Lend a helping hand, picking out a snowboard

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 02:32 AM

There are way to many choices out there right now. I got to my local shop and am told that a 158 is a good choice, then I look online and read I should be on a 165. Then after that I have to deal with all the boards. These are some of the boards that I came up with on my scavanger hunt.

Rome Flag
Arbor Round House
Lib Tech TRS
Lib Tech Travis Rice
Never Summer Primier and Legacy

I ride everything the mountain has to offer. All the boards I have listed are in the 160 to 165 area. My feet are so so big, 12s, which is why most of these are mid-wides or wider waist widths. Data on these sticks or input on which board will have the most control of this quiver would make me one happy man

**BigKuba** · 12-13-2007, 02:45 AM

Where do you ride? how tall are you & what do you weigh? what do you like to do? jump/spin, ride mellow pow? steeps? like the snappy turny feeling or prefer to bomb it? It will all play into your decision... give us more info and maybe we can point you in the right direction.

**jepilot** · 12-13-2007, 02:57 AM

honestly, get a custom board. Check out roguesnowboards.com Boards made in VT.

**KungFu Eddie** · 12-13-2007, 04:33 AM

I can fully recomend LIB tech boards. Magne traction is the shit! They do tend to be a little on the stiff sdie as a rule so if your a thugged out jibber kid who wants to jib rails all day prehaps look for something else. otherwise totally kick ass.

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by BigKuba

Where do you ride? how tall are you & what do you weigh? what do you like to do? jump/spin, ride mellow pow? steeps? like the snappy turny feeling or prefer to bomb it? It will all play into your decision... give us more info and maybe we can point you in the right direction.

I ride everywhere in California,Mammoth, Tahoe, but mostly Bear Mountain in SoCal. I'm 6 foot 1 and a whopping 175lbs. I'm an intermediate rider, I haven't got into riding rails or doing jumps yet, I mainly hit the slopes and try spins and stuff on the sides, go through the trees on pow days, I would however want to my board to be a good board for hitting jumps, drops, and cruising in the park every now and then. I like to bomb it, but at the same time I like to slow down and make snappy turns on the steeps.

**boredboiseboy** · 12-13-2007, 11:16 AM

I would personaly recomend the Premier or Legacy for freeride boards. Im riding the big mountain version of the premier, the t5, and its a great board. The premier is more directional, free ride orientated, while the Legacy is more all mountain freestyle orientated(its a wider version of the SL). THe boards are tough, have a 3 year warentee, and are handmade in Colorado. You could also look at the Revolver, which is a wide version of their EVO. Its a fairly stiff freestyle board, so it might fit what you want a little better. Might not be great on rails, but it would be great for other park stuff.

Arbors a good board brand too, but I havent had a chance to try out any of their stuff yet. I wish they made a wide A frame

**BigDog00** · 12-13-2007, 12:14 PM

I dont board, but my buddy is ver similar to you and rides a Burton Custom. He loves it.

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 12:33 PM

^ I heard that those Burtons are great.

The other board I forgot to put up is the Rome Slash 158 or 160. I'm pretty sure it's the Agent in a wide version.

**crackboy** · 12-13-2007, 12:51 PM

you should ride my palmer classic

**shmoesmith** · 12-13-2007, 01:46 PM

for what you are describing I would go Libtech. You can forget Neversummer and Arbor if you are looking at playing in the park at all. Libtech makes a sturdy board and the magnetraction is what you will really want in the park(since parks always get so incredibly icy and hard packed).

Just my .02

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

for what you are describing I would go Libtech. You can forget Neversummer and Arbor if you are looking at playing in the park at all. Libtech makes a sturdy board and the magnetraction is what you will really want in the park(since parks always get so incredibly icy and hard packed).

Just my .02

How about the lib tech skunk ape wide with the Magne? It says freestyle, so I am sketched because I would probably hit the park about 10% off the time if that.

**boredboiseboy** · 12-13-2007, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

for what you are describing I would go Libtech. You can forget Neversummer and Arbor if you are looking at playing in the park at all. Libtech makes a sturdy board and the magnetraction is what you will really want in the park(since parks always get so incredibly icy and hard packed).
Just my .02

I think your overlooking the fact that both NS and Arbor make park boards. Like I said, the Revolver/Evo are freetstyle twins that are stiff enough to take out of the park.
If you dont have a floppy park board, you dont really need magnatraction..but if you want a floppy park board, by all means go magnatraction.

**arild** · 12-13-2007, 02:13 PM

Forget the Slash, and forget the Custom. Both are very freestyle oriented.

Look at the Never Summers other people have recommended.
Since you´re mainly freeriding, I´d go for a 162, or something in that area. Suits your weight better.

forest · 12-13-2007, 02:15 PM

for my money nobody makes a board that even comes close to Never Summer for rock solid feel, durability, dampness. You'll go through 2 or 3 of those other boards before a NS looses its flex.

