JoelP Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Hi, I haven’t written anything substantial to BOL for awhile but now I have a good reason to. I might just be preaching to the Coiler choir here but I want to give Bruce some credit he richly deserves. There aren’t a lot of board manufacturers for us these days and the few that are out there should have their work praised when it’s highly deserved. So here I go. I am writing my review of Bruce’s newest offering to us mortals. He built me a Pure Race GS 178 Titanal, 19 waist and 13.2 SCR and I now have 5 solid days on it. My background is that I’ve been riding plates for 14 seasons and I live just outside of Aspen, CO and ride a lot!!!!!. I’ve owned and ridden F2’s, Rossi’s, Doneks, Priors, Burtons, all great boards and now I have a quiver of Coilers. My present carving quiver are all Coilers. An AllMtn 172, PRGS Custom 186, PRGS 196 (both Superboard construction) and now I’ve added the new PRGS 178 titanal to round things out. We mostly get hero snow here but the beginning and the end of my season always has funky, hard junk. My GS boards were a work out during those times and although my Allmtn still worked fine for me I knew I still needed a dedicated carving board for the thaw/freeze and manmade times of the year. I told Bruce what I wanted a new board for and then I decided on my own which model I wanted. He suggested the titanal race construction as long as I understood it was a bit more fragile than my other boards. I usually take only one bad crash a year so I figured I could handle the construction. He then suggested I let him beef it up just a bit in the nose since the racers were getting fairly soft noses and he knew I was more of a soul surfer rather than a jam and go kind of guy. I gave him the go ahead on everything. That’s the background on me and the lead up to riding the actual board. I now have 5 good days of riding the board and to be truthful it’s exceeded my expectations and I feel I am still not only learning the board but I haven’t found all of its potential yet. I ride fairly fast and my primary board is my 186 with a 16 SCR. What I am finding with the titanal is that it eats chatter like nothing I’ve ridden. My Superboards cut so smoothly that I thought nothing else ever compared but with the titanal I am now not only carving the fresh groomers but I am searching out the 3 day old groomed and chopped up crap just to find something that this board will not like, but I haven’t found it yet. Yes….I know about huge bumps….but I am talking about slopes that I usually pass up because they had not been groomed that day. Now trails with 3 day old groomings feel good. The board initiates a bit faster than my Superboards and cuts the hard stuff a bit better. Believe me I LOVE my Superboards and do not plan on getting rid of them soon, but the titanal I am quickly falling in love with. I feel that on the hardpack and junk the titanal seems to cut and hold better with less leg fatigue. It’s also a bit livelier at the end of the turn if I want it to be and I can get a lot of pop out of it if I want it. My superboards are very damp and for really high speed cruising on hero snow I like that I can predict the boards behavior and steady trucking. Now as I get more time on the titanal I am becoming more comfortable with its behavior and actually using its liveliness to have more fun at more normal speeds. I am blessed that I have fairly uncrowded open slopes that allow me to ride fast but I also travel a little bit and this new board is going with me when I do. It’s light and very flickable as compared to my other boards, even more so than my Allmtn which is actually shorter. I think it’s because of its lightness and liveliness that makes it a good traffic board too. Super easy to change your turn shape at any time. I am pushing the board more and more each day and I have yet to have it chatter out or give up its grip, I am sure I’ll find that threshold but when I do I’ll probably be in a situation that I will not want to be in again. For instance the other day the light was real flat but I was on a trail I know well. I was carving and laying it over pretty hard knowing the snow is very grippy there but on my 6th turn I realized I was going up a huge mound of manmade and I figured I would be slipping out soon but the titanal just kept on slicing right up and over the top and down the other side without any issue. I know a lot of good boards will do this especially with a good tune but I am use to hero snow so when I hit that mound my legs froze because I was more afraid of it, but the board saved me from giving up my turns. It actually became fun!!!!! Well my only point to this write up is that I want to give credit to Bruce for building a really fun board and to let the carving community know that yes the new technology really has a jump in class. Thanks, Joel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheffy Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 NIce review.........................sounds like that might have to be my next board of choice.....when my exsisting Coiler PR 184 wears out.........I gotta agree with ya.................. COILERS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best boards out there Bruce knows his stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I got one coming! I hope to I get it soon! I'd love to ride the hell out of it! 186 with metal but this one I'm getting has glass too for more durability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Thanks guys Now I'm really jealous.... Do ya reckon He'll build me a board and ship it to Sydney Australia??? Sounds like a magnificent board to ride... May she give you many days and many years of pure joy...... Falling in love should always be that fun!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 sure, I'm sure bruce will ship one anywhere, might be pricey but probably you have to import boards anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeez rule Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 you guys are just getting metal now? I had Atomic Arcs with titanium in the '80s.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Bird Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 our metal is magical yours just made your boobs feel bigger! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hans Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 you guys are just getting metal now?I had Atomic Arcs with titanium in the '80s.......... Titanium is not the same as titanal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 It does beg the question though - I had some Spalding Squadra Course GS skis around '83 that had metal in them. They were damp and stable - I scared myself silly trying to find their top end. What's new or different about the current use of metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wavechaser Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 you guys are just getting metal now?I had Atomic Arcs with titanium in the '80s.......... Then why did it take you so long to get your titanium bootz? I have a board with a gnarlonium core that will out carve your skeez...very niiiice...you like to try...my wife made it! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 sure, I'm sure bruce will ship one anywhere, might be pricey but probably you have to import boards anyway Yeah... I got both my carving decks from travelling friends going to/from The States and I ordered them and sent them to addresses in California (friends) and they brought them home with them..... beats shipping costs... only cost a bottle of Wild Turkey!