Arbor Draft for All Mountain Use and other opinions - Snowboarding Forum

mtnman23 · 03-15-2010, 11:04 AM

Hey All,

New snowboarder here who has been on the slopes about 6 times this year. So now I'm looking to buy my own board instead of continuously renting. I'm 5'7", 120lbs.

I'm interested in riding mostly groomed slopes for now, but possibly doing some park stuff in the future when I get better. I'm also going to be doing most of my riding on the east coast in Maryland and PA with a trip or so to Vermont every year.

Anyways, most boards that fit my size, 146-149, appear to be for freestyle use. I've looked closely at the Arbor Draft and was wondering the opinions of this board for using on groomed terrain and possibly icy eastern conditions.

Also, I've looked at the following boards as possibilities as well: Capita Sierrascope (too large?),Ride Antic, Neversummer Circuit-R, Arbor Element(again too large?), Rome Crail, Ride Control, Rome Anthem, Rome Agent.

So, does anyone have advice for a beginner rider looking to do mostly all-mountain with possibly some park in the future?

CoopersTroopers · 03-15-2010, 05:10 PM

I think you'll be fine on the Draft. It's a great board from an excellent company (and very environmental to boot!). I was considering it for myself to use mostly all-mountain (groomers, a little pow and tree lines) and park. The Draft is Arbor's first to use what they call "Grip Tech", which is essentially a less aggressive version of Magnatraction used on Lib Tech and Gnu boards, and is pretty much identical to Burton's Pressure Distribution Edge. Essentially, the board flares out slightly at the binding plates, creating additional contact points. This will help your edge hold on those sometimes icy groomers. It won't be a great board on the groomers, but you'll handle yourself just fine in time. The Draft is also a three stage rocker; flat in the middle with some rise in the tip and tail. This will make it very forgiving as you learn to link your turns as the rocker raises the contact points out of the snow just enough to keep you from catching an edge and falling (it will still happen, but hopefully less so).

The Good Ride scored it, even if it didn't get a full review. Arbor Draft Snowboard Review

mtnman23 · 03-15-2010, 05:48 PM

Awesome Info Cooper! I appreciate the response. I saw many good reviews for the board...think I'll check it out.

Eightfingers · 03-15-2010, 09:03 PM

I just bought a new board after getting into snowboarding heavily the last 2 seasons, its an 2010 Arbor Del Ray. 2nd day out the topsheet is peeling already, Im super disapointed. I thought Arbor was a great company, the place I ordered the board from said it should be covered under warranty but Arbor has yet to get back to me. I will let you know what they say, if I get a response.

mtnman23 · 03-15-2010, 11:02 PM

Thanks! I'm also looking pretty hard at the Rome Agent. I know it's a completely different type board than the Draft. I'm looking at either a 146 or 149 for mostly all mountain stuff, but I'm having a hard time finding the 149 in stock anywhere on the web.

Would the 146 Agent be a good size for a 5'7", 120lb all mountain rider?

Dave Legacy · 03-17-2010, 11:25 PM

I don't think bronze edges and all-mountain are compatible phrases. You're talking about doing "all-mountain and possibly some park in the future" and if that's the case I'm fairly certain the Draft is not the board for you, but I would feel a lot differently if the edges were steel.

FWIW I love my Arbor and I'd own more.

jgsqueak · 03-18-2010, 08:45 AM

Arbor's rocker is is one of the worst rocker lines that I have ridden. I understand everyone's opinion is different, but this definitely a board that you have to ride before you buy.

If you are riding East Coast maybe try a K2 FLatline board...it is a kind of happy medium of rocker and camber (looser than camber but has more pressure in turns while on edge).

mtnman23 · 03-18-2010, 09:47 AM

Cool, thanks for the advice guys. I'll look at the K2. Also, how about the Lib Tech TRS at 148 for my weight?

CoopersTroopers · 03-18-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgsqueak

If you are riding East Coast maybe try a K2 FLatline board...it is a kind of happy medium of rocker and camber (looser than camber but has more pressure in turns while on edge).

