420calvin

Lol, I am terrible! Just got a problem I guess, but it's better than crack. It's amazing how different boards ride, and I think I'm like all of us, looking for that perfect ride and matching the conditions to the board. Hope we can hook up in the spring. Have fun out in Utah, looks like a great season there already too.

Buell, you're the man! Truly thankful for your expert opinion. Hope you get some ripping days in Utah soon, an who knows maybe we'll meet up at Bachie some day. Thanks again. Khyber 165 soon to be added to the quiver (after I pay for the Tanker!) Adam

I had the thought (this is me way over-thinking things) that Bachelor's terrain really is split between open bowls (Pine Marten and Red Chair, old Black Chair and Outback, Northwest) down to tight trees. This is on most days, when the top is closed because of storms (when Summit is open, that's a whole different discussion). So the board needs to ride fast in open bowl powder as well as react quickly in tight trees. And it needs to traverse well, something we all do way too much at Bachelor! And it should handle the chop well on runs getting back to the chair, that is the least enjoyable/important part of a powder day but can actually be a very big part, especially out at Northwest. The Khyber looks like a great option. But with the above thoughts, is it not quite the right board for all the open terrain that we hit before tight trees? It's not big open powder bowls like Utah, totally different, but it is significant terrain. I guess if I was less wordy, I'd just say: can the Khyber handle open bowls fast, or is it sacrificed there? In which case maybe the Spearhead would be better, since it performs pretty well in tight spaces from what I've heard. (Sidenote: we've had a crazy storm at Bachelor the last several days. From about 1 foot of heavy fresh, to 9 more inches of very cold blower, incredible riding!)

Partly due to your review, Buell, I just purchased a 172 from RJ at Exotic. Stoked! Will also be getting a Khyber or Spearhead for below tree line at Bachelor, still weighing between them. Curious about the 167 Never Summer Summit -- what are your impressions of this board? Looks interesting.

Mike T - I also have a Dynastar 4807 and have ridden it quite a bit at Bachelor. The thing that prevents me from loving it is that floppy nose, really bothers me. But I love the way it planes and flies through powder. We should hook up at Bachelor tomorrow, I'll be out at Northwest either on my Fish or Titan depending how much snow we get with this storm. Tuesday should be even better. I'm definitely looking to the Khyber hybrid rocker board thanks to Buell's advice. It's silly, I want so many boards.... my wife thinks I'm insane. She just doesn't understand, lol.

Digger JR - I am 180 pounds and ride soft boots, but the stiffest available. Prefer that feel for powder, personal preference. Great thread guys!

Thanks, Blue. Just saw the NS Summit too, looks nimble and pow-ready: http://www.shopatron.com/products/productdetail/Summit/part_number=QUI/1742.2.1.1.10275.0.0.0.0?pp=16& Will probably stay away from the Steepwaters, looking for more of a nimble tree board and those are pretty stiff, like my Titan. Will definitely check the Dynastars.

First, I am a board whore. Like many of us here. I think not in terms of "a board" but in terms of "a quiver" and shop accordingly (when I can afford it!). I have some questions about filling out my quiver for you guys/gals. My home mountain is Bachelor, and we see lots of stormy days. This means lots of tight tree riding on Northwest chair (traverse out, drop into the trees, or traverse over to smaller open bowls that feed into tree riding). I need float, but also maneuverability and "turn-iness". I got a 160 Fish last year. It's way shorter than I'm used to riding (my go-to board is a Never Summer Titan 169, a pretty demanding board). But I am impressed, the Fish really rips! However, I just need a bit more length than the Fish offers. It is great ripping trees but holds itself back, needs about 5-8 more cm on the nose. Now I'm looking at the Prior stuff, either a Khyber, Spearhead, or Fissile. I already have a couple swallows, a 185 Undertaker and a 168 Dynastar. Don't ride the Dynastar much, but it's fun, just a little floppy in the nose for me. I know people love them, so I'm willing to try it again, just haven't gotten the good feel from it yet because of that floppy nose. The Undertaker is crazy good when the snow is deep, open and steep. It wants mach speed before turning. Anyone have experience with the Prior pow boards? Looking for something that rips in tight tree pow, but can also handle ripping down groomers, fast, on the way back to the chair. So it should hold an edge, at least adequately well (not looking for another Titan or anything). And it should also handle chop very well, I like riding fast through cut up pow. Any and all help appreciated! Pray for snow!

