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Skwal Riders General Discussion


mikel45

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Last I corresponded with him he was waiting for you guys south of the border to get with it and order up while the dollar is so low. I just repatriated a Thias Skwal and in hind sight would have been much better off buying #2. What started out as a $350.00  board ended up @ $600.00. ( The opportunity to compare a 15m to a 10m Skwal was worth it . ) :biggthump

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  • 4 weeks later...

I heard from Bruce two weeks ago that his next 6 builds were Skinnies. 

 

I just got mine last week and road it all of last weekend.  I don't know what number it is, but I'm lovin' it.  It was a friggin' blast to ride.  Carved great on the cord, and all the way to last chair spring slush.  Glad I didn't wait for a fall delivery.

 

Made one uncomfortable run at 80/85, then went and adjusted my bindings.  Lowered angles to 70/75 and canted out rear foot a bit.  Then it was good to go.  Put on around 70K vertical over the weekend with no pain.  At 14.5 cm and running those angles, this probably can't be called a Skwal, but that doesn't concern me.

 

I'm running a 17 3/8 inch stance width, which is two inches narrower than on my wider alpine boards, but seems to suit this skinny business alright without making me feel too awkward.

 

Pics on new board porn thread.

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My last day was all about the deep slush - I tried the Skwal because it was there. Holy crap, no good! I was sinking the entire width of the board into the slop, which made for some weird effects. None of this should have been a surprise, but I wanted to try it.

On a better note, a little change to the cants made it much easier to clip in and more comfortable. I had inward cant on the rear binding due to my assembly error! I flipped the block over and problem solved.

I'm not switching over to Skwals though. It's an interesting thing to me, but I enjoy riding the alpine stance and wider boards in most conditions. The Skwal is a fun diversion though!

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Mine is really fun in the slush.  Maybe it's the extra width.  At 14.5 cm I can ride it with more of an alpine stance.

 

Four days on it, and I'm up to 130,000 vertical feet.  I'm going to have to stop now to avoid core shots as the lower mountain is turning back to water.

 

I shot some video yesterday and posted to my Whitefish Videos thead.

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  • 2 months later...

I am considering selling some of my gear: Thias Easy Jungle 165, 8m radius (no bindings) and Volkl Monocarver (green topsheet) 176, 14.5m radius (no bindings as well and please note, that this one has inserts rotated by 45 degrees, so you are limited in bindings selection even further).

 

As I remember, there were riders in this thread looking to buy something inexpensive, so I am posting it here first.

 

I will create a proper listing in the corresponding subforum later with details, prices and pictures.

Edited by avante
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  • 2 months later...

I have plans to have some boards available this season. The plan is to start out with one model, based off the Chimera board I have been riding for a few years now.  With any luck I will try to make it out to Aspen this year, but no guarantees.  The next model will be based around the Thias Easy Jungle shape...that is still in development and needs testing. Stay tuned!

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

This thread needs to be bumped, so BUMP.  Somebody say something about their recent skwal experiences.

 

Here's something about the skwal/mono scene:  Presenting THE CHAD and his straight job!

 

Well, I have explored the dark side of skwaling on my softish rockered twin-tip Lagriffe RS 176. Grabbed poles and went shredding some pow in Kirkwood. Actually it turned out to be a great way of enjoying the Mother Nature despite of the unplanned front-flip with more than embarrassing hard landing and several other ugly wipeouts trying to set poles aside and ride without them.

 

Still had no chance to try my new skwal, it is snowing all the time (hey, I am not complaining, just saying :) ). 

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This is NOT an official announcement, but I thought I would let you guys know here first..but its looking like 'Ace Skwal' will have a DEMO and boards for sale in Aspen this year at the Trenchin' Convention! Stay tuned for the 'official' announcement!

 

Made my first turns of the year the other day on the Easy Jungle...much fun was had!

