Intermediate all-mountain board selection

[SnowKorpy]

Yet another generic what-board-to-buy thread, I know, but I have read most of the threads where the wishes are similar to mine, still I'd like a take on my selection.
I've been riding for 6 years I think, so I'm looking for something between intermediate and advanced. I'd like an all-mountain board, mostly for cruising, carves, a jump here and there, not a lot of powder, mostly groom, but very little to zero park acitvity, however I think I will eventually try to add some freestyle here and there as I progress. I like edge riding and speed, but there won't be any extremes in any department, just want a solid all around ride, but still playful enough, not something to agressive,. I'm 1,75m and my size is 8, so that cancels out the wideboards. The price range is around 400eur, so something in the machete, angus, etc range
So far I considered these boards more thoroughly:
-Ride Machete(I can get it at a great price and I know it's a good fit for what I need, the only thing I'm worried about is that it might be to park-orientated, but all in all I'm leaning towards it)
-Atomic Hatchet and Axum
-DC Tone(probably not, but it got the Good-wood award for all-mountain, which at least doesn't make it a bad stick)
-Rossignol Angus
-Burton Custom Flying V(a bit pricey to be honest)
-Ride DH or DH2, not sure whichh DH is the best for me(perhaps better for freeriding, but I can't help it, the Machete seems like the winner this year based on the recommendiations)
-Rome agent rocker(also might be a bit pricey)

Thx and bigups to all who will help, give opinions or recommend another board. I'm aware there's a bunch of boards that fit my stytle and are good enough for me, but it gets confusing when i start considering every single brand

[Zany]

My suggestions are K2 Turbo Dream , Bataleon Jam or Ride Highlife..if ur tight on budget and from europe, these brands will be cheaper here, in eu.
Machete , Tone , Custom , DH , DH2 and Agent are medium flex park boards. With your 'little to zero' park activity Ill be looking for something more freeride orientated.

[JoeR]

Originally Posted by Zany

Machete , Tone , Custom , DH , DH2 and Agent are medium flex park boards. With your 'little to zero' park activity Ill be looking for something more freeride orientated.

The DH2 is not a park board; it's an all mountain freestyle board, with the emphasis on "all mountain." Also, it's stiffer (7/10) than both the Machete (6/10) and the DH (6/10) on Ride's scale. I have a DH2.4 (superior to the regular DH2 by most accounts) that I use for groomer freeriding. But any 2010-11 DH2 probably would be an excellent choice for the OP.

[SnowKorpy]

well the guy who works in a shop where they only sell ride told me today that the DH boards are meant for the park and that I should take the machete or highlife

[Leo]

Originally Posted by SnowKorpy

well the guy who works in a shop where they only sell ride told me today that the DH boards are meant for the park and that I should take the machete or highlife

Say wha??? He called the DH a park board, yet recommended the Machete for all-mountain? Did he really even toss in the completely different Highlife into the mix with the Machete?

Where are you shopping again? Sports Authority?

Machete is Ride's all-mountain freestyle board with an emphasis on the park. DH line is Ride's all-mountain freestyle board with an emphasis on all-mountain. The Highlife is a pure all-mountain powder board that is designed for the all-mountain rider that does a decent amount of powder riding as well.

Machete - Mid-flex

DH - Mid-stiff

High Life - Stiff

Get advice here, ignore everything that comes out of shop guy's mouth (unless it's something about discounts) and go straight to a purchase.

[SnowKorpy]

since i'm in love with machete not every single ride board and since everyone gives a different opinion(and i'm not gonna get 2,4 instead of the machete just beacuse it's ride's better freeride pick), what do you think about the other boards listed?

[Leo]

My top picks out of your list are:

Custom Flying-V

Rome Agent Rocker

Ride Machete

No particular order. The Machete seems like a winner because it is the cheapest out of the bunch and will still make you very happy.

Sounds like a good match to your style as well. Not too stiff and aggressive and not too loose, just playful. It's snappy, has great edge to edge, and is a blast to mess around on. If you ever decide to progress your freestyle riding, the Machete will be perfect for that.

[SnowKorpy]

thx....what about the K2 Raygun?

[graybox]

check out the Lib-Tech T.Rice and the Lib-Tech TRS. both superb all mountain boards.

[SnowKorpy]

I think I just might go with the Ride Antic...similar to the Machetee but more freeride orientated. A little stiffer, but not a whole lot. Probably handles speed and ice a bit better and the ski resort 1km from my home is kind of icy most fo the time