Randy Kight

Yes Shred! This is why I started this thread. Loved carving up the whole mountain years ago on my old 92 Burton M6 with vari-plates and Nordica SBH’s. Every time I’ve jumped on the skinnies, I have fun, but feel to limiting for my riding frequency/skill level. Love something turny/carvy around 23.5 or so. Currently in an old Volkl Spline with Trac 700’s with some new SG Performance Bindings on the way to replace my Burton Race Plates and TD3 Sidewinders. These Japanese wider, assume friendly, carvers look the ticket. Not sure how any of them would ride under my 230lbs, but they’re absolutely beautiful in shape...love this hammerhead look. I have no intention riding soft...only plates as I’ve done since ‘91. Everytime I check this thread, I’m blown away at the amount of posts/interest as I didn’t think to many would respond. Damn I wish I could spend a sunny day making a few runs on each.

Good call. Wasn’t keeping my wits about me with all these boards being shown/discussed. Really interested in getting your thoughts on this when you get some time on it...as I’m sure we all are!

Thank you! Love to join! I'll report back. Where in VA are you?

Wow...go to work, come home, check the thread...rep shows up and Shred has already bought a board! I'm very interested in this Alloy DO, especially if it's local. Love to try the Yonex as well... What's the price on the DO?

If demo is possible, would love to sign up!

Awesome...thread's still going...thanks to all. I'm not the only one interested in this stuff! Pauleleven...huge posts! Daveo...huge posts! Thanks to both of you. I'd be interested in hearing more about the SG stuff. Yonex looks awesome...thanks for bringing this in Shred!

So Daveo, Whats the general thought on fun carving boards over there...Gray, SG, etc.? The Yonex that Shred brought into the thread looks nice. The Gray Desp Ti R looks really nice, but my only experience with a metal board was a custom Kessler that was supposed to be a little more friendly than a full blown race, but i felt it didn’t like to turn...wanted more fall line. Could have been taper, etc. Are these pretty fun to turn on with advantage of metal? When you mention SG, are you talking about softboot, or wider type carving boards? lots of questions...about ready to try the f2 Ti race plates after being in Burton-Ibex forever, but in the SG Performance version...need a new board to put them on!

Now I need a Yonex, and a Gray. I wonder if the Yonex is any easier/cheaper to get....

Man I wish some of this stuff was local. If anyone hears anything about someone opening a distribution please report back. Shred...let us know if you get reply please. Anyone know the difference between the Gray Desperado Ti and Desperado Ti Type R? My Japanese has gotten rusty!

Yes Daveo! Come on man! Get busy! Give us some feedback...

I take it you've ridded this? Hard or soft boots? In general, pretty easy to ride I would assume? I've purchased a few Japanese Shimano high-end casting reels directly, and when the dollar is up, they can be had for a huge discount...and the customer service is incredible to say the least. They've got some beautiful boards from the looks of it.

So Shred...you've ridden these? Let's hear it! This Type R looks awesome...would love to try with a set of plates.

These look very nice. I know they're Japanese...anyone out there try their Desperado, or Alpine line? Know where these might be had from the US? The thread started last year about softboot carving peaked my interest in these. The riding done on their Desperado Ti Type R in the linked vid around the 1:30 mark is absolutely brilliant to my eye...and what I'm after style wise. Randy

Wow! Had not heard about any of this...did a cable break?!? Appreciate the feedback! Look forward to hearing more as it unfolds. Very much like Canaan and the people who work there. Randy

Holy cow!!! That would be insane! Love Canaan due to price, hills being out in the open (catches more sun), and the little cabins are cheap awesomeness. How long has this rumor been going on...possibility of it happening?

Once again, huge thank you to all. Spoke with S Martin at Donek yesterday...great guy. I’m interested in the F2 Ti Race, but have to say the SG’s look nice. Having said above, I’d be tempted to buy another pair of SW’s if the store was open. But these make the SG’s look cheap by comparison. I wish I could demo this stuff! Damn!

Thanks to all! Sincerely appreciate the time. Jburk, great pics! I’m curious, when running only toe lift, or heel lift for that matter, does the boot sole no longer run flat on entire surface of the pad that has been raised? Seems strange that would be the case...

