Equipment and Media - Is a park board usable on the mountain? adverse - Mar 01, 2010 - 11:04 PM Post subject: Is a park board usable on the mountain?
Ok so I know I've banged on a bit about 'which board' blah blah and everyone must be sick of people asking the same questions, I just need to know something.
If I buy a park board, will it be a nightmare to use on piste? My idea is to aim at a park board that's not total park, so something fairly short, soft/mid flex but probably not with any very park-specific tech. However, when I go away I'll be on piste for most of the time. Ok, so I really need two boards but right now that isn't an option!
When I've looked at all mountain boards, and spoken to people, I kinda get the feeling that they're really trying to cover too many bases....jack of all trades, master of none kinda thing. I get the impression a park board sometimes used on piste will be better than an all mountain board sometimes used in the park. Is that a correct assumption or am I way out?
I'm hoping to do a freestyle night in a snow dome at least once a month, and a week's holiday (on piste) once a year.
polo - Mar 01, 2010 - 11:20 PM Post subject: RE: Is a park board usable on the mountain?
Hi there adverse. Don't worry about it too much. There are boards that do what you're asking for. The Atomic Hatchet is one for instance and that is well regarded.
You'll be able to use park boards on piste, but most likely wouldn't be able to push as hard as you would with a stiffer longer board.
Dylanrobinson - Mar 01, 2010 - 11:22 PM Post subject: RE: Is a park board usable on the mountain?
I always take both away with me, but unless your edges have been detuned big time you'll be fine to use a freestyle on the mountain.
I actually quite like using my freestyle while i'm away, because i'm more used to it cause I use it every week and you can get away with more (ie less chance of edge catches) when trying and experimenting new things. But on the tougher runs and to carry higher speeds you'll be glad you have your stiffer sharper all mountain. winterfunman - Mar 01, 2010 - 11:28 PM Post subject:
dylan i heard you take them both and sneak out at night , put on one each foot and pretend to be a skier NONSTOPsnowboard - Mar 01, 2010 - 11:44 PM Post subject: RE: Is a park board usable on the mountain?
A park board will be pretty soild on the piste, unless it's a jib specific board. If so, it may be too soft which means at speed it will not be very stable. Perhaps go for a park board with a slightly stiffer flex. An example of this is the ROME Graft. It's ideal for everything. Perhaps at the freestyle night at the dome the shop can let you demo some boards. Hope this helps SnowAndrew - Mar 02, 2010 - 09:00 AM Post subject: RE: Is a park board usable on the mountain?
Yeah you can use a park board on the mountain it just won't perform as well as a general all mountain board, generally. As that is not what it is designed to do.
ace_mcgraw - Mar 02, 2010 - 09:14 AM Post subject: RE: Is a park board usable on the mountain?
I wouldn;t worry too much. I'm a big bugger, and I have a 158 soft flexing park / freestyle board, but in its time I've flown down powder, gone fast, been in the park etc etc.
As long as you don't get an all out jib stick you should be fine. In fact most of the boards designated for park will be stiff enough for riding on piste, to ensure that they don't fold up like spaghetti on kicker landings etc
sktr4lf - Mar 02, 2010 - 09:49 AM Post subject:
ive always used jib and park boards on the mountain as i only get a way a cpl weeks a year,and never had a problem, ridden stiffer boards as well as total noodles and always gotten on fine.
personally i'd prefer a jib board on the mountain cos you can muck about as well as ride piste.
noodledoodle - Mar 02, 2010 - 12:53 PM Post subject:
If I can hammer all of cairngorm on a www rocker for a week, in variable conditions, without killing myself (15st, 156), reckon you can ride a park board pretty much anywhere.
All about how you ride. Treat the mountain like a big park and youll be fine. Keep your wits about you at speed when its chattering your knees and teeth to bits, look out for the inevitable morning white ball ponds, enjoy the ride and play. Plus its always fun when you find something random to jib.
I wouldnt get too hung up on boards. just have fun. Im always more limited by my technique rather than the characteristics of my board.
adverse - Mar 02, 2010 - 09:06 PM Post subject:
^^^I am totally getting too hung up on boards, haha, I'm trying not to, but I also want to make an informed choice.
