[drblast]

Me: 200lbs, US10, 6'3", aggressive rider
Board length: 157
Bindings: Rome Targa
Conditions: Crystal Mountain typical PNW, 32-38 degree resort day with not much crowd and open groomers that softened throughout the day.

I've spent the last two years looking for a powder board that would float me but was also fun to carve on groomers. I wanted mostly camber and if possible, for the board to handle riding switch in a pinch. This and the Nitro Pow were my last attempts at finding a board like this before I broke down and got a Yes Optimistic which I love but tends to be on the expensive side and maybe a little stiffer with less tail than I like.

There was no powder, but after riding this all morning to test out how it did on groomers, I didn't want to get off of it even though I had brought my daily driver too. I was expecting good but not great things and instead this blew me away with how fun it was to ride. Short quick cross-under carves, tight carves, longer carves, it did everything I wanted. Riding switch on it actually felt good rather than just "doable." It boosts off of side hits and has enough tail to pop well and dig in to hard carves. I did not feel the extra width at all even at slower speeds, likely due to the spooned-out nose which doesn't feel washy which was a relief.

Flex on this is medium with the nose being much longer and softer than the tail, making nose butters and tripods fun. You're going to get a medium amount of chatter if you're bombing down chundery runs, but it's not excessive and bombing down chundery runs are not what you want to do on this board anyway - it just wants you to make lots of quick turns on edge and jump over things. So if you're into that style of riding, here you go. I took this through the park off of the small jumps that Crystal has set up, and if you're into straight airs and indy grabs and don't jib this has got you covered.

All-in-all this is far more versatile than I was expecting and it's the party/powder board I needed. Now I'm hesitating to take the stickers off of the Nitro to try it out because they look similar and I think it's unlikely I'd like it more than the Stalefish. Also going to sell the rest of the powder-specific boards I own.

This could easily be a resort daily driver for anyone who isn't riding icy conditions all the time, isn't topping 50mph regularly, and doesn't need a twin for freestyle or park. That directional weekend-warrior guy or annual-trip-out-west rider who wants a board that will cover any good condition well that doesn't care about jibbing or doing 180's off of larger jumps.

 

[Phedder]

Good to hear! Was curious about the Stalefish. Your review basically mirrors what I'd say after 2 days on my 157 Dancehaul (will review properly after more days) highly recommend demoing one if that's at all an option this season. Super fun, super versatile, floats, carves, and pops.

 

[MrDavey2Shoes]

I’m mostly jealous that you guys are in a place to know what floats at this point in the season.

 

[drblast]

Good to hear! Was curious about the Stalefish. Your review basically mirrors what I'd say after 2 days on my 157 Dancehaul (will review properly after more days) highly recommend demoing one if that's at all an option this season. Super fun, super versatile, floats, carves, and pops.

The Dancehaul looks sick and similar to the Stalefish spec-wise.

I'm stoked about this class of boards. They seem to get a lot of things right.

 

[NT.Thunder]

Great review of the Stalefish @drblast - thanks for posting

Love the look of the Dancehaul, would love to read a review on here if anyone gets some days on it.

 

[drblast]

I've been riding the Stalefish quite a bit lately and it rips. Yesterday I rode it all day at Stevens with my kids with a few inches of powder then choppy groomers, today I spent all morning in about 8 inches of powder at Crystal. Float is great and I really like the tail shape in powder. It's easy to keep the board fairly level even on steep runs. I felt really confident doing sidehits and drops onto steeper powder landings and never felt like I'd go over the nose.

So that this isn't just gushing, here are things that aren't perfect:

The short/wide profile is great for carving but if you need to get somewhere fast it's not the best. This board is very stable at speed so I feel comfortable pushing it to its max speed, but I top out when flat basing a little sooner. But like I said above, if you're into charging all the time there are better boards.

I'd prefer a narrower board on ice at slow speeds. When conditions are cement-y and you're not going fast enough to carve you do feel the extra width a bit.

 

[Jack87]

How much do you weigh and what size are you riding?

 

[BSK]

Anyone ride both the stale fish and the service dog?

 

[Jack87]

I think there are angry snowboarder reviews for both of them I'm pretty sure he tested out both of those boards so that's definitely a good place to start to compare to two

 

[drblast]

Angry says the Stale Fish is slightly stiffer than the Service Dog, but mostly the same. Stale Fish you get sintered base and a bit of stiffness if you're heavier, but I'd be fine on the Service Dog I'm sure.

