[perfect_zed]

Hi Guys,

Been reading the entire thread over the last couple of days, great fun!

3 years ago I went on my first snowboarding trip for 7 days in the Austrian alps and was hooked immediately. Afterwards haven’t been able to go due to obvious reasons.. Until January this year; I went again for 7 days in the French alps, a long weekend at Laax and (I live in The Netherlands) I try to improve on my technique as much as possible in a 300m long indoor slope in between. In March and April I get to go to the alps again fortunately.

Before this season started I was set on really improving and bought myself some kit to start to explore snowboarding. I ended up getting a K2 Raygun Pop 156, Salomon Trigger’s and K2 Maysis boots. While great fun was had in France, after the first day in Laax I started to feel like I outgrew the board a bit already. With a bit more days under my feet I noticed I really love (and still learning) to carve. The K2 was a bit too flexy at speeds above 50 kph and on edge for my feeling though. In Laax there was a Burton demo center. I tried a Burton Skeleton Key 2021 158 which felt better to ride on edge than the K2 and also a lot more stable at speed. Ended up taking it with me (was a really good deal). Some days it feels a bit soft and edge hold on ice (especially indoors) isn’t great though.

Over the last few months I kept eyeing the Korua videos more and more and am now thinking of joining you mad lads and start this new addiction .

Not really sure what a good next step would be though. Hopefully someone that has ridden the Skeleton Key once can help me out a bit. Dislikes at the moment are the flex and edge hold. I like the stability at speed in comparison to the K2. Lacks a bit of punch through rough snow when carving in my opinion.

I‘d consider myself to be intermediate at the moment. Carves are starting to get better, and while I don’t do it too much, I can ride switch quite decently. Not too much interest in park. When I do get to go the alps, I tend to stick to groomers, side hits and a few metres to the side of piste. I don‘t go fully off piste or into the backcountry. Due to my location I ride indoor a lot as well. That means I don’t see too much powder. Only on a good day on the sides of the pistes.

I’d like to seriously up my carving game. What I love mostly is to carve across the piste from side to side and dance on the edges in the narrower parts if that makes sense. some 180‘s here and there and just goofing around and having fun mainly. Not so much to gun it down at highest possible warp speed. Definitely style above speed. Was looking at Dart, CR, Pencil and Otto.

I am 178cm (5 ft 10), boot size 9,5 (EU 42,t / 30,3cm boot sole length) and weigh in around 71 kg (155 lbs) plus a few with gear off course.

Earlier today I sold the K2 and the Trigger’s, so also looking for some new bindings. Was looking at either Cartel X’s or Union Force/Strata’s.

Important for me is that I can’t go out to the alps every weekend. That means I don‘t get to choose the conditions and I always aim to extract every single day and hour on piste. That means all kind of snow conditions and 8 hr plus days that I all need to ride on the same board. Switching it up after 10 am is not too much of an possibility.

Also started a bit with riding +/+. Like it sometimes but not sure if it fits the Skeleton.

what to do, what to do

Hopefully you guys can help me out a bit!
-—
Edit: LeDe correctly pointed out I forgot about the TF in the list above.

 

[perfect_zed]

Seems to me you have omitted the board that would be the compromise between carving and goofing around, the Transition Finder. Any reasons?

Completely forgot to add that to the post. You are right. Just edited it as well.

 

[perfect_zed]

@perfect_zed : Don't want to crash the party, but regarding your experience, I'm not sure a Korua is the best board to grow into. They ride a bit special and might kinda slow your progression because of that, or make you skip important skills. But if that's really a Korua that get you stoked, then by all mean, get an Otto. It's probably the easiest and most versatile to ride (didn't try it though…).

If you want something to do "like in the Korua videos", maybe a Dancehaul? It will certainly be easier and more "normal" to ride, still carves great, is playful and all.

Thank you, this is also valuable input. All together I think I have around 35 days of riding experience and will probably rack up another 75 or so this year at my current pace.

Wouldn’t it then be better to stick to the Skeleton for some time and rack up some more experience before going for a Korua? Seems like the dancehaul is kinda similar to the Skeleton Key.

Since I’m buying bindings in any case now, ideally they would transfer over well to a Korua in the future. Seems like lot of the Korua team is riding Unions. Was looking at the Cartel X’s myself. Seems there is a lot of love for Katana‘s as well in this topic. Do the Union’s fit these boards that much better or does it just seem to be a sponsored deal?