Edited by *Ace*
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Nice job Ace!  Sign me up for a test ride!  :)

 

I picked up a Thias Easy Jungle over the summer.  I rode it for a couple hours.  It's a little wider than the Skwal USA, which meant less boot-out when you're really pushing it.  It felt pretty nice!  I really want to get it out on some ice as that's where the Skwal USA stick really shines.  

 

I HATE the leopard print graphic.  That got covered with some grey/silver vinyl before it ever saw snow.  

 

Skidding stability is still an issue for me.  I have much to learn...  Carving to boot-out is ok, but don't ask me to sideslip down a blue run.  LOL!  

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Good luck Chris!  I am watching with admiration.  What is the standard waist of your new skwal?

 

The Easy Jungle seemed a little "planky" to me.  I don't think I weigh enough to flex it well with its old-school construction.  My custom Coda 177 was built for my weight and has a sub-10m sidecut, so I am able to bend it and it feels responsive.  I decided that it was all I needed in a short radius skwal since I can turn it tight enough to nearly lose consciousness.

 

If there were to be a "new" Easy Jungle replica model on the market, I don't know if I would want one that has the same profile.  8m radius seems unnecessarily tight and too easy to overspeed. 

 

I am still perplexed by skwals that are narrower than 12cm.  I don't see the point and have yet to hear a compelling argument in their favor.  Yes, turn-to-turn might be faster, but the boot/cuff out issues are just too much for me.

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I am still perplexed by skwals that are narrower than 12cm.  I don't see the point and have yet to hear a compelling argument in their favor.  Yes, turn-to-turn might be faster, but the boot/cuff out issues are just too much for me.

 

Most of modern skwals have 11.4-11.5 cm waist, not much narrower than 12 ;)

 

What angles do you set bindings to?

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I don't even know what my angles are since my baseplates don't have useful markings in the range I use them at.  I don't concern myself with the numbers anyhow.  I ride whatever angles the individual board requires.  The angles are low enough to allow for enough edge pressure for skidding and high enough to not obviously boot out.  But when the waist gets real narrow I think you reach a point where the boot can wrench the edge out of the snow even at 0/0 when doing certain maneuvers, or is it just me?  Do I suck?  ARE YOU GUYS SAYING THAT I SUCK?

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Do I suck?  ARE YOU GUYS SAYING THAT I SUCK?

 

Well, we're not saying that you don't suck.  ;)  Haha, I hope internet humor and smileys still work... 

 

The Skwal USA board is narrower than my UPZ shell plus buckles.  You need to tip it up pretty high to bootout, but it happens.  I debated drilling/riveting the buckles so they were on top, but that's more work than I care to do.  When the Easy Jungle came up I jumped on it.  

 

I hear you on the 8m radius on the Thias.  Although, that's part of the allure to me - it turns SOOO freaking tight.  I don't think I'd like it in the mountains as an all-day board, but it's a riot for a few hours on little hills.  It's a mindf**k to get on a big EC board after riding that one, or vice-versa!  

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The Skwal USA board is narrower than my UPZ shell plus buckles.  You need to tip it up pretty high to bootout, but it happens.

Exactly.  An 11.5 cm board leaves no room for playin' around.  If you are in perfect form on super-firm hardpack (or ice) there may be no problem but once you start throwing some ridiculous superman turns on slightly softer snow, the edge is coming out and you go for a slide.  I find this to be limiting and I still don't see what the benefit is of being that skinny.  My Coda is nearly 13cm and when I ordered my Oxess I specified a 12.6cm waist.  I like it.  Fat skwals rule.

 

I think a "new" Easy Jungle might be good with a 9m radius?  That's still plenty tight.  I'd definitely keep the 12.5cm waist.  I start the season on a short board and don't bring out the 14m radius Oxess until later.  I have had some comical first turns on the long board, most notably when I tried to turn but just fell over on my side because I wasn't going nearly fast enough for the turn forces to hold me up.

 

When I get around to ordering something from Bruce it will probably have a 12.6cm waist, 176-ish length and the "M" VSR radius.

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