Blogs Results

Prospect Snowboards isn't in every snowboarder's daily vocabulary and we don't have a problem with that. Being a non-corporate anti establishment board company, I guess you can say our marketing isn't awesome. Well... our commitment to making amazing snowboards is awesome. While we aren't interested in corporate subculture that comes with being a mainstream snowboard manufacturer it doesn't mean the industry isn't recognizing what makes Prospect rad.

 Add/View Comments (0)

 Add/View Comments (0)

 Add/View Comments (0)

 

Ski or Snowboard Rentals – Whistler

Renting skis used to be a dreaded experience, long line ups for poorly maintained out of date equipment provided by ski bums who didn’t care. Changes have swept across this industry with new companies competing in every resort worldwide.

With airlines charging extra for ski baggage, the inconvenience of carrying heavy equipment and an increased environmental awareness the number of skiers renting equipment has risen.

If you look at ski technology and ski branding a two year old ski can often look outdated, therefore before you leave home do a quick calculation of “how many days a year do you ski?” multiplied by the cost of renting against the cost of new skis. The average cost of renting top end gear is around $50 CDN for two days. If you average 10 days per year that works out at $250 per year. New skis with bindings range from $500 to $1100.

Factor in the cost of tuning, inconvenience, baggage fees and your environmental consciences and renting comes out the winner.

My family decided to test this theory with a visit to Whistler in January, we looked online and booked with a company called Affinity Sports. (www.affinityrentals.com)

After breezing through the airport and traveling the sea to sky highway we checked into our hotel around 9pm. Surprisingly the rental shop was still open so despite our jet lag we headed in to pick up our gear. The staff greeted us on the way in the door and our reservation was ready. We tried on the boots and with skis hanging on every wall I picked out a new Pair of Volkl AC50. The binding was adjusted and the staff answered all our tourist questions while helping us feel welcome in Whistler. The kids tried snowboarding had to choose from a selection kids gear.

On the third day the weather moved in so we took a rest day, I dropped the skis back at the store and was surprised to learn I would be credited back the days I didn’t use. I then took advantage of the best reason to rent, trying different equipment. The trend in skis is to have more specialized equipment to suit the conditions so I changed for a K2 Coomba, a powder ski. Each time I dropped into see the staff at Affinity they accommodated my every request without hesitation. The equipment was tuned, it was the latest model and the service was excellent.

Two weeks later back at my desk I thought about the old rent vs. buy argument. I will be renting skis, snowboards and maybe even snow blades every time I go. The image of ski rentals is changing and being driven by companies like Affinity, I hope to go back to Whistler for the Olympics and will be renting everytime.

 Add/View Comments (0)

Snigggty snap boom crack….ahh yEAAA….  THE MESSAGE is BACK!!!

Summer, Summer, Summmer tiiiiiiiiiime is finally winding down, there have been some kickass concerts going down in Tahoe all summer I saw Pato Banton, Andre Nickatina, Rebelution, The Pyrx Band, and many others,  4th of July was off the hook! For those of you who caught the fireworks, than you know that Tahoe and Big Bear offer some amazing fireworks shows, if you didn't make it to the lakes this year, you better plan on it next year!!!! And then we had Labor Day, Thanks to everyone who came out and partied last weekend! Both Hotels were SOLD OUT and it was an amazing time!!!  IF you can't wait to get away, check out these upcoming events that you don't want to miss!!!

In LAKE TAHOE,

Tuesday September 16th – Living Legends – (Eli, Sunspot Jones, Luckyiam, Scarub, Aesop, Bicasso +more TBA) along with The Bayliens and Rise of the Revolution.


Tues September 23rd - Eek-a-Mouse

Wed Sept. 24th - Sweatshop Union

Nov 28th - "Blizzard" Pray for Snow Party at Vex Night Club


And X-mas with THE GROUCH!!!


All of the above shows are at Whiskey Dick's Saloon a few miles from THE BLOCK. Cept the "Blizzard" Party at VEX.

Coming up in BIG BEAR,

Weekends, September 13 - October 25th - 38th Annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest, located at The Convention Center at Big Bear Lake.

AND THEN, the 1st SNOWBOARD CONTEST OF THE SEASON is BACK!!!! September 20th – Hot Dawgs and Hand Rails returns to Big Bear! Pro Jib Contest with over $15,000 prize purse!  Vendor Village, weenie roast, raffles, FREE ADMISSION! 6,000+ people showed up last year, so Book your rooms at THE BLOCK early to insure you got a spot to crash!!



Big Bear is also getting ready to open a new skate park at the community center,  be amped on that!!

SO with the 1st contest coming our way that means winter is just around the corner, and THE BLOCK has been busy preparing for THE BLOCK BOOTCAMP 2008!!  This year's BLOCK Bootcamp will be held once again in Big Bear from Nov 10-22.  We have been receiving numerous applications from all over the world and will be selecting 100 recruits to participate in THE BLOCK Bootcamp of which only 20 will be hired! The Bootcamp is a HIGH STRESS Environment and will be intense, so start training now! If you have any injuries that prevent you from completing physical tasks (ie. push-ups, pull-ups, running and general calisthenics), please refrain from enrolling as we will not be making any exceptions for any physical and mental handicaps this year!  If you were not hired last year and can physically complete the course you are welcome to re-apply for Season 3.

However, This year we are going stern on snowboarders, you MUST BE ABLE TO SNOWBOARD! We don't want non-snowboarding actors trying to get the job, just because it's a TV Show. SO if you don't own your own snowboard and gear and cant ride down the mountain, don't even bother applying!!!!!!  Snowboarding will be part of The Bootcamp, so your skills will be put to the test!

If you have already applied, don't worry your application has been received and we are in the process of reviewing them, All accepted recruits will be notified atleast 30 days prior to Boot Camp Departure Via 1st Class Mail from Marc Frank Montoya and Liko Smith.

IF you think you have what it takes to work for the Dopest Hotel on the planet, Please send a resume (include work history, address and phone #), 2 pictures, your myspace link (if you got one) and a paragraph on why you would be good for THE BLOCK to bootcamp@theblockhotels.com

 This year is going to be the best year to date at THE BLOCK, Liko and G4TV have been throwing around all types of rumors for Season 3, will we be going to Japan, Whistler, LAAX or somewhere else equally as cool, we will just have to wait for this next upcoming season to find out!!! THE BLOCK Season 2, is downloadable on iTunes and X-Box Live so if you ain't seen it, go check out all the debauchery that goes down at our Hotel!! Everything from bootcamp to Aspen X-Games, Vivid Porn Stars and Spring BLOCK!!!

Also if you missed THE BLOCK, when it premiered on 4-20 you can catch it again when it re-plays again this winter or download it on i-Tunes, V.O.D., or X-Box Live.

Click to Watch NOW!

Click to Watch NOW!




Sundays at 8pm PT 11pm ET ONLY on G4



AIGHT thats all I got for ya this time, WE will be having more updates closer to bootcamp, so keep yo eyes and ears peeled!!



Dirty D Signing OFF



Check out these flicks from the Summer...





 Add/View Comments (0)

 Add/View Comments (0)

The BC Snowboard Association (BCSA) is pleased to announce that Cypress
Mountain, off icial snowboard venue f or the 2010 Olympic W inter Games has
shown continued support of the BCSA and the development of amateur athletes
within BC. The BC Development Team, which currently trains exclusively at Big
W hite Ski Resort, has expanded its scope to the Lower Mainland with regular
training planned at Cypress Mountain for the 2008-09 winter season.
 
The Provincial Development Snowboard Team is designed as a stepping stone
for young athletes to move up the ranks of competitive snowboarding within BC
and secure spots on the BC Provincial Snowboard-Cross and Halfpipe Teams.
The BC Provincial Teams in turn act as a f eeder-program for the Canadian
National Snowboard Team. The Development program, now entering its third
year in operation has received a huge amount of support f rom Big W hite Ski Area
where the teams have been based. W ith the expansion of the 2008-09 program
to include not only Big W hite Ski Resort but now Cypress Mountain, there will be
additional opportunities f or young athletes to become involved with the
competitive stream of snowboarding within BC.
 
Joff rey Koeman, Cypress Mountain’s Director of Sales & Marketing says, "W e
are very e xcited to have the BCSA Development Team expand to Cypress
Mountain.  W hen the BCSA Team approached us on this idea we all felt that this
was a perfect f it for Cypress Mountain's ongoing commitment to developing snow
sport athletes in Vancouver and at Cypress Mountain the Off icial Freestyle Skiing
and Snowboard Venue for the 2010 Olympic W inter Games."
 
Unlike the Provincial Teams, the Development program is not specialized in any
one snowboard discipline. Rather, the athletes are encouraged to compete in
Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Snowboard-Cross events. Athletes within the program
must be at least 13 years old and generally have already gained some
competitive experience. In order to gain a spot within the Development Team,
athletes participate in one of two Selection Camps, the next being scheduled in
early December at both Big W hite Ski Resort and at Cypress Mountain.
 
Matt Galina, Development Team Head Coach comments that, “I think that it’s a
great opportunity that our program is expanding, as this will give even more
young riders the opportunity to get the coaching that will help them develop as
competitive snowboarders.
 
Currently there are eleven athletes on the BC Provincial De velopment Team. The
athletes compete in local competitions as well as BCSA Provincial Series Events.
The team trains in two areas in the province including Big W hite and Cypress Mountain. Additional inf ormation regarding the Development Program and the
Provincial Teams can be found at www.bcsnowboard.com
 
 
The BC Snowboard Association (BCSA) is a non-prof it sport organization, which
is the governing body of snowboarding with in the Province.  The BCSA is an
organization that brings youth into a safe and supported environment while
competing in a sport they love.  Up and coming National Team riders and future
pro athletes are bred through the BCSA and its programs.

 Add/View Comments (0)

The Superman Mythos

by Thyroros

The term superman first entered into modern usage through the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche. This late nineteenth-century German philosopher was vehemently anti-Christian and never tired of condemning the faith as weak, absurd, even detrimental to human development. While Hitler admired him, and the Nazis are said to have made use of some of his ideas, Nietzsche did not actually share their racist and anti-Semitic views. (1) Thus it is not entirely incongruous that two young Jewish men from Cleveland, Ohio would have adopted the term for their own use. While many assume Superman is merely a work of science fiction, I do not believe this to be the case. I too grew up amid all the movies (the first film starring Christopher Reeve came out the year after I was born), cartoons, and TV shows, believing the Man of Steel to be nothing more than a slightly stale and out-dated comic book hero. However, after watching various episodes of Smallville, a very different interpretation of the American icon began to impress itself upon me.

