condors.......

[winterparkrider]

Just a few more hours and I will have them in my hands. I have never writen a review before so how do you guys want it. I wish I had a creative writing degree or something but my highschool english class will have to be enough. I will edit this post each day intil sunday evening when I have 3-4 days on them. That should be long enough for me to try them on eveything.

[taimos]

something with little personal tales, and funny bits.

and picturs!

[tyberesk]

some videos. i wanna see those bad boys in comparison to the other boards...im guessing g will put up a pic of all them eventually. Hes a busy man right now tho

[nate]

we want condor review! :D

[winterparkrider]

so do I bud so do I!!!!!!

[winterparkrider]

Holy hell this took forever. We wanted the snow so bad that it made my boards 5 days late. They just arrived about an hour ago and they are gargantuan. I think tommorow we are heading out to the pass so I should have a good powder review for you folks some time tommorow night. They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

[Filnominal]

yeah ill be very intrested on how they work for pow, cuz i can barely ride my salomons 167cm aplines but they are not that wide.

[winterparkrider]

Fil when I put these boards together they measure 13 1/4 inches. Go measure somebodys snowboard and see which is wider. Christ there is almost 2 inches on either side of the ffpro bindings. You almost cant fathum it until you see it. Come to the park!!!!:cool:

[Manlenium]

Get a review of the performance on the boards and how they handle.....

and a personal tidbit from when you first took them out and a funny crash (if it happened):p

[winterparkrider]

Well the day has arrived for all of you in sbol land. The rider review of the condors. At first glance you think how am I going to handle these monsters. Let me be serious for a minute. When I say monsters, I mean just that.

So I get to the hill late with my buddy jeff as it was starting to snow. I put the condors on and started to skate. This is a little more difficult than I am used to. The width of the board under foot makes you turn them over more to get enough edge to effectivly push into the skate. I think a lifter kit for my bindings is the awnser to that. And like I had anticipated at slow speeds they are a bit like a caddilac without powersteering. Just like a snowboard the edge wants to cut but when you are going slow this can make you do a variaty of funny things. I started to lean over and so I tried to side skate to compensate and fell on my side. Well now thats out if the way I can make it to the part of the slope that gets steep. As soon as I got up to about 15mph I tried my first turn. These hoggs dug in and flew to the other edge with some seriuos force. I obsorbed a little section of crud with my tails never losing speed and booom I hit the side of a mogul and got some good air . These bad boys touched down in the super crud and almost left me there. I kept on flowing down like I didnt have anything that could stop me. These things are rediculous is what I kept repeating in my head.

We get to the lift and say well whats next. I think I would like to try a groomer I said. I just had a fealing with all that surface area these boards would fly. If we had better visibility I could have really opened them up. But so with flat light and dark goggles I start down a very wide run called kramner. Speed is building and building and as I start to really lay into my carves I notice something different. On most skiboards you have s certain point at a certain speed that you have to cut yourself off from the carve cause of skipping or the feeling that you are going to die. Like I said maybe it was the light not allowing me to push them to there absolute limits but these boards will scare you!!!! They are so stable at high speed with effortless carving I am a little anxiuos for the first day with sun. Part 2 after poker !!!.

[tyberesk]

holy shit condor sounds like an amazing first part hahaha....i wanna come out and ride with you in colorado lol.

[winterparkrider]

The tree's.


After bashing my way down to a catwalk above a trail called Boilermaker Jeff suggested we head into the woods. I want to see the differance in the way you powder ride. Now this was key because jeff is one of the guys I ride with the most. He has seen me struggle in chest deap powder and rip down steep faces. So we head in and I was expecting to have to lean way back(18-24 inches deep) but as I hit the deep snow the amazing flex did it thing. The backs of the boards sank some but the cool part was how the tips flexed up out of the snow. keeping me floating on a frickin cloud. Turning became so much easier with the added width you dont have to keep your knees as close. This gives much quicker and higher speed turning in the trees. So as we rip down this tree run I can see a bench like area coming up and as I hit the much flatter 40-50 yard section I kept on truckin they slowed but actually kept moving easily through the deepstuff. Right at the end of this little flat area was a rock about 6 ft tall and I had enough speed to ride rite up and drop off onto the begining of the next steep section. Now this wasnt a big drop at all but it was deep snow and I wasnt going very fast but they hit ,flexed and bombed down for the next 200 yards or so without missing a beat. Weaving in and out from trees never even thaving to think of my balance just a full head of steam. When I got to the bottom and popped out on the trail I stopped and looked around for about 5 seconds and then jeff caught up. He had this look on his face and said" man are you gunna have some fun at berthoud. I was trying to catch up after you hit the rock and couldnt even follow your line". Jeff Rides tele's but there the seth pistols. Not small skis. Big differance from my brian and uncontrolable laughter and his eyes. He said that I looked very comfy and aggresive.

