture medium to low-end quality snowboards…  i am certain these people are not making a fair comparison or are comparing boards of unequal quality.

Yup, about my 2008 HEAD Transit i, i originally wanted a shorter freestyle board… www.skiuniverse.com only had the 2008 HEAD Transit i in size 155, 156 Wide, or 158. so i got the 155, which is still fun to ride… :D

I asked KC Vetterli, SkiUniverse, what size 2008 HEAD I.CT Snowboard is better suited for me…
“You are pretty much on the line for size choice.  The databases are always a bit generic and you have to make your final decisions on tweaking the sizes based on the exact board, your riding style, etc, etc.  I’m still quite sure you made a good choice.  I ride this board in a 157 myself (5’9” and 145 lbs).  I do ride super hard and aggressive so the length is good for me.  If you’re more laid back, then the 153 is all you should need.”

My ride style is laidback so i chose size 153…  another reason is my Burton gig bag is only 156cm…  haha… so my decision was limited by my snowboard bag.