Jack M

SOLD Outstanding board, used about 15 days. Selling because it's a little too close to my latest custom 180, and the wife says I need to clean out the closet! 10-14m KST sidecut. 20.5cm waist. 48-58cm stance width range. Similar turn shape as a 168, just 2m longer radius range, and 6cm longer length. That is to say, this is not a straight-tail racer, but a great freecarver that will finish the turn. Very exciting ride. Swiss hand-made for me at 185lbs in May 2018. Factory thumbprint base grind. Factory edge bevels at 2 side, 0.8 base. Base has not been ground, edges have only been touched up with a diamond stone. Will wax before shipping. Superficial base scratches only. P-tex topsheet condition is very good. No damage. I have about $1800 into it after import tax and shipping. Letting go for $1250 shipped to the 48 states. I will pay the first $50 for shipping elsewhere. Satisfaction guaranteed.

I was going to suggest that since you seem to like softer boots. Many people report heel lift in the Deeluxe Track 700, and that was my experience. I'm not sure if the 325/425 are any better in that department but they are narrower. UPZ and Mountain Slope are famous for great heel hold. You'll be able to fine tune your stiffness with the spring system and selection of tongues. I think you'll be very pleased., this will be a nice upgrade. Great days of riding ahead for you! Enjoy!! @Beckmann AG check that out!

Many gaps here, but happy to have my first 3 boards. Good times... Elite 150, Safari Comp II (165), PJ7 (171), custom Coiler Stubby 170 ("Safari Comp IV"), Fin's Madd 158, K168, Winterstick Wescott 164, custom K174, vintage Coiler 196 SG, K185, Proto 163, custom K180 (best board ever)

Do share.

By my Vernier Caliper, 1.8cm. Vs. 1.4cm for Apex, 2.3cm for Donek AF.

Any custom builder will make you a board with UPM inserts, you just have to open your wallet. Kessler no longer stocks boards with UPM inserts. I imagine nobody else does either. For a freecarver in a region that gets icy conditions, in my experience the UPM Donek AF plate provides the most edge hold for the money and weight, just with a height penalty. Allflex spring plate has the edge hold, but at a considerable cost premium and weight penalty. Apex has a bit less edge hold but significantly less height and weight (and availability).

You use the triangular cut version, right? I know Benjamin Karl uses the spring plate for SL. I tried it for several days and it is awesome and powerful but it is significantly heavier than a non-spring plate. It requires more work, but pays rewards. If I was a young academy buck riding 5-6 days a week and doing dryland training, I'd have one. But for my middle-aged ass it was a bit much.

Approaching 100 days, holding up very well. I just broke an ankle screw (my first), and the local ski shop replaced it 5 minutes for free. Do check all screws periodically. I lost a buckle ladder (the "teeth" thingamabob, quickly replaced at ski shop with a generic one), and I've seen a kid I coach with a loose screw for the bottom of the spring mechanism.

A little snow now and then, a little sleet, cold temps, grooms up real nice. I see what you did there.

Well I love it on the K185. I think the one I tried on my K168 was medium or hard, I will try to find out from the owner. I should re-try this new one on the K168.

Before the storm on January 16th we were riding November conditions here in New England. A small amount of moisture fell on top of that storm and when it was groomed it made for some of the most hero carving conditions ever. We have been enjoying it ever since. What was among the worst starts of the season in memory has become one of the best mid-seasons ever. There has also been no rain or thaw since the deluge on Christmas day. Shot taken today at Sugarloaf.

Well, that makes me sad. I find in general online that often all you can do is offer your opinion and let the chips fall where they may. People can take it or leave it, it's up to them. Your riding speaks for itself. I would love to try your exact setup because it does look like it works very well for you. The longitudinal cut standard Allflex I tried on my Kessler 168 was quite literally the worst feeling I've ever had on any alpine snowboard ever. I could feel the board bending at the ends of the plate, and not in a good way. The ride was completely lifeless, rigid, and metallic. The longitudinal cut standard Allflex plate I'm using now on my stock Kessler 185 is wonderful, and works in perfect harmony with the board. I've been able to turn it surprisingly tighter than I thought would be possible. Hasn't the spring plate become the favorite for World Cup SL?

What @i-carve.com said. It simply did not bend enough for that board. @WinterGolduses a non-spring Allflex on his SL board with great success, but it’s a medium flex triangular cut. Mine is longitudinal cut. Not sure if it’s medium or hard or what. In any case it will be permanently affixed to my GS board where it shines.

I tried to carve in a pair of 130 ski boots once. I couldn’t even skid in them, never mind carve. I love the “120” World Cup .951s. I don’t think they can be compared to 120 ski boots.

Feel is very good. A little less snow feel and feedback than Apex, a lot more than Bomber. Edit - @James Ong I need to update this post, I recently got back on my Apex after only riding the Allflex plates pictured above this season. Suddenly the Apex felt vague and soft and more isolated/disconnected in comparison. Allflex is definitely a powerful and more direct system, it's no mystery to me why it completely replaced Apex in racing.

Stock 185 new last season. I will be buying this Allflex longitudinal cut GS plate that I-carve provided for review. This is a match made in heaven for ludicrous speed! I hated this plate on my K168, completely different situation on the 185. Love it!! Smooth, stable, fast, unflappable. Turns tighter than I expected, almost like the bare board. The weight is no big deal and quickly feels normal (not so for the spring plate). I can easily see why these replaced Apex in racing.

Edge hold machine. If you have unused UPM inserts, buy this thing!

Dave, what is that thing?

Welcome! Between the Deeluxe Track 700 and UPZ, I found the heel hold much better in the UPZs. I don't know about the Track 325 or 225, but they are narrower overall. The UPZ spring system is a big bonus. Most Deeluxe riders buy an aftermarket spring system because the stock forward lean selector locks out the ankle joint, so all flex comes from deforming the shell. Donek makes a great product, if you can spring for the Metal Freecarve it will be a smoother ride than the non-metal version, however this is less critical in the Rockies. Custom footbeds are wonderful, I wouldn't ride without them. Intuition liners are a common upgrade for UPZ owners, but the stock liners are worth a try. Deeluxe come with Intuition liners. I'm approaching 100 days on my stock Mountain Slope liners, they have been great but are almost out of gas. As in the other thread, the F2 Race Titaniums are better. Get an extra lift kit so you can have toe lift on the front foot and heel lift on the back foot. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Donek makes a great product. That board will be a major upgrade from your UltraPrime. Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

I strongly disagree with the (well intended) softboot comments. If someone wants to try hardboots, they should. Here is an athlete I am coaching. She is 16, about 120, 5’1”, riding UPZ RC11s, F2 Race Titanium’s, and a Kessler 150. (She uses an F2 WC 169 for GS) This is her 2nd season in hardboots. At the time this was taken, conditions were pretty mediocre. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKY426SD2Qi/?igshid=1475o7eaaeop9

@Neil Gendzwill I said at least. Any shorter than that is too short, IMO.

The race titanium’s are flexy enough. I don’t trust the plastic Carve RS. I’ve started several high school students on the titanium’s, no problem.

I'm told by a good source that the Austrian ones were made by F2. I had one, great board. It said "Made in Austria" on the sidewall. This looks like a custom, which probably would have been made at the Kessler factory in Switzerland. 174 is not a stock Kessler size.

What is the sidecut radius? Typically Kesslers are reported as a range, like 10-14m. With a 19cm waist, @trailertrash might like this for a longboard...