Board lengths from park to deep pow
I was told I was hijacking forum topics when it came to this subject so to keep everyone happy and hopefuly get some input here I start a new topic….
The question I asked was how should the length of the board very from messing around in the park (mostly jumps, some rails) to hitting some backcountry all the way to waist deep pow…. I currently ride a 154 and am planning on keeping that size for my park board (2012 Bataleon ET) considering its a Tbt board but camber figured 154 should be perfect I’m 5’6” 160lbs (168cm and 72.5 kg).. Then I’m planning on picking up The Greats also in a 154 now that was the plan and still is in theory just wondering on the lengths I don’t want to be limited by going to short meaning if I want to go off of some huge cornices jumps into deep pow with the 154 and have issues any thoughts ????
I’m open to other board suggestions but I’m pretty set on The Greats maybe instead of 154 going with 156 i hear great things about the Camrock and I want to keep it a twin board for the simple fact i want a board I can do all the things that I do in the park except in the backcountry so if I go with a directional board I’m limited on not being able to launch off jumps, land and ride switch in the deep stuff and from what I experienced sometimes if I don’t judge the jump/speed right I’m forced to land switch so having a twin board pays off..
In the other topic I was recommended the Rossi Experience which is a sick board but has a setback stance so I don’t know.. Also I was told going off of big drops in deep pow 156 is minimal .....
All suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Thanx
Here was my original post:
guys I read in a other topic were you guys were talking about having 2 of the same boards just different sizes for different conditions (reg and super deep pow).... What kind of length difference we talking here??? I ride a 154 Banana Magic and if floats pretty damn good but I haven’t hit anything past 24in/60cm of Pow with it, it held up fairly well even in some deeper tree runs…
But I’m wonder how much pow you guys talking about that would require adding come length to the board (im assuming Japan deep pow which about how deep?? ) reason I’m asking because I will be picking up 2 boards this year but not the same board now im not planning on heading to Japan this year but anything is possible ... First will be YES.. The Greats 154 which I plan on using damn near everywhere even on the deeper pow days and also for occasionally messing around at the park with jumps and all.
The other will be the Bataleon ET also in a 154 this one im getting mainly because I hear great things about the TBT and i hope it will help me progress on my jumps in the park and depending how it feels i might take it out on the pow days but I don’t hear really good things about it in pow being a camber like board and all… So basically my question is should I get them in the same size or should I go up to a 156 or higher on The Greats?? I understand they are completely different camber profiles I’m just thinking about making sure I have something on hand for the really deep stuff (my current really deep Pow stick is The Hovercraft 156) which I took to Mt Baker, WA last year and it held up like a champ its damn near impossible to bury the nose ever in waist deep pow.. But this year i want a twin setup for the really deep stuff so I can land/ride switch and i feel its just a better all around setup for freestyle in the back country and dropping off cornices. Im 5’6” 160lbs any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
As a general rule of thumb for me: Australia, no pow, park = 149 to 152. Whistler, Japan, all mountain, pow = 153 to 155. Those sizes seems to work perfectly for me.
That said, things like board flex, shape and especially camber profile can make a big difference in how those sizes feel.
Gererally speaking, I think 4 to 5cm difference is about average for park/fun boards to all mountain/pow boards, if you look at someone’s quiver.
I honestly don’t think you’ll have any problems with the Great 154 for drops.
the rocker on the greats will give you more float than a regular board, so the 54 will float better than a regular cambered board. If they have a 56 I would get that. You’ll have more float in the pow, a bigger/more stable platform to land on and on hardpack the rocker will have the tips off the snow anyways so you won’t feel the extra length.
Don’t get the Experience if you want to be all freestyle in the backcountry. It’s not good for switch riding
Length is a funny thing, you can’t really be told what exact length you need for something in particular, you need to ride them and figure it out yourself as it’s really a preference, for instance… I used to ride a 152 everywhere, park and pow. I’ve been riding a 155 for most of the season though. Torstein? He’s 5’8 about 70kg (if I remember correctly), rides a 150.75 for Park/jumps, 147 for rails, and 158 for pow. A 151 on kickers the size he hits? It makes me cringe.
I’m 5’6” and 65kg. Personally I’ve liked the extra stability the 155 gives me in the park, but my next board will be shorter at 153-4. I ride a 156 for pow and probably won’t ever go much bigger than a 157 in pow.
the rocker on the greats will give you more float than a regular board, so the 54 will float better than a regular cambered board
This confuses me, as you said:
I disagree with the rocker floats better than camber argument
... ?
a cambered tapered board was what I meant
Hey guys you may be able to help me. My mate and I are going to Japan in Jan and he needs a new board for the trip. Im really not sure on what to look for for him. he is a beginner-intermediate and his specs are as follows 93kgs 183cm height and size 12 vans shoes. so he will need a wide. He currently rides a forum recon, but wants a new board. He ride a 159 atm , so we are thinking something like a 159-162 wide. Im thinking burton for him but im not really to sure. Any suggestions would give me something to look at. also he wants it to be good to use in NZ and Aus next year.
