Thanks for the info. Is it Abacus stiff enought to really plow throught the snow? How is the abacus compare to the Trice in regards to stiffness of the board? Just worry that it will be too soft and the rocker tech, that it will banana out.The Abacus did skin surprisingly well for me. The profile gives you a fair amount of contact under the touring brackets. The board is a tad softer than I am used too. I did take it on some big lines and it was fine. The base material is a little soft. Much like Voile's base.
Doesn't lib use extruded on some of their bases? That may not be the ideal way to go but damn if extruded can't tak an absolute beating and barely show a mark. I am starting to think it is not bad at all for splitting.
I know the base will be softer, which has a greater chance of being damamged. I was wondering about the actual stiffness of the board not the base.between those two, having ridden neither - the lib for sure. there are just way way too many anecdotal reports of arbors having soft, easy to damage bases for it not to be a real issue. for sure more than any other manufacturer imo.
you don't want holes and tears in the base of what will probably be your most expensive investment of a setup...
.... and what i'm saying is it doesn't even matter, the arbor is a no-go because its a splitboard that gets thrashed and ruined easily.I know the base will be softer, which has a greater chance of being damamged. I was wondering about the actual stiffness of the board not the base.
No particular reason for the two boards, they are just one that people have recomended to me. All of my solid boards are Libs or Gnus.It was stiff enough to plow through knee to waste deep snow for me. This was in the Rockies and not the PNW. I think the stiffness argument is rather mute. It is as stiff as it is going to be for the split version. Boards that are a tad bit softer are nicer to ride in the pow imo. Not ridiculously soft, but boards don't need to be 2x4 stiff either.
The Arbor does have a softer base. I did end up giving it a beating on my last couple of outings on it. I don't think you hit nearly the shit in the PNW as you do in the Colorado Rockies either. But you will tag stuff at times no doubt.
I got to imagine the T Rice is a stiffer board. I haven't ridden it. Just the Abacus.
Is there any particular reason you are just looking at those two models? There are plenty of other splits out there. I have a feeling that you can get a good deal on those two particular models. Which will do the job.
I like the Billy Goat, they just dont make it long enough. I was looking for something around 164. I know there is people out there that will argue that 2cm is not much of a diffrent but i think diffrent. Thanks for the recomendation.I love my Gnu Billy Goat. That thing is built like a tank. Its pretty stiff and can take a beating. But its pretty heavy compared to other splits and as I mentioned early, the c2bx profile makes it harder to skin in certain situations.
Venture and Never Summer both make super bomber splits. I got to demo the Prospector last season and the flat spot under the touring brackets does solve a lot of the climbing issues with rocker. I had good traction in some icy spots where I have slipped before last spring. It also keeps the rocker between the feet feel you'd expect out of aboard with the rocker camber profile.No particular reason for the two boards, they are just one that people have recomended to me. All of my solid boards are Libs or Gnus.
I was looking at the jone solution but read they have quality problems.I will be riding around the Calgary area mostly. Do you have any recomendations? I just want a sold trust worthy board that is going to last more than a season.
Venture and Never Summer both make super bomber splits. I got to demo the Prospector last season and the flat spot under the touring brackets does solve a lot of the climbing issues with rocker. I had good traction in some icy spots where I have slipped before last spring. It also keeps the rocker between the feet feel you'd expect out of aboard with the rocker camber profile.
Venture's just skin great. Flat between the feet means you are getting a ton of skin contact. One of the best for skinning. Everyone really seems to like the Zelix. That one or the Zephyr would probably be the models you would want to look at. Pretty outrageous float with Venture's too. Their boards are built very well for floating in powder.
The Rossi XV is also a great board. Pretty tough too. The one I demo'd had an extruded base and though that doesn't sound as good as a sintered base, an extruded base can take a beating. There were some serious rock hits on that board and it barely left a mark on the base. I also did not have any issues with glide. I was pretty much getting to the same spots before losing speed as with any other board. The board does camber between the bindings, but not very pronounced.
I think any of those three would do the job for you. Along with what you are already looking at.
Thanks for all the info. After a good talk with the guy at the local shop I ended up buying the Billy Goat 162. The reason I went with the Billy Goat it, I have been mostly ridding the mervin products. I like the set back and it is a stiff board. I know it is well made.I like the Billy Goat, they just dont make it long enough. I was looking for something around 164. I know there is people out there that will argue that 2cm is not much of a diffrent but i think diffrent. Thanks for the recomendation.
The solution was this years board. Still had some of the shipping plastic on it! Hopefully it was a one of a kind.I think you are fine with the BG. Everyone really seems to like it. I wish Mervin did full wrap around edges. At least on their split line. Probably a non issue. There is just a lot more small impacts. Skinning and such. Then again if you delam it, probably means a new board. That ain't bad.
I've been lucky to be able to take out several different splits over a season. Ultimately it is best if you can try before you buy. So if you know what you are getting not a bad idea to go with it.
For the Solution. Was that a current season model? I was under the impression that the rin two seasons had problems, but last year was fine overall. The carbon Solution sure looks nice but damn that would suck if it had construction issues after dropping that amount of cash.