Hello everyone...hope all are well. Wanted to throw a few questions out there to get my current setup, or lack thereof, moving forward. After trying out some Sidewinders, a came to realize I really like toe lift and heel lift without much cant fore or aft. After reading many of the threads on here about such topics, and after re-reading Beckman's article on Binding Setup, (fantastic by the way!) I came to realize I've been woefully short of a good setup for many years. All my years of riding plates/hb's, I've always used the Burton 7* unicant wedge under rear, flat up front, and did not realize how painful/unbalanced I was until I brought the front toe up a few degrees. My current interest is either a set of Sidewinders or F2's, where I can play with toe and heel lift as needed, making sure I don't get into something too stiff...tried Fin's TD1 years ago, both stepin and standard, and it was way to much for my riding. I had purchased a set of Sidewinders a few years back, liked the softness and comfort of them, but did not get much time on the snow during that time, and foolishly sold them on here. Tried like hell to buy a new pair of boots and another pair of SW's last year, but it was just too damn difficult/time consuming to get anyone at Bomber to take my money. So, my current thoughts moving forward is either a set of F2's of some sort, or another set of SW's. I do like simplicity, which my old/current set of Burton/Ibex offer. Here are my questions about this, and I appreciate the time and information in advance. I've never had/seen/setup F2's. I'm interested in their supposed simplistic design (similar to my Burton/Ibex), and very interested in what I hear is pretty easy to do regarding toe and heel lifting, if that is truly the case. I'm not at all interested in fabricating to make things work, as I just don't have the tools, etc., so I'm hoping all is easy to do out the box. 1. F2 Ti Race: Compared to my Burtons, are these much stiffer, or more rigid? How about compared to SW's.? 2. F2 Ti Race: What comes in the box regarding shims? How readily can I add a few degrees of toe lift and maybe 3-4 degrees under heel...with, or without cant? 3. F2 Intec Titanflex: I'm interested in these from a convenience and potentially a softer setup, but concerned about being to twitchy/stiff...as I found out from my TD1 Stepins many years ago. Given the build on these, I see they may be, in theory, a little softness built into these compared to others, but for those that have played around with these, are they close to the SW's in give/play, or is there a noticeable difference in being a more stiff/unforgiving interface? 4. F2 Intec Titanflex: The descriptions of these would seem to indicate more customizations to lift/cant, etc. than the F2 Ti Race...Would this be true? 5: F2: Binding setup regarding lift/cant, etc.: Can anyone point me to a video, or series of pictures, that would illustrate what these offer and how to go about setting these up? This would be huge to get a visual on my end. Haven't had much luck in my searches finding such. 6: TD3 SW's: If I decide, based on opinions/information expressed here regarding the F2's, to go this route again, there is definitely a large price difference...and I'd be foolish not to bring this into consideration. I'm assuming I'll be able to purchase these at some point in time. I have read a little about the possibility of Fin/Michelle taking back over their creation, and I hope this is true. It's unfortunate what seemed to have happened, but would explain my troubles in trying to place orders last year. FYI on me...I'm not as aggressive as I used to be, and ride small mountains here in VA and WV. My current board is an old Volkl Spline 164 and usually rid mellow angles, 45-50 forward, 35-40 aft, and this is mainly due to riding a 91 Burton M6 with fixed 45 - 35 Vari-plates and Nordica SBH for ever. I'm about 230lbs. I know...bunch of questions, but I just can't get my hands on any of this stuff where I am, and am trying to limit any surprises up front. All the best... Randy

Damn! Sorry I missed that. Thought I looked. Thanks GeoffV.

Thanks...yes, I noticed the dates. Big thanks for posting this stuff as well! I don't need a new board...but I need one...? I like the idea of a softer all around freecarver!

Anyone know if different tongues are available for this boot and if so, how to purchase?

Nidecker has my attention...that's a beautiful board. Anyone have any idea on where this might be purchased and guesstimate on price? Also interested in those Gray Snowboards mentioned in the soft boot carving video. Wonder if they'd be available in US.

Thank you ibrussell!

I know...call me an idiot. I just got around to putting on the BTS on some older boots. They're setup with no preloading on any spring. I like much less forward lean on my front foot. Would this be best adjusted by screwing down the top tension bolt (toe side spring)? Or something else all together? Tension bolts on both heel side springs are almost at bottom. Its almost like I might want to have a shorter heel spring to accomplish this. I ride the stock mechanism at 4 if I recall, where 3 was middle of the road forward lean, 2 more forward lean, etc thanks for being kind and patient...

Well written!