After a few months riding this board much more often than I thought I would because we've gotten a lot of powder and because it's more versatile than I thought, here's my opinion on it. Probably spent about 10-12 days on it so far.

1. Float is great. Never had an issue, have taken it in 2' deep powder. The only board I have that floats better is a Spring Break Tree Hunter 161. But if I didn't have that board I could ride the Stale Fish happily in any amount of powder.
2. This board is really nimble. In soft conditions you get that rocker almost-saucer-sled feeling in the nose while the camber tail digs in so it drives off the back foot and turns on a dime. I'm very comfortable taking this through moguls. This is the board I'm happiest on through trees.
3. In choppy terrain if you try to go straight and fast you're going to get bucked around due to the size and volume shift shape. When I go riding at night and there are little moguls everywhere my legs can get pretty tired from that. You have to steer around everything.
4. This board is fun to carve on groomers, especially for how short it is. The combination of being so nimble while still being able to lay it over is perfect. The tail really grabs hard if you dig in and can spring you out of turns. I like that this board is tapered and cambered with a tail that isn't too narrow.
5. When I bring two boards on a powder day, I usually ride this and leave the other board in the car instead of switching out mid-day. Being able to go in and out of powder stashes and still have fun just keeps me going.
6. I really like dropping small cliffs and side hits with this board, especially in powder. I feel like it's saved me a few times I've gotten off balance landing on bumps I didn't expect.

This board is an ideal complement to a groomer/freeride daily driver, and I still think this could be a daily driver for someone who rides mostly good conditions at speeds up to 40mph and wants a directional board. This is a good board for the park guy who wants a powder board that he can also mess around on and boost off of side hits with.

 

[Jack87]

Angry says the Stale Fish is slightly stiffer than the Service Dog, but mostly the same. Stale Fish you get sintered base and a bit of stiffness if you're heavier, but I'd be fine on the Service Dog I'm sure.

After a few months riding this board much more often than I thought I would because we've gotten a lot of powder and because it's more versatile than I thought, here's my opinion on it. Probably spent about 10-12 days on it so far.

1. Float is great. Never had an issue, have taken it in 2' deep powder. The only board I have that floats better is a Spring Break Tree Hunter 161. But if I didn't have that board I could ride the Stale Fish happily in any amount of powder.
2. This board is really nimble. In soft conditions you get that rocker almost-saucer-sled feeling in the nose while the camber tail digs in so it drives off the back foot and turns on a dime. I'm very comfortable taking this through moguls. This is the board I'm happiest on through trees.
3. In choppy terrain if you try to go straight and fast you're going to get bucked around due to the size and volume shift shape. When I go riding at night and there are little moguls everywhere my legs can get pretty tired from that. You have to steer around everything.
4. This board is fun to carve on groomers, especially for how short it is. The combination of being so nimble while still being able to lay it over is perfect. The tail really grabs hard if you dig in and can spring you out of turns. I like that this board is tapered and cambered with a tail that isn't too narrow.
5. When I bring two boards on a powder day, I usually ride this and leave the other board in the car instead of switching out mid-day. Being able to go in and out of powder stashes and still have fun just keeps me going.
6. I really like dropping small cliffs and side hits with this board, especially in powder. I feel like it's saved me a few times I've gotten off balance landing on bumps I didn't expect.

This board is an ideal complement to a groomer/freeride daily driver, and I still think this could be a daily driver for someone who rides mostly good conditions at speeds up to 40mph and wants a directional board. This is a good board for the park guy who wants a powder board that he can also mess around on and boost off of side hits with.

Thank you so much for the additional feedback! Is the Rome Powder Division same as this board or is there any technical differences that would make the ride different?

 

[BSK]

Angry says the Stale Fish is slightly stiffer than the Service Dog, but mostly the same. Stale Fish you get sintered base and a bit of stiffness if you're heavier, but I'd be fine on the Service Dog I'm sure.

After a few months riding this board much more often than I thought I would because we've gotten a lot of powder and because it's more versatile than I thought, here's my opinion on it. Probably spent about 10-12 days on it so far.

