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Should I get new board and bindings?

2K views 15 replies 5 participants last post by  Riley212 
#1 ·
My current setup is a Ride Machete 162W, K2 Company bindings in XL.

I just went from Salomon Dialogues in size 12 to Ride Hi-Phys in size 10.5. In addition to shaving off size due to the smaller boot size, the Ride Hi-Phys have a significantly smaller footprint because my Dialogues are 4 years old.

This had led me to reconsider my current setup and if I should get a non-wide board and smaller bindings. I can ride the board fine, but I'm just wondering if I'm not maximizing my edge to edge quickness by staying with a wider board.

I'm considering a 159-160 regular width board and M/L bindings depending on the manufacturer. Your input is appreciated.
 
#2 ·
You definitely do not need a wide board in size 10.5, especially with newer style boots that have smaller footprints. You will probably appreciate a narrower board with the smaller boots depending on how you ride. If you ride park all the time, it is not going to matter. If you enjoy freeriding, you should probably go ahead and upgrade. The bindings might still be ok, but probably sloppy. Size l is going to fit better than xl I would imagine.
 
#4 ·
The Salomons fit me fine, but I do notice some heel lift on choppy stuff. To be honest, I'm surprised myself that I fit in a 10.5 boot. I tried on so many boots in the past month and I could fit in anything from a 10.5 to a 11.5, just depends on the boot and who made them. The Rides are really comfortable and when I flex forward my heel is held nice and tight.

Now to pick a board and binding.....any suggestions?
 
#7 ·
I ride mainly on the East coast, but make it out West at least once a season. I put in ~10 days a season but want to get that up to 20.

I would classify myself an an intermediate rider that can link turns decently, and is trying to work on hitting natural kickers and practicing riding switch. I never hit the park and don't plan to anytime soon. I'm not bombing it down the mountain, although I do like to pick up speed as I gain more confidence.

The Ride Machete flat board was friendly and easy to maneuver, but sometimes it feels stiff like if I want to get air or just press it, although I'm sure my technique has a lot do with that.

My budget is fairly flexible, but I do like a bargain (who doesn't?!)
 
#9 ·
The Ride Machete flat board was friendly and easy to maneuver, but sometimes it feels stiff like if I want to get air or just press it, although I'm sure my technique has a lot do with that.
Yeah, I've got it in a 157W and it's definitely a stiff board (the fact it's wide doesn't really help either). Great for riding around the mountain, but pretty hard work for air or pressing.

You won't need a wide board with size 10.5 shoes. I'm size 12, and I've recently gotten an NS Proto HD 157. Didn't go wide because the footprint reduction on most newer boots (I wear Burton Rulers) means that you can generally get away with it as long as you're not riding something really narrow and not attempting to deep carve too much.
 
#8 ·
I'm sure the happy hour is a great board. But for an ice coast all mountain board I'd suggest a Burton Custom or maybe even a Custom x (as an intermediate rider you'll grow into an x if you plan on riding a lot more and want to start riding fast soon--it will also discourage you from forming bad habits). You won't be doing any presses on a custom x, but tons of pop and great riding either direction. Any other similar all mountain camber deck for that style of riding on ice coast will be good. A camber/rocker hybrid will be fine also and better when you go out west or hit natural snow. If you run into some serious powder when you go out west, you could always demo a powder board or get by with your bindings set way back.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Also, I don't think the custom or custom x have changed much since 2009, so you might be able to find a deal on an older model if you look around. All mountain boards are going to be stiff. I'm not sure, you do like doing presses and stuff but don't like park anymore? You're not going to be able to press a good all mountain board. If you don't like stiff, you're still into presses and stuff and like that, and want more of a freestyle board that will still get you around, I'd suggest a k2 parkstar, www or something like that. You could get one of those for around $200 new. Parkstar is really fun for presses and screwing around. I can butter the crap out of that board. There are all kinds of boards out there to fit all sorts of budgets. I've seen tons of great deals around lately looking for a board for my nephew and and a new board for myself.

-Also just saw a k2 fastplant 157 or 160 for $230 one site I've been searching lately, which might be something for you
 
#11 ·
On what site do you see the K2 Fastplant for $230?

I've never been a park guy, and I probably never will be. When I say press my board, I mean just play around when I get to non-steep stuff. It is also nice to have a softer board when I go with my gf or friends that are learning, this way I can just play around next to them while they are coming down.

The majority of my riding is in groomers and on occasion I'll take it through the trees. Since I don't get to ride all that often I tend to stick to known quantities so I can maximize my enjoyment on the slopes.

The only other board that I've demoed was a NS Legacy and I thought it was cool.
 
#14 ·
You ride the 2014? I'm looking for sizing size. I normally ride 150-153. I have a Proto now, but want something just slightly beefier. But I'm a light dude with womens legs (145lbs). So nothing too burly. I want something that can crush groomers, handle chop fairly well (better than the Proto) and pop like soda. I'm leaning 154, but will the 151 handle that? Mammoth will the mountain.

Sorry for the threadjack.
 
#13 ·
14' happy hour definitely looks like it has some improvements over last year. You can get last year's model real cheap. I agree that should be a pretty ok deck for you. Reviews say you can press it a little bit, but pointed tips are catchy. Most boards you can press real easy are not going to be great for freeriding. WWW would be cheaper, easier to press, but a little worse for freeriding/going fast.

-Saw the 12/13 fast plant on sierra trading, but you need a coupon code to get it down to that price. Not a great all mountain board, but should be fun to ride and easy to press. If you want to get more serious about freeriding and going fast, you're eventually going to want a stiffer board that will not be good at all for pressing. Or just start building a quiver, there are tons of great boards on sale cheap all over the place lately. You could get a www or parkstar for about $200 to mess around on and then get a more serious all mountain deck.
 
#15 ·
The K2 Happy Hour looks cool. I really dig the simple graphics from the 2013 version, although the 2014 ones are cool too. Looks like 2013 is flat, while 2014 is a RC deck.

Any other suggestions?

Also, how much do you think I would get for my 3 year old Ride Machete and 1 year old bindings?
 
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