Demo day snowboards quick thoughts
Thought I’m just gonna give my opinions on some of the boards I demoed today. By no means I’m “qualified” to do a review, so here are just some quick thoughts.
YES Pick Your Line 159 w/ NOW bindings
This combo is sickkk. Probably the best board I’ve tried so far, I did not want to get off this board. I would like to try the 156 but they only have a 159 which is on the longer side for me. It doesn’t ride like a long board though, felt I could ride it like my 153 T.Rice just that there’s more nose that tail. Really stable at speeds, carved great, just an all around awesome board. Flex is a medium stiff probably around a 7/10, which is the same as my T.Rice. One thing I need to get used to is the tip is “flapping” a bit when you ride fast. It has more camber than the Greats or any other YES boards which is nice. You can feel the rebound when carving and doesn’t feel loose like the Tasmaniac I tried (Marc’s board).
The bindings are awesome. Marc explained it nicely on the other thread. The heelcup is a bit tight but JF told me they’re gonna be wider on the production models. The bindings are super responsive and they hold your boot insanely good. I have almost no heel lift with this binding, I never knew bindings could reduce heel lift. Ankle strap is nice, but not a fan of the toe strap.
[img]https://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529672_10150773172581665_515001664_9294281_557243645_n.jpgC6uyS3JAjeLDz4peEwzMOK4LBUGYGc2Ftypography_img_src_end width =“800” src =“http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/541175_10150773172636665_515001664_9294282_974135295_n.jpg” width =“800”>
Never Summer Evo 154 w/ Flux DS30
Thought I’m gonna try a softer board this time. It was alright nothing special about it I thought. The sidecut is really nice though, for some reason better than the magnetraction on my T.Rice when doing heelside carves. Flex is medium soft, maybe around a 4-5/10. Even though it’s a 154, it felt short (even with the blunted tips). I also like C2 better than NS’ RC profile even though they are similar.
I’m sorry Mizu but I don’t like these bindings. I don’t like the toe strap, the footbed, and the highback.
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Salomon Powder Snake 156 w/ some Salomon bindings that has flexible heelcup
This is supposed to be a powder board but I felt it ride really nice on the groomers. Wanted to try the Man’s Board but they don’t have the sizes. I think the profile is flat with rockered tip and tail but it felt like a flat board all the way. Medium stiff flex maybe around a 6-7/10, sidecut is nice too.
Didn’t notice anything special about the bindings. Not sure what the function of the flexible heelcup is.
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Rossignol Krypto 159 w/ some Rossi bindings
Wanted to try the Experience aka Xavier’s board but they only have 163 which is way too big for me. Good thing I demoed this one. By far the stiffest board I’ve ever tried, can’t imagine how much stiffer is the Experience when the Krypto is supposed to be a toned down version of the experience. Stiffer tail and nose and stiff torsional flex with really aggressive magnetraction. The only “playful” thing about this board is the huge rockered nose. This board REALLY held an edge. I usually still skids out sometimes on my heelside carves, but not with this board. This thing just holds and meant to be ridden fast. Best edge hold of all the boards I tried.
Bindings felt good just like any other bindings. Better than the Flux for sure. Forgot to take picture of this one.
Rossignol Templar 155 w/ some Rossi bindings
Tied with the Pick Your Line as my favorite board. Really like the flex maybe around a 6/10. Has a mellow 5 bump magnetraction which held a really really nice edge. I don’t know what else to say than it’s just an awesome board. I’d be hard to choose if someone offers me a YES PYL or this board. The YES seems more of a freeride, meant for going a bit faster and the Rossi seems to be a more playful all mountain board.
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1 thing I forgot to mention. One of the rep said that YES will be switching factory to Elan from Nidecker. So expect better build quality he said.
Nice report, skip!!!!! 
And ya don’t have to be sorry about the DS30’s!!!!! I don’t like a soft flex in my bindin, so I wouldn’t like them either!!!!!
If ya get a chance to try either the TT30’s, DS45’s or the DMCC’s you might be more at home?????
Yeah I should’ve tried those ones. I just couldn’t remember what binding is what flex hahah, their names are so confusing.
Hahahahaa!!!!!
Best way to remember is the higher the number the stiffer the binding, with the DMCC though, the C stands for Carbon!!!!! (Probably Carbon Construction, but that’s only a guess)
The difference with the RK and the TT is that the RK uses Urethane in the highback, givin it a great jib/street flex, while the TT uses the same nylon blend (30 bein the percentage of fibers used in it’s make up) as both the TT’s and the RK’s footbeds!!!!!
