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Yet Another Donek Question



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 26th 04, 04:45 PM
Michael G. Matola
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Default Yet Another Donek Question

Yes, I've googled and read many posts to this board about Donek snowboards.

My question is this: Would the Donek Incline be a suitable board for me as a
relative beginner?

I just started riding in the past two weeks. I've gone 4 times (including 2
1-hour private lessons) and have made (what I think to be) pretty good
progress.

I think I'm enjoying the sport enough that it makes sense to get my own
equipment. Problem is I don't really seem to have much opportunity to demo
equipment before buying. None of the shops around here (southeastern
Michigan -- yes I've been learning on one of our local "is it slag pile or
landfill?" "mountains") offer rentals or have any sort of demo programs.
None of my friends do snowboarding, so there's not any opportunity for
trying stuff that way.

The shops around here seem to be in a major push the remaining merchandise
out the door because it's the end of the season mode. So I realize I could
pick up something cheap if I knew better what I was looking for. But I don't
want to end up with cruddy equipment I'm going to want to replace in a year.
Also, as someone new to the sport I just don't feel confident in my ability
to judge equipment. I've tried to pay some attention to the feel of the
rental boards I've used, but so far it's been more about learning the basic
skills of the sport rather than evaluating the performance of the equipment.
I weigh 170 pounds and have had 4 different rental boards -- 155 cm, 158,
160, and 162. Frankly, I couldn't tell much difference at all between the
different boards I used because each time I went out I was getting better
and doing different things. Trying to make sense out of what the salespeople
in the shops say is hard too -- I get into this mode I call "feature blur"
where they're talking on and on about all these minute and terribly
important distinctions that I have no way of understanding or appreciating
at this stage.

Anyhow, that's where this newsgroup comes in. Sounds like there a lot of
people here very satisfied with their Donek boards. So I wonder, does it
make sense for me to just get one of those too. My concern and reason for
posting is that I wonder wheter an Incline might be too "advanced" for me at
this stage. So what do folks think? Is such a board suitable for someone
who's ridden only a few times but thinks he's making great progress? I'm
thinking I'll be able to go again maybe 10 more times this season. (Maybe a
weekend or two to a bigger hill in northern Michigan or elsewhere, but
nowhere serious yet this season.) I'm not interested in the park or tricks
or stunts -- just cruising down the hill and learning to turn better and
having some fun.

Thanks for any input!

Mike Matola


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  #2  
Old January 26th 04, 11:59 PM
Mike T
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Posts: n/a
Default Yet Another Donek Question

My question is this: Would the Donek Incline be a suitable board for
me as a
relative beginner?

I'd say that if you can confidently turn on both sides while going
down a steepish blue run, then you'll be fine.


Agreed. The board will encourage you to make crisp, carved turns, as
opposed to slide-turns, helping you accomplish your goal of "making
better turns".

FWIW my wife's cousin borrowed my old Incline 160 while he was visiting
us after riding 4 or 5 times on rental equipment. He rode it with us
for 2 days, enjoyed it a lot, and markedly improved his riding skills.
I sent him home with it, since I was riding my Wide 161 most of the time
anyways!

Mike T


  #3  
Old January 27th 04, 02:52 AM
Arvin Chang
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Default Yet Another Donek Question

"Mike T" wrote in message ...
My question is this: Would the Donek Incline be a suitable board for

me as a
relative beginner?

I'd say that if you can confidently turn on both sides while going
down a steepish blue run, then you'll be fine.


Agreed. The board will encourage you to make crisp, carved turns, as
opposed to slide-turns, helping you accomplish your goal of "making
better turns".

FWIW my wife's cousin borrowed my old Incline 160 while he was visiting
us after riding 4 or 5 times on rental equipment. He rode it with us
for 2 days, enjoyed it a lot, and markedly improved his riding skills.
I sent him home with it, since I was riding my Wide 161 most of the time
anyways!

Mike T


I say it's fine for anyone who has 4-5 days under the belt. It's
definitely not like my old Salomon Definition, which was an expert
only board. I think that's what make the Donek's ideal (are extremely
good for a wide range of abilities and riding styles). I don't think I
will endorse the board quite as much as Mike T, but I would definitely
recommend it to *anyone.* I think it is a very, very good board at a
good price made by a company that really cares if you like the board
(if you don't like it after 30 days of riding, they will pay for you
to ship it back and give you a full refund).