+1 for K2 and Ride's style of flat rockers. FlatLine is 100% flat, while all of the other variants are flat throughout the bindings and just turn up at the nose and tail contact.

jgsqueak · 03-18-2010, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnman23

Cool, thanks for the advice guys. I'll look at the K2. Also, how about the Lib Tech TRS at 148 for my weight?

I would wait for the 2011 TRS over the previous year's...C2BTX will charge the hard pack better.

03-15-2010, 11:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
mtnman23 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 9	Arbor Draft for All Mountain Use and other opinions Hey All, New snowboarder here who has been on the slopes about 6 times this year. So now I'm looking to buy my own board instead of continuously renting. I'm 5'7", 120lbs. I'm interested in riding mostly groomed slopes for now, but possibly doing some park stuff in the future when I get better. I'm also going to be doing most of my riding on the east coast in Maryland and PA with a trip or so to Vermont every year. Anyways, most boards that fit my size, 146-149, appear to be for freestyle use. I've looked closely at the Arbor Draft and was wondering the opinions of this board for using on groomed terrain and possibly icy eastern conditions. Also, I've looked at the following boards as possibilities as well: Capita Sierrascope (too large?),Ride Antic, Neversummer Circuit-R, Arbor Element(again too large?), Rome Crail, Ride Control, Rome Anthem, Rome Agent. So, does anyone have advice for a beginner rider looking to do mostly all-mountain with possibly some park in the future?

03-17-2010, 11:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dave Legacy Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 90	I don't think bronze edges and all-mountain are compatible phrases. You're talking about doing "all-mountain and possibly some park in the future" and if that's the case I'm fairly certain the Draft is not the board for you, but I would feel a lot differently if the edges were steel. FWIW I love my Arbor and I'd own more. Last edited by Dave Legacy; 03-17-2010 at 11:27 PM.

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03-15-2010, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
CoopersTroopers Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 156	I think you'll be fine on the Draft. It's a great board from an excellent company (and very environmental to boot!). I was considering it for myself to use mostly all-mountain (groomers, a little pow and tree lines) and park. The Draft is Arbor's first to use what they call "Grip Tech", which is essentially a less aggressive version of Magnatraction used on Lib Tech and Gnu boards, and is pretty much identical to Burton's Pressure Distribution Edge. Essentially, the board flares out slightly at the binding plates, creating additional contact points. This will help your edge hold on those sometimes icy groomers. It won't be a great board on the groomers, but you'll handle yourself just fine in time. The Draft is also a three stage rocker; flat in the middle with some rise in the tip and tail. This will make it very forgiving as you learn to link your turns as the rocker raises the contact points out of the snow just enough to keep you from catching an edge and falling (it will still happen, but hopefully less so). The Good Ride scored it, even if it didn't get a full review. Arbor Draft Snowboard Review

03-15-2010, 05:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
mtnman23 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 9	Awesome Info Cooper! I appreciate the response. I saw many good reviews for the board...think I'll check it out.

03-15-2010, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Eightfingers Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 122	I just bought a new board after getting into snowboarding heavily the last 2 seasons, its an 2010 Arbor Del Ray. 2nd day out the topsheet is peeling already, Im super disapointed. I thought Arbor was a great company, the place I ordered the board from said it should be covered under warranty but Arbor has yet to get back to me. I will let you know what they say, if I get a response.

03-15-2010, 11:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
mtnman23 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 9	Thanks! I'm also looking pretty hard at the Rome Agent. I know it's a completely different type board than the Draft. I'm looking at either a 146 or 149 for mostly all mountain stuff, but I'm having a hard time finding the 149 in stock anywhere on the web. Would the 146 Agent be a good size for a 5'7", 120lb all mountain rider?

03-18-2010, 08:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
jgsqueak Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 288	Arbor's rocker is is one of the worst rocker lines that I have ridden. I understand everyone's opinion is different, but this definitely a board that you have to ride before you buy. If you are riding East Coast maybe try a K2 FLatline board...it is a kind of happy medium of rocker and camber (looser than camber but has more pressure in turns while on edge).

03-18-2010, 09:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
mtnman23 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 9	Cool, thanks for the advice guys. I'll look at the K2. Also, how about the Lib Tech TRS at 148 for my weight?