Whats a good stiff board to buy?

I been boarding for about 6 years now and I have 2 boards at home: Sims Ritual 163W and some freestyle Burton. The Sims is not a very popular board but I loved it to the day it cracked. I am in the market to buy a board and can't find a good stiff board like the Ritual. I went to Sportmart and the best one I found was the K2 Illusion 159W, but when I compared it to my Ritual even after 6 years of riding its still stiffer than the K2.

I do mostly high speed carving/racing and no jumping. I love powder, mougels (SP?), and cutting between trees, simply put the more speed and skills in carving, I'm doing that run. What board can I purchase that will accomodate my needs but wount make me broke. I am looking at around $300 to spend for a board but no more.

The Sims board construction seems TOTALLY different than the other boards, the core looking at the side of the board is thin and all wood, while the K2 has a thick layer of plexiglass or some other plastic.

On a sidenote how do you guys and gals rate Flow bindings? I heard bad and good mostly, bad that they flex during extreme carving and turning.

[arsenic0]

Maybe you could find a 2007/08 Never Summer Legacy? Or if you arent buying or can wait until after this seasons over you maybe able to get a Legacy-R in your price range.

[Suburban Blend]

is a 157cm too short?

This is $305 and it has tri-ax glass for the ride you're looking for.

Otherwise this would be a sick carver...
FORUM 09 Roost Snowboard
Our price: $419.95

Honestly that is kind of out of my price range. Do you recommend any other boards? How would you stack up the K2 Illusion to some of the other boards out there?

Originally Posted by Suburban Blend

is a 157cm too short?

I am 200 lbs and 6'0. I prefer a 160+ board. Should of posted that in the first post.

[Nivek]

For that kind of board at the price you're almost going to have to get a last years board. The Flow Solitude WX would be good, a NS Premiere, Forum Seeker, K2 Zeppelin, Ride Yukon, CAPiTA Black Speed Board of Death.

I don't mind buying last years model board or the design, but I will give those boards a look. Thanks for all the inputs, I am going to a store near my Chicago that carries some better brands than sportmart see what board they offer and the prices.

BTW for the flow bindings, are they good for carving or they more flexible for terrain park?

[Nivek]

The AT's are pretty solid for freeriding. And most will say that the "power triangle" actually does quicken your edge to edge.

[jmacphee9]

he suggested a 300 board? thats suposedly in your range. i would look into Omatics if i were you, im not sure what there stiffest board is but they have cheaper boards with great tech. the capita black speed is uber stiff if i remember correctly..

Originally Posted by jmacphee9

he suggested a 300 board? thats suposedly in your range. i would look into Omatics if i were you, im not sure what there stiffest board is but they have cheaper boards with great tech. the capita black speed is uber stiff if i remember correctly..

Omatics looks pretty decent, I am not big on brand names I had a Sims board and no one really heard of it before but it held up very well. As for the Capita Black I found one for cheap, but under the "compare" tag they are comparing that board to NS evo and pandora which are more park terrain boards. I really like the Omatic Boron board however its hard to see how stiff they are. 7/10 doesn't really man anything to me lol. Man I am too picky, I should just buy a board and say eff it.