Choices, choices…....

Posted: 15 January 2010 05:34 PM

Hey guys
Been reading through some of your advice and all seems great so thought i’d join and hopefully get some tips before i go and spend my hard earned on the ‘salesman’s special’.
Just booked a budget holiday to Courmayeur, Italy and now looking to treat myself to a new board.  I’ve been on three boarding holidays improving each time i’ve been - last time was in France two years ago where i was running blues and reds comfortably, carving, riding pow, switching to goofy (slowly but comfortably!), small jumps and pops…...... Aside from snowboarding, my riding history relates to some skating and quite a bit of wakeboarding, which i’m fairly proficient at (switch, big air, grabs, slides) just to give you an idea how i may progress - confidence allowing!!!
So, off to my local board shop to be confronted with camber, rocker and all things in between!  At first the salesman said i should have a camber board, then as discussions deepened he suggested lib tech’s skate banana which i have to say i liked the idea of a non edge catching board.  Home to do more research, where i found Bataleon’s site and really fancied the idea of tbt so decided on an evil twin….....
But before rushing in i went to another shop where the guy seemed more helpful but i was still fancying the evil twin (which they don’t stock but he did sing it’s praises).  He showed me in greater detail the banana and also Salomon’s Grip and K2’s turbo dream.
I was quite taken with the Grip and it’s ‘3 stage’ equalizer sidecut and wondered if i really would prefer something a little less park focused and more suitable on the slopes for carving, pow etc.
To sum up, i want to get some tricks in, air, slides etc but also like to run the slopes, carve and ride the pow (Bataleon’s website claims all of this with ease and so does everyone who seems to ride one!).  but there’s not much talk on your website about them…..... i don’t expect to spend all my time in the park so would be grateful if you can help with some advice?
Best Wishes
Richy

Posted: 15 January 2010 07:37 PM

Hi Richy,

THanks for popping onto the site. Cormeyeur is a score, never been but if I’m thinking along the correct lines it’s over the back of Mont Blanc isn’t it? Snow is pretty insane at the moment out in the Alps, Tom our chief tester is in Verbier and I haven’t heard from him for a good week so i’m guessing the conditions are awsome. I think the best option is for me to list the options you’re talking about and then you can make you’re mind up.

Bataleon Evil Twin: THis boards awsome. I found the tripple base tech was best for readying and initiating spins off jumps, raing the edges slightly of the snow meant that rolling onto an edge kind of helped with throwing the spin.. especially backside. Landings are kind of the same the TBT helps compensate for less than perfect landings. The boards can handle carving and is plenty poppy, but it’s not particularly responsive edge to edge. If you’re going to be riding park and generally freestyling everywhere you go… the Evil Twin is a great choice.

Salomon Grip: Afraid I haven’t ridden the GRIP. I rode the Titan which uses the equalizer sidecut… helps a bit with edge hold but not in the same league as magnetraction. A lot of people are saying this board kills it.

Skate Banana: Again I haven’t ridden this little beauty as they were all being tested when I wanted to get my paws on it. Banana rocker is the business, gives you an agile feel and initiating carves is an easy job. Basically its a laugh and you’ve got the magnetraction edges for icy conditions. If you want a board which is a bit more versatile for charging around, I’d look at the Pheonix Jamie Lynn or the GNU riders choice… I think going for a rockered deck will enable you to progress on a slightly more advance board.

All these boards are more park / freestyle focused.. let me know if you want a board with a bit more capacity for charging.

Rich

Posted: 15 January 2010 08:01 PM

Hi Rich
Cheers for getting back to me so promptly!  Yep Cormayeur is the back end of Mont Blanc and the conditions are great at the moment so fingers crossed for a cheeky little budget holiday :)

Thanks for your advice, sounds like the pick of my three boards still seems to be the Bat which pleases me as it’s something a bit different too!  I think there’s many nana’s out there which is obviously good for lib tech but i’m up for something slightly different i think.

Will check out the phoenix & Gnu but am definately open to any fresh suggestions…....last time out was definately more focused on charging about and carving so those options are still on my agenda as much as building up my confidence for jumps etc!

Cheers
Richy

Posted: 16 January 2010 01:28 PM

Yeah the Bataleon is a fantastic board. If you want a ride that’s a bit more versatile then I’d look at the Bataleon Goliath. Tyler Cholton has been killing it all season on this board, so you know it’s rad. Might offer a liitle bit more versatility than the Evil Twin, blus you can get it in 157 which is probably better all mountain length.

Posted: 16 January 2010 02:41 PM

Rich
i checked out the phoenix and i reckon it might be a bit too stiff for me?  The Gnu sounds good though but am a bit concerned with construction quality (comments from your review page?).  Beginning to think evil twin may be a bit too park focused (but i do still like it in my head!), the Goliath looks probably more suited from your review and also checked out the Palmer Timeless - What do you reckon?
Finally, think i got a bit confused from your first reply regards the Salomon Grip, do you think this should be in my bag of options too?
Every time i look at boards, something else interesting turns up - arrrrgh!
Appreciate your help, it truly is a minefield….......
Richy

Posted: 16 January 2010 05:52 PM

I don’t know… the Pheonix isn’t what I’d call stiff… perhaps firm but not stiff. THing is, when it comes to cambered boards, stiffer boards are more responsive and as a result, inexperienced riders find they catch edges more readily. Stiffer cambered boards also need to be ridden more aggresively. Take away the camber, and you reduce the risk of catching edges and you increase the ease of turn initiation… et voila, you’ve removed the key problems with firmer boards. I don’t think GNU boards have a problem with construction, it’s just the fact that they don’t have 360 degree full wrap edges. I think banana boards are perfect for helping intermediate riders to progress, especially in pow. Not sure about the Libs, check out the Amplid Fenom, people who rode this at the board test were really championing it.

