Input would be helpful

Posted: 05 March 2011 02:31 AM

I have recently picked up snowboarding again after a long hiatus. I would still consider myself beginner/intermediate rider.I am looking for some input on purchasing a snowboard. I have read tons of reviews and it seems the more I read the more difficult the decision gets.  I ride mostly trails and maybe will start to venture into park. I like to ride switch a lot when free riding. I am on the eastcoast so the trails where I am located are kinda of icy.  My board size is about 161 to 164cm in length and 255 to 258mm waist width. I was considering the following boards K2 turbo, Custom X, Lib tech skate, NS SL or Raygun. Just curious to what you think of my selection and what maybe I should stay away from.

Posted: 05 March 2011 04:38 AM

Your board would fall into the camp of an all-mountain freestyle.  Switch riding a lot requires a board with the same nose and tail (typically) and since you are mostly freeriding on trails a directional flex would be good.  A medium flex pattern is good too as it will handle most stuff you throw at it from peak to park decently.

Ice is handled well by boards equipped with magnetraction edges.  Lib Tech, Gnu and Rossignol are the three big boys cranking out this tech but there are others such as Jones boards.

One board that I fell in love with this season is the K2 Turbo Dream.  Probably the main feature of that board that blew me away is the harshmellow technology.  It’s a series of ridges that are under your binding designed to filter the chatter from the board into your feet…  I thought it was iffy until I rode the board during a test session and was able to feel the tech working.

Another board that might fit the bill is the Rossignol One Magtek.  Now this is a stiff board with a fast base which usually pushes most decks into the advanced category but Rossi added an all-mountain Amptek rocker profile which makes the board more playful and has magnetraction edges which are designed specifically to dig into hard pack and ice.

Posted: 05 March 2011 05:19 AM

I appreciate the input. Would the Rossignol One Magtek be considered an intermediate board? Does it initiate a turn easily?

Posted: 05 March 2011 05:54 PM

Would the turbo dream be a fast board. I am into cruzing more and speed only sometimes.

Posted: 05 March 2011 11:56 PM

Because of the rocker profile the Rossi One Magtek would be a solid intermediate board compared to last seasons version which is cambered and is an advanced freeriding board in my opinion.

The Turbo Dream has a sintered base which makes it fast but the shaping of the board allows it to perform well at low speeds and not be twitchy so it’s at home for cruising for sure.