Popular Post bigwavedave Posted March 18, 2021 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 We have had enough unpleasant ice carving days this year at Spirit Mt, that I decided to ask Bruce if he would make me an ice specific board to see if I can find some carving joy on all ice. Something super damp with extra rubber, a softer flex and, of course, metal. A small-ish scr to keep my speed down, because I don't like going fast on ice, but enough length to smooth out some of the roughness. The ice board cometh yesterday. A super damp, mellow yellow 166 Contra, 20w, 10.5scr. Thanks to @RCrobar and @Technick for letting me use the logo. Rode it today in 2-4" of groomed slush (38°F) over a hard frozen ice base. It was a really fun ride. Nimble turns. I could hear carves reaching the ice, but couldn't feel it. I did not get to compare back-to-back with my XC (which has been my go-to ice or lousy conditions board all season), but I'm hopeful this board may have the right amount of mellow yellowness I seek to make carving ice more tolerable, and possibly pleasant. 11 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1xsculler Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 34 minutes ago, bigwavedave said: We have had enough unpleasant ice carving days this year at Spirit Mt, that I decided to ask Bruce if he would make me an ice specific board to see if I can find some carving joy on all ice. Something super damp with extra rubber, a softer flex and, of course, metal. A small-ish scr to keep my speed down, because I don't like going fast on ice, but enough length to smooth out some of the roughness. The ice board cometh yesterday. A super damp, mellow yellow 166 Contra, 20w, 10.5scr. Rode it today in 2-4" of groomed slush (38°F) over a hard frozen ice base. It was a really fun ride. Nimble turns. I could hear carves reaching the ice, but couldn't feel it. I did not get to compare back-to-back with my XC (which has been my go-to ice or lousy conditions board all season), but I'm hopeful this board may have the right amount of mellow yellowness I seek to make carving ice more tolerable, and possibly pleasant. What is the flex number (the numbers farthest to the right on the sidewall) on that board and how much do you weigh? I will be very interested in how it compares to your XC and what is the flex index of your XC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 1 hour ago, 1xsculler said: What is the flex number (the numbers farthest to the right on the sidewall) on that board and how much do you weigh? I will be very interested in how it compares to your XC and what is the flex index of your XC? Bob, I'm 185lbs, so I don't know if my #'s will be helpful for you. The boards are loaded in the car for a road trip tomorrow and I can't locate my pics right now, so I'll get #'s for you later, if you're still interested. I don't even try to decipher the builder's flex codes. I have faith that they know how to, so all I say is, "I'd like it softer or stiffer" (than the last board) or for what conditions I want it to perform best, and they know what to do. I can tell you the turn size & shape feels like it fits nicely between the SF & XC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1xsculler Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 7 minutes ago, bigwavedave said: Bob, I'm 185lbs, so I don't know if my #'s will be helpful for you. The boards are loaded in the car for a road trip tomorrow and I can't locate my pics right now, so I'll get #'s for you later, if you're still interested. I don't even try to decipher the builder's flex codes. I have faith that they know how to, so all I say is, "I'd like it softer or stiffer" (than the last board) or for what conditions I want it to perform best, and they know what to do. I can tell you the turn size & shape feels like it fits nicely between the SF & XC. Thanks, Dave. Have a great trip? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teach Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 @bigwavedave, is your new Coiler very stiff torsionally (for grip)? It sounds like your conditions are like ours lately, where the ice underneath the soft and/or loose stuff is bumpy. Punishingly bumpy. So maybe the extra dampness is the big contribution and you don't need or want more torsional stiffness? Maybe even less? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 2 minutes ago, teach said: @bigwavedave, is your new Coiler very stiff torsionally (for grip)? It sounds like your conditions are like ours lately, where the ice underneath the soft and/or loose stuff is bumpy. Punishingly bumpy. So maybe the extra dampness is the big contribution and you don't need or want more torsional stiffness? Maybe even less? Punishing? Yeah, it's brutal. The impression of the groomer's treads get permanently compressed into the hill after a rain event. Like an ice washboard. It seems to happen most every year. When the snow gets thin, there it is. Bruce suggested an extra layer of rubber to further dampen the ride for rough ice. As far as I know, that (and a softer flex) is the only difference from a standard build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowburn Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 I want one. So jealous right now. Enjoy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjnakata Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 3 hours ago, bigwavedave said: Bruce suggested an extra layer of rubber to further dampen the ride for rough ice. As far as I know, that (and a softer flex) is the only difference from a standard build. Nice! T3 or T4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grip Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 This sweet Thirst XC just arrived today. Kudos Mark! