As most of know the dupraz is a wierd looking board. When i first took it out i got a ton of weird looks(but if you on a alpine board so you get used to it). On the first day of my little tests i took it out to Blue Sky Basin(awsome area!!!) and i was able to whip it thru trees and was able to go off jumps and go up steep walls(yeah i know it sounds bad). On the second day i did pretty mych the same things. On the third day Vail got DUMPED ON!. I was a little intimidated by the fact i was using hard boots. I have never felt such a feeling before , it was fantastic , it was like crazy awsome!!. I went thru trees and traced pow and untouched pow and moguls and just about everything on the snow. When i first asked about the size to Bola he said not to be intimadated by the nose and the tail. This board doesnt steer its self on cat trails, You have to be aware at all times ( dont you have to be aware all, the time though). I though i would have a hard time but i really didnt. The board handles like a really short board but it is a 179(due to its nose). The nose in powder is the most snowgasmic thing in the world. If you are looking to get one of these boards dont be intimidated by it . Oh by the way it carves awsome too!