Me:
6'1 220lb in gear
size 11 boot
riding for about 20 years
really prefer aggressive tree riding/side hits, carving the whole mountain.
+15/-15 stance 24.75" width (as wide as it will go)
'17 Burton Genesis bindings
other boards- 2016 West 159cm, 2016 161cm Yes Optimistic, 2014 Burton Barracuda 165cm
Conditions:
Steamboat two days after they got about 25". Cold. Lots of temperature inversion -29 at the base, about 5 mid mountain. We found a bunch of untracked powder in the trees and on the sides- 6-10" of heavy 2 day old powder.
Initial Impressions:
I've been looking for a new powder board to replace an older burton barracuda 165. IMO the burton didn't float me real well and was really heavy/not enjoyable in trees. I've been looking at the short "surfy" boards, I used to ride a 159X Heritage and really enjoyed it and felt like it floated me great. I was a little weary of this board with it being shorter and more narrow then my old heritage X and how it would really work in powder.
Conclusion:
This thing RIPS. Probably the most fun board I've ever been on. Floated through powder better than my 165cm. Surprisingly stable at speed for the size, SLAYED the trees. I was a little disappointed in such a directional board at first because I really enjoy riding switch but slashing turns was too much fun I forgot about switch. It took a little to get used to riding fast through trees that were bumped out. Leaning a little too far back you would just fall over because there really is no tail. Once I got used to keeping my weight a little more forward then normal it was fine.
Where this thing really shined for me today was in powder in the trees. Slashing super tight turns was ridiculously fun. It also feels very stable in the air. Sent a few rock drops in the 5-7' range and threw my first 360 in about 5 years off a side hit and almost over rotated. Hit the chutes (45 degrees or so) jump turns were obviously no problem. Surprisingly stable at speed in the runout even in chop. Definitely my new favorite board.
I know Vince called it a quiver board but the only time I could see not wanting to ride it is if conditions were really icy/no fresh snow for awhile. For that I would grab my camber board, but that's not what this thing was designed for anyways. And yes it can lay down some sweet euro carves :grin:
6'1 220lb in gear
size 11 boot
riding for about 20 years
really prefer aggressive tree riding/side hits, carving the whole mountain.
+15/-15 stance 24.75" width (as wide as it will go)
'17 Burton Genesis bindings
other boards- 2016 West 159cm, 2016 161cm Yes Optimistic, 2014 Burton Barracuda 165cm
Conditions:
Steamboat two days after they got about 25". Cold. Lots of temperature inversion -29 at the base, about 5 mid mountain. We found a bunch of untracked powder in the trees and on the sides- 6-10" of heavy 2 day old powder.
Initial Impressions:
I've been looking for a new powder board to replace an older burton barracuda 165. IMO the burton didn't float me real well and was really heavy/not enjoyable in trees. I've been looking at the short "surfy" boards, I used to ride a 159X Heritage and really enjoyed it and felt like it floated me great. I was a little weary of this board with it being shorter and more narrow then my old heritage X and how it would really work in powder.
Conclusion:
This thing RIPS. Probably the most fun board I've ever been on. Floated through powder better than my 165cm. Surprisingly stable at speed for the size, SLAYED the trees. I was a little disappointed in such a directional board at first because I really enjoy riding switch but slashing turns was too much fun I forgot about switch. It took a little to get used to riding fast through trees that were bumped out. Leaning a little too far back you would just fall over because there really is no tail. Once I got used to keeping my weight a little more forward then normal it was fine.
Where this thing really shined for me today was in powder in the trees. Slashing super tight turns was ridiculously fun. It also feels very stable in the air. Sent a few rock drops in the 5-7' range and threw my first 360 in about 5 years off a side hit and almost over rotated. Hit the chutes (45 degrees or so) jump turns were obviously no problem. Surprisingly stable at speed in the runout even in chop. Definitely my new favorite board.
I know Vince called it a quiver board but the only time I could see not wanting to ride it is if conditions were really icy/no fresh snow for awhile. For that I would grab my camber board, but that's not what this thing was designed for anyways. And yes it can lay down some sweet euro carves :grin: