Lib tech skunk ape

Posted: 20 February 2010 04:41 PM

Alright people. So I just went out and spent all of my money on the lib tech skunk ape 172. I have been riding a demo board in Vail for the past week and have loved it so much that I took the plunge last night. Looking out the window there is a foot of fresh pow today so I can’t wait to get it into action. I would appreciate your thoughts on this board. I’m about 98kg and 6 foot 5”. Been riding for quite a while so would put myself in the int/advanced category.

Posted: 21 February 2010 07:38 PM

172.. that’s a big ol’ board! But 6’5” and 98kg means a 172 is exactly what you need. I’m afraid I haven’t ridden the skunk ape, but I rode the Phoenix Lando which is a pretty similar board. Great board for charging around the whole hill and hitting up the park. A perfect ride for advanced rider looking to ride the whol hill. Good investment, you’ll love the magnetraction edges.

Rich

Posted: 22 February 2010 12:38 AM

Yup, you’re right. This board has some sick pace- I have been frightening myself over the past two days. Having taken her out just twice I think I like it more than my girlfriend. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to carve up as well as enjoy the pow. They make this board in a 190 also but I definitely would struggle with one this big.!

Posted: 05 January 2011 04:33 PM

Greetings!
Now, everyone says it is “for big guys” with “big feet” and so on. I’m totally aimed at buying it, but it worries me a bit that noone has ever posted a “light guy” review. I’m about 143lbs (65kg), 5"5’ tall and my feet are just about 9.5 US size.

For several years I’ve been riding the same 156 board, which was my first one, and now I want something stiffer and faster. Do you think a 157 Skunk would be a good choice? I was even thinking of a longer one, 161, but since it’s also wider than “normal”, it might turn into control problems, right?

Posted: 05 January 2011 07:24 PM

Hi Zer0,

My personal opinion is that this type of board is by no means exclusive for big people - they seem to make a large variety of different sizes.

What i would say is that it is fairly exclusive for the type of boarding you will be doing. It is stiff, rigid and it’s pace has sometimes scared me. It is not the sort of board where it is easy to navigate down a mogul-field or indeed in the size hat i have, suitable for the park.

The magnetraction also gives it a point of difference.

I would recommend trying to borrow one before you make up your mind. I have no regrets in buying this board though.

Let me know what yu end up doing…

Posted: 06 January 2011 06:53 AM

Thank you for replying so quickly!
Through intense struggle I was able to hold myself from buying a board last night to have another day of thinking over the choice.

Your advice to test the board before buying makes sense but unfortunately so far I’m alone in this country and don’t have anyone to ask. Moreover, the boards I’m looking for are totally missing in the local stores. So it looks like I will have to buy based on specifications and reviews.

A thought of getting a longer board than my previous one together with a concern of Skunk Ape being wide for my humble shoe size made me keep looking. And so now I’m rather considering between Bataleon Undisputed 159 and Gnu Altered Genetics 159 (which seems to be pretty much the same as Skunk Ape in terms of its characteristics).

Now it seems most likely I’ll end up getting the latter and now the bigger question becomes the bindings…