As nonsensical or offensive as some people might think this to be, the tale of Superman represents an allegory of another well-known supernatural, extra-terrestrial being: Satan.

Before delving into some of the more specific correlations, and often glaring similarities, between these two legendary immortals, there is an important point which needs to be made regarding the nature of angels. Angels are extra-dimensional and other-worldly travellers who make infrequent appearances throughout the Bible and other related texts. They usually do not have wings, and they almost always appear just like men. The Seraphim and Cherubim are the only two celestial orders consistently described in the Bible which bear wings. While most angeaologies consider both orders to be angels, the highest orders in fact, neither the Old nor New Testaments refer to them as such. But this is really just a semantic argument that needn't be fully addressed here. Anyway, the English word angel is derived from the Greek angelos which simply means messenger, as does the Hebrew mal'ach, which is used in the Torah, the prophets, and other Hebrew writings. (2) These terms can be used to indicate human or divine beings. Many times the humans with whom angels communicate are not even aware of it until the supernatural visitors perform some act obviously beyond the capability of mere mortals. After closely examining all the Biblical references, I was forced to conclude that there is no overwhelming distinction between angels and what modern mythology refers to as aliens. Both are extra-terrestrial, and both seem to exhibit powers and/or technology beyond what might traditionally be considered human. Now, Satan, if standard Christian doctrine is correct, is a fallen angel, while Kal-El, or Superman, is a stranded, immigrant alien.

Objections may arise as angels are said to dwell in heaven while aliens inhabit the supposedly innumerable worlds located in the vast reaches of space. But again, the only difference between the concepts of heaven and space lie in the minds of people who refuse to acknowledge the simple facts. Both exist above and outside the earth, and both are impossible to visit for the majority of living human beings on this planet. Even now, after thirty-some years of manned space-flight, it still requires the pinnacle of human technology, and the availability of monumental resources, to even consider such undertakings. We haven't been to the moon in over thirty years according to official sources. Moreover, space remains extremely dangerous. It is a notoriously hostile environment; the slightest mistake or malfunction can bring about instantaneous death for even the most well-trained astronaut. So, heavenly realms and intergalactic space, not that different, right? Okay then, hopefully that matter is settled, and we can move on to Krypton.

As most of us know, Kal-El's homeworld, Krypton, was completely obliterated due to a nuclear reaction at its core, which resulted in the infant Kryptonian's emergency flight to earth. Now, some theorize that the asteroid belt in our solar system was created when a large, terrestrial planet located between Mars and Jupiter (often referred to as Astera/Astara) exploded some time in the past. (3) It's possible that this same cataclysm was also responsible for the destruction of the Red Planet's atmosphere and its civilization. Satan may also be connected with Mars and Astera, depending on one's interpretation of certain Old Testament books such as Ezekiel. Ezekiel states in chapter 28, verse 14 that the former anointed cherub, Satan, "walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire". It's not a very far stretch of the imagination to connect "the stones of fire" with planets. Please examine the following verses for more details:

Ezekiel 28:15-17 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground (Hebrew 'eretz is also often translated as land or earth), I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

So Satan may have ruled a physical civilization spanning Mars, Astara, and perhaps several moons as well. But he rebelled against his God and King, and was cast to the earth along with a third of the Heavenly Host (See Revelation 12:4).

The aforementioned information thus allows us to have a much clearer understanding of the scenario presented in Smallville 1961. While I don't disagree with Chloe about the possibility of genetic memory being stored in the DNA, I don't accept that this was necessarily true in Clark’s case. I believe it to be more likely that Jor-El and Kal-El are one person, not father and son. Here's how it works:

I. Jor-El is Satan. II. The father who exiled Jor-El/Satan to earth is actually the Father, as in Yahweh, the God of the Bible. III. Jor-El/Satan returns to space to continue the "War in Heaven" (See Revelation 12:7).. IV. In order to eventually assume the role of Anti-Christ, Satan devises a seemingly foolproof plan. Just as Yahweh/God limited himself in power when He assumed the form of Jesus/the Christ, Satan formulates a a similar device. He clones himself and denies this clone access to certain segments of his memory and powers. This way he will more easily deceive humans into believing that he is a righteous savior rather than evil incarnate. But he makes messages and recordings beforehand which will remind him of certain things at planned intervals. This will enable him to develop in the most ideal way in order to fit the role of the Christ more perfectly. V. Satan and his angels are defeated in the heavenly realms, Mars and Astera/Krypton is destroyed as a result. Satan transfers his consciousness/spirit from Jor-El to the infant clone, Kal-El and rockets off toward earth.

As additional support for this concept, let us explore the meanings of the principal character's names belonging to the Superman mythos:

Clark - Old English - Clergyman or learned man (4)

Kent - Welsh - Bright white, white or bright (5). Another interesting possible derivation of this name is from the Biblical Kenites (first mentioned in Genesis 15:19 as enemies of Israel), who may have been descended from Cain (for in Hebrew Cain is more accurately transliterated as Qayin, and Kenites as Qayini. Adding an "i" to the end of a name in Hebrew indicates the people or descendants of that personage. Israel/Israeli, Qayin/Qayini. See the pattern?) (6)

Kal-El - Can be translated as destruction or completion of God in Hebrew (or possibly 'all that is God/totality of God'). (7) El is the Hebrew word for God.*

Jor-El - J is actually pronounced Y (the letter Yod) in Hebrew. Possible translations are: Yare'-el - fear of God, Yarah-El - God teaches, taught of God, Yeru-El - God is a foundation, Yeri-El - founded of God; God will see. (8)

Krypton/Kryptonite - From the Greek words krypto - To hide; kryptos - hidden unseen, secret; krypte - hidden place (9)

Lex - Latin for law (Just in case 'Lex' is actually short for Alexander, Alexander is Greek for leader of men, alex (leader) + ander (men).10

Luthor (Luther) - Teutonic- famous warrior/ famous in war

Old German - Warring ones

German - warrior/famous people?. Martin Luther was a Catholic monk and theologian turned Protestant reformer (1483-1546). (11)

*If one is inclined to doubt that Kal-El and Jor-El may actually be Hebrew names, allow me to you remind you that both Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the original creators of Superman, were Jewish. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it's highly unlikely they would give their characters Hebrew-sounding names by pure chance. (12)

There are just a few more items of interest which may possibly be connections between Kal-El and the Red Dragon/Satan. Since Superman derives his powers from the sun, that would make him a kind of 'sun god'. Satan has sometimes been compared with the sun gods of ancient mythology such as the Egyptian Ra, the Greek/Roman Apollo and the Persian Mithra. The 'infinity serpent' burned onto Clark's chest in the second season finale of Smallville is another fascinating correlation, as Satan is often recognized as being or controlling the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis chapter 3), and one of his titles in Revelation (12:9) is that "that old serpent". Finally, it would be quite simple to draw a pentagram inside the five-pointed shield emblazoned on Superman's costume. Pentagrams are used in ceremonial magic and Satanism the world over. Not that such a detail is conclusive, but I just thought I'd include it for the sake of being thorough.

So what does all of this mean? The reader, of course, is free to draw his or her own conclusions But here's what I believe; Superman comics, movies, and TV shows (and everything else in between) are Satanic Propaganda. Superman is the Anti-Christ/Satan and Lex Luthor, representing Christianity, is desperately trying to defend the earth against him. As the story is told from Satan's perspective, Lex is falsely demonized and portrayed as an insane criminal. In the words of Friedrich Nietzsche from Thus Spake Zarathustra, "God is dead. I teach you the superman." This is the lie that the father of lies is eager for us all to swallow down between mouthfuls of French fries and jelly-filled breakfast pastries.

- Thyroros, December 2, 2003, Redlands, CA.

Endnotes:

1. See Friedrich Nietzsche's Biography.com
2. Information gathered by using the King James Bible (1611 Authorized Version) and The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. James Strong, L.L.D., S.T.D. Fully Revised and Corrected by John R. Kohlenberger III and James A. Swanson. Grand Rapids Michigan. Zondervan. 2001
3. Click here for the standard line on the Asteroid Belt formation. Go here for more information on the possible link between Mars, Astara, and Satan, maybe even Venus?
4. Name definition for Clark (Any standard name/baby-name book should provide this information.)
5. Name meanings & Name origins (Any standard name/baby-name book should provide this information.)
6. See footnote 2. Most Biblical scholars don't make the connection between Cain and the Kenites. This is probably due to the long-held view that the Flood of Noah/The Great Deluge (as related in Genesis chapters 6-8) was worldwide and no one survived except Noah and his family. However, a gr owing number dispute that the Flood was regional rather than global (which is possible based on certain interpretations of the passages in Genesis), and therefore, Cain's progeny could have survived.
7. From the Strong's Concordance Hebrew Dictionary (contained within the same volume), Reference numbers 3605-3607, 3615-3617
8. From the Strong's Concordance Hebrew Dictionary (contained within the same volume), Reference numbers 3372, 3384, 3385, 3400. Incidentally, yerah is the Hebrew word for moon, ref. 3391.
9. From the Strong's Concordance Greek Dictionary (contained within the same volume), Reference numbers 2926-2928 10. (Any competent Latin-English and Greek-English dictionaries can be used to find these definitions. Also standard name/baby-name book should provide this information.) Here's a couple of websites just in case you want them. For Alexander. For Lex & another for Lex. Just for fun, here's website containing excerpts of Plutarch's Alexander the Great (who was not a good guy) bio.
11. "Luthor/Luther" name meaning.
12. "Jews are the true comic book heroes", article from the Chicago Sun Times and here's a History of Superman article from Superman.com.ar in case your interested.

End the words of Thyroros.

This article can be found at: http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/comics.php?topic=articles/superman-satan

 Add/View Comments (0)

 Add/View Comments (0)

 

1.        164 Flow Solitude WX with NXT FX's (07/0). 
Conditions: Crunchy icy man made snow mixed with natural snow, brisk but slightly overcast with hints of sunshine.
Stance: 22 wide 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: 06/07 Vans Fargo Boas size 11 with 100 plus days on them.
One word description: Fun
This board is straight up fun, you can haul on it and rail a carve like no other.  The carbon fiber X's that make up the Whiskey X construction allow for ultimate pop in the tail, yet provide lots of stability under foot.  This board held an edge like no other and was amazing.  Seriously blew my mind.  Also super light.  The bindings were phenomenal, my boots are shot and kind of loose but the bindings compensated like no other.  You get awesome stability in these, the ease of Flows as usual, and the ability to drive.  If anything I found edge initiation easier on these bindings than my 390's, and have to say probably one of the best bindings I've been on so far.
 

