I dont like short boards.
But I love the new Madd 158. This is a completely different snowboard than the 158 I demo'd two years ago at the 2004 ECES. The 2004 board reaffirmed what I had felt about all short carving boards - they're nervous, unstable, demanding, and have to be ridden in their tiny sweet-spots at all times. Right? Wrong.
Madd Mike approached me in the base lodge at Sugarloaf at the ECES and said he had been working to duplicate the famous original Madd 158 of the mid 90's, and that he was pretty sure he'd nailed it. He wanted me to try it, so I hesitantly agreed with skepticism.
I've never ridden an original Madd 158. But I can't imagine any 158 riding any better than this. If the original was better, then any remaining examples should be immediately purchased for a hefty ransom by the Smithsonian.
The Madds are now being made in varying stiffnesses. I demo'd the medium a.k.a. "f2" 158, and found it to be perfect for my 175 pounds. The nose of the board has been stiffened up considerably, and this is readily apparant on snow. Feedback from the nose is excellent - you know exactly what the edge is doing at all times, and exactly how much purchase it has in the hardpack.
The stiffer nose radically improves the board's stability and versatility. The board will now carve larger and faster turns with total confidence that should be impossible for this length and sidecut. I could not believe I was having so much fun on a 158, and going as fast as I was with no sense of the board giving up. Gone is the precarious feeling of having to be perfectly poised over the board's sweet spot. This board lets you think about what you want to do, not what it wants to do.
To call this board lively is an understatement. That's a good thing. Cranking out some short-GS turns, I was effortlessly launching off the ground in between each perfect C-shaped carve. Upon returning to earth, the board would instantly slice into the next carve as if it had never lost contact. At one point I had to stop on the slope and ask ErikJ if I looked as good riding this board as I felt. He said something about "dude, if you were a woman, we'd be off in the trees right now..." Umm, not that there's anything wrong with that. Hey Erik, you know how I know you're... never mind.
Edge grip was flawless. No complaints, total confidence. Hip dragging on both sides.
Only changes I would make would be to center the insert pattern on the sidecut. I like a centered stance. With the existing setback, I had to use the forward most inserts and the forward binding holes to get to what I thought was a centered stance from my quick measurements in the demo tent. Also the jury is still out on Madd's return to brass inserts. The softer metal is less forgiving about thread engagement, and will require careful mounting.
The board just felt perfect. This is totally useless feedback for Madd, but what can I say, I have to have one. Mike, whatever you did to this board, for the love of god man, write it down. Dammit. This quiver thing is becoming a problem.