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 02:34 PM

Never Summer boards look sick, but I have heard that there stiffness can screw with your board control and if you're not an advanced rider they're not worth the time. Which brings me back to my original list of softer type boards to be in more control as I progress. The Revolver may be the choice, I don't know though, it seems very park oriented, and I don't ride much in the park.

**shmoesmith** · 12-13-2007, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by boredboiseboy

I think your overlooking the fact that both NS and Arbor make park boards. Like I said, the Revolver/Evo are freetstyle twins that are stiff enough to take out of the park.
If you dont have a floppy park board, you dont really need magnatraction..but if you want a floppy park board, by all means go magnatraction.

I'm not overlooking that fact. If you ever watch my posting history regarding boards, I swear by Neversummer and Arbor boards and will probably have a few of them buried with me one day. This is from going on 18 or 19 years of riding many different boards.

THAT SAID, I think lib has them outdone in the freestyle arena. The libs are light as hell(NS certainly aren't..even their park boards arent..arbors are pretty good on weight.)they have the flex down really good for jibbing. The magnetraction is HUGE on a lib. Ever ride park? Those places are nothing but pure ice and hardpack. I'm sorry, but a traditional or tri-radial sidecut (which both arbor and NS use) are not going to perform in those conditions as good as a libtech with magnetraction. Additioanlly lib is doing things like reverse camber and some edge work to help with catching edges etc while jibbing in the park.

HOWEVER, since our newbie here now is saying only 10% park time, I am going to change my recommendation to an Arbor element. The arbor element is going to be lighter than any of the NS snowboards(for spinning and playing in the park on), plus it is going to have great stability and pretty damn good dampening. It has ample side cut and flex to handle slower speed turns, as well as being stiff enough for high speed bombing. You can switch it to a more centered stance if you want to play in the park. It has ptex sidewalls (one thing lib's need to get going on) which will take a hit off of a tree or rail better than a libtech will. It's durability will be better than a burton or many other boards out there.

go with a board in the low 160's for your length.

forest · 12-13-2007, 02:58 PM

agreed, Never Summer's are not light. My opinion is from someone who doesn't ever ride park, weighs 220, and was snowboading probably before you were born. If you like to rail turns, ride everywhere and don't like buying new boards every year NS ftw.

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 03:14 PM

The Element looks sick, the only thing is the waist width is a little small for my 12s

How would the round house compare to a NS legacy?

As for the magne-traction, the local shop guys swears by Lib-Tech boards, says they're like boards on roids, and the the new banana is like a board on roids and crack. This guys is however the same guy telling me to go with a Travis Rice 157

Not to be such a pussy, but I really just want a board that gonna make getting tricks, railing turns, jumps and drops dialed in. I know it's up to me, but I want a board that can help me excel.

**KnuckleDragger** · 12-13-2007, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by jepilot

honestly, get a custom board. Check out roguesnowboards.com Boards made in VT.

Thank for the plug.^

I would recommend finding a shop that will let you demo a few of your choices - you will be much happier and most shops will let you apply some of the demo cost towards a purchase.

Or check out the Rogue Freedom 160 soft flex

**shmoesmith** · 12-13-2007, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by inthetrees

The Element looks sick, the only thing is the waist width is a little small for my 12s

How would the round house compare to a NS legacy?

As for the magne-traction, the local shop guys swears by Lib-Tech boards, says they're like boards on roids, and the the new banana is like a board on roids and crack. This guys is however the same guy telling me to go with a Travis Rice 157

Not to be such a pussy, but I really just want a board that gonna make getting tricks, railing turns, jumps and drops dialed in. I know it's up to me, but I want a board that can help me excel.

What do you want? tricks rails jumps, drops? Yous said you wanted park 10% of the time, but your above post seems to contradict that. If you want to jib, get a lib. IF that is not what you are going to be doing and you are going to be cruising the mountain all over and taking drops (not doing spins or anything, just big drops etc while riding) then get a neversummer or arbor.

Both the roundhouse and the legacy suck for tricks. They are too stiff. They are big stiff boards centered around all mountain/freeride, NOT tricks. They are both heavier boards. You won't be able to spin them well. They are going to suck in the pipe, the stance will be bad for balance on rails. They will land drops like a champ though. They will turn great, and be stable as all hell when you blast through powder, ice, crud, avalanche debris and anything else you can think of.

This is why people on here have a 'quiver' of boards. One board just can't do it all. Additionally most people on ehre are going to recommend companies that excell at the big mountain/free ride sid eo fthings because that is what we are. We aren't a bunch of fucking park rats here. Most of us like it steep, deep, and sketchy as all hell.

Edit: I've never ridden a rogue board, but I've toured snowboard manf. facilities, and these guys make a top of the line board for sure (from a contruction standpoint). Again, you wil lhave to pick what you want to ride before making the decision on a board.

