New skiboarder with a few questions.

[midwestcarver]

Hey guys, first post here but I've been creepin for awhile. I have a few questions for some of you guys. I am new to ski boarding, I've grown up skiing and am a good skier. For the last year I kinda toyed with getting some snow blades but always felt like they were a bit unstable going over even small jumps. I am looking to get more into park/rails but also downhill and trails as that is my roots. Anyway here are the questions I have. I am planning on buying some Revel8's at the beginning of march when the new ones come out. I am looking at a few different ones and would like to be pointed to what would be best for my style. I am looking at the the Rockets which I really like the styling and the fact that they are a little bit less width which I think I would feel more comfortable in off the bat. The others were the Condors because of the length, however I dont want something that is going to be heavy, I like the feel of the snowblades and how light they are but just too unstable for me. What would you guys recommend for the ski boards?

Ok next question, about bindings, what is the best bindings for skiboards, I know the spruce's look to be great quality but didnt know if there were others to choose from with the 4 bolt system on the ski boards. I definitely want them to be release bindings as I hurt my knee already and don't want another accident to hold me out for a season. And lastly can you mount regular ski bindings on a ski board without risers? Other then that I hope to hit this with everything I got, I can on snowblades to basic tricks like 180's, 360's, ride fakie, etc. I want to get really good this next season and eventually get to pulling a misty which is my goal at the moment. Any tips you guys have for buying would be much appreciated! Thanks

[izzonnap]

Hey,

I'm also fairly new to the forums (although I'm sure I've read through most of the topics by now), but based on what you're looking for and your experience with skiblades, I'd say anything up to the Revolts would be good for you. I believe anything bigger and you will begin to lose some maneuverability. Others would probably suggest the ALP/DLPs.

Take a look at this table, if you haven't already. Your height and weight should be taken into consideration when deciding on your boards.

http://www.skiboardsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7115

[slow]

Welcome to the forum.

Please also post your height and weight to help us make a recommendation.

BTW: since you want to go releasables, the Spruce Riser is the only way to go.

[midwestcarver]

Welcome to the forum.

Please also post your height and weight to help us make a recommendation.

BTW: since you want to go releasables, the Spruce Riser is the only way to go.

My height is 5'11" and I weight about 210 but am losing weight at the moment as I got out of shape this past summer, I usually weigh in at around 190 or so which is what I am getting back down to. Ok I will definitely look into the spruce Risers then. Thanks guys

[midwestcarver]

Oh one more thing, since the spruce 120's are on sale with the bindings for so cheap would that be a good idea? The main thing is I don't want them to feel heavy under me, friday night I went with the snowblades again, and a guy that is a really good twin tip skier who pulls some pretty big tricks was talking to me about how much more stable his were and that I should try them. He has some armada 169cm twin tips in which he was pulling mistys, and even did a backflip 540 over a smaller kicker. Anyways I put them on since we had the same size boots and it felt very uncomfortable. I went from doing 360s on the snow blades easily to barely pulling off 180's. They felt very heavy and I couldnt get the hang of them. So most of all I want to keep the feel of the blades but add more stability for air and speed. I am really liking the Rockets the more I read and look at them. I like the fact that they are a little thinner. I dont want something so thick like the condors at the moment but may move to them once I get used to it. I am not opposed to having several models once I get used to it and see what I like then choosing the boards for whatever I plan on doing that day. But for now I just want a good base to start out on.

[slow]

I would suggest the ALP/DLPs with the Spruce Pro Prime binding.

[midwestcarver]

Ok thanks, just for reference is there something that is not desirable about the Rockets. It doesnt seem like anyone has them. Just wondering, I really like the design of them but am going to take your advice on what to get as I dont want to make the mistake of ordering them and not liking them.

[izzonnap]

I think most people who do have rockets eventually want more out of their boards.
At 200 lbs, they would probably be narrow for you, especially since you are really looking for stability.

Plus the ALPs or Revolts would perform better in powder.

[midwestcarver]

I think most people who do have rockets eventually want more out of their boards.
At 200 lbs, they would probably be narrow for you, especially since you are really looking for stability.

Plus the ALPs or Revolts would perform better in powder.

