Do I want a Tanker?

[twelsch42]

I've gotten some HB and a 4x4 I'm working with, but I can't give up the softies - especially with the Catek FR2's I've recently acquired. Obviously I like to carve. The other condition of my riding, is that I like to get off-piste. Way off piste. When I ride the lifts, I'm looking for as close to a back-country experience as I can get (inbounds). I'm searching for powder, and riding extremely variable conditions.

What I've found so far is that I've enjoyed riding an NOS (04 or 03 maybe) burton custom 162 (i know i know...). It's kind of a noodle, but I'm a lightweight (6'2" 160#). What I enjoy about it is how much it eats up the chop and variable conditions without bucking me around like my stiffer boards do. Also with some setback on my bindings I get some nice float in the powder.

I can carve around on this board just fine, but I really really want more edge. I'm thinking that a Razor would be fun, am waiting to demo one, or hear some feedback. I've never ridden a Donek at all, so I'm not sure where in their stiffness scale I would like to ride. I know I could always have Sean soften things up for me, but a noodley Razor probably wouldn't make sense.

I ride in CO, so demoing a Razor is probably an option at some point in the future. I would guess that the Donek Phoenix is probably close to the softish Burton I'm riding. And the 165 Phoenix may fit the bill as a replacement for what I'm looking for.

And now we come to the Tanker and the ATV, both seem pretty close to what I'm looking for. What do you guys and gals think?

171 Prior ATV 23.5cm 139edge

165 Donek Phoenix 25.5cm 132edge

170 Donek Razor 25.5cm 147edge

172 Tanker 25.8cm 134edge

I think that a Razor could fill out one end of my softboot quiver. But what about the softer days when I'm looking for something noodley like my Custom?

Thanks for your help.

twelsch

[Jon Dahl]

At 5'7" and 165 lbs. I am on a 192 Tanker and LOVIN' it! Yes, you probably need a Tanker, and the 172 is at the bottom end of the spectrum, I'd go with a 182 if I was in Co.

[BlueB]

Another Tanker 192 owner here... Stats 6' 185lbs.

Totaly love the Tanker for soft snow carving, crud, chop, slush, smaler softer bumps. Ok in open pow too. Don't like it in tight situations - big tight bumps, trees, or on ice. I ride it with plates.

So, for what you described I would go shorter, 172 is probably good.

ATV is great carver, but you've got the 4WD already. On ATV you'll have to ride high angles to avoid overhang.

Can't comment on Donk's boards.

Another board that you'll be pleasantly surprised with is Dynastar / O'Sin 3800.

169 ~130 edge, 25.6 waist, 9.4 scr

163 ~125 edge, 25.2 waist, 9 scr

Boris

[Furi]

another tanker owner chiming in as well

5.9 165lbs on a 172 tanker. I ride Sierra snow mostly and the tanker is great for those conditions. It powers through the mushy piled up snow we get in the afternoons and can really hold an edge on the harder pack in the mornings. I've been riding it with softies - 32 forecast with nidecker 900 carbon bindings, but I'll be putting plates on it next weekend.

At my weight the 172 floats me really nicely in the pow-pow. I haven't taken it out in anything deeper then knee-high yet though.

Spent 6 days on the tanker in softies in CO during Dec and the board performed so well. More then a few times I was wishing I had picked up a slightly longer tanker since CO has more vert and open slopes then the Sierras.

For a longer board it turns very quickly and I have no problems with quick edge changes. It doesn't like bumps though, tough to get it moving through a mogul field. Trees aren't a big problem, but then again I don't do alot of tight tree runs. The tankers are extremely light for their size so it won't be a problem to get it turning quickly...but they are longer so clearance would be the biggest problem in trees. But you can throw it around with the back foot in a tight spot without too much effort.

I was considering a Phoenix as well for my needs and almost bought one - I still want to demo one in the future but for right now my 172 tanker is perfect for all conditions.

[dano]

Very Very Very fun board to freecarve on with plates! I used it today at a crowded family moutain, and when I had room it was damned inspirational. My only comparable board, an f2 respect 176 is very fast, lively and fun, but the tanker 192 locks into huge smooth carves and makes it look and feel easy. Very damp and quiet on carves. Little sketchy on real boiler plate but hey, I think I found my 1 board quiver for this year. Everyone should have one of these.