2.       Atomic Rapture 157 (07/08) with Rome 390's (06 - 07)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: End of the day sunshine going down, pushed snow, icy, windy, temps dropping.
One word description: Mediocre
The new shape of this board makes it semi overlap the Alibi in my opinion.  Also the introduction of the Nomex in the core has severely reduced its weight, but made the flex almost unpredictable, as it is a softer material.  Edge to edge this board is fast and butterable, but knowing that nomex honeycomb is crap I'd be afraid this board would blow apart.  Had decent pop, but this board is far from what the rapture of yore was, the Axum and pivot would be better choices since they are on the same chassis.
 

3.       163 Salomon Burner with SPX 45's (07/08)
Stance 22 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Flat light, mid morning, sun was starting to peak through the clouds.  Rollers and push mounds galore.
One word description: Springy
This board for being a super free ride board was kind of sad, I felt it was way to soft.  The best way to describe it is springy.  At high speeds I could feel some vibrations under foot, but the ERA tech in it definitely distributes pressure outwards towards the edge.  The edge hold was ok but its sidewall is poop in my opinion.
 

4.       157 Lib tech Jaime Lynn (07/08) with Rome 390's
Stance 22 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: End of the day flat light in spots, shadows, sun setting, windy, icy, harder push mounds, lumpy snow.
One word description: Old school
So since everyone claims I'm on crack with my interpretation of this board I took it out again.  I'll say it again this board is relatively soft and butterable.  Its ok edge to edge and you can noticeably tell the difference between the sidewall to the cap.  All in all it’s like riding a board from 10 years ago.  I wasn't overly impressed hence why you don't see my recommendations of this board all that much.  It’s got decent pop but nothing spectacular.  I think the JL name sells it more than the ride.
 

5.       161 K2 Believer with Formula bindings (07/08)
Stance: 22 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
conditions: Early morning, firm but softening up, with corduroy still available
One word description: Interesting
First thing you notice with this board is the rubber style top sheet with about 1038484848 different sayings on it.  After that you'll realize this board is built to be a BC POW killer for lighter weight guys.  Weighing in at 170ish lbs.  I'm more the average person that will ride it.  Edge to edge it was great but seemed washy in the heel.  After talking with the rep we realized he set me a bit heel heavy.  So to be fair I did take it out again in a different size.  But for a 161 I could have annihilated it in the pipe with this thing.  Very poppy has a great sweet spot.
 

6.       157 K2 Believer (07/08) with Rome 390's
Stance 22 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas
Conditions:  Sunny bluebird day, soft snow, 2 inches of fresh.
One word description: gnar
After figuring out that the ride on the 161 had skewed my view of this board I brought my gripper grips to kill on it.  First things first the edge to edge was perfect.  I was getting a bit burly popping FS 1's off rollers and landing on edge.  What I noticed with me was that at my weight I would land more on my nose coming down and go right into a carve from pushing in the nose.  Not a bad thing, just this board is a bit softer in the nose/tail than what I'd like.  Popping was great and you can really rail a carve on it.  Switch is easy and the side cut isn't crazy aggressive.  I hit a natural QP and this thing did have boostability like I thought.  Definitely a board that you can ride anywhere.
 

7.       162 K2 Podium (07/08) with Rome 390's
Stance 22 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas
Conditions: Sunny, slightly choppy, soft slushy snow, kind of windy and cold
One word description: Fast
This board does have a 1mm taper and a 3/4ths set back but the sidecut is set back so you ride it centered even though you have a longer nose.  This board is for charging and laying carves, wicked fun I have to say.  No chatter in it and there's an amazing sweet spot in the tail for popping, its right where the Carbon Kevlar fibers overlap the torsion forks which creates for boost city.  It reminded me a lot of popping on the jibpan which has to be one of the best boards for loading up the tail and popping I've ever been on in my life.  It’s definitely the free ride elite board of the K2 line up.
 

8.       162 K2 Eldorado (07/08) with Rome 390's
Stance 22 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas
Conditions: Sunny, bluebird, windy, firmer push piles and rollers.
One word Description: Busted
This board has an easier to initiate sweet spot in the tail than the podium, but its not as good as absorbing the impact of dropping on ice.  I felt a few of my impacts on this board, even though it’s got that integrated topsheet with the riser/ dampening.  The nose did get the chattery butterfly effect at speeds.  Edge to edge it was great and held well as long as I wasn't pointing it.  I'd say its just a hair past midstiff.
 

9.       165 Unity Pride Wide (07/08) with Rome 390's
Stance 22 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas
Conditions: Early morning sunshine, bluebird, and beautiful.
One word description: Slug
I can ride a big wide board with no problems.  This thing was a slug, slow edge-to-edge initiations, sluggish flex, and just all around it was like a slug that just keeps trudging along.  Pop was mediocre; flex was a bit more than the eldorado but still nothing to rave about.  All in all it didn't ride really damp and I felt a lot of vibrations.  I think the construction of this mixed with the Carbon fiber wrap just made this board the lame.
 

10.   155 Flow Era with NXT AT's (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas
Conditions: Very early morning, sun just peaking the mountain, bluebird, fresh corduroy with rollers
One Word Description: Slayer
Flow has to be doing something right, this board was amazing.  It had the right amount of mid flex for a park stick, but a lighter weight.  It puts my Hatchet to shame, and makes me question my TR.  Load the tail up and pop, yet roll into the landing easily.  Switch was amazing on this, perfectly fine, control was great, and flex was brilliant.  Bindings are ok, not as great as the NXT FX's but these are noticeably softer and jibbier.  Once again I will state that I felt I initiated flows on edge a lot quicker than traditional straps.  Buttering with this board is amazing and throwing every variation of butter and spin to butter and butter to spin was easy.  Flow has a great 350-dollar park slayer here that easily competes with others in that category.
 

11.   156 Flow quantum with NXT AT's (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: Early morning, sun peaked the mountain, bluebird, semi fresh corduroy with rollers
One word descriptions: Stiff
this is a more torsionally stiff board than the Era.  It has the brass edge and definitely is a pipe board as this is Scotty Lago's pro model.  I could get it on nose to butter fairly easy, but then the torsional rigidity would kick in and kill that.   Edge to edge it was a bit more muscled and popping off rollers required some effort.  This board is built for transitions not for flat land tricks.  The bindings were ok again but I think stiffer ones would have helped me a bit more on this.
 

12.   157 Salomon Sanchez with XLT relay's (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: Mid day, blue skies, brisk, slightly icy rollers
One word description: Butterworth
This board is definitely the jib stick they make it out to be.  Very spongy and just flexed like no other.  Pop was ok but for it being so soft I would flex the tail/nose out a bit more than I'd like so it didn't give me the pop I wanted.  Edge to edge its like any other jibstick so it doesn't super excel at it.  The Relay XLt's are different at this point I'm not saying whether I like them or hate them.  It’s just different and allows for different flex than I'm used to.  I could really get into butters.  So for now I'm going to say the jury is still out on this one.
 

13.   169 Never summer titan (07/08) with Rome 390's
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11
conditions: Overcast, blustery, slightly icy, with trace amounts of snow
One word description: Burly
I have a bit of a vendetta against this board and needed some revenge.  I had the 160 of it most of last winter which I thought was an amazing board, but the 169 and I had some unfinished business to take care of.  First off this is truly one of the only boards I've ever had to stay on guard at all times with.  If you don't ride it like you mean to, it will own you.  Its fast and you can haul; the side cut makes turn initiation insane on it.  This board just cuts through the crap and charges like a bull in a china shop.  You don't butter with this board (unless you're me) and if you're popping its just so you avoid some gaper that made a sudden turn.  I love this board and can't stress how great it’s become since I first rode the 169 in WA about 2.5 years ago.  Plus come on its built in America and has a 3-year warranty.
 

14.   162 Libtech Skunk Ape MTX (07/08) Rome 390's
Stance 22 18 negative 15 Goofy
boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Icy, choppy, overcast, just plain nasty
One Word Description: Plank
So everyone’s been hyping this up I figured I'd go hop on it and see how great it is.  Really its nothing special, the Dark series and TRS are way better in my opinion.  Its sluggish edge to edge and kind of chattery.  It didn't hold well on edge either and that’s saying something since it has MTX which as everyone knows I'm not a fan of but it does have its uses like the conditions I was in.  Buttering wasn't happening on this stick.  I'd have to say it wasn't that great of a ride, I was kind of turned off in general by it.
 

15.   161 Ride Concept UL with Alpha bindings (07/08
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Early morning icy corduroy, bit overcast with sun peaking through
One word description: Light
The top sheet on this board is insanely light, like no other.  I give them credit for that for sure the board was light.  But right off the bat those evil barrel roll ratchets and I had a shi*t fit.  So after even more adjusting I got it dialed in, or so I thought.  This board does have good pop but then again with 7 pieces of carbon fiber in the tail I'd hope so.  I could pop on it and the side cut was great for turn initiation, but as always happens with me, squirrelly on edge.  It seems to be something with me and rides.  Also the way the boards constructed it seemed to get a bit to squirrelly at speeds and do the death flutter.  Switch was easy to initiate and buttering was effortless even for having carbon array 7 in it.  The bindings though, were crap flex wise.  I guess after all these years I'm a plastic guy still.  The new slime cap or whatever they're calling it does grip really well and that’s a good concept I give them credit for that.  But when unstrapping yet again I had to do the Chewbacca yell and pull as hard as I could to get the damn things off. 
 

16.   158 K2 Zeppelin with Formula bindings (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Bluebird sky's and super sunny, soft snow
One Word: Softer
Anyone that’s rode the Zeppelin in years past knows it for being a hard charging freeride beast.  Now they've added Nomex, one of the gayest things on earth for any board to the core between the bindings.  It gave it too much torsional give while being more stable in the nose/tail.  This board does have a great sweet spot for popping on the tail and the longer torsion forks in the nose allow for a better nollie rate.  Other than the gay nomex in the core the boards really sweet and the bindings are fun on it but need more padding.  Great edge control on this board and super stable.
 

