poutanen

Have you had it out again lately? I'd like an update... I'm going to cross my fingers that Apex in the states puts them on sale this spring, not likely though. Wish I had pulled the trigger on the $650 deal...

lernr

I don't doubt that it is high quality and rides damp, and it makes a lot of sense to me that you liked it as an all-mauntain - congrats and may it bring you many hours of joy

For people who are loking for the ultimate freeride board, though - there are *new* concepts and shapes coming onto the EU market - look at Furberg snowboards, with different geometry regarding sidecut and tip / tail. Their focus is truly freeride though, I am certain a Furberg won't be versatile enough for anything close to a quiver killer.

Cheers
Ivo

poutanen

Thanksfor the input re:alternatives... I've seen a few other companies doing exotic boards too. I do want a quiver killer though. My current Burton T7 is pretty good at that. Like Franks Red Hot Sauce, I put that S#!T on everything! Was thinking the Kessler would be along the same lines, everything from icy groomers to mountain bowls.

lernr

Well, for both icy groomers and (big) mountain bowls you get more stability with less pronounced sidecut than what this Kessler has - more like Furberg. I expect the Furberg would float better in powder too.

My quiver comment was for people who also hit the park and / or make the mountain their park, etc. I would also be concerned about something like Furberg in tight trees, although some say that it would be good even there.

Cheers
Ivo

poutanen

Hmmm just looked at the Furberg and not sure I'm down with the rocker profile or longer sidecut radius. The Kesslers sidecut is designed as a multi-radius sidecut if I remember correctly, and from everything I've read it's a very natural and comfortable feeling sidecut (i.e. it doesn't hook too hard, but it also doesn't leave you hanging when pushing it hard).

The other boards I'd like to see would be some of the Oxess ones used in BX competitions, the Virus Avalanche, or the Virus UFC, although those are in the $1200+ range just like the Kessler.

One reason I really like the T7 is it does it all, I do turn the mountain into my park even on carving days (who doesn't love launching off of lips during a hard charging run?)... So far the T7 does it all but I think the Kessler may do it better. I just need to demo one!

dice

I actually have C60's but paired this with a P1.1 set. They are mid flex and seem to work GREAT for wanting to do everything!

dice

I can tell you honestly that I though this will be my prime big mountain board. Bu tI've been riding nothing but this board for practically everything! here's an update:

ICE: this board just begs you to go on ice! Bites like a shark and you control how much it bites by directing the board & edges, thus your speed in the process.

FLUFF & POW: We have not seen much of that, but I took it out on some rare untouched 12" trail and it was just awesome! Floats and turns quick. Nothing knee deep yet (until I visit your side of the globe). But I have a feeling it wil do just fine.

SPEED: This board is a beast at speed. I ride with speed freaks (skiers) and I am getting tired waiting for everyone at every turn to arrive! LOL. Seriously... Eats chop and crud and cuts through anything. IMO, it's the fact that it stays so solid, damp and stable at high speed that makes me want to push the extremes.

DAMPNESS: It has a mix of dampness that absorbs all chatter yet still lively giving you the feel of snow under your feet (if you knwo what I mean). Turn the edge just a little and you are on cloud 9 as it cuts through it all.

GROOMERS: Speachless!!! It's one thing to run it through chop and go fast, it's another world to be riding mach speed on groomers!

JUMPS: I'm getting more air and better landings than ever! Just an easy board to jump with. I can pop 180's off the sides and just enjoy every aspect.

PARK: It should be illegal to take it into rails, but I took it on some boxes and walls for fun (nothing extreme).

SWITCH: Here's a surprise... for a directional board, I (personally) can ride ride it switch better than my twins! I think I got much better at switch using this board. It feels weird becuase I'm riding switch on the shorter end, but like skies, it' really a pleasure!

TREES: Here's the only thing I have not tried much! I did my 2nd day on teh board, but I was so scared i'd ding a tree I just was not comfortable there. A little harder to turn than my T-Rice between tight trees. But honestly, I don't think it's an issue and think it was mostly cause I was just dialing the board. I have since been able to navigate this Ride between end of day moguls and tight turns just fine. It's not a super stiff board, but not that soft either. I honestly think it'll be fine once/if I take it there as I'm stil hesitant about dinging the board into a tree (will update). Also, it's a 168 vs all my previous 156-164 max!

POP: Just amazing! Off rollers it pops beautiful and lands even better. Same off little bumps here and there. Having so much fun on these almost like a park board.

FLEX: The board seems to have a mid or just a little over mid-flex. It also has KST which is the camber/rocker hybrid. It's a camber board that flixes to give you the ultimate easy ride. When I flat base on catwalks, the board doesn't twich to an edge. So, it's super easy to flat base and ride easy. It also turns tight or big for digging trenches while riding low with face close to snow!

TURNS: The board turns real sweet edge to edge. Tight or big turns it does both. I can navigate tight spots fast. Best part is that it literally requires "minimum" effort pumping the knees in/out. I stil ldo it out of habit, but somehow, the board does not require big effort in th eprocess (pump knees to push through snow).

All in all, I am really loving this board. I take it anywhere and everywhere. NO LIMITS! No 1 issue for me is a mid flex board that is damp, can handle speed & great on ice. That being covered, everything else was like a really unexpected bonus. So much so that I'm practically selling (trying to - end of season ) everything else I have and just keep this and one more (short rock) board!

The only other board (I almost got) close to this would be the Nitro Pantera LX! But that board is much harder to ride and needs constant effort to maintain an edge. And now LX no more since Nitro came up with Nitro Factor with Koroyd (I think it's called) honeycomb material. But Pantera LX $700 or so vs $655!!! So I got the Kessler Ride and I am ever so happy that I FINALLY found my one and only quiver killer board that I've been seeking all these years!

ICE-GRIPPING
DAMP
FAST
EASY
POPS
JUMPS
SWITCH
PARK
1,3
TURNS
CARVES
and then some...

Cheers

bseracka

Any info on how you found the group buy, or if there will be another in the future?

poutanen

In another thread it was said that there was a communication error and the group buy should never have been that cheap, and never will again. Not sure how much truth there is to it but I'm not crossing my fingers... The Canadian distributor sold out at full price.

Edit: there's a place in the UK that has them for $1260 CDN plus $75 shipping, not sure if there's tax on top of that? VAT or ???

I'm trying to find a used Palmer Platinum in the meantime...

dreampow

Not my thing really but looks like a sweet stick.

I'll let Ya'll know if I see any over here second hand.