Should I trade in my Tanker 182 for a 177/187 oversize?

[Helvetico]

I've got a good piste board already (Reto Lamm 164). So far the 182 has been a great all-around board, but not the powder specialist I would like it to be. I rented a 177 wide last season, and it definitely provided more float than the 182.

Should I go with a 177 or a 187? I'm about 80 kilos (176 pounds) without any gear on. With the clothes, helmet and packed Camelback I'll be between 190-200 lbs. (86-91 kg.)

Thanks.

[big mario]

go bigger! My 87 wide handles my 240lbs with aplomb! It also carves like a feind with its 9.5 m sidecut when needed. It can be a handful in tight trees, but what board over 175 isn't? With your lighter weight a 6 inch dusting will feel bottemless on a 187 wide. I would keep the 182, and get the 187 as quiver mate.

tankers rule!

mario

[bobdea]

it's thw width that is the issue

I wear a 11, not huge but I hate drag so I go with a wide waisted board when I ride softies.

[Bordy]

Where do you ride. What type of terrain, Are you just looking for float or for proformance also? What is your foot size? What bindings and boots are you riding? Going Big is always a blast.

[Jon Dahl]

Lotsa trees, 177 wide, 'cause of the ability to turn. More open terrain, 187 wide for the float. Both of these suggestions are based on you having bigger feet (mondo 29+/softboots). If you have the money, get the new '06/'07 Tanker. For pow, it will rule because of the taper (15 or 16 mm) and the taper will make it turn easier. And they are lighter, too.

[Helvetico]

I live in Switzerland and ride mostly above the tree line (only 2,200 meters here), going off-piste when I can. I use Nidecker 900 carbon bindings and Salomon Synapse boots (nothing else will fit my size 9EEE width feet). I know my feet aren't big, but I swear I felt quite a difference between the 177 wide and the 182 I own. I got bogged down in deep powder in Austria that would have slowed but not stopped the 187.

I like the new board's design, but unless my stock portfolio takes an unexpected leap, I can't see paying the cash for yet another board and set of bindings.

Another consideration: I've got a kid on the way, so I'm more nervous about getting swallowed up in an avalanche. I actually rode over the remains of one earlier this year (by accident), and it was a reminder of how lucky I've been to date. I'm guessing the wider board will allow me to enjoyably surf flatter, less avalanche-prone areas...these also tend to be less tracked up even late in the day, as anyone without powder-specific gear won't venture there.

Thanks for the responses so far.

[D-Sub]

because of the taper (15 or 16 cm)

heh. I love typos!

[abakker]

I've got a tanker crown 177 from last season which i ride with plates, and i've never had a problem with it in the powder. because a shorter board is better in woods where i find most of my powder, i think the 177 is great, to me the 186 is just a little long. i also weigh about 180 and i think the board handles it great . and they are so much lighter compared to my old 167 burton baron. makes me wonder why burton is still so popular

[Rob Stevens]

Helvetico;

I hear you about the avalanche thoughts bunging up the brain.

Avys are a big reason why I like the noboard so much. On low angle terrain, it's still a heap of fun.

You probably would like the no binding deal simply because you wouldn't have to force your feet into them. You would still probably want to run proper snowboard boots for the lateral ankle support, though.

[Bordy]

Helvetico.

If you ride up high go with the bigger stick. I was in Adelboden for the OKK series and Nendaz for a Europa Cup Great snow in Nendaz. But man what a hill at Adelboden... I would like the bigger turn, and float of the 187, Where I live in Utah the snow is so dry that the bigger board is where it's at for open bowl cruising. Truth be told the 2 Meter stick is so good. If you have a place to rent one I would consider it. We sell a bunch of tankers and I think they all have a similiar flex and pop when i ride them. And with any tanker over a 170 you can eat up the open terrian you seek to ride. The 2 meter stick turns great and eats up any terrain. You just have to decide on width 187 wide and great float, 200 quicker edge changes on piste more edge on corn, chop, windblown.

I would not even bother with the 177 for the off piste riding you want to do. Plus you already have a 82 that seems to small.

Good luck!

[Rob Stevens]

I'ts wierd how I've never seen anyone riding a board that size around here... the mtns are big enough for it, for sure, but they're totally unknown to the local scene.