[Kirk S]

you should write into magazines Brett

Enjoyed the Review/Read

[winterparkrider]

The park.

I only took a few runs cause I was sore before I got there today but I had to try a little of eveything. Now the park is only a little one for rite now about 12 rails and 2 kickers. So I wanted to jump first . The jumps are a little close together for my taste but its a 15ft and a 25ft with very little space in between them. I decide to strait air the first one and 180 the second. well I case the fisrt one cause these boards gain speed so fast I speed checked so not to overshoot but I land and point for the next one . Pop off and turn 180 with a lu-kang and set downlike I landed on feathers. Lots of good suface area to land on makes them super smooth. And stable . Did I mention stable cause there isnt another board that feels like this. Burley is a good word to describe how you feel with these bad mamajamas on your feet. I feel like I could run over a snowblader like a monster truck in a junk yard.

Rails.

This is where I thaught the condors would lag a bit . They just dont scream hey slide me on some big ol' nasty rails. Go destroy a powder field and make it my bitch is one thing but rails?So I just go ahead and pick the rail with the most difficulty. Its the battleship I go blindside on in buggard mouse. So I roll up like I am on my emps, Make the leap and I was locked on that rail like a fat kid on the last cup cake. They have great feeling on the rails. On my third attempt I could have backslid the whole damn thing with all the wieght I had on my back leg . I rode in switch and they were so smooth i couldnt belive it. Once again I found myself saying these boards are rediculous. I know that these boards were origanaly designed for the back country and at first glance you would have to agree. But dont let them hear you say that. They might run you over , beat you up. Launch you off a cliff. drag you through every feature in the park and then break the land speed record for a ski under 150 cm going backwards. Greco and I really pushed the limits of design on these boards. And the result is the most bad ass rock and roll skiboard ride of your life.

[Greco]

sweet!

[jjue]

Most , most excellent !!! The design dream , the board and the rider come together !! Today , has got to be the day when a new style of skiboarding is born and something that has never , ever been seen before on the mountain is born !!! Congrats G, and Congrats Brett! The dream is very much alive !!!

[winterparkrider]

My skiboarding dream is just coming into focus. The sh!t I will lay down on film with these boards is now like and endless ocean of possibilties. Let the revolution begin. And dont forget to fasten your seatbelts!!!!

[sb_bob]

Great review Brett. It looks like I might need to add to my collection.

What bindings are you using with the Condors?

Bob

[winterparkrider]

FF pro until I get some bombers. They need a lift .

[Manlenium]

Great review dude. Finally the dream is a reality......


Dark goggles and low light equals bad.

I had some dark iridiums and ate shit when i hit a lip that was invisible till I was on it.

Doesnt help when you are a speed demon either... :p

[Manlenium]

My bad computer freeze...:(

[taimos]

think exclaim may be ordering a couple more pairs after reading that review ;)

just curios brett, whats your height/weight, fi you don't mind me asking?

[winterparkrider]

Well tamois, I am not as big as some might think by thy size of my board. I am 6ft and a skinny 160lbs. I always want to gain wieght but it can be hard to put on more wieght when I hike in the backcountry as much as I do. Thats why I recomend the condors for the really big guys cause I ride the hell out of them and I am not that big. But I feel that a board like this will reshape the thaught process on who should ride what size boards. And dont let anyone tell you that they are just for powder cause thats just not true. I am going into bertoud pass today for a real powder review so there will be another section of this review later this afternoon. You have to ride them to see what I mean.

[jjue]

Hey Brett , how do you get about in the backcountry , just boot hike , use snowshoes ????
I use skins and Fritschi touring bindings or telemark bindings on my backcountry skiboards ... ..

