Atomic E-Zone 120s?

[daddy-yo]

Has anyone tried the Atomic E-Zone 120s?
Are they much different than a "traditional" skiboard?
I'm 6ft, probably 215lbs+ with skiboots, etc., and currently ride Mike Nick pros - the 89cm good ones from a few years back.
Great boards - but short contact length (69cm) gives me some chattering on steep groomed and hard-pack, and anything over 8 inches of powder becomes tricky, and requires quite a bit or work.

I'm looking for a longer board, and slowly (but seriously) considering a releasable binding. These Atomic E-Zones look they they MIGHT fit the bill - but they sure look like a short ski, and I'm wondering if they behave like a short ski? I'm never more than 3 feet or so off the ground, so I don't need to land big jumps or anything. I basically play around in the terrain park with my kids, cruise through the trees with my wife, and carve hard and fast down steep open, typically groomed faces - usually alone, in the early morning when the mountain is empty - FUN!

I wish Canon, or Fisher, or even Line would go out and make a 115 to 120cm skiboard, 14-11-14, symetrical tips about 5cm high, with a 100cm contact length, and a good releaseable binding, for bigger guys like me. Boards like this would just RIP!

I've been skiboarding for over 10 years(I'm a "recovering" skier :p ) - started on Big Feet, then Grooves, etc. I'm pretty good at what I do - but at 47 years old - I'm slowing down a bit and getting more conservative. a few bad wipeouts last season reminded me, in no uncertain terms, that I ain't 25 no more! :(

I'll be a "test pilot" if anyone knows anybody at one of these companies and needs someone to beta test some longer skiboards.

So? Anyone tried those E-Zone 120s?
Any personal feedback, or even second hand experience (a friend, etc.) regarding these boards is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
daddy-yo

[joel]

Well, being 6 feet doesn't mean you need a skiboard that's 120 Cm.

I'm 6'2" and ride the 98 cm MN Pros with no trouble.

To be honest, as I've said many times, you'd be better off getting a Neal Lyons pro, if you're going to skiboard. Canon is true to the sport and one of the only few hopes we have left. Atomic, salomon, and any other major company trying to make skiboards has no clue about the sport and simply wants to make money. Don't support em.

(I should also note, that the Neal Lyons pro will also support more laid back riding. They're equally great in design for just cruising along the groomers)

[daddy-yo]

Joel - how much do you weigh?
Weight is a more critical component than height, in my opinion, in determining what area of board surface one can get away with under certain conditions. You're 6-2, but you might only weigh 180 or so with your gear on. Big difference.

I don't want to get back into skiing, so that's not an option.
But I'm not convinced a board 10cm longer is going to be THAT much of an improvement over my 89cm MN Pros. I could be wrong here - and actually hope I am.

I like my MN Pro boards fine - but having been on them for a few years now, I want something longer for better float in powder, and stability at speed.

I think a 115 (shaped like a real skiboard) would be perfect for me.

Hoping someone here has ridden the EZone 120s

[java_drinker]

let's get one thing clear...

The E-zone 120’s are not skiboards, that doesn’t make them any less cool, but we need to call them what they are, short skis.

I rode the 120’s last year for a week (the belonged to a buddy) and I loved every moment, for my riding style they were better than skiboards. I’m more of a cruiser who likes to mix it up on the slopes and spend absolutely zero time in the park. The E-zones fit that style perfectly; super control, wide range of terrain capability, get-up-and-go speeds and just all-around fun, fun, fun.

I’ve owned Mike Nick’s, M7’s and H-series skiboards and I liked the M7’s best, but now I’m saving my beer money for a new pair of E-zone 120’s or the like.

[CGold]

how much do these 120's run for?

[J.D.]

If you're gonna get short skis, get short skis, like Line ghetto blasters. Basically they're the line 1260 only shorter and a bit wider.

[daddy-yo]

sigh........
Like I said - I do not want a "short ski"....
I want a longer skiboard - LONGER then 99cm - which in my opinion is an arbitrary "official length" as defined by the SkiBoard Federation and some ski resorts, - whatever.
Just wanting to hear some experiences regarding the EZones to find out if they behaved like a skiboard - and thanks to java_drinker who provided some insights

Let me use surfing as an anology.
"Jim" is 6ft and weighs 170 lbs - and he carves, surfs and rips great on his 6 foot thruster.
"Bubba" is also 6ft - but he weighs 250lbs - and guess what? The 6ft thruster just don't work for Bubba - he needs a 7.5 foot thruster.
Thankfully, in the surfing world - there IS a 7.5 foot thruster. Bubba is not stuck having to go ride a "long board" - because someone makes a 7.5 foot thruster!

I just wish someone would make a 115-120cm skiboard - I truly belive this would open up a whole new market and take the performance of the board, and the sport, to a whole new level.

Don't want to ski anymore............
rant over.....

[java_drinker]

They run about $199 with the Atomic bindings

[daddy-yo]

java_drinker
Where did you see the EZones for $199 with bindings??

I just bought some for considerably MORE than that - but their site (the "other" skiboard site) has a price guarantee that I will take them up on if in fact someone is selling this year's EZones for $199

Please tell me where........

Thanks
daddy-yo

[java_drinker]

Skiboards.com is selling them on E-bay for $199

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16062&item=3645434395

[daddy-yo]

hmmmm.....
That's where I bought them - from skiboards.com - for $259!!

Well - they are starting the bidding at $199 - and I coiuldn't wait - we leave in three days.......maybe someone will be ba le to pick up a pair for $215 or something - whioch would really be a good deal

Bummer was - I bought them for $259 - then I go and have a quick look at the skiboards.com web site - and they list them for $229! - so I call skiboards.com to find out if I paid too much - and a nice girl their says....
"oops - that's a mistake - they're supposed to be $259 - and a few minutes later they update the site with the "new" price.....??.........

They did give me 5% off though - better than nothing.....

I'm a little nervous about these EZones I gotta tell ya - haven't stepped into a releasable binding in 10 years - it's gonna be weird.......

[daddy-yo]

got my EZones
oohh - they look nice!
They are loooong - compared to my 89cm Mike Nic Pros - I knew they would be longer - but when you stand in them - it's REALLY different - can't wait to try em - probably this Friday or Sat.

Effective edge on these is about 104 cm by my measurement - compared to 69 for my Mike Nick Pros...this will be noticable at speed I predict....and from further rough measurements - I think the surface area is greater too - so I should get better float in powder....I hope.

the wife? - sheesh!! she looks at them and says "they look like a beginner's ski!" - "people are going to think I'm a beginner!"

Great! she don't like em and she hasn't even put them on yet!
go figure........
BUT - I'll wager once she has bombed down a few mogul runs, or under a chair or two, through the trees, she won't give a hoot what they "look" like - she'll just love em.

If we really like them a lot (a BIG if) I'll be selling our skiboard collection (original BigFeet from the early 90s, Groove CocaCola limited Editions, 89cm Mike Nick Pros and 89cm Line Jedis with FreeFlex bindings)