17.   158 Never Summer Heritage with K2 Autolocks (07/08)
Stance 22 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Push mounds and ice mixed with slush and blue sky’s
One word: charge
This is definitely one of the funnest boards in the NS line up and matched with the Auto's it was even more fun.  I was just charging the fall line with this board and popping off rollers.  Great edge-to-edge and burlier than the NS SL, which is basically its little brother now.  The flex on this board is grand for all mountain freeride, not so wondrous in the freestyle side of things but that’s what makes this board great.  See a pile of chud run it over, see a gaper in the way run it over, see a small furry woodland creature run it over.  This board just straight up kills it.
 

18.   158 Rome Graft with Rome 390's (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: Sunny, slushy, bluebird Loveland days
One Word: Popmaster
This board is very light and poppy when mixed with the new 390's.  First as a huge fan of the 390's I have to say how much better these bindings rode because of the strap, although with them being lightened up they did feel a bit more flexi.  Anyways the Graft has awesome pop in the nose/tail mixed with a great side cut.  While the side cut is great I wouldn't exactly rail a carve on it as its not as smooth as other boards in the line up.  Torsionally this thing is soft as hell, which makes boning out a butter a lot easier, but man load the tail up and pop to the moon for sure.  I definitely wouldn't put this in the all mountain freestyle category more the freestyle category for sure.  But you can ride switch on this thing fine and just pop fs and bs 180's like nothing coming down a trail.
 

19.   158 Rome Mod with Rome 390's (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Bluebird slushy and sunny preseason
One word: Over hyped
This board for being a 550 "high end" park board really didn't wow me. For a board that is supposedly going to offer insane amounts of pop it wasn't happening, and at speeds it wasn't stable.  It was almost like riding a broke down Rome headroom really.  Edge to edge it was fine but nothing-spectacular if anything a bit more hooky.  Butters were easy and the blunted nose/tail makes grab tweak ability super easy but like I said its nothing that wowed me.  The flex is definitely softer than a high-end park board should be; the k2 Jibpan is definitely stiffer as is the new alibi/rapture from Atomic.
 

20.   165 Venture Westland with Flux Streams (07/08)
Stance 22 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: Sun going down, icy, cold, blue skies
One Word: HUGE
The bindings weren't an exact match to this board so it didn't do it justice, but I needed a binding and it was the end of the demo days so this was a quick fix.  I hate Flux cap straps and every time I use them they prove why they're just so f*cking horrid.  The flex on this binding was too soft for this board but I made due.  Venture has a great thing going with being hand built in Silverton CO, and being all about renewable resources.  This board had ptex top sheet, sidewall, and the base of course.  It was a bit on the stiff side but it hauled like no other and the side cut was great.  Through the end of the day chop it just charged like no other and was really great and stable.  Downside was the 4 x 4 inserts god that stuff is so horrid for stance options but whatever.  I wouldn't recommend this to many people but it was a fun ride for me and compares to the NS titan.
 

21.   155 K2 Darkstar with Formula bindings (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Mid day sunshine, some ice, few push mounds
One Word: Blastacular
They narrowed this board up which changed the flex slightly and it being more of a twin this year compared to last.  This board is very butterable and poppy.  Quick edge to edge but not as all mountain freestyle as before definitely more of a freestyle kind of ride.  Had insane pop and was great for throwing spins coming down the mountain.  Switch was a breeze.  My biggest gripe though has to be the lack of padding on the K2 bindings I just feel I'm going to bruise my heels in these things because of the lack of dampening.  If you're a smaller guy though this boards flex is ideal for all mountain riding, me being slightly bigger not so much.
 

22.   157 Nitro Team Art Attack with Raiden Phantom Bindings (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Past midday, sun slightly setting, push mounds and slush
One Word: Frightening
With the new profiling of Nitro in there cores I'm a bit scared to ride their boards.  This thing just felt brittle if you will and I was almost afraid I'd snap it.  Flexwise its rather soft and not super poppy but decent.  The board and the bindings didn't wow me all too much, more so the bindings.  I felt that they were just knock offs of other companies I'd been riding.  Plus after all these years they still utilize that gay ass cable in the heel straps which actually weighs them down and flops them open so you step on them all the time.  The edge to edge was ok and switch was fine, at speeds there was death flutter in the nose and I got the wump chunk bang of death in the nose.  Popping 180's on this thing was a breeze because of its lack of weight, but as mentioned that reprofiled core scares me.
 

23.   162 Gnu Billy Goat Temple Cummins series with 06/07 Rome 390's (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: 15 plus inches of pow
One Word: Smooth
This board is a pow freeride killing beast much like I'd expect since Temple designed this.  Edge to edge it was awesome, popping on rollers it was great, and thigh deep pow was awesome.  This board was smooth and damp, felt like riding a never summer.  Turn initation was a breeze and this thing had great float in pow but I wish I had set it back a lot more. 
 

24.   156 Lib Tech Skate Banana with Rome 390's 06/07 (07/08)
Stance: 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: Choppy mid day pow
One word: Buttery
I've ridden the SB before and absolutely hated it but it was the first gen.  This one was obviously different and rode so.  It was decent in the pow for being a 156.  This board was noticeably more banana techy (is that a word) compared to the other one and was fun in the choppy mogul pow I was hitting.  Biggest downside was the gay ass MTX grabbed and pulled me to the ground.  Edge to edge other than the constant grabbing was fine and it was butterable, the float was amazing.  All in all I was far happier with this version than the one I previously rode
 

25.   161 Dark Series w/ MTX with Rome 390 bindings 06/07 (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: Real choppy mid day pow
One word: Killer
In this day and age there's so many boards claiming to be the quiver of one.  This is one that sticks out to me as one.  It’s fun, lively, and great for anything.  It did great hoping fences, slaying mogul pow, and dipping in the trees.  I just hate MTX other than that it was fine.  It handled small drops great, switch great, and the flex was awesome.
 

26.   158 Nitro Wiig with Raiden Phantom Ettalla (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Sunny some gray clouds negative 15 degrees F
One Word: Popomatic
Ok so it was ungodly cold that morning but I still braved Keystone for this demo and since my old ride rep Josh took over for Jeff the former Nitro rep I went out to support him cause he's a good guy and actually dials my shi*t in.  I'm going to give the bindings credit they were more dialed in than the last ones I took, super cushy, great response, and a true 0 on forward lean.  The board had pop like no other and a great side cut to it.  I was boosting over obstacles left and right, buttering it fine, and able to lay out a hard carve like no other with it.  The base was fast and this board was smooth, the precambered cores are awesome for the pop that they give to their boards. But once again still sketchy on durability in the long run for me.
 

27.   148 K2 Mix with K2 Formula bindings (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
conditions: Frigid ass cold
One word: Stable
Ok so I've ridden like all the k2 line at this point, this board was there for me to ride so I snagged it.  Yes its a chicks board I'm starting a new trend on the hill narrow stances baggy pants and chicks boards.  Actually for a little 148 it was stable under foot with good pop and a nice side cut this would be for a beginer advanced female rider.  Switch it was fine, it actually carved surprisingly well even though it was tiny as hell.  I did do some nice ollies on it and had a blast with it.  For something built for someone about 40lbs under my weight this thing was great.

 

28.   155 Rossignol Decoy with HC 3000 (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Slightly warmer but still frigid ass cold
One word: Surprising
So I've been known to hate on rossi for some time, frankly most of their shi*t is wacked out.  Case in point these bindings were absolutely f*cking horrid piles of shi*t.  No real support, highbacks flexed too much on turn initiations, not enough give when pressing it was so weird it was just like being restricted when I wanted to ride park, but not enough support when freeriding.  Anyways the board surprised me a bit with how stable it actually was for being a 155.  Had a great shape, good side cut and was awesome just cruising, buttering, popping.  A bit on the stiffer side but still not so bad it was a plank, it is after all a higher end freestyle board but it was surprising.
 

29.   155 Rossignol Alias with Flow M9 (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas Size 11
Conditions: sunny bluebird day about 30 degrees great conditions
One Word: Fun
 
I can't describe in words how much fun this board was.  For something in the 350 dollar price point this board slayed.  Straight up fun, it was poppy, lively, stable under foot, great side cut.  It reminded me of riding a Hatchet which is awesome as everyone knows that was one of my favorite boards for the longest time.  This board just handled it all well and at that pricepoint I would recommend it.  The bindings were a bit softer than I'd have liked but then again its supposed to be that way its a mid level binding.  It did everything I wanted it to do even for having some technical issues I went over with the rep on.  Flow makes a solid product.
 

30.   159 Infinite with Flow Teams (07/08)
Stance 22.5 I think it was something like maybe 9 degrees on the front negative 12 on the rear
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Sunny, crisp, good day for a board test not too crowded
One Word: Oakley
 
So my rep who I will say is a great guy set me up wrong and I realized it by the point I was on the lift so anyways its time to ride.  This is Risto Matilla's exact set up but man those Team bindings hated me.  They're very anatomically correct so much so that a Vans boot is a squeeze in these.  I won't lie there was no way in hell a Vans boot fits in there properly.  Even with the wacked out angles the bindings were supportive although made of magnesium and having worked on one too many ski buckles over the years I know how magnesium breaks so I'd be a bit skeptical of that plus the 500 dollar price tag.  Granted if nothing ever went wrong you'd own this binding for the rest of your life.  Now the board was interesting to ride in meaning that it was light and poppy, had great stability under foot yet the nose was still playful for butters.  Switch was a breeze on this and pressing wasn't a problem, the pop was decent not anything substantial, I'd consider this more of a down graded solitude personally.
 

31.   158 Nitro Misfit with Raiden Phantoms (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Sunny, end of the day skies, little gray bird going on, some shadows
One Word: Slug
 
So my rep recommended this to me otherwise I'd probably have ignored it and for good reason.  This thing is a slug it was heavier than the other 2 nitro's I'd been on the last 2 days.  There was pop in the tail and nose but man it felt like a plank to initiate it, but when it did it was good.  The side cut was the poo weiner for sure, I just couldn't initiate a turn like I should with this and it was such a slug to get into a carve.  It seriously sucked the donkey weiner.  But obviously every company has a board that sucks donkey balls but man this took the cake for the day.  The bindings I have to admit are growing on me the ratchets are solid the straps are solid, decent dampening but man I swear the original Nitro rep didn't have my shi*t dialed for me like my new rep because these are growing on me except that damn cable that holds the heel strap in.
 