[winterparkrider]

We all just boot hike. Snow shoes are only good if everyone has a pair. They create a false bottom for everyone else to walk on. It really sucks to fall through . You will have one foot on the path and the other foot 3 ft down. And with my lower back problems I cant be twisting my hips like that all day. I have a cyatica nerve thing that hurts my leg.. But most of the access is packed down for the first part. Then once you get about 20 mins in it starts to go back to post holeing. We take turns braking trail. It can def be a bitch but its a hell of a work out for you. The herbs from denver that think they are riding the backcountry when they get to that spot. If they only knew. Then they proceed to go back down the old lift line from when berthoud had lifts. We on the other hand hike just a little further and it opens the possibilities to ride one of 50 different things. It makes me laugh to watch all these people hike the steepest part and then ride the lamest part. I would like to see what touring bindings do for me with skins. we have some really long hikes to do in feb and mar. I would like to check some out.

[winterparkrider]

The steep and deep:

Well folks the snow has settled in the bc. You know what that means. The first flight of the condors. we let jeff go first cause he was going to film and check the stabilty. Adam Goes next and after 2 turns all you can see is his head. I turn to pops and say well it sure looks deep. So as I am waiting for the OK signal from jeff I am picking a line . Now all my good sense says to just go for the rippin line and keep your feet on the ground. KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND BRETT. Well I dont listen all that well and I guess I just ignored my self .After I make about 4 turns I see that I am lined up perfect for a nice 10 foot drop.:D So after the long talk I had with myself about not hitting anything I straitline the drop from about 30 yards above it..These boards were just gaining speed faster than I have ever felt. There was no swoosh. No take off noise, these bad boys let me ride rite off this untracked drop with some booya boy. Now I wish my pack wasnt so big cause it made me land in the front seat a little. Ass over tea kettle rite? WRONG!!!!!!!. They kept me afloat I couldnt believe what just happened. In the footage you can see me roll up the windows before impact. Then they almost instantly and effortlessly got me back on track I take one more turn and ride off a little knowl ploof they just land and continue down the hill. I get to the bottom of the gully with a cold carl and a smile ear to ear. I cant say because I have never ridin ther spuce 120 or 130 but these bad boys wont be stopped in the powder.

Now Adam has never really tried to ride skiboards in the powder. He said the few attempts he made turned out to be real aggrivating. But after he saw the condors fly through the deep stuff he decides to give'em a try. So we go down to a 900 ft vert tree section called the high ways. Much to my delight even a heavy guy like lynam just cruised rite through. He had a big smile and a whooooo to show his approval. I cant believe how well they float man he said to me. Adam is 6ft3in and about 200lbs.

So I think now that I have had a chance to ride them in everything I will be doing this year,trees, bumps,backcountry,rails and kickers. I have just one thing to say.F%$K ya!!!. One board to rule them all.

[jjue]

Woo hoo !!!!!! This IS THE review I have been waiting for !! Thanks for charging hard today , Brett and thanks for getting Adam on the thing !
Hey guys and gals this year is the year , THE season I have been waiting for ever since I got into skiboarding ....
Like Brett , I love deep powder and backcountry riding .. you know the stuff you see on the ski and snowboard flicks , guys and gals dropping deep pow at speed , I had a sneaking suspicion that boards COULD be designed that would offer riders magical rides in the deep but retain the FEEL and manuverability of skiboarding ... This season that day is here !

The magical thing about OUR pow boards is that they are not strictly something you take out on that rare deep day , but something you can take out EVERYDAY ! These are not pow specific boards but really all mountain boards !! and that is something very , very special !

So take your pick ....
go with Brett's and G's Condor 110 cm long 165-137-165 dimensions , surface area 1712 sq cm , of big bad meanass skiboard and go charge all over the mountain INCLUDING the park and even go with traditional non release bindings for the brave !

OR go with Jeff Singers Sherpa 130 at 130 cm 160-112-145
dimensions , 1807 sq cm equally badass board for longboard lovers like me .... available here at SBOL in January !

Either way , we will be RULING the pow this season and all over the mountain on these things and folks will be turning their heads in astonishment ! That is GUARANTEED !!! Let it SNOW !

[nate]

a bunch of great reviews! makes me wish we had some nice pow to hit here.

[winterparkrider]

Even if you had pow in the up of mich. I dint think you would have the hills to ride on. I have friends from that are and they said its almost depressing when you get snow cause its not steep enough to ride . Is that an exageration?

