Using a freestyle snowboard as an All-Mountain board?? - Snowboarding Forum

03-24-2008, 07:32 PM

Hey guys,

I am looking to buy a snowboard soon. I would really like to get an All-mountain board, but they have a whole bunch of freestyle boards at my local store (many more than all-mountain)

My question is: Is it ok to use a freestyle board as an All-Mountain board? What are the downsides?

One board I am looking at is the SIMS Nexus..how is that one?

Minger · 03-24-2008, 08:11 PM

They might be too soft/give out too early on you for all mountain. But I guess with everything, if you learn to ride it, they'll work. Just don't get anything too soft...

No idea on the nexus though.

sedition · 03-24-2008, 10:06 PM

I've gone through three decks this season. I started with a proper all-mountain deck. But, I also wanted a freestyle deck, so I got one. It wasn't as soft as I was expecting, but it was so much fun I sold my proper all-mountain deck, and started using my new "freestyle" deck also as an all-mountain. The problem was, I still didn't have the soft, buttery freestyle deck that I had orgionally wanted. So then I bought a Rome Graft. It was just what I wanted. But there was a problem. It was too much fun. I started taking it out, not only as my park-ride, but also as my "all-mountain"deck. This started happening more and more, until it was all I was riding. Even on double-blacks. My friend has a Burton Custom. We traded decks for a few runs. He was HORRIFED at how soft my board was, couldn't handle at speed, and was like "How the hell do you bomb hills on that thing?"

Moral of the story: works for some people, not for others.

03-24-2008, 10:38 PM

i have an all mountain older k2 fuse i picked up as a budget deck. i'd prefer more of a twin, so i'm thinking about picking up the rome slash this off season. point is, different freestyle decks have different tendencies. the slash is a little more of a mountain board than the graft sedition is talking about. take a look at romes site just to get a feel for the different combinations you can find in a board. they have a pretty good visual set up.

Rome Boards | Rome Snowboard Design Syndicate 2008

03-24-2008, 10:40 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Anyone have any opinions about that SIMS nexus, or about SIMS in general?

03-24-2008, 10:55 PM

i haven't heard too much. only experience with sims is a pair of binders i was looking at picking up. i was not impressed with the overall build and design quality. i don't have any experience with their boards though. check out the rome manual. it's a budget board, but rome makes amazing stuff (check out their board tech page). they have incredible customer support, and you might be able to pick one up on sale.

Dave Legacy · 03-24-2008, 11:01 PM

I don't have experience with this topic, but I've noticed that some "Freestyle" boards are almost identical in dimensions as "All-Mountain" boards. However, as others have said, flexibility seems to be the biggest difference.

03-25-2008, 08:20 AM

I have a directional freestyle board that i use for everything. I personally like radial sidecut to.

03-25-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

A freestyle deck will handle all mountain riding just fine with just some limitaions. If it is a really soft street deck, it will chatter and become very unstable at high speeds if the runs are at all bumpy or tracked out. If you want a freestyle deck that also will handle decently all mountian, the key is the stiffness rating. A mis stiff deck is going to be the ticket. Something like the Atomic Hatcet or the Rome Agent are really ideal boards for this "multi tasking" a noodle like a Ride Kink or the Rome Machine will have more limitations to their all mountain capabilities. The key is stifness.

Thanks for the tips. What is a "mis stiff deck"? Where can I find the stiffness rating, what is a good one, and what is the range of the stiffness scale? Thanks. Have you had much experience with SIMS?

schmitty34 · 03-25-2008, 12:21 PM

I have no experience with Sims, but from I gather, most of their products are budget type stuff you'd see at big sproting goods chains (i.e. Sport Authority). I could be wrong, but that's all I've seen.

Unless you are getting a crazy deal at this shop, I'd look online for deals as well. You will have a wider selection and may get a better board for a similar price. Check sierrasnowboards.com and buysnow.com for starters.

As for freestyle boards, Snowolf hit it on the head...some freestyle boards are really soft (park boards) and some still have some decent stiffness. I ride a board labled as a freestyle board (GNU 11up) but it isn't too soft and handles freeride pretty well. You probably won't find a stiffness rating on many boards, you just have to feel them when at the shop, or find some reviews or forums that can help you get an idea. However, some discriptions of the boards on websites might help.