32.   Ride Society 157 with Ride Delta (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions Sunny, end of the day skies, gray clouds, more shadows
One word: Chattery
 
So the rep didn't believe me that this thing was chattery and most people dont' on here as well.  But that board just doesn't dampen like a lot of other boards I've rode, pop was ok, but the chattering made the edge wash out and that sucked donkey balls.  Side cut was ok for turn initiation but man it just wouldn't hold and was kind hooky if I popped a 180 with it.  For a board with this much CF in it, it sure didn't pop well or stabilize good.  The bindings were crap.  First off too rigid so they didn't flex well with the board at all, the straps were mediocre, and for some reason when initiating toes and heels it felt like something was blocking the flex of my foot in the heels, it was just pure shi*t I couldn't stand it.  Seriously ride might make some good products for some people but man they need to dial in their shi*t on the boards.
 

33.   Bataleon 155 Riot with their last years bindings
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Sunny blue skies some clouds early morning
One Word: Popmeister
 
So its been a while since I hopped on a TBT board.  It took me a minute to get used to this puppy again.  The Riot replaced the Hero which I used to own and it has a stiffer nose.  This thing was poppy and fun and the tbt wasn't as pronounced as my Hero thats for sure.  I was railing carves with this and popping over small children left and right and ripping the corduroy.  It was light and agile and far more stable than my hero.  The bindings on the other hand were a pile of Suck seriously.  No dampening not a real good heel hold.  But then again this was an SP binding with a Bataleon graphic on it and it was a pile of poo.  Next year no bindings from them the year after that bindings again but they're designing them from the ground up.
 
 

34.   Bataleon 157 Jam with K2 Formulas (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
Conditions: Sunny Blue skies early morning
One word: Killer
 
The tbt was a bit different on this one so turn itiation was a bit different.  Although it was a super fun board and with having a better binding I think I rode better.  Edge to edge on these boards is a f*cking riot can't go wrong with them you just get on it and go.  Switch was a breeze on this board and buttering was fun.  Flexwise I'd say it was similar to the riot actually just a bit more playful in the nose/tail, I could pop on this puppy with no problems and it was fast thats for sure.
 

35.   Bataleon Goliath 157 with K2 formulas (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 Goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 11
condtions: Mid early morning blue skies again
One word: Stellar
 
So the TBT was more pronounced on this and made turn initiation more agile I felt.  This board is more freeride geared and straight up stellar underfoot, no chatter, but still playful when need be.  I didn't have to be on top of it as much as I thought I was going to be.  Charging was a breeze with this and I managed to offend some jack ass instructor with it and carving was amazing.  I'd say it was stable as could be.
 

36.   Bataleon undisputed 168 with k2 formulas (07/08)
Stance 22.5 18 negative 15 goofy
Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11
Conditions: After lunch blue skies hunger pains, leg cramps
One Word: Burlinator
 
This board is burly straight up burly.  It is like a never summer titan with tbt.  The tbt is so unique on this board with how its set back and defined.   There was no buttering, no playing around, no switch it was charge and go and that was it.  If something got in my way I rode over it or gaped it.  This was fast and meant for someone that isn't f*cking around you charge with it and thats it, not for the rudy poo candy ass weekend warriors.  This board was fun but I swear its from the future sent back to destroy me.

 

37. 158 K2 Jibpan (07/08) with Rome 390 bindings

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas first day size 11’s all days after size 10’s

Conditions: Knee deep powder, wind blown, sunny bluebird, heavy pow

One Word: Love

You know the more I ride this board the more I have come to regret my choices on not buying this at the beginning of the season. I can’t stress how much fun this board is, load the tail and pop, hit a jib and press it, ride a run and ollie a gaper. Seriously I find this thing amazing. I took it out the Windows gate at Breck and was hitting pillow lines and a open pow field. While its size wasn’t the best for pow that tail sunk like a champ and nose popped up. I did find it a bit soft in the middle where the under layer is Nomex Honeycomb but that’s to be expected given the nature of the board. It did fine off small 5 to 10 foot drops, and was awesome at hitting mini poppers in the trees. Edge to edge it was grand. I will note that riding a smaller boot that wasn’t packed out changed my edge to edge and power transmission greatly. 

 

38. 155 Unity Origin (07/08) with Rome 390’s

Stance 22.75 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: Slightly sunny into overcast and snowy, very cold

One Word: Washy

Everyone raves to me how great Unity’s boards are.   Honestly they don’t ride any better than a lot of the crap boards I’ve been on. The construction is just poop. Anyways this board was just washy at speeds, had decent pop but nothing to rave about. My problem is that I could feel every inconsistency in the snow, there wasn’t any dampening or so it seemed. Buttering it felt like there was a dead spot as if I’d hit a peak and that was it, couldn’t push it further. In the pipe it didn’t suck up a tranny as well as I’d have liked either. The side cut wasn’t as bad as the other Unity I rode (see above reference) but when laying into a carve it would spring out and start to wash out, to the point I had to stay on top of it.

 

39. 160 K2 After Black with Rome Targa’s (homemade bastardized version) and K2 Formulas (07/08)

     Stance: 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

      Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

   Conditions: Freezing cold, knee deep pow, blue bird sunny days, with higher winds

    One Word: Stable

           I’m going to note on this board that the Targa’s are the bastardized version I made off the            first year 390 chasis. So the toe straps aren’t the same as this years targas. I’ll note that the heel ratchet is amazing with its quick in and out compared to my old 390’s and I’m totally happy with building this binding. Highback sits higher and has a more rigid flex so it allows for better power transmission. The formulas I’m so stoked on buying. I find depending on how I ratchet them down is how they flex. I crank them, stiffer, moderate pressure more jibby. With my new boots all previous complaints about dampening are gone, actually this binding rides so much better in my new boots. The ratchets are so quick to release and easy to use the strap just feels so solid, adjustability was a bit of a bitch, I find it almost similar to adjusting a flow binding but whatever its dialed in 100% now. The board is light and poppy for being a wider stick. The side cut allows for great eurocarve ability while still being fun for riding pipe and jumps. The boards flex is very rail friendly, but yet still smooth enough for tranny’s in any sized pipe. The tail on this has a wicked sweet spot that you have to be careful to not over load as you will end up over shooting a jump. In pow this board has great float but the tail doesn’t sink that well, then again it’s a true twin park board, it was nimble in the trees and just a blast for hitting poppers and boosting. Switch is very easy on this board and just super fun in general. All in all it is a very solid ride that I was super stoked to be on.

 

40. Rome Anthem 158 (06/07) with 390’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 11

Conditions: Cold sunny day, wind packed, slightly crowded

One Word: Poppy

I took out this board a couple months back so I’d have a clearer perception of the differences between last years and this years. This board rides very similar to the Never summer SL but with a bit better pop in the tail/nose. Switch was fun and edging was ok even though the edges were pretty damn haggard on this board. I could really rail a good carve on this and it was stable. The pop was great and it was fun. All in all I really did like riding this.

 

41. Rome Anthem 159 (07/08) with K2 Formula’s

Stance 22.75 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditons: Sunny, overcast, cold, warm, slushy, icey

One Word: Soft

This board was really soft to me even for being in the 159 size. At speeds it was very chattery and through a carve it just wouldn’t hold the way I wanted. I was really struggling and muscling it into deep carves. Switch it was fine and still very butterable. All in all this ride just wasn’t as much fun as I’d have liked, way to soft for what I wanted and very hooky. In the pipe the edge hold was so sub par after coming off riding that 160 afterblack. I just couldn’t understand why at times it would get hooky when initiating carves. Rome makes some awesome products but this was not one I can say I was in love with. 

 

42. 161 Never Summer Premier F1 (08/09) with K2 Formula’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: Soft snow, very sunny, light wind, blue bird skies, waist deep pow

One Word: Unique

I’d like to note that my board is the first off the production line so this is not initially the real production model. At first this board started out really stiff, but about after the first hour when I broke in the fiberglass and core it was flexing like how a premier should. The new F1 is a stiffer tail, with a bit more torsional give between the binding inserts and a softer nose forward of the contact point. You notice right away the stiffer tail which allows you to push it through a hard carve, while still having the added playability of the torsional give between the feet. I do need to detune my edges a bit as for some reason compared to my SL and Legacy they’re thicker and noticeably sharper. The board did seem a bit hooky, but I’ll get another couple days on this to add to the review. Anyways in pow this does what its intended for, the tail sinks, nose floats. One of the more noticeable features on this is the weight is drastically reduced. There’s substantial pop which makes this fun for hitting little poppers. I wasn’t too happy with it off park jumps or in the half pipe, but then again I wouldn’t ride this board for that. Off rollers though it was fun. 

 

43. 162 K2 0 with K2 Auto Evers (08/09)

Stance 22 with 18 negative 15 Goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Small amount of gray bird, sun poking through, fresh corduroy

One Word: Absorber

So the 0 is K2’s answer to all the environmentally green things coming out and the fact that people have pixie sticks for legs and need light weight boards. This board does have light weight, but it isn’t the lightest I’ve ever ridden either. The side cut on this allows for great carves, while still being very stable under foot, and having great edge hold. The flex on this thing is definitely not rail friendly, park friendly, tree riding friendly, or people friendly. Flexed very similar to a NS titan with it just being very hard to bend. The harshmellow padding under the bindings and in the binding is awesome, for absorbing chatter. I felt next to no vibrations while riding this. The pop in the tail has to be man handled to get it to actuate. The new Auto Evers are stiffer than the old Auto’s but way more responsive. The cable on mine was so new it needed to break in so getting in and out was a bit of a pain. The heel strap is very cush and holds you in super well. The weight of this binding has been drastically reduces as unnecessary parts were eliminated and put into a better capacity for user use.

 

44. 159 K2 Turbo Dream with K2 Auto Evers (08/09)

Stance: 22 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditons: Slightly windy, bit overcast, and 6 inches of windblown powder

One Word: Rocks

So the Turbo Dream has the all mountain rocker. This rocker makes it far more versatile for going any where on the mountain. The board is meant to be ridden centered, so if you ride in the backseat or with a forward stance you’ll be falling over. When initiating into a Tail press or butter it takes very minimal effort to achieve this, but over all press ability on this board is so good.  In the pow this board does exactly what its intended to do and sinks right in and goes for it. Riding this board on hardpack is no different than a regular board. I was still laying hard carves and just charging as fast as I could with this board. Popping on it off rollers was very easy, if anything the Rocker allows for better pop as the board actually flexes more to initiate the tail. Just so everyone knows with K2’s rocker on the Gyrator and Turbo Dream you ride it bigger than you normally would.