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdea Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 where do you ride? Thredbo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 where do you ride?Thredbo? Mostly at Mt Hotham in Victoria.. Down way south.. I raced at Thredbo (Thredders) in August... Haven't been there for about 7 years before then... Nice place when there's snow... gets too crowded though... Like Perisher Blue.... but yeah I'm a Hotham boy... Only just started going overseas last year... Started in Austria.. (Schladming) and I'm heading over to Jackson Hole in late Feb early March.. Racing again... (It's the international airline world championships) Was going to start a thread seeing if any of the guys/girls are going to be there..I can't do the tour this time around due to work stuff But I'm hoping to head over again for a big carving session where I can meet all you people.... Shrederjen is going and I'm hoping to meet up with a lot more carvers.. Here in Aus... I've seen 3 carvers in the last two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 5, 2007 Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 Then why did it take you so long to get your titanium bootz? I have a board with a gnarlonium core that will out carve your skeez...very niiiice...you like to try...my wife made it! ;) :lol: gnarlonium...? Is that in the same family as Unobtainium?? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Joel, would there be any reason to put the Titanial in a board like your all mtn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felix Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Well it took so long because before Kessler began dominating the worldcup with their titanal boards everyone thought it wouldn't be good for snowboards or some other stuff (like too expensive). I know that a german ski boutique VR or Voigt Ski builded some demo 2x titanal raceboards in 98 but I think they couldn't get any world cup riders to jump on them. Remember that there are very few to no consumer skis with titanal out there. However nearly all skis called "race departement" feature titanal (even Atomics - but the SL and GS are only available on team stock as titanal editions). However in the race scene I think titanal is on the podiums since 99 or so, coming just slightly after the beginning of the carving era. Titanal had been used in skis before I think but not to that extent. The real rush came 2 years ago when demand was so high that titanal sports couldn't keep up to the orders. If you see Titanium on the topsheet you should know its some cheap Alu inside, if it says titanal at least its some expensive Alu mix (with no titanium inside as often mistaken). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelP Posted January 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 Hi Bobby, If I wasn't in bumps and crud then yes I would build an AllMtn style and have Bruce build a titanal model, just for the shear lightness of the board. I've been riding both my AllMtn and the titanal lately and I still like the AllMtn build/flex in crud because it seems to blast crud better. The titanal has a bit of deflect in the crud, probabaly because it's a bit softer in the nose even though Bruce built that a bit stiffer than usual for my carving purposes. So for pure carving purposes the titanal board outshines the feel of the Allmtn build. The titanal hooks up much faster and releases smoother. My belief is that the AllMtn being stiff in the nose works great as an OVERALL board, that's why it's an AllMtn but the titanal works far better for pure carving/racing purposes. Also I am afraid to get on some serious bumps with the titanal. I am sure I can handle the board but I rather beat up the AllMtn since it feels like it can take a serious beating and the titanal being so light doesn't feel like I want to beat it up much by flexing the sh$t out of it in bumps. I am sure the titanal will outlast me for pure carving purposes. You have an AllMtn board that is really nice. If you could afford doing the following it would be what I would do IF I was looking to buy new boards. I would get an AllMtn again with the standard build and build in the Swallowtail that I have (unless Bruce could assure me I can't break a titanal AllMtn), I would go with atleast a 20+ waist (as we've talked about before) AND knowing what I know now I would also order a titanal board for allmtn carving specific purposes. I would then be set!!!!!! Between those 2 boards I would have everything covered. When I say "everything" I mean everything without going specialized!!!! I could go anywhere still on any mtn at any time and have fun. I hope that covers your question. Sorry that I can't define into just one board for all purposes. I know having those 2 boards would satisfy most anyone. The next place to go to find out if the titanal can truly be made to handle bumps also, would be to ask Bruce. Personally I have to have 2 boards at a minimum out here since I do ride to many conditions and geometry has a huge place in my needs and 1 boards geometry can not satisfy my present needs. Any other thoughts or questions please ask. thanks, Joel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wavechaser Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 :lol: gnarlonium...? Is that in the same family as Unobtainium?? ;) It's an alloy of Unobtanium, and Gnarlite - very gnarly stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 It's an alloy of Unobtanium, and Gnarlite - very gnarly stuff! :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dano Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 It's an alloy of Unobtanium, and Gnarlite - very gnarly stuff! I rode a used Burton Coil 173 for a few runs yesterday that I swear was solid 100% *Kraptonite. * a chunk of planet Krapped-on. aka Planet Burton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 I rode a used Burton Coil 173 for a few runs yesterday that I swear was solid 100% *Kraptonite.* a chunk of planet Krapped-on. aka Planet Burton. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: That's what they've been making ski's out of for years alledgedly!! Wonder what they make there spears (ooops there poles) out of??? Turdtanium maybe??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wavechaser Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 What was this thread about??? Review of a Cooler made by some guy named Broose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 What was this thread about??? Review of a Cooler made by some guy named Broose? I think it was a thread about a board or something... Turned into a metallurgy class...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted January 6, 2007 Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 If I wasn't in bumps and crud then yes I would build an AllMtn style and have Bruce build a titanal model, just for the shear lightness of the board.I managed to bend my metal Spaldings in the bumps. I'm not sure if the newer titanal material is less inclined to "take a set" as the swordsmiths say. I also seperated the metal topsheet from the rest of the ski. I'm not sure how much improvement has been made in the process of bonding metal to the other materials. So for those two factors, I'd be wary of a board with metal for general purpose riding.I will admit that my own AM172 could be lighter. My Tanker 200 is about the same weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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