Donek Phoenix, Malamute Boots, Dakine, Zuma Surf, TechNine Pro, RideLS Jr., NY legislation...

This posting is to share information. These opinions, subjective and
objective, are my own. Your mileage may vary.

Summary:
Donek Phoenix 155: Great all around board, rails, jumps, trees, steeps.
Malamute Boots: Great boot, early packout.
Dakine Vapor Stomp Pad: Left adhesive on the board, came completely of
the pad.
Zuma Surf H.C. Carbon 162: Great $100 board, second season death.
TechNine Pro Series (02/03): 3rd season, Many problems.
Baltimore Toestraps: Come off of toes on hard, demanding runs
Ride LS Jr: Great little binding.
N.Y. legislation: Leash requirement with strap on bindings? Who’s the
rep that came up with that one?

Donek Phoenix (155):
After my son has rode this board for half a season, the conclusion is
that it is a great all around board. He has been popping rails, jumps,
running through trees and hitting steeps. It holds a line where others
in his party are washing out. It’s edge hold allows for him to carve
hard, jumping out to a 180 without a kicker. He has been abusing the
base with boardslides, rolloffs, and ripping through the trees in NY.
The topsheet seems soft at room temprature, but is rock hard and tough
in the snow. He suffered ‘Big board’ syndrome with it however. He is
5’5” tall at 106 lbs. Moving from a 140cm to a 155cm caused him to let
his guard down and this board threw him onto the snow at low speeds. The
mid section of the board, between the bindings, is very flexable causing
just about any ridged stomp pad to pop off.

Malamute Boots:
I like the design of this boot. The lacing system has a pull handle and
lace locks. The boot actually becomes much stiffer in the cold, a plus.
A large minus is how fast it packs out. Working on its third season,
approx 72 wearings, the ankle hold down strap now has to much play. The
boot is packing out.

Dakine Vapor Stomp Pad:
This is a somewhat ridged stomp pad. It looks cool which is one reason
I picked it. I was surprised that when it popped off my sons Donek
Phoenix, it left its adhesive on the board. No adhesive stayed with the
stomp pad. In its defense, the little round Drake stomp pad we replced
it with did the same thing.

Zuma Surf Honeycomb Carbon (162):
I really liked this board. I picked it up off of e-Bay for $100 new
early last year (2003). It is very light and somewhat soft, but can be
commanded to hold a line. Holding that edge takes work. Now in it’s
second season, one of the binding attach locations is protruding through
the base. It’s a great low cost board, but I will probably be ordering a
Donek Phoenix for myself.

TechNine Pro Series (02/03)
Comfortable, very adjustable. Straps where a problem from day one.
Ratchets freeze up, wont let go if icy. Strap wear wont allow me to
apply allot of pressure ratcheting in on my forward foot. Binding base
is too soft. I can torque the binding significantly away from the board.
Spring let go on one of the ratchets (rust).

Baltimore Toe Straps
I initially thought these where a great idea. They mush up the front of
your boot. Lately they actually come off on hard demanding runs.

Ride LS Jr:
Looking for some better bindings for my daughter, it came down to
Burton and Rides. The Burtons would have worked IF she were riding a
Burton board, which she is not. She really likes the Ride’s. They are
very comfortable and she can work the straps herself. She is carving
more with the extra control…. when dad is telling (yelling) her to carve
not bomb the hill.

N.Y. legislation:
Leash requirement with strap in bindings? Who’s the rep that came up
with that one? Honestly, the only projectile that ran across my board
was a ski who’s safety mechanism iced up allowing it to hurdle down the
slopes at Peak-n-Peak. The skier should have been wearing a leash! I
might see the need for a leash when using step in bindings, but what
collection of failures would have to occur for a board to leave my
strapped in foot!


Well, that it for my small contribution to the group collective.
Hope it helps someone. You guys sure helped me.

Chris