 

45. 152 K2 WWW LTD with K2 Auto Evers (08/09)

Stance 22 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Overcast, windy, cold, real crappy out

One Word: Retards

Let me sum this up, if you can not press a snowboard especially a jibstick then you are a retard. But this board is like training wheels for the retarded in how it allows you to get into the press position. Doing tail blocks was so easy I don’t even think I lifted my back foot off the ground it just went right into that position.  The big problem with this board was the bindings, they were way to stiff for it so they kind of overpowered it. By that I mean if I wasn’t careful this thing would just get retarded and buck me around. Popping on this board would be better if it was a hair stiffer but then again it’s a WWW and we all know how soft that is. Edge to edge it did what it needed to do but was still slightly squirrelly.

 

46. 153 K2 Jibpan with K2 Auto Evers (08/09)

Stance 20 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Overcast, windy, cold, pure crap

One Word: 90’s

Seriously I didn’t realize in the 155 and down sizes with k2 the reference stance drops from 22 to 20. My god it was weird riding something that small with that narrow of a stance. The new Jibpan is basically the Super weapon, with a 5 cm longer effective edge, some minor tweaks to its flex, and what not. This thing charged like a 158 that’s for sure, was butterable even with my gay ass narrow stance, and had pop like a jibpan should. I’ll definitely be getting on the 156 to see how that rides.

 

47. 158 Omatic Celebrity with Nidecker ACT Carbons (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Celsius CLS 8 Double Boa size 10.5

Conditions: Overcast, windy, cold

One Word: Stability

The Celebrity is Louie Vito’s pro model for next year, replacing the Wig Out. It has a similar flex pattern to the old wigs but a bit more jibby in the nose/tail. The pop on this beast is amazing and the edge to edge control is super stable while coupled with a great side cut for laying carves with. Buttering with this board is a breeze and switch is super stable. The bindings were a bit on the stiffer side but whatever its what I wanted and they locked me down and I was good to go. The boots my god now I don’t know where to begin with this. It felt like I was in a knee high ski race boot the cuff was so high on them, the heel hold was amazing, but the side to side play was just too much. The boot didn’t fit my foot shape and probably will only fit a D plus width of a foot.

 

48. DC PBJ 155 with Atomic Mojito’s (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 Goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: Pure shi*t

One Word: Work

This board needs work, for being there jib stick I’d feel more secure dropping off a 30 footer than hitting a 30 foot double barrel. For some reason DC has the sidecuts and edge hold dialed in perfectly, but the flex patterns are so wacked out. It’s a bit of work to press and pop, but the ride is so damn stable and damp. It just needs a different core profile and a changed carbon array. The bindings from Atomic are solid except for the toe cap it needs some work, and the ratchets have minor issues which can be worked out. They have really great dampening in them and are super stable.

 

49. 158 DC MLF with Atomic Mojito’s (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: Pure crapola

One Word: Plank

This board is supposedly there all mountain freestyle board, the only thing all mountain freestyle about it is the shape and that’s it. The flex on this thing is about the same as a NS heritage which made it a choir to butter. Its very stable and the side cut is great for carve initiation. The board rides pretty damp too, but for something in their all mountain freestyle line I wouldn’t call it a contender at all.

 

50. 157 Ellis Felix with Ellis Felix bindings (08/09)

Stance: I think 24ish inches with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: Crapola again

One word: Jibgnar

Ellis is a relatively new snowboard company from So Cal that I had a chance to hang out with in Vegas for a day. The Felix is a total jibbers dream the stance has a max of 27 plus and its retardedly soft. The bindings coupled with this board are super soft so its just jib on jibber. The board had decent pop for being so damn soft, but you can feel every little bump in the snow. The bindings still need a bit of work, I had some issues with them that are going to be resolved in production. It’s a unibody binding so the flex is more uniform, the toe straps need some work to become more like a dual purpose strap, but the ratchets are quick in and quick out. The highbacks have great padding on them and are very plush.

 

51. 172 Smoking TK with Smokingtraction and Nidecker Carbon ACT 1’s (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Crap

One Word: Hauls

Jay from Smoking saw what Mervin was doing and created Smoking traction (called magnetraction on the board through the license he got from them) but  his is completely different. Its not as defined as any of the MTX boards I’ve seen, you have to eyeball it down the sidewall to properly see it. All my average gripes about MTX were gone with STX. I was able to lay down a hard euro carve no problem, it didn’t buckle under the pressure, it was very stable, and super smooth. The board needed a bit more dampening even for being a 172. It definitely hauled ass and was a fun ride for sure. Pop wasn’t super great, a little more in the tail would have made me a bit happier. Jay uses the same base as NS so I was stoked that it glided the same as all my NS boards. 

 

52. 156 Smoking Super Park mid wide with Nidecker Carbon ACT 1’s (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: poo weiner

One word: Responsive

For a midwide it seemed kind of narrow, but the edge hold was superb with the STX, and the side cut was great for carving. This board was stable off drops, jumps, and rollers. It was decent to butter around but not anything I’d super rave about. Big thing with STX is to know that Jay doesn’t order it from Mervin, he has it built for him using his design which is a far mellower version of MTX, less defined at the tip and tail contact point, and more between the feet.  The pop on this board is great for boosting and felt fairly lively. At speeds there was minimal chatter so I wasn’t sketching out about that.

 

53. 156 Ellis Bot with Ellis Lithiums (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Fresh corduroy, sunny, perfect conditions

One Word: Hatchet

Rarely do I find a board that rides like my old Hatchet. This board did just that. Anyways I was out riding with one of Ellis’s sales guy so we were just doing warm up runs and seeing as he just got in from Sea level I had to take it easy on him. Right off the bat this thing was a pop o matic machine. Came close to landing a cab 5 flatland on this. Side cut was great for turn initiation and edged perfectly fine. Torsionally this board was perfect for what it is, a higher end park board. Switch was a breeze, and pressing was insane. Definitely a fun board. The bindings had a minor issues I was warned about but I didn’t notice it. The disk cover needs some work, but the straps and ratchets were really good.

 

54. 162 Smoking Mike Basich Pro with Ellis Lithiums (08/09)

Stance: 22 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: Freshies with blue skies

One Word: Stiffmeister

Board is relatively stiff laterally, with a bit more torsional give. The STX grips really well at speeds. I ended up making speed runs with Jay the owner of Smoking and doing some pow laps on the backside of Keystone. This board was stable off the various drops I did with it, and maching through the pow lips was intense. Tree riding it was fun and nimble. The bindings actually complimented it pretty well too. The shape is a bit weird as its all blunted out and snow would pour over it onto the top sheet, which is no bueno for pow riding. Popping took a bit of effort with this board and it was a tad sluggish, but then again its Mikes pro model, so its his specs. As of this writing there’s only 2 of them in the world.

 

55. 155 Smoking MIP (minor in possession) with Ride Contrabands (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Overcast, windy, and poop weiner

One Word: Poppy

The board is absolutely sick, super light, and poppy. While being stable at speeds with minimal chatter. The bindings however suck donkey balls. The board was stable off small drops, great for popping, easy to jib, has a great shape for doing tweaked out grabs. The bindings took forever to set up and ended up having 3 people work on it before they got it done for me. The toe strap is a weak ass design at best, it grips right over the big toe and the side of the big toe. Its actuated by the heel strap which has too put way more torque on it to feel locked in, and even then I was still feeling play. The damn thing crippled my feet so bad its still hurting 5 days later. There was no cush to that heel strap and it just tweaked my foot bad. This binding needs serious work. The toe clip thing is cheap ass plastic and doesn’t do shi*t to hold you in tightly.

 

56. 153 Ellis Heist with Ellis Lithiums (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Some sun, tree powder, bit windy

One Word: Jibtasticulastic

This board is a jib stick took no effort to do weak tail blocks and presses. The pop on it was ok but nothing special, edge to edge it was fine but unstable. In the Pow Pow it sunk, but then again it’s a little 153. The weight of it is ridiculously low and its super soft. Put it in the pricepoint jib stick category.

 

57. 158 DC Devun Walsh Pro with Atomic Black Russians (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Overcast, windy, pure crap

One Word: Slaptacular

Normally I don’t perform slappy’s on boards but this one just called for it so it was slap, slappy, splaptastic. This one of the 3 DC boards I’ve ridden was the most fun. Great pop, just a hair stiff in the nose/tail, but with a f*cking amazing side cut, and edge hold. This board was stable yet playful, but it’s a lot like other boards on the market so would I buy it probably not. The bindings have changed a lot with that new highback, straps, base construction etc. etc. Ratchets need some minor tweaks but other than that it was a good binding very damp as well.

 

58. 164 Flow Solitude WX with NXT FX (08/09)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: pure shi*t

One Word: BLAH

I loved this set at Loveland, but this time around it was no bueno. Probably because my rep didn’t set me up it was one of their in house guys. Anyways the board is a hair softer torsionally, but due to the fact my bindings were so f*ckered up and I wasn’t dialed in it sucked balls.   It felt like my heel was lifting in the binding, while the toe strap was just held wickedly down. I felt like I was slipping out on edge because of this sensation and it just wasn’t that much fun at all. Bindings had the heel slip issue, I think they put forward lean on it which is the lame. All in all not a happy camper on this one.

 

59. 155 Rome Agent with Rome Uniteds (08/09)

Stance: 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas size 10

Conditions: pure shi*t

One word: Limp

This board rode like a f*cking graft. This board is not the agent I was so disappointed with it. Way too much torsional and lateral give. This is the first board in a long time I heard the death rattle from the chatter and got scared. I felt everything in this board. The pop was good, and the side cut was nice except when I hard carved it and then it was topple over time. The uniteds suck balls big time. Too soft, toe caps suck, flex is wacked out. There was no rigidity from the binding and it would just fold over. Felt like riding a Burton mission from 2000.