1. Float is great. Never had an issue, have taken it in 2' deep powder. The only board I have that floats better is a Spring Break Tree Hunter 161. But if I didn't have that board I could ride the Stale Fish happily in any amount of powder.
2. This board is really nimble. In soft conditions you get that rocker almost-saucer-sled feeling in the nose while the camber tail digs in so it drives off the back foot and turns on a dime. I'm very comfortable taking this through moguls. This is the board I'm happiest on through trees.
3. In choppy terrain if you try to go straight and fast you're going to get bucked around due to the size and volume shift shape. When I go riding at night and there are little moguls everywhere my legs can get pretty tired from that. You have to steer around everything.
4. This board is fun to carve on groomers, especially for how short it is. The combination of being so nimble while still being able to lay it over is perfect. The tail really grabs hard if you dig in and can spring you out of turns. I like that this board is tapered and cambered with a tail that isn't too narrow.
5. When I bring two boards on a powder day, I usually ride this and leave the other board in the car instead of switching out mid-day. Being able to go in and out of powder stashes and still have fun just keeps me going.
6. I really like dropping small cliffs and side hits with this board, especially in powder. I feel like it's saved me a few times I've gotten off balance landing on bumps I didn't expect.

This board is an ideal complement to a groomer/freeride daily driver, and I still think this could be a daily driver for someone who rides mostly good conditions at speeds up to 40mph and wants a directional board. This is a good board for the park guy who wants a powder board that he can also mess around on and boost off of side hits with.

Nice review. I’ve been all over the place on picking up a new board. I feel like I have a lot of spots to fill. I think that comes from my surfboard obsession/collection. Seriously thinking about getting one of these though, maybe a 153? I’m 5’9, 165, size 9 boot. Still haven’t ridden a volume shifted board so a little dark on how a wider board will go with my boot size but sure sounds awesome for powder.

 

[drblast]

Thank you so much for the additional feedback! Is the Rome Powder Division same as this board or is there any technical differences that would make the ride different?

Not sure, but I don't think the Pow Division had the 3D nose, and the pop rods or whatever they call them might have been different.

 

[drblast]

Nice review. I’ve been all over the place on picking up a new board. I feel like I have a lot of spots to fill. I think that comes from my surfboard obsession/collection. Seriously thinking about getting one of these though, maybe a 153? I’m 5’9, 165, size 9 boot. Still haven’t ridden a volume shifted board so a little dark on how a wider board will go with my boot size but sure sounds awesome for powder.

153 should be more than enough for you.

 

[Jack87]

Nice review. I’ve been all over the place on picking up a new board. I feel like I have a lot of spots to fill. I think that comes from my surfboard obsession/collection. Seriously thinking about getting one of these though, maybe a 153? I’m 5’9, 165, size 9 boot. Still haven’t ridden a volume shifted board so a little dark on how a wider board will go with my boot size but sure sounds awesome for powder.

Just do it! This thing seems pretty sick! I want it so bad but I literally bought 7 new boards this year and I'll get stabbed if another one comes in the house so I'll live vicariously through you.

 

[Jack87]

You have a Blur right? How does this compliment that?

 

[drblast]

You have a Blur right? How does this compliment that?

Me? I have a 164w Blur, so my 157 Stale Fish is nothing like the Blur.

The Blur is more twinish and one of the fastest and most stable boards for carving and all-mountain domination I've ridden. It's fine in powder if you're not expecting easy float. I bring the Blur to large mountains to ride fast and try to euro-carve on groomers or for those not-that-deep powder days. I don't ride it if it's crowded because it's like driving a Ferrari in stop and go traffic.

Stale Fish is for deep powder days and tight spaces. No problems at all riding it through crowds.

 

[Jack87]

Me? I have a 164w Blur, so my 157 Stale Fish is nothing like the Blur.

The Blur is more twinish and one of the fastest and most stable boards for carving and all-mountain domination I've ridden. It's fine in powder if you're not expecting easy float. I bring the Blur to large mountains to ride fast and try to euro-carve on groomers or for those not-that-deep powder days. I don't ride it if it's crowded because it's like driving a Ferrari in stop and go traffic.

Stale Fish is for deep powder days and tight spaces. No problems at all riding it through crowds.

So it compliments the Blur perfectly on opposite spectrums. For non park rider would the two basically complete a quiver?

 

[ridethecliche]

So it compliments the Blur perfectly on opposite spectrums. For non park rider would the two basically complete a quiver?

This is a funny statement for you

 

[DanijelJ]

Good to hear! Was curious about the Stalefish. Your review basically mirrors what I'd say after 2 days on my 157 Dancehaul (will review properly after more days) highly recommend demoing one if that's at all an option this season. Super fun, super versatile, floats, carves, and pops.

Hi Ia m choosing between stalefish or Dancehaul. Whats your thoughts ?