I've noticed that the edges "grip" a little bit unusually when sliding
down icy slopes. I'm guess that's due to the 0 degree bevel on the
edge. It's not terrible, just noticible that the board is definitely
"asserting" itself a little, like it wants to carve and not just
slip-slide down the enter mountain.

I must reiterate my continually warning about the board width and boot
sizes. The waist is small, but the board doesn't flair much, so the
width at the binding locations are noticeable *narrow*. I have small
size 8 feet the Incline is even narrow for me (I have to ride like
20/15+ degree angles), I suggest getting the Wide for most people if
they don't like high angles. I have small feet and I don't mind high
angles, so it wasn't too bad for me, but it could really cause some
trouble for people with bigger feet or more neutral angles.

--Arvin
  #4  
Old January 27th 04, 04:18 AM
Mike T
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yet Another Donek Question

I've noticed that the edges "grip" a little bit unusually when sliding
down icy slopes. I'm guess that's due to the 0 degree bevel on the
edge. It's not terrible, just noticible that the board is definitely
"asserting" itself a little, like it wants to carve and not just
slip-slide down the enter mountain.


I've been doing a half-degree bevel on my base edges which seems to do
wonders for reducing unwanted grabbiness. I don't notice any
difference when I'm going edge-to-edge although I've read that racers
can easily notice a half degree. But running flat is much easier for
me with a little bevel.

I must reiterate my continually warning about the board width and boot
sizes. The waist is small, but the board doesn't flair much, so the
width at the binding locations are noticeable *narrow*. I have small
size 8 feet the Incline is even narrow for me (I have to ride like
20/15+ degree angles), I suggest getting the Wide for most people if
they don't like high angles. I have small feet and I don't mind high
angles, so it wasn't too bad for me, but it could really cause some
trouble for people with bigger feet or more neutral angles.


I agree with Arvin, consider the waist width carefully. If you have a
solid carving technique, then yeah, on size 8's with mellow angles you
*will* drag a toe or a heel cup on an Incline. For reference I'm size
8, 15/6 to 24/15. If you're not getting as much inclination (edge
angle w/ snow on your turns), you might very well prefer the Incline
with a size 8 - 10 boot. Of course, these boards do want to carve
and you may find yourself wanting a little more width later. That's
exactly what happened to me and why I went Incline - Wide after a year.



  #5  
Old January 27th 04, 05:19 AM
Sean Martin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yet Another Donek Question

Mike,

I know you're looking for advice from customers, but I did want to let you
know that we have a mail order demo program which will allow you to try
before you buy. I don't have a lot of models available for demo, but from
what you've said, I probably have something that will work for your needs.
Give me a call.

I'm gone til Friday for SIA in Vegas, so give it a couple of days.

Sean Martin
Donek Snowboards Inc.

http://www.donek.com/
phone:877-53-DONEK

"Michael G. Matola" wrote in message
...
Yes, I've googled and read many posts to this board about Donek

snowboards.

My question is this: Would the Donek Incline be a suitable board for me as

a
relative beginner?

I just started riding in the past two weeks. I've gone 4 times (including

2
1-hour private lessons) and have made (what I think to be) pretty good
progress.

I think I'm enjoying the sport enough that it makes sense to get my own
equipment. Problem is I don't really seem to have much opportunity to demo
equipment before buying. None of the shops around here (southeastern
Michigan -- yes I've been learning on one of our local "is it slag pile or
landfill?" "mountains") offer rentals or have any sort of demo programs.
None of my friends do snowboarding, so there's not any opportunity for
trying stuff that way.

