Intro and question

Hi all, Lurked for a while. Nice group. Here's my question. Started
riding Jan. 2 after skiing for 30 years. Telemarked the last 5. Took one
lesson and kept after it. 35 riding hours and a lot of pain later I can
ride all the terrain at my local family resort (Blacktail Mountain, Montana)
((www.blacktailmountain.com)). I can link turns all day and I only crash
when I'm really pushing it. I can feel when I am getting a good edge turn
as opposed to a skid turn and I am speeding up considerably. My question is
this....I am ready to ride the bigger stuff up at Big Mountain
((www.bigmtn.com)) and I want to buy a board. What is the best all around
first year or two board for a 6'3" 195 lb guy. I'd like to think I can buy
a board and grow with it as a rider....

thanks
in advance

Ken Campbell
Bigfork, Montana

My question is
this....I am ready to ride the bigger stuff up at Big Mountain
((www.bigmtn.com))

It sounds like you are progressing quickly. 30 years of "reading the
mountain" on two different types of skis probably gave you a good head
start.

Assuming you've done both mountains on skis, just apply what you already
know about the difference between them and make the call. Looking a a
trail map can never tell one about a resort, but it looks like there are
some pretty steep runs at Big Mtn. Just work your way up. Steeps on a
board is IMHO a little scarier at first on a board than on alpine skis,
but maybe that's because I was 14 when I started doing steeps on skis
and 27 or 28 when I started them on a board...

I want to buy a board. What is the best all around
first year or two board for a 6'3" 195 lb guy. I'd like to think I
can buy
a board and grow with it as a rider....

That all depends on which types of boarding you're most interested in.
Tell us what you're interested in and you'll probably get several
suggestions.

Are you interested in making clean carved turns on the groomed?
Steeps?
Powder?
Trees?
Moguls?
Halfpipe?
Terrain Park?
Rails?

Do you see yourself generally riding fast, or do you think you'll want
to slow it down?
Do you think put in the work to develop your technique, or would you
prefer to just reach an intermediate level and cruise around?

-Mike T

Thanks for the reply Mike, I guess I am interested in everything really but
mainly fast smooth riding on the groomers, some pow steeps.. All mountain
is the term that comes to mind.......

Mike 1/23/2004 2:54:21 PM
That all depends on which types of boarding you're most interested in.

Ken Campbell wrote:
Thanks for the reply Mike, I guess I am interested in everything really but
mainly fast smooth riding on the groomers, some pow steeps.. All mountain
is the term that comes to mind.......

With that background in skiing, dedication and the progress you've made
already, I think you'll want a stiff high quality freeride model. If
you want to ride softies, Donek Incline or Prior MFR. If you think hard
boots might be it for you, Donek Axis or Prior 4X4.

Neil

Thanks for the reply Mike, I guess I am interested in everything
really but
mainly fast smooth riding on the groomers, some pow steeps.. All
mountain
is the term that comes to mind.......

With that background in skiing, dedication and the progress you've
made
already, I think you'll want a stiff high quality freeride model. If
you want to ride softies, Donek Incline or Prior MFR. If you think
hard
boots might be it for you, Donek Axis or Prior 4X4.

You beat me to it, Neil

Check out www.bomberonline.com for all the info on hard boots and alpine
boards. I personally ride hard boots more often than soft these days.
Soft boots get the nod whenever there is a really big dump, or also when
the temps are right around freezing and it's snowing. (Or occasionally
I just feel like riding soft boots that day).

I've got the Donek Wide 161. Do a google search of this newsgroup and
you'll find plenty of my commentary on it. I've owned and demoed a
number of other boards but have yet to find an all-around ride that I
like better with soft boots. I also own an Axis 172, which I find
superb for all-mountain hard boot riding. I would recommend either
board, depending on your boot choice, for someone with your interests.
These are performance oriented boards, more than enough room to grow
into, but if you can feel your edges well, you're ready to get started
on something like that.

I'll let others chime in with other suggestions. The "stiff high
quality freeride boards" sometimes are labeled as Boardercross boards
too.

I've always maintained that good equipment is just as important for
someone who's learning as it is for an expert - you want it to be "pilot
error" and not "equipment failure" that causes you to mess up. One
reason I'm so into my Donek boards (Wide and Axis) is that they are very
stable and I feel very confident riding them.

Mike T

Thanks for the reply Mike, I guess I am interested in everything really but
mainly fast smooth riding on the groomers, some pow steeps.. All mountain
is the term that comes to mind.......

Mike 1/23/2004 2:54:21 PM
That all depends on which types of boarding you're most interested in.

if you really *are* interested in some freestyle stuff, as well as all mountain
cruising. i would stick to soft boots (in all deference to the hard booters)
and a more traditional board.
do this... grab a copy of transworld's or snowboarder magazines buying guide and
check our the different boards. i'm a burton and salomon guy, and inside those
two lines i can make some suggestions, but the guide will give you a good
reference to start with.
look for a stiffer directional twin-tip design.
good luck!
paul

I agree with sticking to soft boots. They are the most versatile. My only
advice would be to research all-mountain boards that are 162 cm or longer.
I have been riding for 12 years and right now I am 5'-10" 195 lbs and riding
a 163 Morrow Source. You may conclude that a longer board is necessary, but
actually weight has more to do with sizing boards. If you get a board that
is too long, you may experience difficulty controlling turns. When looking
at sizing charts imagine yourself within the weight ranges as follows: tall,
thin, lightweight person refers to low number (ex. if 170 lbs., look at the
160 - 200 range), and overweight person refers to high numbers (ex 200 lbs.,
look at the 160 - 200 range as well). I chose the Morrow Source 163 because
the range was 140 -220 and I am slightly larger than average at 195. I can
only image the 140 lb person on a 163. He is probably 7'8".

Good Luck,
Garrett
Los Angeles



"paul m" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the reply Mike, I guess I am interested in everything really
but
mainly fast smooth riding on the groomers, some pow steeps.. All
mountain
is the term that comes to mind.......

Mike 1/23/2004 2:54:21 PM
That all depends on which types of boarding you're most interested in.

if you really *are* interested in some freestyle stuff, as well as all
mountain
cruising. i would stick to soft boots (in all deference to the hard
booters)
and a more traditional board.
do this... grab a copy of transworld's or snowboarder magazines buying
guide and
check our the different boards. i'm a burton and salomon guy, and inside
those
two lines i can make some suggestions, but the guide will give you a good
reference to start with.
look for a stiffer directional twin-tip design.
good luck!
paul