I have a 74 Salomon that I think kills it in pow. Until I came on this forum, I thought the Tanker was history and that it was all swallows at that length.

I must be missing out... Neil Gentzwill! (the best profile photo on this site, period) You have to bring one out for me to try. As a sufferer of debilitating Monsterism, I may need more float.

[RJ-PS]

I'm psyched to see everyone enjoying the Tankers so much! Relatively unknown just a few years ago, they're finally coming into their own and being respected as the powder/all-mountain weapons they are! This years models are the best yet, and all the feedback we have been getting concurs.

Truth is you really can't go wrong with either the 177 or 187. Both will work for your weight, both will kill it in the pow. Its pretty much a matter of usage. Whichever one you would reach for more often on any given day, that is the choice.

Go BIG!

[Guest]

I have a 192 I rode two or three times, and it didn't suit me. I've decided though it was because of my relative inexperience with pow boards at the time, and I'm going to give it a shot again this season and see if it performs as well as everyone says it does.

[DiveBomber]

how tough are those boards to turn??

Id think it would be like driving and 18 wheeler

[Guest]

Not difficult at all. The 192 has approx a 10m sidecut, I think. It's just the length that can be a problem if you're not used to dealing with long boards.

[P06781]

I have a 192 I rode two or three times, and it didn't suit me. I've decided though it was because of my relative inexperience with pow boards at the time, and I'm going to give it a shot again this season and see if it performs as well as everyone says it does.

The 192 is my favorite size of my tanker quiver(187 wide, 192, 2k). I think it carves best and also floats decent for my weight (190lbs) Its the perfect resort pow board. I use my 2k and 187w when going on snowcat BC trips. Open terrian = 2k, trees + low visability= 187w.

Jim

[Rob Stevens]

RJ-PS;

I just went on your Exotic Boards site and want to grip a 177 wide. (or 182... 6'2", 225 lbs)

How wide is it? (under the back pack and the middle pack on the front) I'm thinking this may be the board for the elusive duckfoot E/C's.

My bootsize is US 10. (mondo 28?)

Do you have the proximity to the weapon to measure this out for me?

I thank you.

Bordy... I see you on here. 182 or 177. Much difference. Bury the nose ever? Big pow landers?

[Bordy]

I dont think any one should ever fear a Tanker we have been carring the Rad Air line for Four years and I always love riding them. People always want to demo them ans always come back with a smile and the same comment, I doesn't feel that big intill you need it to.

I Do have to make the same comment I always make. If you ride fast and surfey Also look into the tapered shapes from Prior, Burton,Neversummer, option and the New reverse camber reverse sidecut magna traction twin tip pow board from Mervin. Width has really changed pow boards. I Love all of these shapes and have had several tapered shapes in my Personal quiver. They spent more time on the hill then the Swallows and big boards I used to ride on Pow days. Since I first rode the fish years ago I have owned 4 and love them all....even payed for em cause they are so good.

Since we carry Prior we ordered some Kybers because they are so damn good. If you are In UT always Let us know We of course have one for Demo for every and any one!!! But if its a pow day you may have to catch me and pry it away from me

Rob I have been riping crazy EC in softeys on tankers for years. ( at 21- -9) They are the softboot board with raceboard feel. Some need alot of lift because of there width, with softys. Also there is so much nose on the tanker that unless you are in the frount seat they float or some times bounce over anything. It like cheating in open bowls so much that after riding them for a few years a had to transition back to a smaller board because I was pointing everything everywhere on and off piste. The 77 and 82 feel similiar but I beleive the are different widths depending on what year etc. Again it depends where you ride them I am sure you would barley notice the 5cm off piste but you will on. These board are so easy to ride we always recommend the bigger size if you live this side of the mississippi.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I'ts wierd how I've never seen anyone riding a board that size around here...

I had my 2K out at Sunshine last year. Worked just fine. I hope we can get together for some turns and you can give it a try.

ETA I ride it with plates, and the thing carves hard! My Coiler AM is better but the Tanker rails like a champ. It's a little adjustment as it's not so quick edge to edge, but not nearly so hard to manage as people think it is. It's also a Cadillac ride, real smooth and not tiring at all. Great board.

[Rob Stevens]

****e that I missed you last year Neil... won't happen next time. From the look of things, we may have to go to Colorado to get it done.

