Custom Modified Spruce 120 -Backcountry Skiboard

[jjue]

Greco has the 2007 Spruce 120 's with the great new topsheet in and I thought it would be cool to post a review and data dump on my custom backountry Spruce 120 . This is my favorite backcountry skiboard and I think the Spruce has some real cool characteristics that it is important to highlight once more .

I custom modified the Spruce 120 , by creating a plastic home riser . This riser was bolted directly on to the inserts of the Spruce 120 and a VP telemark binding was attached to the riser . A rear block was then attached to the rear of the board by shallow screws to allow a place for the plate binding to rest on . There is really no pressure on the rear block so it is ok that it is attached only with shallow screws .

[jjue]

A ski crampon attachment bar is bolted onto the board just behind the plastic riser , allowing the use of a ski crampon to aid to climbing in steep terrain .

[Greco]

thanks for sharing jack.

g

[jjue]

Detachable climbing skins are used to allow ascending steep slopes on foot .

[jjue]

The Spruce is a wonderful board on foot , It is amazingly light . The light nature of the board allows wonderful and easy climbing . Just like feather weight snowshoes on your feet

[jjue]

Now once you get to the top of the mountain ,those feather weight snowshoes transform into a killer downhill tool . The Spruce is an amazing board , it has a nice soft longitudinal flex , yet is very , very torsionally rigid . The longer 120 length is just perfect for variable backcountry snow . I have felt totally in control on the steepest gnarliest backcountry slopes whether firm and icy or the deepest powder .

I often do use poles for the descent in the backcountry , while not all the time at the ski area. I carry a special pole with an ice axe attachment , so that if I fall I can self arrest and stop my fall . The Spruce with a telemark binding can be ridden down either telemark style or flat footed regular skiboard style . My extreme set back helps my tips plane up in all manner of gnarly backcountry snow .. .Super sweet !

A major thumbs up for one of the most unheralded and sweetest backcountry snow sliding devices in existence ! In fact , I will be back on the puppies in the backcountry this Saturday !

[taimos]

Looks pretty awesome!

love the use of duct tape as well!

[Bug]

Originally posted by jjue
The Spruce is a wonderful board on foot , It is amazingly light . The light nature of the board allows wonderful and easy climbing . Just like feather weight snowshoes on your feet

How does the weight of the Spruce compare to the ALP Jack?

[valmorel]

So let me get this straight........................You WALK up the damn hill, then ski down with an axe in your hand! :-)

[jjue]

Originally posted by taimos
Looks pretty awesome!

love the use of duct tape as well!

No custom job is completely with out the final duct tape finishing flourish :)!

http://www.bcpl.net/~jthorsse/duct.html

[jjue]

Originally posted by Bug
How does the weight of the Spruce compare to the ALP Jack?

Both boards are very light as bare boards before you put any bindings on them , the Alp is lighter yet than the Spruce .... , never got around to weighing them before I put all my stuff on them ...

[jjue]

Originally posted by valmorel
So let me get this straight........................You WALK up the damn hill, then ski down with an axe in your hand! :-)

You know Valmorel , I am thinking I should carry that axe ski pole at ski areas too .... nice for threatening folks who make rude comments about my f*****g "snowblades" :)!!!

[valmorel]

In Tony F****n' Blairs England, you would get arrested for carrying that!