[surfinsmiley]

Of the five boards I now own the Tanker is by far my favorite. Does just about everything I ask of it, soft boots in soft snow and hard boots on the groomers....... I dare say the FR2`s will be an excellent match for a Tanker in open(ish) terrain.

I think you could ride a Tanker longer than what your expecting, as soon as your up to speed they seem to shrink, that said, when I get back on the freeride board it just feels sketchy at the same speeds.

[mrjamie]

you may have already seen my unhappy 187 tanker, but until I broke it three days ago it was _rapture_ to ride in powder. I'll be replacing it with a 167 for the extra .7 cm, but really just because there are no 187s or 177s in Japan. Ah well, there's always next years model :)

[P06781]

I am another happy Tanker rider! Get a NOS 192 as they work great with plate bindings and ride powder and groomed runs excellent! They are a true all conditions one board!

Jim

[D.T.]

IThe other condition of my riding, is that I like to get off-piste. Way off piste. When I ride the lifts, I'm looking for as close to a back-country experience as I can get (inbounds). I'm searching for powder, and riding extremely variable conditions.

I'm 5'9", 210lbs. I started with a 182 Tanker with softies and found that I could take the board anywhere. Tight trees, bumps, the steeps/wind blown funk/ powder, etc... that comes with hiking the Ridge at Loveland -- anywhere.

I decided the next season to sell the 182 and bought a 192. Again, I take the 192 anywhere I want to go. As others have stated above, I would recommend the 182 over a 172.

[snowboardfast]

Go to all board sports in Boulder and demo a Dupraz d1 before you buy any of these other boards. It rules for all mountain riding and powder and is very manuverable and carves well. Bola calls it the quiver killer. I have ridden it with both hard and soft boots and now only ride it with soft boots. Call the shop at 303-415-1600 and talk to Bola about it.

[D.T.]

Admittedly, yes, I am a little biased toward the Tanker. Here is a photo from Saturday, Jan 12th. The pow was 12 to 30 inches deep depending on where you rode. The wind kept filling in the tracks, so for the most part, each run was fresh tracks.

From left to right: Matt's "tiny" 182, big mario's 187W, my 192, inkaholic's 200.

[big mario]

I feel so inadequate:lol:

The 87w is my all mountain board, it carries my large butt very nicely in the deep, and carves some wicked trenches when asked. If I could only have a one board quiver it would be a tanker

mario

[inkaholic]

Matt with the "tiny 182" is new too the world of big boards and is "loving it". I rode the 192 last season in all but the tightest of trees and would still be on it if it weren't stolen. I have only had the 200 out once but can tell you that it is and incredible board that I had a blast on. It was in some pretty tight situations and came through with flying colors. If I had a lot more money I would add a couple smaller tankers to the quiver. I love these boards that much!

Ink

and yes, I am the smallest of the riders with the biggest board.

[carvedog]

So looking at the Tanker porn pic, I find myself undeniably attracted.

Looking to replace my Frontier 185, as my quest for a replacement is looking more and more futile.

Looking for an all mountain that still rips on the carve. And this sounds like it could be the board. Riding Burner 197, 188 for recreational carving.

Now I love my longboards and my inclination is to go for the longest one there. But I do love bumps, don't have the knees for it as much but still like to play there and I do like some tight trees. I go everywhere pretty easily on the 185 but some trees are pretty tough on it.

I am pushing 250 and 6 foot. Thought from some of Tanker guys.

Can i get the 200 in black now? It looks to be only availalbe in white this year. Thoughts, suggestions?

Tanks for the thread twelsch. Not trying to jack.

[svr]

Carvedog, the tanker will be fine for your height and weight and as for your question of black ones, I just came from freeride days in Davos, Switzerland and will post a few pics of the new models in a new thread.

cheers,

[Furi]

and as for your question of black ones, I just came from freeride days in Davos, Switzerland and will post a few pics of the new models in a new thread.

*repeatably hits refresh on main forum list*

:D

[svr]

*repeatably hits refresh on main forum list*

:D

sorry, will have to wait until i find my camera...still unpacking.

cheers,

[svr]

I think Snowboardfast is up to something here. How big is my schick?