The shops around here seem to be in a major push the remaining merchandise
out the door because it's the end of the season mode. So I realize I could
pick up something cheap if I knew better what I was looking for. But I

don't
want to end up with cruddy equipment I'm going to want to replace in a

year.
Also, as someone new to the sport I just don't feel confident in my

ability
to judge equipment. I've tried to pay some attention to the feel of the
rental boards I've used, but so far it's been more about learning the

basic
skills of the sport rather than evaluating the performance of the

equipment.
I weigh 170 pounds and have had 4 different rental boards -- 155 cm, 158,
160, and 162. Frankly, I couldn't tell much difference at all between the
different boards I used because each time I went out I was getting better
and doing different things. Trying to make sense out of what the

salespeople
in the shops say is hard too -- I get into this mode I call "feature blur"
where they're talking on and on about all these minute and terribly
important distinctions that I have no way of understanding or appreciating
at this stage.

Anyhow, that's where this newsgroup comes in. Sounds like there a lot of
people here very satisfied with their Donek boards. So I wonder, does it
make sense for me to just get one of those too. My concern and reason for
posting is that I wonder wheter an Incline might be too "advanced" for me

at
this stage. So what do folks think? Is such a board suitable for someone
who's ridden only a few times but thinks he's making great progress? I'm
thinking I'll be able to go again maybe 10 more times this season. (Maybe

a
weekend or two to a bigger hill in northern Michigan or elsewhere, but
nowhere serious yet this season.) I'm not interested in the park or tricks
or stunts -- just cruising down the hill and learning to turn better and
having some fun.

Thanks for any input!

Mike Matola




  #6  
Old January 27th 04, 06:08 AM
Jason Watkins
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yet Another Donek Question

make sense for me to just get one of those too. My concern and reason for
posting is that I wonder wheter an Incline might be too "advanced" for me at
this stage. So what do folks think? Is such a board suitable for someone
who's ridden only a few times but thinks he's making great progress? I'm


I learned to snowboard on my donek wide 161. I don't think the board
was any problem, in fact, I think it's been a big advantage.

A more forgiving board would have been easier my first few days trying
to link turns on blue slopes. However, the slight difference in flex
and sidecut of the donek board compared to say a burton custom, really
forced me to learn more polished technique.

Once you get past the beginner stage, the difference in effort between
a donek and something softer or with a tighter sidecut radius is
really not a problem. As an intermediate, I definately liked the
advantages the flex and sidecut gives you: stability and smoothness at
higher speeds.
  #7  
Old January 27th 04, 02:21 PM
Michael G. Matola
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yet Another Donek Question

Arvin ""
Mike T ""

I must reiterate my continually warning about the board width and boot
sizes. The waist is small, but the board doesn't flair much, so the
width at the binding locations are noticeable *narrow*. I have small
size 8 feet the Incline is even narrow for me (I have to ride like
20/15+ degree angles), I suggest getting the Wide for most people if
they don't like high angles. I have small feet and I don't mind high
angles, so it wasn't too bad for me, but it could really cause some
trouble for people with bigger feet or more neutral angles.


I agree with Arvin, consider the waist width carefully. If you have a
solid carving technique, then yeah, on size 8's with mellow angles you
*will* drag a toe or a heel cup on an Incline. For reference I'm size
8, 15/6 to 24/15. If you're not getting as much inclination (edge
angle w/ snow on your turns), you might very well prefer the Incline
with a size 8 - 10 boot. Of course, these boards do want to carve
and you may find yourself wanting a little more width later. That's
exactly what happened to me and why I went Incline - Wide after a year.


Points taken.

Never thought of myself as having particularly small feet. I generally wear
9 or 9-1/2 wides in street shoes. In the crappy rental snowboard boots I've
used, I started out with an 8 and have moved down to a 7 to prevent heel
lift.

The shops around me are really out of merchandise for the year, but the
best-fitting boot I've found so far is a Salomon F22 in size 8 (at a great
sale price, but I don't want to buy not having tried the next size smaller).
(I have Salomon inline skates and cross-country ski boots and have always
liked how their stuff fits my feet.) I think I'll have to mail order a bunch
of boots and send back all but the ones I settle on.

I don't know that I have a preference yet on stance angles. Twice the
rentals were set to 15/0 and twice to 15/-5 (I think). I don't think I
noticed any real difference. Just figured something out. Twice (155 and 160)
the rental boards were these narrow green and red Rossignols and the angles
were 15/-5. And twice (158 and 162) the rentals were wider Rossignols with
orange and blue graphics and the angles were 15/0. Haven't tried a
higher/positive angle for my rear foot yet.


 




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