You serious? They have dogs at Baker just to check for contraband? Seems crazy coming from Bachelor, where smoke in the air is the norm. Thanks for the great tips. The course sounds gnarly. Maybe I'll ride softies (stiff Nidecker carbons) and my Never Summer Titan 168. I've ridden at Hood quite a lot (just stayed at Silcox last weekend) and that natural half pipe under Palmer is pretty sweet, maybe good training for the course. It can't be THAT bad though.... can it? From what you wrote it sounds like the most gnarly course ever. I might just curl up into the fetal position at the start. I'm most stoked about riding Baker and I hope it DUMPS during the event so there's massive pow!

Cool thanks guys! Definitely plan on pics/vid and stoked on riding Baker, too, which looks amazing. Hoping for great amounts of snow. Bachelor is getting hammered and our coverage this early is better than I've seen in 8+ years I think. Should be a good sign that Baker is going to get totally submerged. :)

I got in the Banked Slalom at Baker this year, stoked! Does anyone have any insights to share on the event? Not the course so much (although would be good to know what to expect) but beta on where to stay, vibe of the event, and what board to ride would be appreciated. :) It looks like the course is in a gully, so am thinking more BX type of board (165-168) than my usual 170 - 185cm stuff but not sure... I'm really psyched to be going! Am thinking of bringing my family (girls 5 and 2) but not sure there either.

Will post pics - but here are the boards for sale: 2009/10 Burton Fish 156 - ridden less than 5 times, base is mint. $300 2004/05 K2 Instinct 165 - excellent condition. $150 Love the Fish but I need more length, so moving to a Spearhead for this deck (a powder tight tree board). The K2 has been fun but I need a stiffer board, although this is pretty stiff and can handle some fun rally car style riding.

will do, thanks!

Thanks. I've owned a 182 and loved it, but am now looking for a 172 to round out the quiver. Any other leads out there appreciated.

Actually looks like I just stumbled on the right place: http://www.exoticboards.com/catalog/item/6618673/7395079.htm Looks like these are back-ordered though. Anywhere else out there?

Where can I buy one of these beauties in the States? I'm in Bend Oregon. Looking for a 2010 Tanker in 172cm.

will take the bindings if those are the 2010 model w/ the toe cap straps? Give me a shout via PM and we can sort the details. Thanks

Both Burton binders sold, but the Ride's are still available.

Short list: Never Summer Titan - sick board, very damp, 5mm taper, 10m sidecut, really sick board (i said that twice) Prior MFR - haven't ridden it yet... but it's on my list Winterstick ST - heard only good things, supposed to be sick boards, ditto to above. on my list Arbor Crossbow - if you can find one... they're damp, but have pop too. slight taper in the older models, '07 or so, and a larger sidecut. the more recent models (they stopped making them in '09 i think) have a deeper sidecut and no taper and don't ride as nice imo. K2 Ambush - if you can find one, these are crazy sick in just about everything. I would look for stiffness, a taper, big sidecut, and a nice long nose that flexes a bit to take the chop.

Ok these are going up on ebay, had a couple emails but no real interest.

Bump - these are hard to find! Nidecker is completely sold out... dang I'm panicking.

And I bought the c60's new.

I'm in Bend Oregon. Come see them in person if you're in the area, shoot me an email. I have a lot of bindings because I've been snowboarding for 25 years, and I'm a gear hound, what can I say. I also own 8 snowboards. Any other questions?

The c60's are Large, the P1's are Medium, both of the Rides are Large.

I have 4 pairs of binders for sale. Good prices I think. I think they're Burton C60 - top of the line stiff carbon binding from a few years back. $75 Burton P1 - ditto as above but from a year prior $50 Ride Team - the brown ones are a limited edition Team binding, top of the line from a few years back. Stiff. Leather straps. Nice. $75 Ride SLX or something - not sure - they're similar to the above but don't have bells and whistles. $40