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From GNU to ?

3K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  Nivek 
#1 ·
Hi there

I currently have a 154.5 07/08 GNU Riders Choice and its been an amazing board but has seen WAY more days on the hill than it should have and needs replacing.

To keep this short and sweet, I ride all mountain but do not jib and I was/am a fan of egde tech and really noticed the benefit of magnetraction as often conditions where I ride arent amazing.

I think Ive narrowed down a replacement to one of 3 boards but Im aware that since my board was made in 07 (first year of magnetraction I think) cambers have changed a lot as has all the tech.

Im either going to go for this years GNU Riders Choice (154.5), a Lib Tech Jamie Lynn Pheonix (154) or a Yes The Greats (154 or maybe even 152? as I like Peter Line :))

My 2 questions are: 1. How does Yes's ultimate grip tech compare to magnetraction ? and 2. What do you experts think about a replacement? :)

Thanks in advance
 
#2 ·
I love the YES board but it rides very differently to the Lib or GNU. Mainly because it has the opposite hybrid camber (rocker-camber-rocker as opposed to camber-rocker-camber). It will be a bit looser and definitely more playful but also less stable at speed.

The ultimate grip is okay but not nearly as noticeable as magnetraction which grips a lot more.
 
#4 ·
Yeah I noticed Smokin and Rossi have MTX licences. Will have a look but I think if Im gonna go direct MTX it would prob be the Jamie Lynn or the Riders Choice.

Im worried the Lynn is a bit set back and I liked centred and also its quite firm right?

I do ride quite fast more often than not so a little concerned you say the Yes isnt as stable (def gonna lean towards the 154 more than 152 now).

Arrrggh I want to try something else but I can see myself being drawn into a straight up new Riders Choice.

Also if anyone is coming from the US to the UK soon bring me one as we get stiffed on the prices over here
 
#5 ·
The Jamie Lynn and the Riders Choice are quite different boards in the Mervin stable. Not so much because of the setback on the Phoenix (which really only makes a difference in powder - otherwise the board is still very twin-ish), but because of the other characteristics of these decks: The Riders Choice is much more playful, while the Jamie Lynn is a stiff charger deck.
Which one is the better choice should be quite obvious for you: If you find that the Riders Choice has been a good match for your (intended) riding, then the Jamie Lynn makes little sense. On the other hand if you have found the RC to be too soft and frequently unstable at speed, then consider the Jamie Lynn.

Also consider your foot and boot sizes, as the Jamie Lynn gets wider quite quickly as you go longer.
 
#6 ·
Ahhh, ok, well thats helped me make one decision, I will be ruling out the Jamie Lynn as I have pretty small feet (US8) and also Ive actually always found my Riders Choice to be about right flex/stability etc

So that leaves me in Dilemma between the 2013 Riders Choice and the YES The Greats (although the GNU Danny Kass seems not far from these too)

Ive found the magnetraction on my 07 RC to be great, but sometimes a little TOO great so the idea that the YES Ultra grip is less obvious doesnt worry me hugely, but Im aware that the new RC's have some rocker and thus make the magne traction less brutal ???

Its a very confusing matter :)
 
#8 ·
Ok thanks everyone, Im pretty much set on either the RC or the YES then for an all mountain deck which hopefully will suit my ride.

In the ideal world Id get to demo both and work out which form of hybrid camber and edge tech I prefer on the two but alas thats not gonna happen as Ive not worked in resorts for a few years.

Now the final dilemma, how much does hybrid camber effect the size required ie I heard that you can rider shorter boards if they have some rocker

I am 172cm (5' 7.5") and about 67kg (147lbs) and have US8 feet
My 07 RC is a 154.5 and thats fine, but is regular camber

Could I get away with a 152 YES or should I go for the 154 ?
 
#10 · (Edited)
The Greats would be my pick. It has more energy than the Libs. Just a factor of constuction style. And whoever said it will be less stable than the RC must be high. Camrock has always been more stable for me. Camber between the feet, or rocker between the feet? I've alwasy found Mervins to be very "easy" to ride, but I get more energy out of other construction styles.

The only other deck I'd look at is the Flow Rush. At about your weight I'll be on the 153. The 5 radial sidecut is amazing and has the most grip out of any non bumpy sidecut I've ever ridden.

In the Greats, if you ride a lot of trees the 152 will be a bit better, if you ride more big lines and bowls or high speed grooms, get the 154.
 
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