What’s wrong with his reacon? What year is it, does it have a rocker? If so, it’s not a bad board for him. He could go a bit bigger, if he was planning on getting into some deeper pow in Japan. For use back here boards with magnetraction-type tech would be helpful (Rossignol, Lib Tech, Burton).
As a general rule of thumb for me: Australia, no pow, park = 149 to 152. Whistler, Japan, all mountain, pow = 153 to 155. Those sizes seems to work perfectly for me.
That said, things like board flex, shape and especially camber profile can make a big difference in how those sizes feel.
Gererally speaking, I think 4 to 5cm difference is about average for park/fun boards to all mountain/pow boards, if you look at someone’s quiver.
I honestly don’t think you’ll have any problems with the Great 154 for drops.
Thanx rider,
Im starting to think I might go down to a 152 on the Bataleon and keep the greats at a 154 but the Bataleon being a hybrid but with a camber dominate profile you don’t think it be too short ? I know it be fine if it was mostly rocker but I ways assumed camber means more lenght
the rocker on the greats will give you more float than a regular board, so the 54 will float better than a regular cambered board. If they have a 56 I would get that. You’ll have more float in the pow, a bigger/more stable platform to land on and on hardpack the rocker will have the tips off the snow anyways so you won’t feel the extra length.
Don’t get the Experience if you want to be all freestyle in the backcountry. It’s not good for switch riding
Any disadvantage with the extra 2 cm that u can think of ??
Length is a funny thing, you can’t really be told what exact length you need for something in particular, you need to ride them and figure it out yourself as it’s really a preference,
Completely understand I’m just looking for some advice because I will be ordering these online due stores barely carry the boards i want around here and also the lack of demo days, I’m left with trial and error for my snowboards now I do have the option to return but I would return a board and change size unless i got a good amount of time in and by that time selection would be down and I’d be screwed hope that somewhat clears up my need for all the advice..
for instance… I used to ride a 152 everywhere, park and pow. I’ve been riding a 155 for most of the season though. Torstein? He’s 5’8 about 70kg (if I remember correctly), rides a 150.75 for Park/jumps, 147 for rails, and 158 for pow. A 151 on kickers the size he hits? It makes me cringe.
Now if I could actually be able to break my snowboarding down like that meaning board for this in this length and then a different size for this wow that be something maybe when I get more and more boards over the years I can start narrowing it down some more but thanks for the info
Now if I could actually be able to break my snowboarding down like that meaning board for this in this length and then a different size for this wow that be something maybe when I get more and more boards over the years I can start narrowing it down some more but thanks for the info
That was just an example of how some people are extreme with their sizing, where as I don’t think I’d ever ride something that small on such big hits.
The more sizes of boards you ride, and the more camber profiles you try, the better you will understand what you like. It doesn’t have to be the board you’re going to buy, so you can still go into a shop and ask to take out a demo board.
Now if I could actually be able to break my snowboarding down like that meaning board for this in this length and then a different size for this wow that be something maybe when I get more and more boards over the years I can start narrowing it down some more but thanks for the info
That was just an example of how some people are extreme with their sizing, where as I don’t think I’d ever ride something that small on such big hits.
The more sizes of boards you ride, and the more camber profiles you try, the better you will understand what you like. It doesn’t have to be the board you’re going to buy, so you can still go into a shop and ask to take out a demo board.
Yeah to me it just comes down to selection really cause the places around here don’t have the boards I want period, if they did then sure as hell aren’t demoing them because of limited supply plus the boards I want are in high demand pretty much everywhere so it’s sucks all around guess its just gonna be trial and error for me
Thanx for the info though
What’s wrong with his reacon? What year is it, does it have a rocker? If so, it’s not a bad board for him. He could go a bit bigger, if he was planning on getting into some deeper pow in Japan. For use back here boards with magnetraction-type tech would be helpful (Rossignol, Lib Tech, Burton).
It’s a 2007 board not rocker. He wants a new board. I was thinking magnetraction as well
redjames, he could look at something like the Lib Tech TRS. The 159 has a 253mm waist and the 162 has a 256mm waist, either of which should be fine for size 12 boots, depending on the actual boot and what stance he uses (but I’d think it should be OK). Versatile, hybrid rocker profile, magnetraction, mid flex. I think it would be a nice pick for Japan and Aus/NZ.
Thanks rider. He was also looking at gnu riders choice and maybe some of the burton boards. His budget is 500 bucks so not sure if he can get the lib tech on that kind of budget