 

60. 159 Ride Concept UL with K2 Formula’s (07/08)

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Northwave Decades size 10 (08/09)

Condtions: Golden

One Word: Mislabeled

Ok so everyone knows I’m not a ride fan boy, or even impressed, or even cares for them. Frankly this board is definitely mislabeled. It’s a 749.99 dollar park board and that’s where it excels. Would I take this board out as my all mountain freestyle board like they suggest, f*ck no. This board has a lot of torsional give that’s for sure and makes it a stable butter board similar to a Never Summer SL. Popping on this thing is decent if you actuate the sweet spot. This board straight up kills it in the pipe though, I can’t deny that at all. No matter what I threw at this board it just wanted to slay the pipe, probably the highest airs I’ve ever done in the pipe since I rode a Dragon back in 99. On jumps this thing could make you or break you, but the reduced weight of the Tek Style top sheet was nice. Problem with the top sheet is how much it frays, my god it frays like no other. The side cut on this thing is so so, I couldn’t carve as hard as I’d like because it would wash out just a bit, and edge hold could be dicey when on edge going over ice. Now the boots are the golden gem. I haven’t been a Northwave fan since my KJ’s lead to the foot problems I have now. But f*ck these’s boots were amazing, I have a calcium deposit on my right ankle bone that has been killing me all winter. I put these boots on after pulling hard for 3 minutes, but once in man the fit is perfect. I did get a pressure over my right foots pinky toe, but in all fairness that toe is so messed up I can’t fault the boot. These boots are cushy as hell, like ungodly cushy. The weight is way more than my fargo’s which I consider a heavy boot. The flex is stiff I think an 8 on their scale, but my god its supportive. Also the speed lacing is amazing with the pulley’s for eyelets but the handles are so small they hurt my hand when I give a hard tug. I used the stock insoles something I don’t do anymore and my god talk about comfort, this boot was designed for a flat footed rider. Just going to add now that I’ve started putting a bunch of days on this boot its packing out at an astronomical rate.

 

61. 156 Omatic Awesome with K2 Formulas/Rome 390’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo boas’ size 11 and 10

Conditions: Everything

One Word: Awesome

What better word to describe this board than what it is, Awesome. I’ve ridden this board over every condition and I love it, but alas I did break it. Full separation of the sidewall from the edge, starting at the back binding going to the tail. The pop on this board is amazing for how little carbon it has in it. The side cut is fun for pipe and park, all mountains not so much. Stability is only a concern when straight lining runs or its icy. In the pipe I think this is where the board is most at home and over park tables. The flex lends itself a lot for buttering though, but still stable on decent sized park features. One problem I did notice was at the contact points the sidewalls aren’t plush with the top sheet so it’s like a cap construction, I Panzer filed that away and then it rode fine.

 

62. 160 Salomon Sick Stick with Rome Targa’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Northwave Decades size 10

Conditions: Epic bluebird pow day

One word. Surfy

This board is a trip. From the get go it was face shots and pow slashers. This board is a giant surfboard whether you’re on edge or in a foot of fresh. I was doing such laid back slashers, boosting off huge rollers, riding all sorts of wondrous conditions. This board just dominated that mini rocker rises out of the pow like a sharks fin and the tail just sinks right in. Stable at speeds with minimal chatter. Downside is that metal sheet under the top sheet, mine was broken in 4 places, I also managed to pull out an insert that was so lovely to find. You can butter this board, pop 180’s like nothing, and generally just slay it all over.

 

63. 156 Drake Player with Drake Supersports

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Northwave Decades size 10

Conditions: Bluebird soft snow, some push mounds.

One word: Plank

This board for an “all mountain” board is a f*cking plank. Seriously whoever designed this should be kicked in the face. It was a slug edge to edge, the hold was mediocre at best, it wasn’t damp at all, and the flex was crap. It was so inconsistent with the pop it was crap. In the pipe it would start by charging the tranny but near the end just putteringering along as though it was geriatric. Off jumps it would pop good maybe half the time the other half it was poop. The bindings have been redone and the heel straps were very solid that’s for sure. I had to rock them cap because if I rocked them over the top there was only like a half cm between them and the overly large heel strap. Typical of Drakes I had to put on 2 degrees of forward lean because of how they fit with the boots, and yes Northwaves are made to mesh well with the drakes. Adjusting them was easy as pie and they’re a solid binding, but for this board I think it held back on the binding itself.

 

64. 155 Burton Fix with Burton Triads (08/09)

Stance: My guess is somewhere around 23.5 since the kid was an ass hat with 18 negative 15

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Grey bird lightly snowing with soft snow on the ground

One Word: Broken

This goes out to any and all reps that might read this. If someone says 22.5 inch wide stance, give them a 22.5 inch stance, do not argue with them for a half hour about their stance then set it up to what you ride. It is their stance, it is what they know they are right you aren’t. I know my body, I know what works for me, a gangster stance does not. Do I look like a snowmie, NO. Secondly do not argue about binding size with me, I’m a large, I have always been a large, I know what works for me. Don’t lie and say your bro bra guy that’s turning screws is a size 12 in a medium, I know you are full of shi*t. So anyways on to how this thing rode. The flex is pretty damn inconsistent with it it. I could butter it but at times it would be really soft, others stiffer. Pop was ok but not something I’d be like OMG wowza I’m all that is jibber. In the pipe this thing would get all squirrelly and it bucked me twice. Off booters it just didn’t feel stable at all. When tracking this board would pull either way at any given time. The sidecut was blah, I just couldn’t get a hard carve down on it. Now on to the bindings, what the hell is Burtons issue with not giving me a true 0 of forward lean. Look I understand that the vast majority of Burton users are Euro Trash that ride straight legged and need it, I’m not Euro Trash nor do I ride straight legged. I need a true 0. Secondly the straps on this thing were the gayest on earth, they just aren’t that great. The toe strap reminds me of something MFM shi*t out on his bindings and said nope not gangsta enough for me. It holds ok, but gives you no option for over the top. The heel strap isn’t that great and ultimately because of the binding and the crappiness of this strap it tweaked my leg in the pipe. Not happy with that at all, I’d have given this board at least a full day of riding had the reps not been real ass hats about it. f*ck the Colorado reps seriously. As far as this board goes its not the fix it’s the broken and should be fixed.

 

65. Libtech McKink 157 MTX and micro BTX? (08/09) with K2 Formula’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 Negative 15 Goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Sunny, blue skies, storm rolling in, medium to high winds at times

One Word: Stiffy

Ok I was a bit excited to take this out as I don’t know many people that have ridden it. But seriously what a f*cking let down. First off the base is really fast, but waxing it, the damn thing wouldn’t absorb the wax as I’d have liked. The MTX is less defined, and I think the BTX is minimal. I say that only because when I put a flat edge across it, there was some slight upturning at the edges, but not as much as a skate banana. Now on to why this board was such a let down. I figured it’d be a high end park board, oh how I was sadly mistaken let me tell you. This thing is f*cking stiff, and I’m not talking like a stiffer park board, no its stiff like a Riders Choice, NS Titan, K2 Podium. I don’t know how you’d jib on this thing, I had to man handle it into nose presses on bonks. Now on to riding pipe with this. What a slug in the pipe, sure I could push off the tail to gain speed, but dear god it wouldn’t boost or dampen when taking a tranny back in. Off jumps the swing weight is greatly reduced in the tips which was fun, but the boards heavy, and clunky to fling around, and once again not damp. Charging this board hauls the base is fast, but you feel everything underneath you, I wasn’t impressed. Going on edge the MTX would grip and then slip as usual, sure its less defined on this board but whatever. I also can’t get over the shape on the tip/tail on this bitch its kind of like a k2 www f*cked last years salomon prospect and then got jizzed on by a steak knife.

 

66. 158 Never Summer SL with Rocker (08/09) with k2 Formula’s and 1 day on Relay Pro’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas size 10

Conditions: Everything

One word: Funster

This board is the epitome of fun all mountain slayer. I’ve tried to hate it, I tried to dislike it, hell I even tried to break it. The new construction with the new side cut ( I call it Never Slip Grip) is amazing, you can pop to the moon, yet charge and not feel shaky. The big thing with the sidecut is its kinked, think a cross between a tri radial sidecut and the salomon equilizer. These kinks aren’t like MTX that it sticks out and is serrated it just creates two bends in the sidecut then kind of flattens out and lets you steer between the feet if need be. Unlike other companies rockered boards this one rides different. I only notice the rocker when I need it or when I ollie. I no longer have to preload my tails I can just slap it down and pop like a skateboard, if I do preload it then I just boost insanely high. Presses are a tad easier because the nose/tail is raised a bit so you just lean into it and go. With the rocker the center of the board sits a tad higher so buttering around on boxes and wallrides is easier. The big thing to note with this rocker is unlike the k2’s that I’ve been on where you have to stay centered, you can get nose/tail heavy and still ride comfortable and not go ass over tea kettle. When riding on flats because the nose is lifted you don’t get that drag that slows you down so you can charge through cat tracks, I haven’t gotten stuck on it yet. A downside to rocker is the duck walk, that takes a bit of time to get used to it. I did notice with this board it took me a good 3 days of riding to become fully adjusted to how it rides. You can carve on this board better than anything I’ve ever been on without any downsides. Those kinks just grip so much more. Flexwise this board has a different flex than the regular SL, its stiffer in the nose/tail because of the double carbon fiber x’s, but that also adds more pop, and better stability. In the dead center of the board there is a flex point, when you push it hard, you can feel it in butters, jibs, jumps. It’s a true center flex if you do a hand flex on it and look at the side you see it kink. This board is damp and stable, kills it in the pipe, dominates on jumps, and slays jibs. Now lets talk about those Relay’s. What a pile of shi*t, sorry but I like a rigid heel cup, I don’t like feeling like my ankle is unsupported when I go into a press. I had to exaggerate all movements to press it and by that point it was like oh shi*t rocker initiation time and it was crappy. I could ride them but I wasn’t happy at all, Don’t say they weren’t dialed in, they were set 100% to my boot. I will say the heel straps were phenomenal I really liked them, toe straps sucked, and the foot pad blew donkey dick. I felt like I had snow under my boot all day with them.

