Hello, I am the dad of "comrade" who used to hang out here (he is now in Taiwan for a couple of years). After watching my 3 sons have a blast carving for years, mid-season last year I grabbed some spare stuff from the family collection and gave it a try. Hey, this is fun! I didn't ski again for the rest of the season.
Background: I am 48, 5'7", 160lbs. I have skied for 30 years and am expert ranked in Nastar, can ski anything, carve everything, season pass to Park City, blah blah blah. I knew the physics of snow travel before I ever stepped on a board, so it wasn't that hard to get around. Yeah, I am in the back seat on my avatar, but that was the only pic I have.
I wakeboard, but had never been on any snowboard. I started right off on a 164 Factory Prime with UPZ RSVs and Catek OS2's. I thought it was great. But then I borrowed my youngest's Volkl 158 RT SL. Shouldn't have done that, it was way more fun for me and how I ride. I took an instant step up in ability, I could turn much tighter and my heelsides were very nice. But he won't give it to me, even if I get him a different board. So I bought an eBay Rossi that doesn't have any details on the yellow/black top graphic, such a model name or dimensions. But it measures about 158 and the waist is 195mm. It has a bit less sidecut than the Volkl. I ride it much better than the FP, but it still isn't quite like the Volkl.
Soooo..... here are a few dumb questions...
1. I don't care about stability at mach speed. I have fun just making tight turns. Would a "freecarve" board be more to my liking? I know where I can get a 156 SilberFeil, but would that be too short in that model? Any comments on that board?
2. I know where I can get one of the newer Oxygen Protons in a 158, but I have never seen the specs on them. Anyone know that board?
3. Should I bee looking for something else? Anyone know something snappier and tighter turning that a 158 RT SL? I tried our 151 FP and that was just stupid, it was way to short.
You may be wondering why I don't just spring for a new Volkl. Well, with a basement full of boards and skis, my wife would kill me.
Thanks for any help.