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 33 minutes ago, Grip said: Thirst XC just arrived The Specs Man! We Gotta Have The Specs! ......and a vertical photo...or two... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1xsculler Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 1 hour ago, barryj said: The Specs Man! We Gotta Have The Specs! ......and a vertical photo...or two... I agree we must know how much you weigh and we need a pic of the sidewall showing all of the identifying numbers and letters and we need to know what special specs you and Mark decided on. That’s a gorgeous board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grip Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 OK here you go... We didnt discuss any “special specs” specifically. I left it to Mark to do what he does best and make me a board for the east coast. 19.5cm waist and my weight around 210lbs. We worked together on the color gradient, and I asked him to “make the logos look like pure gold!” Hahaha. I think he nailed it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 22 hours ago, Grip said: This sweet Thirst XC just arrived today. Kudos Mark! Hope you love it as much as I love mine! It has become my favorite, go-to board this season. Versatile in a wide range of conditions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowburn Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 @Grip let us know how it rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grip Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 Thanks. Looking like Tuesday at Sugarloaf will be first day... and it’ll prob just be slush over ice (or grass) at that point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quentin Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 After several of years on hiatus due to injuries, I’m back and loving it! You wanna get nuts...let’s get nuts! Coiler 165 CBXFR- Huge props to BV for building this epic bored! And thanks to Mr. E for letting me borrow his top sheet Virus 168 FLP AFT Avalanche Carbon- thanks Paul! Kessler Alpine 168- Ivan, you are the man..and yes you are correct, loving the white! My wife is going to kill me! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 20, 2021 Report Share Posted March 20, 2021 On 3/18/2021 at 11:24 PM, rjnakata said: Nice! T3 or T4? T3 most likely, as we never discussed metal options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poloturbo Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 3 hours ago, Q's said: After several of years on hiatus due to injuries, I’m back and loving it! You wanna get nuts...let’s get nuts! Coiler 165 CBXFR- Huge props to BV for building this epic bored! And thanks to Mr. E for letting me borrow his top sheet Virus 168 FLP AFT Avalanche Carbon- thanks Paul! Kessler Alpine 168- Ivan, you are the man..and yes you are correct, loving the white! My wife is going to kill me! Awesome lineup WOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 hour ago, bigwavedave said: T3 most likely, as we never discussed metal options. Probably T4, as Bruce had a limited T3 supply and was saving it for smaller riders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workshop7 Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 57 minutes ago, SunSurfer said: Probably T4, as Bruce had a limited T3 supply and was saving it for smaller riders. When Bruce built my 2 Contras last spring he said that most Contras were built with T3 unless they were over 180 in length. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 21, 2021 Report Share Posted March 21, 2021 56 minutes ago, SunSurfer said: Probably T4, as Bruce had a limited T3 supply and was saving it for smaller riders. It's actually machined out of a solid bar of titanal and sandwiched between rubber layers. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dredman Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 Should have this next week. Winterstick 170 Montucky. Yum 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big mario Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 I like to he split tail picnic table Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dredman Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 So much eye candy in that picture! History too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hknz Posted March 27, 2021 Report Share Posted March 27, 2021 (edited) Contra 166.5x21 in 12 SCR. This board is for steeper terrain (25-36 degree), in addition to my ECVC 168. I have asked Bruce for 10-15% softer and smaller SCR. The graphic looks superbbbbbbbbb! (better in reality since my photo camera is quite poor) Best of the best!!!!! Thanks Bruce. I highly recommend the matt surface. Hope it can touch snow in 2021. More Photos in this post: Edited March 27, 2021 by hknz better jpeg 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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