dgCarve

I bet that it is hard to find metal Donek or Coiler for such weight + size. My son rides this specs. I got him non metal SG Full Carve 150 and F2 Speedster GTS 158. Both of these companies have similar boards with titanal like SG Full Race 150 and F2 Speedster WC SL 153.

Freecarve is great board. I have Freecarve Secret Construction 180cm 11m-13m SCR. It is very fun board when conditions right. But when it is icy, especially when there are lots of small icy bumps, edge hold can't compare with "dumpier" metal boards. Still rideable, but it will penalize you for any small mistake in such conditions. Well, it just mean that your alpine boards quiver will grow very fast...all addicted alpine snowboarders have this problem...

I have only few seasons under my belt on hardboot setups and can share my experience. I hope it will be help full. Before transition, I was rinding stiff "softboot" setups, like Custom X/NX2-GT/Ride Insano. Tried hardboots and became addicted to all this addition edge control they give. That's why I fully converted to hardboots. However I like to ride different conditions and surfaces (like moguls and powder). So, that's why I do have two hardboot setups - "soft" and "hard". My "soft" setup: UPZ boots with medium stiffness springs + red tongues, F2 Race Titanium, and Vist / Vistflex plates optional. For boards: Coiler Contra 167 / 26cm waist, Burton Custom (yes, regular board), Prior 4WD. I even do some jumping in parks on these setup. "hard setup" UPZ RCR with race springs, F2 Race T bindings, Vist/Vistflex/Bomber Plate (I never ride "hard" setup without plates - as conditions usually not great where I ride...). For boards: I have too many SL and GS boards for one person ... Depending on your ride style "hard setup" could be softer. I do split all carving styles (not scientifically) into two groups: 1 - controlling speed by going perpendicular to fall line, 2 - controlling speed by doing quick aggressive, but open turns (like racers or ski carvers do). For the first group of carving styles you do not need very hard setup. Actually you may prefer softer setups, as some of these styles require lots of "vertical" movement. Depending on snow conditions you ride, entry level non metal alpine boards could be not so great choice. For example Pacific North West conditions usually quite bad: heavy wet snow, icy, bumpy, good grooming if exists does not last more than couple of hours. About plates: there are different approaches to that, many recommend to learn without them... But I found that Vist and even better Vistflex, do not require any real adjustment of riding. Bomber Plate requires some time getting used to it. Vistflex is my favourite (Allflex - never tried. I find it unreasonably expensive). If you want to try Vistflex or Allflex, make sure that you order board with allflex inserts. I think taking into account your experience and "sport" interests you most probably outgrow your entry board very quickly. If I would be you, I just would get some cheap used board for start (with SCR of 9.5m-11m). Ride it for couple of months. Promote it to "rock" board. And then order high end metal board if you like hardboot carving. I personally prefer SG and Coiler...

Some great riding there! Just this year alone I watched this competition 3 times :-). Less than 6 years passed since then, however it looks like competitive riders are more aggressive now. Important role in that are playing advancements in plates and boards, I think.

@crackaddictRevelstock has lots of wide runs (in some places super wide :-)), this boards should work great there! When I ride my SG FR 185 with average SCR 21m, I try to avoid any narrow runs even if they wide enough to turn the board. If I fall, I can slide so far, that can easily end up in the forest... I found that I have to get to Mach 1 speed first to make the board turn well...

Used couple of times. Ask $80 + shipping.

Bought last season. Did not use them match, as mostly used Flow NX-GT2 bindings last year. This year I did not ride my soft boot setup at all... Sanded sharp edges and put duct tape (see picture) inside to protect boots from rubbing. Price $165 + shipping.

Built at the end of the last season for soft boots. Last season I have used the board ~5 times, this season only 1 time, as I exclusively switched to hard boots... Stock edge tune, no damage, almost like new. The board is in storage wax. Specs: Flex for 200lbs Length 170cm Waist 30.7cm SCR 11m Nose and tail are shorter than standard Knapton Twin to increase effective edge. Ask $475 + shipping. Paid 675 + Tax + Shipping SOLD

Independent resorts in WA are still open. Will have to pay for 1 day tickets and drive more... Looks like I will switch to my summer hobbies like road and mountain bikes sooner...

Now I really want to go there... How is the snow coverage in the summer there? Should I take my best GS/SL boards or should I take my "rock" boards?

Probably just regular non step ins F2 bindings would help. Step ins just too stiff, something had to give up... However I cant imagine myself running my 20m SCR GS board running with these boots...

No shadow from the board...

I see only ski camps there. Do you have a link to snowboard racing camp? Thinking about trying SG camp next year... How does it work for snowboarders?

Photoshopped too. No distortion from curvature of the board. Reflection is done in a screen space. Never seen some a weekend warrior with so polished snowboard - usually rusty, dull edges, and oxidation all over the base And curvature of the bend snowboard is weird too...

Snow spray is taken from different photo. Very bad blending job.

I put an order couple of months ago. No response. Funds on my CC were released few days later.

This is conclusion based on: - No updates on facebook or website for 2 years. - No communication by phone or email. - Do not send orders. - CC money are released after "pre authorization" expires.

They are not in business. Wait few days and your funds on CC will be released. It is "pre authorization", not actual charge. Same happened to me.

Racers easily can do perfect carves on ice. For this you need perfect technique. Does Sigi look rough? LOL Search for Jasey Jay free riding too... @softbootsurfer posted a video of Sigi... Good racers have very sound technique, and can carve much cleaner than 95% of "free carvers". They just not interested in scraping slope and use parts of their body as brake... P.S. I did read lots of posts here, and clearly can see that by some reason "free carvers" think that racers can not do clean carves, and that it is harder to learn clean "free carving" than racing technique. Both of this are very wrong stereotypes with no any factual basis.

Drifting is quite advanced technique, and not that easy to do...

My 9 year son on his first day on alpine setup was laying carves on blues, like he was doing that forever! He was good carver on regular board, but WOW - it took few weeks to get me where he was just in one day.

FYI, your information is outdated. This is old stereotype. In last few years racing advanced considerably. The racing technique changed. Check most recent competitions. Almost no drift in racing. Same technique applied in free riding and racing: P.S. By the way, (good) races never skid, they may do drifts. Absolutely different thing... I love how Loginov rides - clean carving with some drifting:

Every alpine rider needs to bring into the sport at least one or more of his kids. Eventually our sport will grow... Tomorrow my 9 year old son will be riding his alpine setup for the first time. He already carves better than 98% of adult riders on his regular board... P.S. On snowbording heros for kids: A parent can be a hero for his children. My son learned how to carve just following me on slopes.

I recently bought couple of SG boards. Full Race 163XT and Full Race 185. SG website only has specs for "average" of three radii. Does anyone know what SCRs these boards have? Nose/Mid/Tail?

I am planning to carve on weekends at Crystal till end of the season. At Snoqulmiae at nights during work week if conditions permit (yesterday it was a skate rink ).