queequeg

I am really thinking of just throwing caution to the wind and buying all new equipment, and have been thinking hard about buying either: Nidecker Custom GS 170 Or Volkl RT 173 They both have relatively similar SCR with the Nidecker being a tiny bit shorter than the Volkl has about 3" more effective edge. The Volkl seems to have a reputation for being very stable at high speeds, and Volkl is a name that I recognize as quality. I have never ridden a Nidecker but they seem to have been around for as long as I can remember. The Nidecker seems to have a short, low-profile nose which Is not unlike the nose on my Kildy. Quality of build is important here, because I rarely buy a new board, it has to last. I will almost definitely be outfitting these with a pair of TD 2s and am thinking about getting a pair of Head Stratus Pros to put my feet in. One other question - convenience factor aside, what is the advantage or disadvantage of the Step in VS standard bail bindings. Will the step-in be as tight a fit as a standard bail bindings? Is it just personal prefs? If all things are equal, step-ins seem like a cool convenience ... I hate doing up my bindings at the top. Thoughts? Thank you!

I'm interested. Give me a ring? 917.776.8286

Is it still for sale? Interested. 917.776.8286

What you are saying makes sense, though I hadn't thought of it that way. To put things in perspective, I weigh 175 and have pretty ample lower-body strength, so I can push pretty hard. I ride pretty fast compared to a lot of people but not ludicrously fast. On second thought. My alp 6.9 is a softer board with a longer sidecut - and I hate it - (other than it just being way too wide) It feels "mushy" to me - I know that's not an industry term but it's the only way I know how to describe it. What do people think of this, should I be looking for a sofer board with a longer sidecut?

I didn't say I like like GS turns ... I said I would like a board that can hold out a longer turn but can still push out a tight turn when I want it to. I guess I want something that is looser than my ride, but with a short enough radius that it can't make quick, violent turns when I push it hard. Does that make sense? I guess something that is stiff and long that is somewhere between slalom or GS. Given a choice between two GS boards, I would probably choose the one with the deeper cut. I know you can't have everything, but somewhere in the middle there must be a compromise. Thanks for the info on the Oxygen. I weight 175 so I'd probably better avoid it.

Email Sent. Thanks for your advice. What do you think of the Oxygen 170 LTD (mentioned above) It seems to have some desirable characteristics 170, plenty of cut. I like it's elegant appearance (I'll admit, this is important to me). Is it stiff and snappy? I'd probably prefer a GS board over a freecarve board. I'm kind of a purist that way. I hate the alp. I like skinny waists.

I would love to get my hands on a pair of used Bomber Bindings. Those look to be quality hardware. I think I am going to try and get a pair of Fire Boots, if I can find a pair in my size. People have suggested that I would really like a Donek or a Madd or a Volkl. What are your impressions of the Oxygen 170 LTD. It's a 170, it has plenty of sidecut, and seems relatively inexpensive - so if it's nice and stiff I think it would probably work for me without breaking the bank. Then maybe I could pick up a set of used bomber bindings. That would be pretty sweet I think. ... thoughts on the Oxygen 170 LTD?

Hi, this is my first post. I think it's time for me to pick out a whole new rig ... boots, bindings, board. I have lots of experience riding but I don't think I know enough about buying boards. About me: I have been snowboarding for 18 years, the vast majority of which have been spent riding plates, hard boots, and stiff, skinny board. I started out riding on the east-coast ice in NH, CONN and VT, and just returned to the east coast after spending about 8 years in Oregon. People generally describe my riding style as very aggressive, I ride relatively fast, and I like laying down hard, aggressive turns. I don't race, I do it purely for the pleasure of it. I prefer steep wide slopes. You're going to laugh when I tell you what I am riding right now: Boots: burton Megaflex boots. Obviously they have to go. Ancient. Sloppy. What is the general consensus on boots? What boots are good if you want something that is STIFF and (somewhat) comfortable for all day riding. I have two boards, a Ride Kildy 159, and a Burton alp 169. I bought the alp for powder days in Oregon on Mt.Hood when there was too much soft snow to ride the Kildy. Riding the Alp is like riding a garage door and I avoid it. The Kildy is stiff and snappy, with plenty of cut (I don't know the numbers) but it will whip around a turn pretty violently if you want it to, That is a plus in my mind. What I don't like about is it's short, and at higher speeds, when I want to hold down my turns for longer it is ready to exit earlier than I really want it to. The Kildy is a keeper in my book, but I'd like to add another longer board to the quiver that will hold out turns a bit longer, be stable at high speed but still be snappy, responsive, quick edge-to-edge and capable of digging trenches at a tight radius. I weight 175 lbs. I am guessing that a very stiff 170 - 175 with a moderately deep sidecut is what I want. Brands? In the past I have ridden Burton PJ's and such (I know, also ancient). If it matters, I ride very steep angles, with my rear foot pointing slightly further forward than the front. Can't remember the numbers but they're in the low seventies if I remember correctly. I'm probably going to be looking at used equipment because I'm impoverished. What boards/boots/bindings do you think I should look into? Keep in mind I am on a budget.