OK thanks, the ALP's are looking really good the more I read about them and look at them, like I was saying to another member being a life long skier the width is more intimidating looking to start with, It looks like it would be hard to get on edge opposed to the snowblades that you barely move your boot and they are on edge. As far as the powder riding.....I wish lol. We have no "real" powder here. The hills I go on most are all mostly hardpacked ice which by the end of the day starts getting slushy in spots after the riding. However I get what your saying because when I do hit a powder spot on snowblades I feel like I am gonna front flip! ANyways I think I am going to look into a used set of ALP's if I can find them to get a feel, that way I wont break the bank to much and if I dont like them I will have a starting point to what I need. Thanks again.

[Crimson Pilot]

And lastly can you mount regular ski bindings on a ski board without risers?
Can somebody answer this please. I've just bought 125cm ski boards with Tyrol SP100 bindings fitted without risers. I can't seem to find an explaination anywhere on this forum why everybody uses risers. What are they for exactly?
Sorry for being such a noob.

[ysb33r]

Can somebody answer this please. I've just bought 125cm ski boards with Tyrol SP100 bindings fitted without risers. I can't seem to find an explaination anywhere on this forum why everybody uses risers. What are they for exactly?
Sorry for being such a noob.

1. A riser such as the Spruce allows for standard ski bindings to be fitted using the 4x4 or 4x10 mounts on a skiboard. This allows for flexibility in that the risers can be removed and non-release bindings be fitted or even exchanging risers that is setup for one person with a riser for another without having to adjust teh releaseable bindigns themselves.

2. On certain boards the extra height allows one to get the boards on edge easier

Summit does not follow this approach with releasable bindings and mount them directly into the board. They design their boards with this in mind.

[MitchK]

It's because the Spruce risers mount to the boards via the inserts in all the Revel8 and Spruce boards, which allow a more natural flex, rather then causing a larger dead area for board flex underfoot. This dead area doesn't matter as much on long skis because its a much smaller portion of the overall length then on skiboards.

[rob]

Don't be so worried about getting on edge unless you plan on buying the condor. I was a straight convert from snowblades and jumped right to the KTPs. Had no problems getting on edge.

[mctwist311]

rockets are awsome man i myself don't know why allot of people don't ride them. Ive rode all the revel8 line minus the condors but i don't get much powder... i did though ride my mary janes, which is the same as the rockets through 1 foot of freshies without a hitch... the feel is a bit more ski like but you still have the short nimbleness of a skiboard. they where great all around boards that i pushed extremely hard and they never disappointed. if you really like the graphics i would say go for them... you are a bit heavier then i am at 160 so pow might be a bit more tiring.

[DennisEvans]

I don't know how far you've gone with this but I'd suggest ALP/DLP as well. Awesome boards, I've ridden them pretty hard and they take the beating quite well. As for bindings I would say Bomber Elite 2 or Spruce riser system. Only reason I would suggest the bombers is because they make the boards so much lighter than the releasable bindings and that will help you quite a bit in park.

[Dave Bloom]

Don't be so worried about getting on edge unless you plan on buying the condor. I was a straight convert from snowblades and jumped right to the KTPs. Had no problems getting on edge.

Getting on edge with Condors and KTPs is an extremely similar situation.

[izzonnap]

Getting on edge with Condors and KTPs is an extremely similar situation.

I keep reading inconsistent things regarding the KTPs and the challenge that comes with their width.

Guess I won't know 'till I try them out for myself.

[CAN]

Hi Midwest Carver,
I also grew up in Iowa and learned to ski at Sundown in Dubuque. I used Bigfoots and Solomon snowblades there. I love the alps as my main carvers and the condors for powder. I think the Alps would be great in the conditions there and would hold great for you on the hardpack. I am 5'10" and 185 so right at your size. ALPs are what I suggest.

Chad

[midwestcarver]

Thanks for all the info guys. I am mroe then likely going to go with some Revolts of some sort. I dont know yet about the bindings. Its hard for me to tell what I should get. I had a friend who just broke his leg with non releasables and thats scary having 2 kids and worrying about that. But then I look at the light feeling of the non releasables and love it. It is night and day when riding park or jumps it doesnt feel like you have anything on compared the the release type. IDK what to do, I am not going to bomb double black hills or anything but just hate worrying about getting severely hurt on them as well.