Looking for a POW board

Hey Guys and Girls,

I am looking for a new board, i have a YES 164 pick your line at the moment and want something that will let me really
carve the powder.

I have been to Japan the last 2 years and will be going back again next year. I want a board that will be specific to deep pow. I have looked at the Gentem sticks and they look sweet. I havent had a go on one, but am after something that excels through tight trees and floats over deep powder.

I am 191cm tall, weigh 96kg and have a size 12 boot. I am not at all interested in park riding or jumps, i want to carve on and off pieste i am open to all suggestions, so please let me know what you think. I will still ride my Yes board, but want something for those deep powder days.

Cheers

In Japan, how much of your average day is spent in deep pow, and how much is spent getting there and coming back? And do you just want it for Japow?

I prefer pow boards like the Capita Charlie Slasher - because they’re awesome in pow, but still a good ride for the rest of the day.

Hey Chucky,

Mate i really want something for Japow, i will prob be going there for the next few years. I am looking for a fish style snowboard.
If possible to ride the groomers with my wife and daughter, but also really work in the pow and the trees. It is going to be more for myself and doing the gates and not getting stuck in deep pow. I want to float and to really carve up any bit of pow i can find.

Take a look at Furberg Freeride Snowboard might be just what you looking for.

While ive never ridden one myself, MOSS are a popular pow board ridden in Japan!!!!!

If you want a pure pow board, you can’t beat boards like the:

Burton Fish
YES 420
Jones Hovercraft
Nitro Slash
Lib Tech Birdman
Rome Notch

... and others. It also depends on how versatile you want them for non-pow riding. The boards above are pure pow boards. There are more versatile options like the Capita Charlie Slasher chucky mentioned (you can also include boards like the Burton Barracuda in this category).

I somehow get the feelin that he’s after somethin more like this on the left?????

I may be wrong????? Saw tons of crew slashin pow this season on the very same boards!!!!! I nearly went down and hired one just for the hell of it, but then I didn’t wanna miss out on any freshies while I did it!!!!!

That looks sick!

MOSS do a range of different shapes too!!!!!

It def looks like they know their shit just from lookin at the range!!!!! Crazy!!!!!

Saw a crew of 4 killin it on them through one of the Gates at Niseko!!!!! Closest thing I’ve seen to Surfin Powder!!!!!

Maybe you can try the Gentems when you’re in Japan. I think Gamblor used to own a Gentemstick. Maybe you can also look at Burton Cheetah, Burton Cloudsplitter (next year’s), Salomon Sick Stick (not a fish style but I’ve seen so many people using it on a pow day in Whistler), Signal Epic.

I haven’t tried the Fish but from what everyone has been saying it’s pretty much one of the best, if not the best powder board you can buy (plus it’s easy to find too).

I think Gentem stemmed from Moss in someway????? Gamblor will prob be able to shed some light on it though!!!!!

Check this out in the meantime!!!!! >>>>> http://www.mosssnowsurfing.com/

Hey jared74!
All this is fantastic advice, but can I ask what it is you don’t like about your ‘YES 164 pick your line’ board? do you feel it doesn’t quite carve as smooth as you want, or do you not feel as much “float” in the really deep stuff? Sorry if this has been covered, will this also be an all mountain to cruise with the fam in addition? Just asking, I’m 191cm, 100k, with 13"boots, In big deep I have an old school Option 168- but that thing is a Cadillac, just don’t cope with tiny snow.  Without knowing more, If you’re unsatisfied with normal mountain snow on yours, look for something with more Flex but I would keep the rest.  I picked up a very versatile ‘61 that I would be happy to take to Japow, even if I had to set the bindings back a bit… 

Maybe you can also look at Ogasaka snowboard as shown below in the video or TJ brand snowboards.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4nartr17R8&list=FLKFe1C67Y-0xU4iDikA_2nQ[/youtube]

I will agree with the above. The Fish performs really well on hardpack; super quick edge to edge due to the standard 3” setback and tapered shape, and the camber under the feet allows for good carving. But thing is made for the pow. Get it in the deep stuff or in the trees and it’s an absolute dream.

Great photo Balmoral!

Since the OP is such a big guy, spending the $1000 plus for a Japanese boutique powder board is really recommended. They are designed for smaller Japanese guys and have narrow stances. They might have one or two in their whole line made for a bigger footed person, but you’d have to look deep into the specs.

Moss snowsticks are not as expensive as Gentems, but they will still run you more than an american or european company.

I DON’T recommend the Burton Cheetah or Barracuda. The Cheetah does not like to turn, and the Barracuda is soft and has a weird s-rocker that starts under the front foot (as opposed to in front of it like other s-rockers).

I agree with the Burton Fish recommendations. With the s-rocker that keeps the big nose out of the way on hardpack, you can carve to your heart’s delight. In pow, if I had to say anything bad about it, I’d say it makes powder too easy!