Intermediate Park Board advice

Posted: 04 January 2010 04:04 AM

I have mainly done big mountain riding at Jackson Hole and Snowbird with the dudes (no kids, no wives), and my current set up is Custom X, cartel and malamute boots. I am 5’11, 190 lbs, ride 160cm

I am now riding in the park with the kids locally in PA and CO/UT once a year,  and this board does not work.  I need advice on a new set up.  I must say the kids are like cat knip for me.  Once I see them hit the rails and kickers, I am ALL IN.  So I need something i can spin and slide.  I learn quickly and will need something I can grow with.

I have looked at the scallywag, K2 Beleiver, Never Summer EVO…but having trouble making a choice.  Also need help with boots and bingings.  Will the Cartels work in the park on a non-burton board?  Are the malamutes to stiff for Park and freestyle?

Posted: 04 January 2010 03:19 PM

Hi ACS2010,

You’re definitely going in the right direction. I’ve had experience riding the Evo-R and the Scallywag, and Tom our testing manager is riding the K2 Believer this season as ride everything board.

Tom’s been raving about the Believer, he said it’s helped him progress his skills on rails no end and I think he’s finding it really help him push his spins off kickers. Apparaently the zero camber makes the board bouncy and lively in pow.

My take on the Scallywag, is that it’s one of the funnest rides on the planet! So buttery and smooth off jumps upto around 12-15m and just oozes when your sliding and pressing rails… however, it’s real strength is jibs where it absolutely dominates. However, it is soft and extremely park focused… if you’d like a little bit more versatility, I’d look at the K2 Parkstar.

For me Evo-R was really solid, and just blasted everything, defintely a board that will handle bigger jumps, but I’m not so sure about jibbing… in my opinion you’re the ideal weight for the 158 Evo-R, but you’ll still find it quite a powerful board, for what is meant to be a jib/park deck.

From the sounds of it, rocker is the way to go for you, they’re deffinitely more forgiving and buttery and will help you push your freestyle skills. I’d also look at the Stepchild Chi Borg which is a fantastic deck that gives you mutant ninja skills, just reads your mind! And the Signal Omni, a park orientated ride that butters like a block of Anchor, has more pop than a shook up 40oz and can be ridden all over the hill.

Rich

Posted: 04 January 2010 04:07 PM

For me the Believer is a great board. The zero camber really helps with jibbing, pressing, sliding and locking-onto rails…....it’s really hard to slide-out on rails with this board. Also, the Believer’s zero camber and long sidecut means that it’s a joy to ride in powder, surprisingly bouncy and lively.

Finally, the torsional strength in this board is great for landing on an edge so washing-out on those bs180’s and fs3’s should be a thing of the past. It’s a great all-mountain freestyle deck that will really open your eyes to how much fun jibbing around the slope can be!!

Posted: 05 January 2010 05:16 AM

Thanks!  With my boot size at 11.5, does this narrow my choices to Wide only?  Not sure I am going to hit many 15m + kickers, just too old to take the fall.  Doing 3’s bs & fs on 10-12 would be great.  pushing 5s on 8-10m are a bonus.  My park in PA is whitetail and I’d like to hit the rails with confidence.

I see the Believer in not true twin, and I really want to master switch in the park and on the mountain.  Does this limit the beiever?

Then, I’d like to take these skills to the big mountain CO/UT and use the same board.  I realize the Custom X is still needed for the XX in Jackson.

So, Where does that leave us with the boards we have discussed?

Posted: 05 January 2010 10:04 AM

The Believer is actually a true twin, that’s a small error on the site which I have no doubt Rich will change asap. Unfortunately if your feet are 11.5 US then that is probably a bit wide for the Believer. You could look at the Parkstar or Darkstar which both have wide versions…...or you could look at the Stepchild Corporate or Nitro Rook (the Rook is a similar board to the Believer but with a mid wide waist).

Hope this helps,

Tom

Posted: 05 January 2010 03:29 PM

Yeah the Rook is a great shout! Mid-Wide waiste is going to be a must amd the super low (almost zero) camber will help you lock onto rails and butter all over the show. Plus it look cool in the LTD edition leopard graphics!

Posted: 05 January 2010 06:44 PM

This is really helpful!  So we are down to 3 boards and potential sizes

1.) Never Summer EVO-r 155W, 158W
Always here good things about this company. Your review is positive.  My Pensylvania Park is small on the kickers, but lots of rails/boxes.  I end up in the mid line parks in UT/CO with the kids.  But want to run blues & black tree runs in UT/CO.  Sounds like this board would do all of that. yes/no?  Question is size?  can I swing the 158 for 3s? 5s?  or should I go with the 155W?  (Small PA Park and Mid Line parks)

2.) K2 ParkStar 157W, 160W
my previous K2 Eldorado was awesome, but came apart on the slightest contact with stuff.  K2 has improved dramitically, but the review from the one comment on your site is troubling with regard to all mountain.  I agrre with the one size Does Not fit all comment he made, but thats really pushing for too much in both directions and exceeds the intermediate/advanced level for both park and all mountain…so I won’t rule this out base on his comment.  Again a size question though?  157W, I really don’t want another 160W for may small park in PA.