 

[perfect_zed]

!!!

2/3 hour sessions per day though, I do have a day job

 

[perfect_zed]

35 days experience total or just this year!?

I thought I was doing good hitting 30 this weekend and shooting for 40-50!

In total! Just this year I’d have to win the lottery first. I do try to go twice a week to the indoor slope now to practice technique and get better. For really focussing on certain aspects while keeping the environment the same is actually kind of nice.

 

[perfect_zed]

From Koruas get the Otto. Hands down the most versatile one with their DNA still there. Fits your requirements the best. I enjoyed both the 161 last year and the 157 last week that my bud is ripping on.

Read your message a bit fast, yeah the Skeleton is great. You could at least keep the Skeleton as your daily driver until you feel you've outgrown it (or it's dead…). You can always buy a Korua as your "perfect day" board if it has you stoked and try it from time to time to see if you like it. I mean, having a board we love is part of the fun and you can keep it for years. I just wouldn't sell the Skeleton yet.

Packing days like you do, I'm sure you will quickly build some skills. But you know, even with something like 30 times your experience, I'm so happy I bought a softer board along the Café Racer.

Thanks guys,

Decided to bite the bullet and ordered an Otto 57. If it’s still too tough to ride I can always keep it stored for later in the year, and if it’s fun it was a good choice.

Will give an update here when it has arrived and I have my first experience. Already mounted my new Cartel X’s on the Skeleton and went for a ride yesterday. Quite a substantial improvement so stoked to try them on the Otto as well.

 

[perfect_zed]

I am sure the Otto will work out great for you. I just sold my Otto 57 because I got a TF+ and I have too many boards already. I am not sure it was the right move though. I should probably have sold off something else because even though the TF+ is a great board (I think, only 2 days on it so far) it doesn't replace the Otto for playing around/carving small resorts. TF+ is much more demanding. I tend to ride quite stiff charger boards and the Otto was perfect for more relaxed riding and riding with the kids.

The Otto already got delivered today. Very quick shipping and a nice written message on the box. Mounted the Cartel X’s and went for a shred right away this evening. The indoor run was a very icy mogul field due to holidays (very busy) but still I was very impressed. It does take a bit more precision than the Skeleton, as expected, but I actually quite like that it forces you to use proper technique all around.

The stiffness and edge-hold were amazing though. Once you drive the edge in, it powers through anything. Bumps, ice and uneven terrain all get chopped through without breaking a sweat. Much more stable than the Skeleton and completely worth losing a tiny bit of flex and agility over. This Saturday morning I’ll have a chance to try it on some freshly groomed snow and lay out some higher speed carves but first impressions were extremely positive.

Ran a quite modest +18/-12 today but will also try +/+ soon. Seems like it would suit it when conditions are a bit better.

Only thing I didn’t foresee is that the white top sheet is almost invisible in the lift queue lol. When it’s busy people don’t tend to see it and scoot right over it. Might have to slap the Korua sticker that came with it on top .

 

[perfect_zed]

Hey guys,

Going for a 3 day trip to Kaprun this weekend. Looks like conditions will be a bit slushy since it’s warm in the alps currently.

How are your experiences with the Otto / other Korua shapes in those conditions?

Still in doubt whether to take the Otto, Skeleton Key, or both of course.

 

[perfect_zed]

A bit slushy is where naturally wider and stiffer Koruas excel. Check their edits

Always mostly seemed like powder to me, but will have another watch. Good to get in the vibe in any case, thanks. Will definitely take it along then!

 

[perfect_zed]

While I'm still enjoying my Otto a lot, the amount of days I can propely use it are limited so I'm adding a bit softer deck to my quiver (something like Amplid Singular). Therefore I want to sell the Otto, if anyone is interested.

It's an Otto 57, ~ 5 days on the mountain, ~10 sessions indoor. Basically as good as new, just broken in. Base in perfect shape, with a fresh wax and top sheet perfect as well. Looking for around 300 or make me an offer . Bought in end of Feb this year.

 

[perfect_zed]

Got any pics of the board? Just made an account when I say your post!

It was sold already in the meantime, sorry! Shipping would have been expensive as well by the way . Hope you’ll find one!