Now the DS uses the same 30% nylon blend as the TT and the RK, but it’s highback is the new Alpha Highback which is super soft as compared with the TT, and much closer to the urethane flex of the RK!!!!!
* The TT most probably got it’s name from it’s forefather, The Titan!!!!! Flux’s Bread and Butter, and pretty comparable to Burtons Cartel!!!!!
* The TT most probably got it’s name from it’s forefather, The Titan!!!!! Flux’s Bread and Butter, and pretty comparable to Burtons Cartel!!!!!
Thats right, the Titan is now the TT and the RK got its name from ‘Road Kill’ lol i got no idea what that’s meant to mean but i do know they are absolutely sick! I use mine all over the mountain (Aus Mountains) and they work a treat :D
* The TT most probably got it’s name from it’s forefather, The Titan!!!!! Flux’s Bread and Butter, and pretty comparable to Burtons Cartel!!!!!
Thats right, the Titan is now the TT and the RK got its name from ‘Road Kill’ lol i got no idea what that’s meant to mean but i do know they are absolutely sick! I use mine all over the mountain (Aus Mountains) and they work a treat :D
The Road Kill got it’s name from skateboarding heritage, hence why it’s a great jib/street binding option!!!!! Lots of flexy skate feel to it!!!!!
Thanks for the report skip! You tried so many boards/bindings! I really want to try the YES/NOW combo!
Interesting YES is switching from Nidecker… Never heard of Elan?? Did you find out when they expect the new factory will make the boards?
Thanks for the report skip! You tried so many boards/bindings! I really want to try the YES/NOW combo!
Interesting YES is switching from Nidecker… Never heard of Elan?? Did you find out when they expect the new factory will make the boards?
Elan are a big manufacturer of Skis!!!!!
Skip, i was re sizing your pics, but the last one has gone funny on my. can you possibly re post it at 800wide?
Cheers mate 
wait was there a 4th pic, or did i just type the code for no reason?
Plz ignore me. I lost my mind and stuffed myself round. Too many cocktails tonight at home 
Good to read your thoughts on the Pick Your Line. I am thinkin of looking into one
Skip, i was re sizing your pics, but the last one has gone funny on my. can you possibly re post it at 800wide?
Cheers matewait was there a 4th pic, or did i just type the code for no reason?
Plz ignore me. I lost my mind and stuffed myself round. Too many cocktails tonight at home
Or maybe not enough????? Hahahahaaa!!!!!
@Dan: Elan is a big manufacturer from Austria I think. They have their own Elan brand and make boards from other companies too. If I remember correctly Capita, DC, and some other companies also made their boards there.
Yeah, I only got 1 run for each board, usually to Emerald Chair cuz it’s the quickest way to get back up top. 1 Run usually includes regular turns, some carving, a bit straight lining, a few butter and presses. I try to keep every run approximately the same. The only board that has more runs is the YES PYL. I got 3 runs on that board, first run was hit run to red w/ Marc and Finney, other 2 were to Emerald.
@K2: Yeah the PYL felt totally different to the Tasmaniac (which is supposedly the same as the Greats) which I don’t like.
1 thing I forgot to mention. One of the rep said that YES will be switching factory to Elan from Nidecker. So expect better build quality he said.
That doesn’t make sense to me at all. Nidecker technology is integral in YES boards. Their camrock cores, for example - Nidecker’s. To switch completely away from a Nidecker partnership would basically mean starting from scratch.
Unless the rep meant that Nidecker had done a deal with Elan to use their awesome factory in Furnitz, Austria, instead of manufacturing some of their boards in Tunisia, Africa? Some of the brands currently manufactured by Elan include Academy, Arbor, Artec, Bataleon, Capita, Dinosaurs Will Die, Lobster, Nitro and Rome.
Using the Austrian Elan factory would take care of the topsheet problem seen on some YES and Jones boards. Elan have a topsheet coating process called PLT (Pure Liquid Technology) which sounds pretty cool. It finishes the boards with a high gloss finish, which reportedly weighs 80% less than traditional coating or spraying systems, and eliminates cracking that often accompanies a traditional clear coated board.
^ Amine may be able to clarify the situation?
Not quite sure chucky. The rep said it will not be made by Nidecker next season and he said Elan can make anything you want. I asked if the camber profile will stay the same he said yes.