The 2m would be a fun board to have around, but I don't think I can do it... I'm sure I may need to reconsider, but it seems excessive. From the way you speak of it, though, I know you don't think so. How big are you?

Bordy... Reverse sidecut AND magne traction? Talk about a specific weapon! I did see some reverse camber skis hit it off heli last season and he was having some times, from the look of it on a 40cm day. I'm probably more likely to get a tapered board, but I'm thinking that with the shorter overall length, it will still behave like a shorter board on pow landings, even with the big nose. (unless it's stiffer in front of the front foot, which seems like the wrong place for pow board stiffness, conventionally speaking)

Is this your experience? That should be one thing going for the 2m... 40 footers to 3 feet of fresh should be alot easier (if that's to be considered "easy")

Are you the same store as RJ-PS?

[Neil Gendzwill]

The 2m would be a fun board to have around, but I don't think I can do it... I'm sure I may need to reconsider, but it seems excessive. From the way you speak of it, though, I know you don't think so. How big are you?

I'm 6' and about 190. I ride the 2k for fun, and because it's just cool. To be perfectly honest, one of the reasons I bought it was just because it was a 200. It was also cheap (I found it used). But as a working board, probably a little shorter would be better. I'm told the 182 is very versatile.

[Buell]

Rob,

Bordy is at www.hardbooter.com

RJ is at http://www.exoticboards.com/home.html

They both sell Tankers.

Buell

[Bordy]

Yea, I rode some Spatulas last year. They change the way anyone skiis Pow. Just a sick ride. The Mervin Board is crazy also. Travis Rice had one last year. I heard its going to be released soon. Pure twin tip float, It will change big mountaing riding for all the park rats. I assume we will all see the Park Boom of the last five years turn into a freeride/freestyle/big mountain revalution, at least thats what Mervin is betting on. I think they are going to make it happen.

I prefer a smaller tapered shape for all the Pow riding I do. I would really suggest tring out a Proir Kyber. Its a sick freeride board that floats like a hoovercraft, aslong as you have some speed to plane. Blus because of the Taper it too can Link EC turns in softys, well so can the Burton Fish and Malolo but not with the same backbone as the Proir. My personal pow Quiver is a Kyber 65 for the big scary stuff and a 56 and 60 fish for playing in the sorta steep and trees inbounds etc. I am really happy with this years fish!!! Burton moved the camber back to match the sidecut offset (like a kessler)now it carves better then any board in the Burton line (foward) and with the camber set back it POPs out of the Hole with less speed then before. I rode Beta test shapes last year but the one burton sent me feels just like the boards I rode last year. I am going to skin a bit with my dogs today but man I wish I could ride down on my fish!!!

If you have any Burton connection I would look into a fish. But if you would like a board that is a bit more blended The Prior can't be beat, Its a plus Chris is a fellow country man and loves the support.

Last time I was in Baniff It dumped 65+ cm we were at Norquay and I had a great time riding Pow on my SL board I would love to put in some days hiking around there its bad ass.

Matter of fact there was so much snow that some guy had flipped his minivan right in frount of us. We stopped helpped roll the guy over and push him back on the road. Later in the day I saw his minivan parked in the lot. Even though the guy had some cuts and bruises he still went to the hill and made turns despite is van being trashed!! Thats core!

[Rob Stevens]

I do know some guys at Burton... they made the Noboard crew an edgeless, insertless Fish as a proto. ****in' crazy light and sticks to your feet like flypaper. As a board for landing drops, it's length still worries me a bit.

There's no making up for length... That's what she said.

Prior and Chris help CASI out with prodeals for the members, so maybe I should give him them a call... the Khyber gets alot of ups on this site.

Was your Norquay day back in 96? transworld had a conference in town that year which corresponded with a BIG opening day. I took my head off with my knee on a buried log, so it was a short one for me, but the boys who stayed were babbling for days after.

[Bordy]

I was at norquay in 05 for an event. I jacked my knee training, then reinjured it during one event and had to sit the other out. Still a great stop. We drove from Utah the drive sucked. I had to skip the same stop last year because we hosted The WTC over the same weekend.

I would really step into the Kyber, They make it up to a 175. Tell Chris I said Hello!!!