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4K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  aaron520 
#1 ·
Hey guys,

As you can infer from the title I'm have some issues on deciding on a board.

So I would say that I'm an intermediate rider, maybe intermediate/advanced but that might be my ego XD. I'm 5'6'', weigh about 140lb and have a goofy stance. I ride groomers ~60% of the time, powder and trees the other 40%. And now I'm looking forward to learn jumps (not jibbing or park or anything, mainly natural features or some manmade's). So here's my dilemma, I've been looking at a few boards but I'm having a crappy time trying to choose one. I have 2013 medium burton cartel bindings and 8.5 DC Status boots (last years model).

The Boards I have been researching are as follows:
1) K2 Slayblade
2) Capita Black Snowboard of Death
3) Lib Tech Lando Pheonix
4) GNU Billy Goat
5) Lib Tech 2012/2013 Emma P.

Now I've ridden the Slayblade and LOVED it! Great stability, amazing speed, alright edge hold and pretty good in pow. That thing rode through crap like nothing, once I was going pretty fast and hit a small bump that I didn't see. Midair I thought I was going to eat it hard, but the board held strong and I never lost too much control. However, from what I've read, the board gets damaged too easily. And since I still have a lot to learn (and fall while doing so), I feel like I'm going to bruise it too often. But I'm looking for a board that rides like the slayblade, just not the slayblade.

Now I've heard good things about the Capita BSOD, i.e. that it's super light, aggressive flex, super fast, great in pow or groom and death grip for ice. Now the bad things I've heard is that you get loads of chatter and you feel everything while riding through crud, so barely any dampening. And turn initiation isn't supposed to be easy, which won't be great for me riding through the trees.

I was seriously considering the 154 Lando pheonix because it seemed to be pretty fast, stiff flex, great turn initiation, melow mangne so it doesn't catch, good durability and dampening. The only difference I see between this and the K2 is that this isn't very light (Does it matter?). Also I was recently informed that the non-wide version of the board was designed for big footed people, i.e. size 10.5 +, I'm only 8.5, am I going to loose responsiveness due to the extra weight and width.

The Billy Goat is one I'm seriously considering right now. It's apparently great at turning, it's very fast, very stiff, damp, great handling. The only downside I've heard from snow wolf is that at speed it can get spooky because it can turn too easily? is this true?

and finally the Emma P. This board is brand new not available online and from what I hear kind of rare, so no reviews :(. What do you guys make of this? Here's the description lib tech put out.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/18887_10200102047303163_450517597_n.jpg

So people, please if you wouldn't mind, could you help me find/pick a board? Or if you want to suggest another board that you think would be good, please do mention it! Your input is greatly is appreciated, and if you could compare the boards that be even better!
 
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#2 ·
Where have you heard the Slayblade gets damaged easily? K2 isn't really known for durability issues and in my experience they're just as durable as every other board.

All your other boards are valid options as well but you have the disadvantage that you've never ridden them. Also, their camber profiles are very different from the K2's and you might just end up not liking those. I say go with what you know and loved.
 
#3 ·
I agree, if you've ridden and loved the Slayblade I'd say go with it. You won't regret it, it's a solid board. Any durability issues you might've read about are probly things you'd run into with any other board ridden aggressively.

I encourage you go try and demo one of the Lib/Gnu boards before going in for the purchase. If you've never ridden a rocker/camber board with a form of MTX before, you might love it, but you also might hate it.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I'd love to ride this board as rental but maybe not as my own board. Also it's not so much that there are durability issues, more like it dings easier than many other boards. And it makes sense too because of its thin profile and side walls. I've read that in countless reviews on several different websites. I would totally get it, my only fear is that I'd damage it too easily. I feel like buying the Slayblade would be like buying a ferrari, amazing car to drive, fast and good with corners, but if I bring it to town I won't be driving faster than 3km/h because I'd be too scared scratch it or drive over a pot hole. Ok maybe bad car example.
 
#5 · (Edited)
billygoat is a great board, fast, stable, confident and lively.... yes it likes to turn and turn do you must. Intermediate board...NOOOO. Beast loves to go. At an intermediate you will really have to up your game and riding anything less than something like baker terrain would be wasted on this board's talents. Certainly wasted on my talents; yesterday, 5th day riding 159 splitty inbounds at baker hitting stuff I never thought I'd be doing at 54 yrs old....its scary how much confidence this board seduces/deludes me in to doing. Really need to ask your self if you are an aggressive enough rider to take on this board.

watch

DRIZZLE on Vimeo
 
#7 · (Edited)
I actually have considered it; however, I was put off a little bit by its rating for advanced to expert riders and mixed reviews about its turn initiation. Also according some people they say that at speed on groomers, this thing can be a bit shifty. In addition, I've had trouble finding never summer boards in any of the local board shops I know in Edmonton. But if you can shed some light on it and disprove some of my preconceptions that'd be great.
 
#8 ·
The "shifty" feeling is something you'll get with just about any rocker/camber board. The rocker between the bindings will make you want to pivot unless you're engaging the camber in the nose or in a carve/turn.

I personally think the "advanced/expert" rating stuff is just marketing. As an intermediate rider will you be able to do reliably go down the hill? Yes. Will you fully appreciate some of the tech in an "advanced/expert" board? Probably not till you get more experience on it and ride other boards to compare.
 
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