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by shmoesmith

What do you want? tricks rails jumps, drops? Yous said you wanted park 10% of the time, but your above post seems to contradict that. If you want to jib, get a lib. IF that is not what you are going to be doing and you are going to be cruising the mountain all over and taking drops (not doing spins or anything, just big drops etc while riding) then get a neversummer or arbor.

Both the roundhouse and the legacy suck for tricks. They are too stiff. They are big stiff boards centered around all mountain/freeride, NOT tricks. They are both heavier boards. You won't be able to spin them well. They are going to suck in the pipe, the stance will be bad for balance on rails. They will land drops like a champ though. They will turn great, and be stable as all hell when you blast through powder, ice, crud, avalanche debris and anything else you can think of.

This is why people on here have a 'quiver' of boards. One board just can't do it all. Additionally most people on ehre are going to recommend companies that excell at the big mountain/free ride sid eo fthings because that is what we are. We aren't a bunch of fucking park rats here. Most of us like it steep, deep, and sketchy as all hell.

Edit: I've never ridden a rogue board, but I've toured snowboard manf. facilities, and these guys make a top of the line board for sure (from a contruction standpoint). Again, you wil lhave to pick what you want to ride before making the decision on a board.

Thanks for clearing that up. I was under the impression that NS boards were good for everything, tricks, jumps, cliffs, and a bit of park.

I didn't know you guys were so hardcore. I like my life so I don't want to ride sketch stuff. I wouldn't consider myself a park rat, but I would like to hit it up and be able to do some rails while cruising down through the park stuff. I'm a lift guy, who wants to be able to hit natural jumps, man made jumps, cruise through the trees, and do some speed runs down the steeps. As for tricks I don't think I would ever start doing flips and stuff, the way I want to ride is like my favorite rider Devun Walsh or Tadashi Fuse second best rider in my opinion. If anyone know of a a board that would suit that type of riding let me know,as I want to someday rip as hard as those guys do.

**boredboiseboy** · 12-13-2007, 05:17 PM

shmoesmith: not trying to rip on ya, it just seems alot of people steriotype Arbor and NS as freeride only companys, and its hard to tell tone on the net ya know?

Inthetrees: it sounds like you need what would be called an all mountain freestyle board. Look for something with medium flex, setback stance, and since you wanna do stuff that might involve riding switch you might wanna go for a twin shape. There are alot of boards out there that fit what you want, so its a matter of prefrence. I agree on the demo idea, thats the way to go.

As far as NS boards go, they are like any other company, you have to pick the right board for your style. My t5 would make a horrible rail board, and a rail board wouldnt make a good big mountain board.

**shmoesmith** · 12-13-2007, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by inthetrees

the way I want to ride is like my favorite rider Devun Walsh.

Again, these guys do not ride a single board. You just can't do it all with a single board. Devun has ridden different boards depending on who sponsors him AND what sort of terrain/tricks he is planning on doing.

Forum sponsored him and it was. Devun Walsh 161 for backcountry, and Devun 157.5 for when it’s less deep. Forum Youngblood for street rails, and Forum Devun Walsh 153 for parks. DC sponsors him and he quits riding his forum boards and goes to a DC 158 Prototype.

Tadashi Fuse is sponsored by Burton...guess what he rides??? A Burton.

boredboiseboy has it right. Get a freestyle board (although I wouldn't go for a setback stance) with a medium flex and call it good. If you are just going to beat it up, you might as well go for something like a Lamar.

**inthetrees** · 12-13-2007, 05:52 PM

Thanks Boredboiseboy and Shoesmith,
I know you're not trying to rip on me and I can't be more thankful for your comments. I realize I need a few boards, but right now I can't have a few boards, so I only have one to work off of

Trust me I would love 3 or 4 different boards.

That will be crazy to see what DC comes out with, I love their shoes for skating.

I know as in all sports some companies flat out suck and others don't. Looking at what BoredBB say's the Rome Flag sticks out to me, set back stance, close to a twin. The other would be a Travis Rice, has a little wider waist width, not a mid-wide but it comes close. I would love to demo, but I don't want to just demo, rent, or borrow until I ride every board I can think maybe a good choice. Since my riding options are laid out and I can only use one board, out of these what would you go with, Rome Flag, Burton Custom, Lib-Tech Travis Rice, Lib-Tech Skunk Ape, or the Rome Slash, which would suit me the best?

**shmoesmith** · 12-13-2007, 06:19 PM

Go with the Lib Skunk Ape in a 162. I like the travis rice in a 157blunt, but that is a little too short for you. The skunk will be wide enough for your feet. It's magnetraction will kick ass in the park. Has plenty of sidecut for easy turn initiation. It will be light (not as light as the travis rice though) and will spin really easy. It also has a 0"setback which will make it easier to spin and ride switch.

I would stay away from the Burton and Rome boards.