If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
I'm starting to exit my park years and enter my hard carving years. A
bad windsurfing crash and a torn MCL this summer is no good for freestyle. I am looking for anyones thoughts on the best soft boot set up for carving. So far I am thinking the Burton Republik 63. I really just want to be able to lay hard ruts on hard pack, but don't want to be limited by a hard boot set up since I still ride trees, pow, etc..... On the other hand....should I just get a hard boot set? Thanks, Glenn |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
I am looking for anyones thoughts on the best soft boot set up for
carving. So far I am thinking the Burton Republik 63. I really just want to be able to lay hard ruts on hard pack, but don't want to be limited by a hard boot set up since I still ride trees, pow, etc..... On the other hand....should I just get a hard boot set? If you want to stick with soft boots, try the Salomon Malamute. I ride both soft and hard boots and have been using hard boots lately for general freeriding except when the snow is wet, deep, and tracked. I find hard boots easier in the trees (forward facing, more responsive) and I can see how once I get used to riding them in powder (crappy season last year, not enough chances) they'll be as easy as softies. The Raichle 423 (http://www.bomberonline.com/store/Bo...23/sb_423.html) with Thermoflex liner is a good hard boot for both freeride and carving. In general, visit www.bomberonline.com for more than you ever wanted to know about carving. Mike T |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
Now here's a topic I've resarched ad-nausium.
Boots: Salomon Malmutes are hands down the best bet for a stiff softboot. Other interesting boots to look at are the new F boots, which supposedly will be available with a stiffer plastic front toung this season. Burton Rulers are fairly stiff if Salomon's fit does't work for you. And finally, I'm interested in the 32 Team One, but haven't had a chance to ride them. They seem to be even stiff then the Malmutes, and come with a *very* nice liner made of thermal expansion foam. Bindings: I went with Salomon SPX6 as they fit the Malmutes very nicely. A lot of people like the Nidecker 860. I also tried and loved the Catek Freeride (www.catek.com). I opted not to buy them tho, as I'd been having some ankle soreness I believe was due to using bindings with metal heelcups. I imagine if I keep riding a softboot setup they'll come into it sooner or later though. Boards: I demoed the republic and Omen, and a friend rides the Cascade, a previous version of what became the Omen. I found all of them to be fairly similar. Mellow ride, very relaxing to cruise around on. But, if you're a windsurfer I'm going to imagine you'll be a fairly agressive rider. With these boards, I think you'll run into their speed limit fairly quickly. What would be more ideal hard carving is something with more stiffness, especially torsionally. Also some dampening, and perhaps most importantly, a larger sidecut radius. I'm on a Donek Wide 161, which gets a lot of mention on this newsgroup, and I've been very happy with it. The way I'd summarize it, is it's a board that encourages me to go faster, edge harder. I definately don't feel that with the burtons. I've never ridden the Prior AMF, but suspect it's similar. Other boards to look at (which I haven't ridden but have heard reccomended by those I'd trust) would be the Volkl Cross and Coal, Rad-Air LSD, and some of the Salomon boards. The Volkl Cross has been described as the best boardercross board available. It's also mention as being particularly good on hardpack. The Rad-Air LSD has a quite large sidecut for it's size (10.5m) and is available very cheap from World Wide Sports. If you have larger feet, and really want to lay turns over, you'll need a wide board or get some lifters like Palmer PowerLink or Volkl VFlex. "Glenn Morton" wrote in message om... I'm starting to exit my park years and enter my hard carving years. A bad windsurfing crash and a torn MCL this summer is no good for freestyle. I am looking for anyones thoughts on the best soft boot set up for carving. So far I am thinking the Burton Republik 63. I really just want to be able to lay hard ruts on hard pack, but don't want to be limited by a hard boot set up since I still ride trees, pow, etc..... On the other hand....should I just get a hard boot set? Thanks, Glenn |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
Go with the hard shell boots. For trees and the like, I usually put the
ankle flex in walk-mode. For groomers, I lock them down. Glenn Morton wrote: I'm starting to exit my park years and enter my hard carving years. A bad windsurfing crash and a torn MCL this summer is no good for freestyle. I am looking for anyones thoughts on the best soft boot set up for carving. So far I am thinking the Burton Republik 63. I really just want to be able to lay hard ruts on hard pack, but don't want to be limited by a hard boot set up since I still ride trees, pow, etc..... On the other hand....should I just get a hard boot set? Thanks, Glenn |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
That's pretty much the setup I've got: OK, Raichle 224, Intec RS,
Prior 4WD 165 but definitely the same flavour. Those all-mountain carver setups are nice - mine is Donek Axis 172, 423's, Catek Olympic step-ins. If I *had* to stick with only one setup I'd keep this and throw out my Donek Freecarve 163, Wide 161, and Salomon FRS 165 as well as my soft boots and bindings... but I have to admit I would miss all those things dearly. Mike T |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
I've tried a lot of boots and bindings and cannot find a soft boot that is
stiff enough to carve at really high speeds. Gotta go with hard boots, IMO. "Glenn Morton" wrote in message om... I'm starting to exit my park years and enter my hard carving years. A bad windsurfing crash and a torn MCL this summer is no good for freestyle. I am looking for anyones thoughts on the best soft boot set up for carving. So far I am thinking the Burton Republik 63. I really just want to be able to lay hard ruts on hard pack, but don't want to be limited by a hard boot set up since I still ride trees, pow, etc..... On the other hand....should I just get a hard boot set? Thanks, Glenn |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Best Carver?
Wrong group really, try bomberonline or extremecarving,
BOB -- http://www.endlesswinter.co.uk "When Hell freezes over, I'll snowboard there too" "HK" wrote in message ... I've tried a lot of boots and bindings and cannot find a soft boot that is stiff enough to carve at really high speeds. Gotta go with hard boots, IMO. "Glenn Morton" wrote in message om... I'm starting to exit my park years and enter my hard carving years. A bad windsurfing crash and a torn MCL this summer is no good for freestyle. I am looking for anyones thoughts on the best soft boot set up for carving. So far I am thinking the Burton Republik 63. I really just want to be able to lay hard ruts on hard pack, but don't want to be limited by a hard boot set up since I still ride trees, pow, etc..... On the other hand....should I just get a hard boot set? Thanks, Glenn |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|