Notice my tanker (rad-air.com) in the Chugach wilderness next to my then 8 year old. To the tanker aficionados, that was a long time ago. Great board but no Dupraz; balanced sluff management, making graceful turns on uber steeps, chutes and coulours and overall surfing the big mountain terrain, the Dupraz has no equal in my opinion, for whatever it is worth. And Mario, when turning is overated, it is extremely stable just be careful with the nose. The D1++ addressed that.

http://www.allboardssports.com

1-303-415-1600

Bola, do you still have that tanker (it is a 00-01 model) and would you be willing to part with it? I have a friend who is looking for that one in a 200 to complete his collection of tankers.

cheers,

sandy

[Guest GQuentin]

Hi everyone,

I am currently looking towards getting a Tanker, probably a 192, and am curious if there is a particular year that is better than the rest? Or are they all good? Any knowledge is appreciated,

Quentin

[Jon Dahl]

SVR is THE fount of Tanker knowledge, as it were. He would know best, but here goes. If you can still get one from exoticboards.com, it would be an '02/'03 season board, if I remember correctly, which is what I got this spring. Each year is different a bit shape-wise, with the last seasons series being heavily tapered, this years I think is less?? And they ride differently, flex-wise. The 02/03 192 is a carvers dream board, well suited to plates and aggressive carving, and good off-piste, too. I've yet to get on a Dupraz, even though Thomas had an open offer to me to ride his. The D++ may be better suited to my riding style. That and I still need to ride a Prior Spearhead, too. A carbon Spearhead may be the ultimate hike to ride board for all conditions, light in weight and good for pow. Just some thoughts from me, take 'em for what they are worth.

[P06781]

SVR is THE fount of Tanker knowledge, as it were. He would know best, but here goes. If you can still get one from exoticboards.com, it would be an '02/'03 season board, if I remember correctly, which is what I got this spring. Each year is different a bit shape-wise, with the last seasons series being heavily tapered, this years I think is less?? And they ride differently, flex-wise. The 02/03 192 is a carvers dream board, well suited to plates and aggressive carving, and good off-piste, too. I've yet to get on a Dupraz, even though Thomas had an open offer to me to ride his. The D++ may be better suited to my riding style. That and I still need to ride a Prior Spearhead, too. A carbon Spearhead may be the ultimate hike to ride board for all conditions, light in weight and good for pow. Just some thoughts from me, take 'em for what they are worth.

I might have bought his last 192 a couple of weeks ago... Call RJ and ask him if he can get more! Yes the 02-03 white ones are the best.

JIm

[surfinsmiley]

Yes the 02-03 white ones are the best.

JIm

Really? Stoked!!! That`s the 200 I have!

Why are they the best ones?

BTW... My mate calls me the other day and asks me I I think he should by a 172 01/02 from the secondhand shop..... for $17.50!!!! WTF!

It`s his first snowboard,.....So I checked it out and it looks like it`s never even seen the snow. They sell new here for about $750....Japan is a weird place.

[svr]

as Jon and Jim both said the 02-03 is a good tanker to use plates on, but if you can find one i would look for the 04-05 (vampire style graphics) as it is lighter than the 02-03, but the boards were not available in the US during that season so getting a 192 from that year might be a pretty tall task. all of the 192's are good boards and you really cannot go wrong with any of them, so if you can find one i would recommend getting it. as for the dupraz, i had a chance to demo a d1 (thanks thomas_m), a d1+, and a d1++ and they are nice, but not suited to my riding style...i find them all a bit heavy and soft in the nose...great fun in powder and the shape lets you ride in a very neutral stance (ie not having to put a lot of weight on your back foot when in deep powder). i rode the dupraz's all in softies so it might be a bit different in plates. either way both the d1s and tankers are fun boards to ride, they just have a very different feel and i don't think you can go wrong with either board.

cheers.

[svr]

Sandy:

Sorry that was long gone.

Bola

http://www.allboardssports.com

1-303-415-1600

Bola,

no worries, had to ask just in case.

thanks.

[Bullwings]

Well, this seems to be the tanker thread for now, so i'll just ask my question here.

How does the 05/06 compare to the 07/08? exoticboards has both, but the 05/06 only has the 172 and i'm looking for something with 10m scr. will it really matter? is $200 worth it for the newer model, or is the 05/06 still pretty good. I'm pretty light (145lbs.) so i don't think I could see myself on anything bigger than a 182.