wrote:
I'm a new boarder (I've only been a couple times), but I think I know
what sort of riding I want to do. I'm more interested in freeride
then
anything else. I am a rather large fellow: 6'3" 220lb and I got some
solomon boots 11 1/2. My weight floats a bit depending on how busy I
am
at work, but I generally range between 190-220lb.

So I'm trying to determine what boards I should try to demo.

thanks,

--Matt

Hey Matt... based on what you've said - I'm going to get right to the
point and suggest that you get a Donek Wide or Sasquatch snowboard in
the 160-165cm range. Donek is a very small Colorado-based company that
turns out exceptionally good high-end snowboards. If you do a search
online on this newsgroup, you will see it mentioned a LOT of times by
myself and several other people who have ridden their boards. All of us
try to promote the company because "word of mouth" and a few team
freestyle riders and alpine racers are their only form of
advertisement. You can check them out at www.donek.com.

The Incline/Wide/Sasquatch line is one of the best freeride boards in
existence. Handmade with high quality materials, it has an excellent
shape for carving freeriding, with a stiffness that will easily support
your weight even up to 220 lbs. If you want to zip in through the
trees, I would recommend getting the shorter/less stiff models like a
162 Sasquatch, definitely get the Sasquatch (the wideset model for "big
feet") or at least a Wide 165 as well if you ride deep powder a lot as
it will float better (you are borderline in your boot size so you could
do either one).

By now you probably are like... "whoa, this thing probably costs a
fortune" but no, the Wide sell for $370 and the Sasquatch goes for
$380. The difference being that since they tend to make the board when
you order it, they don't have much inventory around so you aren't
likely to find one on a spring clearance sale. , but I recently saw a
used Wide 165 on sale on Catek.com's forum - you might be able to score
one for even cheaper.

======= From Catek.com forum
=============================================
For the ultimate soft boot setup, I am considering selling Donek 165
Wide, Black tope sheet and Bottom with Red Logo, one chip in Topsheet,
perfect base. Let me kn ow if there is any interest. No pictures until
I get back in a few days-

================================================== ========================

More info:
There are a ton of other companies, boards, etc... but I'm trying to
keep this post relatively short - ask me if you have questions or want
more board suggestions. For more information you can search this
newsgroup using www.dejanews.com. You can also search www.freecarve.com
as well. Some people here like to frequent an alpine snowboard
community at www.bomberonline.com, but I can tell you what the people
there will likely suggest - get hardboots, Bomber TD2 bindings, and a
BX/All-Mtn board. Now while I think this is a perfectly good
suggestion, I'm not to keen on how some of them driving it into your
skull like a railroad spike (I'm exaggerating). Of course if what I
just said intrigues you AND you've have sever footpain from
softboots... then by all means check out the site... there is a a TON
of information and people there waiting for you.