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View Full Version : Spruce Longboards 120 vs 130 ?



jjue
08-20-2007, 02:03 AM
One of the exciting things about skiboarding is the huge range of boards we now have available . I hear rumors that that range is even going to be bigger yet this coming season .

I would like to focus on two of the Longboard options for the coming year the Spruce 120 and Spruce 130 boards .

( In the picture , My Spruce 120 sports a center mount prototype Powderplate / Touring riser/ Fritschi binding - center mounted on the inserts , my Spruce 130 -Sherpa is custom mounted with a rearset telemark binding -set back 12 cm )
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/DSCN1083.jpg

I have been thinking about how to best get across my feeling about these two boards , and I think a skateboard analogy may be best .

Here is a pic of two other boards close to my heart . My Carveboard and Carvestix Longboard skateboards.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/DSCN1084.jpg


Both of these Longboard skateboards have alot of similarities and some differences . They both have very similar designs and carve tight arcs down mountain roads and parking garages , just like the Spruce 120 and 130 boards carve tight arcs in the snow .

Like my Spruce 120 ,the Carvestix is more maneuverable and nimble . It is a great down mountain carver , but also skates very well on the flat. It has been taken into the park ,but not by me !

Like my Spruce 130-Sherpa ,the Carveboard is enormous , with huge pneumatic tires that smooth out any imperfections in the road surface, like they arent even there. It has a very smooth fast cushioney down mountain ride , but the very , very cool thing about the Carveboard is that with its loose trucks and flexible deck , it has an ultra tight turing radius and for all the world feels like a super smooth , super stable Carvestix .

Like my Spruce 120 and 130 longboards, it is very difficult to decide whether to ride my Carveboard or Carvestix , My son and I share both boards bombing parking garages and we like them equally well in that environment . On technical steep rutted empty high mountain roads both my son and I often reach for the Carveboard . My teenage is more of an adrenaline freak then me , however, and will ride his Carvestix at times just because he likes the somewhat tighter more sportscar like performance .

Like longboard skateboards our longboard skiboards like the Spruce 120 and Spruce 130 Sherpa can offer more stability at speed and in variable conditions then regular sized decks . This is , of course , at the expense of manuverability and regular sized decks will be more useful in the park .. However, cool designs like the Carveboard and Carvestix longboard skateboards and the Spruce 120 and 130 longboard skiboards create a very tight turning radius that can simulate a lot of the manuverability of regular decks in a longer format while offering riders a big stable surface to cruise at speed . A very cool option for riders in both worlds !!!

valmorel
08-20-2007, 09:51 AM
I have both my 120s and 130s mounted centre, skiboard style, with a Composite Riser/Salomon set-up. The distinguishing feature between the 120 and 130 for me is the absolute "authority" of the 130. That is to say, it does everything with such a rock solid feel. Sure, the 120 feels more nimble, but put that 130 over on its side, and the edge grip goes on forever! The 130 is stiffer than the 120, but as it is longer, it still gives a very comfortable ride. I have been very surprised too by how easy they are to skate. This is great, as I dont ever want to use poles. Surprised too at how tightly they turn This is partly due to being able to load up the edge so hard, but also due to those HUGE tips. They do require more concentration than the 120s, and the 120s generally feel more easy going and forgiving. Maybe 130 in the morning, 120 after lunch? Boy they are BIG though. Check em out next to my 110, itself no small board!

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/valmorel2/130-110crop.jpg

tyberesk
08-20-2007, 09:55 AM
that picture comparing the Spruce 130s to the ALP 110s ....wow that 130 is big....thats all i am thinkin.

Roussel
08-20-2007, 10:06 AM
man that is way to huge for me, they must pound throught powder tho.

jjue
08-20-2007, 10:06 AM
Hey Valmorel , could you post a picture of your ALP 110 , Spruce 120 , and Spurce 130 single boards side by side with center mount bindings ? I think that would give everyone a better idea of the progressive nature in size of these boards ... Thanks alot !

valmorel
08-20-2007, 10:07 AM
Actually T, "big" doesnt do them justice! Huge is closer!!!!!! In truth though, they dont seem quite so big when you are going flat out down a bumpy icy glacier run :-)

valmorel
08-20-2007, 11:45 AM
Here are the three boards centre mounted, the bindings lined up centred.
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/valmorel2/130to1102.jpg
Then lined up by the tails
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee38/valmorel2/130to110.jpg

Manlenium
08-21-2007, 12:22 AM
Those are massive..:p

matthew
08-21-2007, 01:40 AM
all i have to say is wow i would love to get me a pair of them bad boys. looks like they would be supper fun. and when you put them next to the alp's they make the alp's look tiny