first timer's thoughts and a few questions

[oumed73118]

A few days ago I returned from Crested Butte, Colorado where I used skiboards for the first time. I learned to ski as a small child and over the years progressed to the intermediate/advanced level. I'm now 37 years old and average about one ski trip every year of two.

My first skiiboarding experience was just as wonderful as I imagined it would be. I rented a pair of Head Big Easy skiboards and was very impressed with their performance. I was able to tackle any terrain the mountain had to offer. I even took them to the double black diamond North Face area and cranked through some awesome rocky steeps.

At the end of our second day of skiing, three fellow skiers challenged me to a "Chinese Downhill" style race. Last man to the bottom had to drink two shots of Hot Damn (is that really punishment?). They were all skiing on rented Salomon 165cm parabolic skis. Even though they probably had a little more top end speed pointing straight downhill, I was able to carve sharp turns while still maintaining high speeds. Needless to say, I won the race.

The Heads also performed flawlessly in the moguls and I was impressed with their ability to handle cruddy hardpack and icy areas as well. I even did a little powder skiing through the Aspen trees with no problems whatsoever. Additionally, I did not experience any episodes of inappropriate binding release. My wife, skiing for her third time ever, fell several times and did experience several appropriate binding releases. I already new how to ski fakie, but it was much easier on the twin-tipped Heads. Oh yeah, I loved getting rid of the poles!

Overall, this was the best snow skiing experience I've ever had... or should I say "snow riding" experience. I can't wait to go back to Crested Butte to explore more of the famed North Face area on skiboards. Alternatively, I might head to Taos later this spring to try skiboarding there. I know Taos prohibits snowboarding, but does anyone know if they allow skiboarding?

BTW, does anyone know where I might be able to purchase one or two pairs of Head Big Easy's? Skiboards.com is sold out, so I may be out of luck for this ski season.


OUmed

[Davelynam]

yo man, i say screw the big heads. how bout buyin some brand new neal lyons or the 2004 m7's insted. there capable of givin u a damn good ride.

-d

[Freedom 35]

Hi, Oumed.

I've skied the Headliners and I currently own Canon M7's.

Please do yourself a favour and forget the Headliners. After you've been on them a couple more times, you'll realize their limitations.

With their extreme sidecut, they turn too quickly and are not particularly stable once you get up to speed.

The M7's are wonderful. You won't regret owning them. They require slightly more effort to initiate a carve, especially if you're used to the Highliners but that will quickly be forgotten after a few runs. The M7's perform very well in deeper snow and are as stable as a rock.

If you like the idea of releasable bindings, check out the ones on SBOL. I have fixed bindings on my M7's and have never had a problem. Mind you, I use them strictly for carving but I've had some pretty good falls and I've never come close to getting hurt.

Nothing against the Headliners but they're not in the same ballpark as the M7's.

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

[Vitulla]

My first skiboarding experience was similar to your's. I also rode the Head Big Easy for the first time, and just like you I thought they rocked. Until i got my own pair of Snowjam's I noticed that they were no where near the greatness of "real" skiboards. As several people have already stated, go get yourself a quality pair of skiboards, like Canon's, Groove's or Snowjam's. Not to bash Head or anything as they are great to ride on for teh first time, they do have many problems. And I was just wondering if you noticed your leg wabbiling when you were going at high speeds like I did. That really sucked, but I'm glad you enjoyed skiboarding as it is really great

[Freedom 35]

Hey, Vitulla. How's it going?

See that you're from Montreal. I'm thinking of heading up to the Eastern Townships for some skiing over the March break with my son. Never been there before. We were initially thinking of Blue Mountain but I've only skiied there once and I can't stand the place. I used to ski in BC, stopped for about 20 years and then started up again when my little guy started two years ago.

I didn't realize that hills like Sutton and Owl's Head are nearly twice as high as Blue Mountain. Any suggestions on which hills we should be looking at? I'm mainly into carving and my son's ok on blues and most blacks with his skiboard.

[oumed73118]

Vitulla: I never did have the leg wobbling problem. Of course in the steeps and bumps it wasn't really an issue since I rarely reached full speed. But I didn't really notice it on the high speed cruiser runs either. I weigh about 195lbs at 6'0" tall, so maybe that provided some stability.

I think I'll get the Canon M7s with the Spruce Mountain Riser releasable bidings. Has anyone had any experience with the Risers? Which is better, the leash version or the brake version?

OUmed

[Freedom 35]

Hi, Ooumed. Don't know where you ski but in Ontario, there's a lot of hard pack and icy conditions. I can guarantee that if you go down an icy hill on the Headliners, you'll feel some wobbling unless you do wide turns all the way down the hill.

I really don't think the Headliners are suitable for straight ahead skiing. Now, if the hills are so short that the runs are over in about 30 seconds, speed won't be a consideration.

[Roussel]

freedom: i jsut went to sutton last weekend, if your looking for glades and powder, u should definatly go there, 40% of the mountain is glades, lots of diamond and double diamonds. the paths are really narrow and theres somthing like 164 junctions.

u might wanna look at Orford, they have a nice mix of pretty much everything. and since ur mainly into carving u'd probably like it better than sutton

i havent been to owls head in a while but its a nice place.

you'd have a great time at any of those mountains.

[865rolla]

first of all.... PRRR! PRRRR! prrr...

now that that's out of the way...

[Vitulla]

oumed73118: I think you made a great descion with the M7's and Risers. I can tell you that i will be getting the Risers late this week or early next week. I'll let you know how they are.

Freedom: As Roussel said, Sutton is a lot of glades. Orford is an ok mountain. But definately check out Bromont, and their "nuit blanche" which you could ride till 3 in the morning. Check out their site at: http://www.skibromont.com/en/default.asp. I heard the snow is unbelievable thsi year and teh runs are spectacular. Definately check that one out.

[oumed73118]

Vitulla: Please do let us know how the risers are working for you. Did you get the leash version or the break version? What boards are you putting the risers on?


OUmed

[Vitulla]

well what i can tell you is that if im not mistaken they are the same versions(leash and brake) since all releasable bindings do have brakes on them. I will be setting up teh risers on snowjam 90 cm's, but i'm sure if there good, they would be good on any board. I'll let you know ASAP.

[cmbruin]

Actually, it is the same binding, but the brakes are optional. Costs $45 extra for the brakes. The brakes are extra wide, but barely fit on my bg pros - as such they don't fully extend. However they do work. So far, I like the bindings, but I've only skiboarded one day on them.

[cmbruin]

By the way, I got the bindings at SBOL. Greco always does a great job.

[mtnsk8r]

I have the spruce risers (leash version), I use them on my BGs, M7s, bullets, and mnpros. Over the last 2 seasons I have skiboarded about 80 days. The spruce risers work well with any skiboard :D