 

67. 156 Never Summer Revolver with Rocker (08/09) with K2 Formula’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas

Conditions: Everything

One Word: Parkgnar

Rarely do I think to myself well f*ck this board just reinvented snowboarding. Such was the case after day one on this behemoth. So I got up to Keystone on this beast, strapped in and blam I was like pop from my nose to my tail like it was nothing, then buttered it around, and threw a cab 3 like it was nothing. After that I laid into a hard carve and the edge gripped like my SL, but had a tad more chatter as this board is noticeably softer. After that it was game on to the bonk line. I was a tail tapping, nose stalling, wall jibbing machine. I got close to a butter 5 on the big butter wall ride Keystone has. Took this sucker into the pipe, that edge hold grips and just lets you float a lofty air like no other. The shape of the revolver is better for spins than the SL in my opinion. With the flat kicks on it I was doing nose butters like no other. On jibs I would just have to do subtle movements and be locked in to presses and what not. This board is stable to a point, but not as stable as my sl. Which was fine for the size of the jumps I was hitting. Switch is so much fun on this sidecut you just roll it around and blam off you go.

 

68. 155 Salomon Official with Rome Targa’s

Stance 22.5 with 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: Vans Fargo Boas

Conditions: Sunny with clouds about 32ish degrees into puking snow and 6 inches of wind deposited pow

One Word: Ungripable

The only reason I rode this board was to compare its Equilizer sidecut to the new sidecut on the Never Summers. First off let me say I was highly disappointed in this side cut. When I’d initiate a turn it would get hooky at the kinks in the straight edge, then get chattery in the tail. The board didn’t track too well either. Riding switch was a chore and a half with this board because that sidecut was sketch ball as hell. The flex was fun I liked that a lot and popping on jumps was great, but half pipe it wasn’t happening. On jibs the board was just how I imagined it’d be, its like a tweaked Prospect more than anything. But that sidecut is just sketchy as hell. The base is incredibly slow and I waxed it. When waxing it though, it didn’t want to absorb as I figured such a higher end base would. All in all not impressed with the sidecut on this board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 Add/View Comments (0)

 Add/View Comments (1)

gnarcore.com is not or does not claim to be highly political in any way. Although it may be an underlying interest in many of our lives, lets face it we either just don't care or plain don't have the want to find the time. That being said we wouldn'd be human if we didn't notice how much of a mess the Bush's have made of the world. I've been hearing a lot lately about democratic Senator Barack Obama and the kind of change he plans on instilling in America. It sounds good. That and it'd be cool to see a black guy running that country. i mean why not right?...what a kick in the pants to all those rich southern white guys who've been running the show for years. Well that and you know, the promise of hope for a dwindling nation.

Graphic artist/designer and street art icon Shepard Fairey was once like all of us, soley interested in getting his kicks on a hand rail or launch ramp or running around with his friends f*cking shi*t up. Some where along the lines you can't help but notice what is happening in your own country and feel the need to effect change in your own way. Shepard's is a fan of aesthetics, he enjoys the quality and look of a poster above all but as he was quoted as saying here he's big fan of when a piece can send a message as well as being visually stimulating "I don't think the artist has a job to comment on politics but my favorite art has something provocative about it and communication that has a point of view." I couldn't agree more.

Shepard signing prints "I believe with great conviction that Barack Obama should be the next President. I have been paying close attention to him since the Democratic convention in 2004. I feel that he is more a statesman than a politician. He was against the war when it was an unpopular position (and Hillary was for the war at that time), Obama is for energy and environmental conservation. He is for healthcare reform. Check him out for yourself www.barackobama.com. Proceeds from this print go to produce prints for a large statewide poster campaign. Thanks".-Shepard

look in the background of this photo..Shepard strikes again.

"change is gunna come" -stevie wonder

Click here for: The full story about the reasoning behind the campaign and a Q&A from Shapard by Jeff Beer of creativity-online.com

 Add/View Comments (0)

Ok so I made it up for the FULL three day weekend. First sunny days at Monarch this year. Cold but sunny. I was making laps non-stop, taking breaks when it was a must. I chose to ride as a single this weekend at times to rub elbows. Yeah I shop at the 8th street Wal-Mart to people watch...Get the gist? So i rode up with people from OK, KS, TX, NM, and all over CO. From chair one I had a nice routine going. Up for the day? Oh really where you from? Originally? It is amazing how much you can learn about someone in only a few moments. I found out from parents about their kids and the plans they didn't know that were in store for them. I was reminded that locals don't care for tourists but they take that $cratch anyway. I do credit the "Chair of the Trip" to a church group chaperon who broke it down like this about moderation. "It is like when a cow eats itself into the road" The man simplified it a bit but hes right. One of anything usually leads to more of it. So we are safely consuming whatever in the we were introduced to it in. As we outgrow the environment for whatever reason we must move on to "greener pastures"...sweet, i know. So as you move into this new environment its only a matter of time till you need harder faster more kick ass whatever and thus another move. So as a member of the heard i want to remind you to look up from time to time from whatever you find yourself face first in.  There are giant trucks on the friggin road!

 Add/View Comments (0)

Hello, everyone!

We are on the doorstep of the 07/08 snow season and we hope you have caught the shred bug as bad as we at BCSA have!  The summer was long and relaxing, and it’s time to start thinking about what you want to get out of your riding this season.  

 

We have taken rider and parent feedback from last season and made some changes to the Development Program creating a complete athletic experience.  

 

If you want to take the step to becoming a competitive and successful snowboarder - then read on to find out what we have to offer you!

 

 

WE WANT YOU!

Snowboarders between the ages of 13 and 18.

 

The Development Team has been designed for snowboarders who have competed in the past and would like to improve not only their riding but their results.

 

If you have aspirations to one day be a part of the BC Provincial or Canadian National Teams - this is the next step to making these goals come a reality - in a secure and fun environment.

 

 

Here is what we can offer you

• Certified coach, with international competitive snowboarding
• Specialized guest coaches for snowboard cross, halfpipe and slopestyle
• Individual goal setting and athlete planning
• Interaction with Provincial Team coaches and athletes
• On-snow coaching at all local competitions
• 40 plus days on-snow training & competing, including a 3 day Spring Break Camp
• Training geared towards your specific discipline(s)
• BCSA Competitive Membership
• Access to sport specialists for physical development and nutrition

 

 

The program is based out of Big White Ski Resort, with the majority of training and competitions happening there.  However, there are the opportunities to travel throughout BC to attend competitions, such as the Canadian National Championships being hosted by Cypress Mountain (Olympic Snowboard Venue) in Vancouver at the beginning of April.

 

In order to maximize the effectiveness of the coaches’ time with athletes, the Development Team size is limited to ten (10) participants.  We are working closely with Big White Ski Area to ensure that if the Development Team is not right for a young athlete, then the Big White Free-Ride Team is.

 

If this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea - contact us and decide your own involvement - we are open to individual modifications regarding commitment.

 

 

this is what you need to know

A Selection Camp is being held at Big White Ski Resort on Sunday, November  25^th.

 

There is no cost to participate in the Selection Camp – however you need to pre-register.

 

Meet at the Village Center Mall (VCM) entrance (under the clock tower in the center of Big White Village) at 9:00 am with a helmet, ready to ride.

 

For Selection Camp pre-registration and further questions regarding the Development Program, including team fees, please contact the Development Team Head Coach:  Mathew Galina, phone: (250) 718-5940 or email:  huck_it_large@yahoo.ca

 

 

 

Have fun - meet new people - shred harder than you ever have before!

 Add/View Comments (0)

Every day we are faced with a myriad of decisions: paper or plastic, beer or whiskey, left or right hand, cracker or toast; life certainly is complicated. Even in snowboarding, an activity pursued as a means to escape daily life, we are constantly making decisions: frontside or backside, groomers or glades, powder or ice (some decisions are much easier than others). How often, however, are you faced with a decision that will impact your future ability to ride? You might just be surprised at just how often we are faced with just such a choice and by some accounts make the wrong decision. When it comes to making choices about the environment, as snowboarders we should probably tend to those that won't make the planet warmer. We like snow, so global warming should be a severe pain in our collective asses. Although when faced with certain choices, that decision isn't quite so easy. The answer might not be obvious, so how do you come to a decision?

Recently a colleague sent me an article explaining how, by reducing our consumption of meat by 10%, we could reduce our CO₂ footprint by up to 25%. The premise being that factory farming practices are responsible for the creation of massive amounts greenhouse trapping gasses via the release of methane from bovine bungholes. Who knew our ability to shred could be so affected by flatulence (fart jokes: they're not just for the juvenile anymore). This idea of reducing one's carbon footprint by eating less meat is by no means a new idea, vegetarians have been arguing this fact for years. There is a gaping hole in this argument, however, which is often overlooked, namely the point of origin of our food.

I have much respect for people who choose to be vegetarians. In fact, for a period in my life, I myself was vegetarian although it caused me to become under weight and sickly (I'm too lazy to want to spend two hours a day cooking good vegetarian meals that will keep me from losing weight). If being vegetarian works for you, that's great, there are many advantages to a non-meat diet. A smaller carbon footprint, however, is not necessarily one of them. The reality is, that pretty much anywhere where you snowboard there's winter. This means that for a good part of the year, the basic elements of a vegetarian diet are not available locally and must be imported. This usually involves trucks which are heavy emitters of greenhouse gases thus negating the reduction in cow farts.

For more significant reductions in your personal carbon footprint than cutting meet out of your diet, you should look to buying locally grown food whenever possible. I'm pretty sure this would have a much greater impact on the environment in general as well as bolster the local economy. Besides the real culprit is not diet but mass consumerism and the lengths industry goes to in order to support it. By eliminating factory farming, Adam Smith's invisible hand of the market would do what it should and give beef it's proper natural price (which ought to be much higher than it is now). Increases in the cost of beef would be a significant step toward reducing our daily intake of it (in developed countries, people typically eat about 224 grams of beef per day whereas in Africa most people consume only about 31 grams per day), not to mention a decrease in cow farts thus ensuring a continued state of winter.

I realise that this is straying somewhat from the topic of snowboarding, however, this relates back to the old adage of thinking globally and acting locally. This can be interpereted as meaning that the global impact of your daily decisions should be taken into account. For example:

• Left or right hand? Try the stranger, it feels like someone else is doing it.
• Cracker or toast? Here's an idea, avoid the circle jerk in the first place.
• Frontside or backside? Surprise me.
• Powder or ice? Jeeze is there really a decision to make here?

What's important is that these are things that should be kept in mind when faced with choices, namely the more global impact of even the smallest decision. I'd like to be able to keep snowboarding for many years to come, so I'd hate to feel even partly responsible for the disapearance of winter thus negating my ability to...

Keep Shreddin' the GNAR!

 Add/View Comments (1)

 Add/View Comments (2)