Posted: 18 January 2010 04:20 PM

Hey Rich
thanks for the advice, i think i have a shortlist…...

Amplid Fenom - i like what i’ve read, not sure if it’s a bit too advanced for me though?  Also if i went this way, should i be looking at the 160, they say you should add 4cm to your normal length?  I’m 5’8, 165pounds, US size 11 boots.

Bataleon Goliath - seems a good allrounder for the intermediate.

Bataleon Evil Twin - possibly a bit too park focused but also a good allrounder.

Palmer Timeless - I like this too, seems similar in style to Goliath and build quality sounds good too?

Salomon Grip - sidecut seems good for carving and also has slight rocker characteristics so hopefully kind in the park?

Lib Tech Phoenix - thought it might be a bit stiff for my experience levels, but considering your advice…....

I think that’s a pretty big choice, budget wise all similar (think Grip is cheapest, then Bats) but i’m looking for something i can progress well with so that’s not a major issue.

So i hope i’ve got a good selection of similar styled boards in there?  If it were your hard earned, where would you be going out of that lot?

Best wishes
Richy.

Posted: 18 January 2010 08:40 PM

Hi Richy,

I think you’ve made your own mind up. Looks like you’ve really narrowed it down to the Salomon Grip and the Bataleon Goliath.. To me those two seem like the best compramise between a park and an all mountain snowboard. if you can get a test ride on an amplid Fenom I’d jump at the chance if I was you, but perhaps it’s not the best deck to buy without trying.

Let me know what you go for and be sure to post a review!

Rich

Posted: 18 January 2010 10:57 PM

Rich
reckon it’ll be unlikely i get a test ride on the amplid, they seem scarce and hard enough to track down as it is!  What makes it so different and worthy of a ride before i buy?  Also, no mention of the Palmer, is this a non-starter?
Once i choose and buy will be sure to post my review after my jollies.
Richy

Posted: 18 January 2010 11:50 PM

Gutted I thought Insoles would be the magic answer too! I’m guessing it’s an obvious solution.

If the boot is too short, it might be the case that you’re foot is scrunched in the boot, that would definitely have the same effect. I’m afraid I’m exhausted on ideas. Vans fit me just fine so I keep buying them again and again. If it ain’t broke…

I think the fenom is going to be too powder orientated, great for throwing down tricks as you freeride but perhaps at 160 it’s going to be less fun through the park on icy days.

Posted: 19 January 2010 12:05 AM

Thanks rich, really appreciating the advice, think you’re mixing me and another guy on here with the boots tho, i’m with you and have a nice comfy set of vans!  Just trying to tie down the board, still undecided as i read through all your tips with everyone throws up another name…...oh and then the bindings!  But i’m quite liking the k2 formulas at the moment….
Richy

Posted: 19 January 2010 12:13 AM

Sorry mate… my heads all over the place! I’m a muppet!

Posted: 19 January 2010 12:46 AM

no worries, so many people asking so many questions….........have a beer and some time out!

Posted: 19 January 2010 12:57 AM

Too many beers this weekend, still a little fragile! Gordon Ramsey on TV will have to do!

Posted: 21 January 2010 06:13 PM

Hey Rich

Hope you’ve got over your beer moment, how was Gordon on TV haha!

Just to say still haven’t bought my board!!!!  Been doing a bit more research, chatting around etc and am pretty taken with the Salomon Official - Not sure if this might be a bit too advanced for me though.  Likewise the Amplid Paradigma.  I’m thinking both of these boards are a bit more piste focused but still with enough spring for some good tricks to be had. 

What do you reckon?

The alternatives for me still remain as either the Salomon Grip, Amplid Fenom and the good old faithful Bataleon Goliath!

I’d be grateful if you could help break down the pro’s and con’s of these five guys when you have a mo….....

Cheers.

Richy.

Posted: 22 January 2010 03:09 PM

Hi Richy,

Sorry for the late reply, been super tied up at work for the last couple of days.

Pros and cons… ok I’ll give it a bash.

Paradigama - Fast, great carving and freeriding, tons of pop and super responsive… somewhere between a custom and custom x. Not so hot on the rails front, very responsive probably more suited to agressive riders.

Official - Good amount of pop, equaliser sidecut, which is meant to provide more grip. Kind of your average £400 freestyle park, pipe, piste board. A safe bet.

Fenom - Next level design. Great reviews apparently this board is a great all rounder but excels in the pow. Riding an extra 4cm on your board is going to mean rails are out of the question. A backcountry freestyle thorough bred… perhaps a bit specialist.

Grip - A bit more interesting that the Official. Eco construction, medium park - all mountain flex. Blunted tip and tail and the usual grease lightening Salomon base. Wolle Nyvelt rides one as does Jamie Nichols.. probably the best bet if you want to push your park riding and pow isn’t so important.

Bataleon - TBT which provides the edge hold and turn energy of camber, with the easy landings of rocker, also encourages nice clean spins on jumps. Persnoally I didn’t think TBT on the Evil Twin aided it’s responsiveness, but the flat section on the Goliath is thinner than the ET so that should reduce the lag. I think in harder conditions it might take a bit of time to get used to… but after you’ve adjsuted it’s great. Perhaps the most versatile of all the boards.

Rich