Thanks once again for all your replies everyone, it's a really big help when you know nothing!! What you've all said is exactly what I wanted to hear, and at least means I'm not worrying so much that I'll end up with completely the wrong stick for the job. I'm going to demo some boards at the weekend....the K2 Darkstar has caught my eye as a potential victim...
dawsonca - Mar 03, 2010 - 01:33 PM Post subject:
Adverse,
If ur looking @ park boards like the Darkstar you can stamp any concerns right out, I've ridden mine everywhere on 5 weeks resort time, park, piste and pow...its a real versatile stick (as many others are). Its stable @ speed, holds an edge just fine on all piste conditions and stomps the park (too good for my limited abilities )
I had a similar worry this season but taking a softer board out of the park and gotta say, what a laugh. Treated myself to a tiny Salvatore Sanchez (soft + rocker) and was here, there and everywhere including off piste but with a big smile permanently attached. Not at all as stable / confident as the DS but I took both with me
Just an example of 2 very different freestyle boards, both capable and both will be ready for the next trip.
Let us know how you get on,
Chris
daniel.judge146 - Mar 03, 2010 - 08:46 PM Post subject:
I'm going to Chamonix 15th March and my K2 Darkstar will be coming with me for the first Overseas shred can't wait, I'll let you know what it's like when I'm back. The DS is a mid-flex though so not as soft as some park boards.
Sub4 - Mar 10, 2010 - 11:12 PM Post subject:
Used my all mountain board in Switzerland for a couple of days before switching to my evo (softer parkish board) I confess, even with detuned edges, I was very surprised by how quick it would go down reds and blacks (until the visibility vanished, along with my bottle!). Unless you really want to charge the mountain (is that what snowboarding is about?) a park board will allow you to play with all the terrain!
jimbo_rosslato - Mar 10, 2010 - 11:25 PM Post subject:
I can definately vouch for the Rome Graft having recently had a week in the Alps with it. It handled the piste with ease and handled thigh deep powder well (once i finally got my riding dialled).
Presses easily yet still stable hammering down the mountain.
K2 Darkstar is another similar board.
docw - Mar 12, 2010 - 07:35 AM Post subject:
It depends, in part, on your experience. If you're still a relative newcomer, I would go for a parkish/freestyle board. It will be soft enough to help with your turns, will still be forgiving, and will be more than man enough for pistes while away.
Like someone else has said an atomic hatchet is a great do it all board, I have a nitro swindle which is also a good jack of all trades. As much as anything it's length that you need to be careful of. The majority of people who buy park specific boards buy them shorter than they would otherwise, specially if it's for jibbing and for indoors. I ride a 160 on the mountain, a ride society which is a twin tip freestyle board (can cruise, do boxes and rails, kickers, loon about, hoon everywhere, though the trade up is its crap in pow, as am I). INdoors and park specific I have a 155 nitro swindle. It's nowhere near as stable at speed, but it's easier to turn and spin.
Depending on your ability level, and height and weight, you could look for something like a K2 www rocker, which has a very long effective edger and is wide for stability. It's a rocker board though, so depends if you have tried and like them. I would err on the park/freestyle board side simply as that's what it will be mostly used for if you'lll be hitting the domes once a month. The darkstar is also a high;ly regarded do it all board, again you will need to compromise on length, needing longer for the mountain shorter for the indoors, so will have to choose a happy medium in the middle.
Hope that helps some.
adverse - Mar 15, 2010 - 08:19 PM Post subject:
Thanks for the replies on this...to be honest even on the mountain I'm more likely to be going a bit slower and having a laugh messing about anyway, as oppose to bombing it around everywhere, so I've gone with a park board that is pretty soft but not massively slow.
daniel.judge146 - Mar 19, 2010 - 11:59 AM Post subject:
what did you get then?
I have to say the Darkstar was awesome, had so much fun just razzing about on piste and even took a few lame attempts at a smallish snow kicker, really good board and so easy to turn, and light to so not too tiring riding all day.
)