03-24-2008, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
ahrenba Guest Posts: n/a	Using a freestyle snowboard as an All-Mountain board?? Hey guys, I am looking to buy a snowboard soon. I would really like to get an All-mountain board, but they have a whole bunch of freestyle boards at my local store (many more than all-mountain) My question is: Is it ok to use a freestyle board as an All-Mountain board? What are the downsides? One board I am looking at is the SIMS Nexus..how is that one?

03-24-2008, 08:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Minger Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 761	They might be too soft/give out too early on you for all mountain. But I guess with everything, if you learn to ride it, they'll work. Just don't get anything too soft... No idea on the nexus though. __________________ Board: Directional Bindings: Burton Missions 07 Boots: Burton Freestyle 07

03-24-2008, 10:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
sedition -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 2,744	I've gone through three decks this season. I started with a proper all-mountain deck. But, I also wanted a freestyle deck, so I got one. It wasn't as soft as I was expecting, but it was so much fun I sold my proper all-mountain deck, and started using my new "freestyle" deck also as an all-mountain. The problem was, I still didn't have the soft, buttery freestyle deck that I had orgionally wanted. So then I bought a Rome Graft. It was just what I wanted. But there was a problem. It was too much fun. I started taking it out, not only as my park-ride, but also as my "all-mountain"deck. This started happening more and more, until it was all I was riding. Even on double-blacks. My friend has a Burton Custom. We traded decks for a few runs. He was HORRIFED at how soft my board was, couldn't handle at speed, and was like "How the hell do you bomb hills on that thing?" Moral of the story: works for some people, not for others. __________________ "Nancy Ninja Nabs Nefarious Nymph. Pays Price Per Pissed Pants!" -Flick "Up, up, my people, let smoke and flame be our sign!" -The White Rose Society

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03-24-2008, 10:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
berg Guest Posts: n/a	i have an all mountain older k2 fuse i picked up as a budget deck. i'd prefer more of a twin, so i'm thinking about picking up the rome slash this off season. point is, different freestyle decks have different tendencies. the slash is a little more of a mountain board than the graft sedition is talking about. take a look at romes site just to get a feel for the different combinations you can find in a board. they have a pretty good visual set up. Rome Boards \| Rome Snowboard Design Syndicate 2008

03-24-2008, 10:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
ahrenba Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks for the replies guys. Anyone have any opinions about that SIMS nexus, or about SIMS in general?

03-24-2008, 10:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
berg Guest Posts: n/a	i haven't heard too much. only experience with sims is a pair of binders i was looking at picking up. i was not impressed with the overall build and design quality. i don't have any experience with their boards though. check out the rome manual. it's a budget board, but rome makes amazing stuff (check out their board tech page). they have incredible customer support, and you might be able to pick one up on sale.

03-24-2008, 11:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dave Legacy Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 90	I don't have experience with this topic, but I've noticed that some "Freestyle" boards are almost identical in dimensions as "All-Mountain" boards. However, as others have said, flexibility seems to be the biggest difference.

03-25-2008, 08:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
mitchamus Guest Posts: n/a	I have a directional freestyle board that i use for everything. I personally like radial sidecut to.

03-25-2008, 12:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
schmitty34 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Probably at work wasting time Posts: 869	I have no experience with Sims, but from I gather, most of their products are budget type stuff you'd see at big sproting goods chains (i.e. Sport Authority). I could be wrong, but that's all I've seen. Unless you are getting a crazy deal at this shop, I'd look online for deals as well. You will have a wider selection and may get a better board for a similar price. Check sierrasnowboards.com and buysnow.com for starters. As for freestyle boards, Snowolf hit it on the head...some freestyle boards are really soft (park boards) and some still have some decent stiffness. I ride a board labled as a freestyle board (GNU 11up) but it isn't too soft and handles freeride pretty well. You probably won't find a stiffness rating on many boards, you just have to feel them when at the shop, or find some reviews or forums that can help you get an idea. However, some discriptions of the boards on websites might help.