Hi all, I'm looking for a powder board to add to the quiver, and with huge amount of choice out there I'm really starting to get a bit lost. I'm an out and out Freerider, only using piste to get to get off it - though I won't claim to be the best rider ever for sure, especially I never realy spent the time to learn tricks and big jumps or anything! But I do live near enough to the alps to ride at weekends, rather than being the one or two holidays a year type.
However this year I'm planning to spend 10 days riding in Japan for some real pow and thought it's time I add a genuine Pow board to the quiver - but I've not had many snowboards in my life and struggle to choose, nor ever ridden a true pow board, but want something for this trip, as well as those rare pow days in Europe. Bearing this in mind, it should be something that is eipc in pow, but can also be ridden across crud and rubbish to get to it - in Europe that's a necessity, and especially as what pow there is tends to get used up very quickly!
Mostly I currently ride a 2012(ish) Arbor A-frame 162 - pure camber charger, I like its stability, and though it's not bad in pow, it is still quite hard work on the back leg, and needs a LOT of speed to really start floating. That might be due to my weight though - kitted out I'll get up to 110kg (which at 5'11 is pretty hefty), which is a bit over most boards recommended range!
I also have a Rome Anthem SS 159 hyrbid, also a reasonably stiff board, but more towards all-mountain.
SO I've narrowed to a few choices - (and open to others)
1. Jones Hovercraft/Ultracraft 160 - I like the idea of camber between the feet for power and the rocker nose/short tail. seems a senible solution for me, but anyone have experience with them, or which to recommend of these two very similar boards? I'm told the Hovercraft is a bit soft - but It's been many years since I rode a softer board... I just dont know really how much difference it makes! I know these boards ride longer than they are, but will it be big enough for effortless float with rider weight in mind?
2. Jones Hovercraft 164 - extra size for added float, but would it turn into a bit of a barge - effectively riding more towards a 170 than 160??
3. West Six Carro 160 - a small swiss company that I found in a local shop, the board has a similar idea ot teh hovercraft but with a more pronounced camber between the feet, and slightly wider at its widest. It's stiffer than a hovercraft, and the guy in the shop says its a good board - paticularly to punch through crud and ice, but the hovercraft has been perfected over the years by a much bigger company with better research budgets!
4. Arbor Cosa Nostra/Shreddy Kreuger 162 - meant o be good, though will its rocker profile be a good idea compared to the Jones? how big a handling differeence will they give?
5. Capita Spring Break - 165 thingy witthe hole in it - looks great, any ideas how it will actually ride when compared to say the hovercraft or Arbor?
I'm really trying to get an idea of how they compare to each other to actually ride in teh deep stuff, as well as getting to the deep stuff - and most reviews tend not to say much in terms of comparisons.
Shoud I be looking at something bigger, with my over-average rider weight?
Thanks in advance
However this year I'm planning to spend 10 days riding in Japan for some real pow and thought it's time I add a genuine Pow board to the quiver - but I've not had many snowboards in my life and struggle to choose, nor ever ridden a true pow board, but want something for this trip, as well as those rare pow days in Europe. Bearing this in mind, it should be something that is eipc in pow, but can also be ridden across crud and rubbish to get to it - in Europe that's a necessity, and especially as what pow there is tends to get used up very quickly!
Mostly I currently ride a 2012(ish) Arbor A-frame 162 - pure camber charger, I like its stability, and though it's not bad in pow, it is still quite hard work on the back leg, and needs a LOT of speed to really start floating. That might be due to my weight though - kitted out I'll get up to 110kg (which at 5'11 is pretty hefty), which is a bit over most boards recommended range!
I also have a Rome Anthem SS 159 hyrbid, also a reasonably stiff board, but more towards all-mountain.
SO I've narrowed to a few choices - (and open to others)
1. Jones Hovercraft/Ultracraft 160 - I like the idea of camber between the feet for power and the rocker nose/short tail. seems a senible solution for me, but anyone have experience with them, or which to recommend of these two very similar boards? I'm told the Hovercraft is a bit soft - but It's been many years since I rode a softer board... I just dont know really how much difference it makes! I know these boards ride longer than they are, but will it be big enough for effortless float with rider weight in mind?
2. Jones Hovercraft 164 - extra size for added float, but would it turn into a bit of a barge - effectively riding more towards a 170 than 160??
3. West Six Carro 160 - a small swiss company that I found in a local shop, the board has a similar idea ot teh hovercraft but with a more pronounced camber between the feet, and slightly wider at its widest. It's stiffer than a hovercraft, and the guy in the shop says its a good board - paticularly to punch through crud and ice, but the hovercraft has been perfected over the years by a much bigger company with better research budgets!
4. Arbor Cosa Nostra/Shreddy Kreuger 162 - meant o be good, though will its rocker profile be a good idea compared to the Jones? how big a handling differeence will they give?
5. Capita Spring Break - 165 thingy witthe hole in it - looks great, any ideas how it will actually ride when compared to say the hovercraft or Arbor?
I'm really trying to get an idea of how they compare to each other to actually ride in teh deep stuff, as well as getting to the deep stuff - and most reviews tend not to say much in terms of comparisons.
Shoud I be looking at something bigger, with my over-average rider weight?
Thanks in advance