3.) Nitro Rook 156MW, 158MW
Always here good things about this company.  Same comments as #1 and same Questions? My Pensylvania Park is small on the kickers, but lots of rails/boxes.  I end up in the mid line parks in UT/CO with the kids.  But want to run blues & black tree runs in UT/CO.  Sounds like this board would do all of that. yes/no?  Question is size?  can I swing the 158 for 3s? 5s?  or should I go with the 156W?

Thanks guys!!

Posted: 05 January 2010 07:08 PM

Ok regarding the Never Summer, I think this board is a bit too stiff to be perfect for rails, but for gunning pistes and the trees it’ll be perfect. I think this will be the only board that you’ll get away with riding shorter at 155, but I still think the 158 would be more suitable.

Parkstar. This board you could probably ride in the 157W, but’ll it’ll feel softer and more buttery than the other rides because of the rocker. With regard to construction, the hybrid cap sidewall is more likely to delam than standard sidewall and will be more difficult to repair.. I don’t want to put their boards down because they’re great but they won’t be as durable as the other two.

Rook…definitely go for the 158 with the limited edition McNett graphics. If you can’t find one, this years Nitro T1 is very similar just with fewer bells and whistles. Both boards will be fine cruising the pistes, just not quite as agressive as the EVO-R… but it’ll lock onto rails big time!

Posted: 05 January 2010 07:24 PM

Very cool…..and thanks for validating my past experience with K2.

Down to 2….

EVO-r…That matches my thoughts on piste and in trees How will it do on the kickers for spins vs. the Nitro?  I am more interested in ollies, perfecting my switch riding, spins, and jibbing,  than taking a rail to the forearm or arss.  Having said that, its why I was looking to upgrade the equipment to better align with my actitivies.  So I do want to hit rails better than with my Custom-X (anything would be better right?)

Nitro…I take a performance hit on piste and in the trees.  Is this an all around better park board? or just a better rail board?  I am more interested in ollies, perfecting my switch riding, spins, and jibbing,  than taking a rail to the forearm or arss.  Having said that, its why I was looking to upgrade the equipment to better align with my actitivies. 

Last question?  cost comparison, value in your opinion (realated to how long this board will last as I get better)

Thanks!!

Posted: 05 January 2010 07:34 PM

The Rook is the more versatile of the two and is definitely going to be more manageable on rails. If it involves jibbing, spinning, grinding and flipping this board will definitely excel. This is what our friends over at Transworld had to say:

“This board has good pop. Easy pressing. Very forgiving. Good all around shred everything board”
“Minimal camber makes it rad. I hit the big jumps on it and it does great. Still has some press on the rails. I would ride it all year.”
“Solid all park and all around board.”
“Pretty solid all around park deck, enjoyed the rails and jumps on it. Handled really well on the pipe as well.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Smooth park killing machine. Perfect flex pattern, tons of pop, and a shape worth working all summer to get your hands on.”

In fact they liked it so much that they gave it a Goodwood award. You can expect to pay up to $470…..but I’m sure there are bargains to be found.

Posted: 10 January 2010 04:44 PM

Hey Guys,

One question.  WHat is the difference between a centered stance and set back stance?  How does it impact riding switch and switch tricks?

We had talked about gettinga rocker board, the rook is zero camber?

Posted: 11 January 2010 03:23 PM

Setback stance gives improved float in powder by lengthening the nose and shortening the tail. If it’s set back an inch or less it won’t make much differenc to your switch riding, anymore and you’ll notice the difference. Boards with a setback stance also tend to have a directional flex, this is more likely to effect your switch riding.

Regarding the Rook. We suggested zero camber because it’s kind of a compromise between rocker and camber. Still offers pretty good grip in carves and has better float in pow than cambered decks… zero camber boards give you the feel of a worn in board. Also from Tom’s experiences on his K2 Believer, he said the zero camber has helped him no end with his rail slides, apparently the improved contact with rails means the board just locks on… the board just hits your criteria.

Rich

Posted: 11 January 2010 03:28 PM

Thanks.  Ordered it yesterday.  I have 2-days planned for the park this coming weekend.  I will let you know how it goes.  Thanks to you both for all your help.  This has been VERY helpful in making an informed choice. 

Now I just need to pump up my B*lls and start working on my 3s.  I am fired up about riding switch after trying the last 2 years on the Custom X.

Posted: 11 January 2010 03:43 PM

Oh yeah… you’ll be in a whole world of Switch fun riding the Rook! The Custom X is a great board but I think stiff flexes are a bit counter-productive when you’re trying to learn tricks. Anyway, hope you enjoy the board, pleased we were able to help. And make sure you post your thoughts.

Rich