[nate]

No. :(

[Manlenium]

Originally posted by winterparkrider
The steep and deep:

Well folks the snow has settled in the bc. You know what that means. The first flight of the condors. we let jeff go first cause he was going to film and check the stabilty. Adam Goes next and after 2 turns all you can see is his head. I turn to pops and say well it sure looks deep. So as I am waiting for the OK signal from jeff I am picking a line . Now all my good sense says to just go for the rippin line and keep your feet on the ground. KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND BRETT. Well I dont listen all that well and I guess I just ignored my self .After I make about 4 turns I see that I am lined up perfect for a nice 10 foot drop.:D So after the long talk I had with myself about not hitting anything I straitline the drop from about 30 yards above it..These boards were just gaining speed faster than I have ever felt. There was no swoosh. No take off noise, these bad boys let me ride rite off this untracked drop with some booya boy. Now I wish my pack wasnt so big cause it made me land in the front seat a little. Ass over tea kettle rite? WRONG!!!!!!!. They kept me afloat I couldnt believe what just happened. In the footage you can see me roll up the windows before impact. Then they almost instantly and effortlessly got me back on track I take one more turn and ride off a little knowl ploof they just land and continue down the hill. I get to the bottom of the gully with a cold carl and a smile ear to ear. I cant say because I have never ridin ther spuce 120 or 130 but these bad boys wont be stopped in the powder.

Now Adam has never really tried to ride skiboards in the powder. He said the few attempts he made turned out to be real aggrivating. But after he saw the condors fly through the deep stuff he decides to give'em a try. So we go down to a 900 ft vert tree section called the high ways. Much to my delight even a heavy guy like lynam just cruised rite through. He had a big smile and a whooooo to show his approval. I cant believe how well they float man he said to me. Adam is 6ft3in and about 200lbs.

So I think now that I have had a chance to ride them in everything I will be doing this year,trees, bumps,backcountry,rails and kickers. I have just one thing to say.F%$K ya!!!. One board to rule them all.

Calling an advance win or high placing in the fakie downhill....??:p

[winterparkrider]

I wouldnt want to jinx myself but watch out for the condors in all the races we will do in romainia.

[matthew]

5 more days tell I get home I'm really looking forword to rideing my Condors its the one board that is really geting me excited I'm mostly planing on useing them for park (my park ski last year was the seths) I really like useing fat sticks in the park and I think I finaly found the skiboards for me and mybe they will get me to hit some drops that I would only do on my seths hope there's snow when I get home.


Matt

[winterparkrider]

Thats great to hear man . If you like big sticks ,you might make a mess when you ride these. Just kiddin but really they are the ultimate all ride boards. You could go from rails to droppin a 30 ftr in ther same run if the run permits it. Let me know what you think. welcome home Matt.

[SkaFreak]

Brett, if I get a chance to ride with you this year, make sure you have an extra pair of condors lying around. I really want to try a pair out, just don't have enough to buy a pair this season. I'm gonna need to get a job this summer to start saving up.

[matthew]

Thanks man ill be rideing them in 5 days ill let you know what I think then

[winterparkrider]

I had put a generous layer of cold weather wax on these bad boys for rippin pow, but today i was at the resort. They were too fast. I never thaught I would hear myself saying that but I was really scared. The layer of wax was thick enough to have an effect on the hold of the edges. But regardless of that I felt like if there werent that many goobs out there I could have broken 60 mph. It was almost like being on a motorcycle on the interstate and seeing blurs go by that you know are cars but you couldt tell which kind. Thats fast. But I made a poor choice in what to wear and froze my ass off as the front moved in. Wish revel8 made warm jackets for the team. It would make reppin the r8 logos easier.

[Kirk S]

Someone get this kid a radar gun, hes gonna break a record.

Just turn those bad boys on edge and use them as a plow, I'm sure they would eat up and spit out any skier or snowboarder that gets in your way lol

[SkaFreak]

Get me a pair of those Condors and I'll give Brett a fair run. I know that I've hit 53 on my EMPs (GPS tracking), and with the surface area on those Condors, I guarantee you can break 60. I know I'd be willing to try.

[winterparkrider]

I have never tried one of those gps trackers for mph. I will tell you what. If we can put together this thing for taos we will both try something new. Greco is going to pay the outrages entrance fee but I think I will still need to find cheap places i can stay. That would be the only thing that keeps me from going is if it costs me $350.00 to get lodging. I have checked some places and its not cheap. But as I am writing this i just thaught of checking hostels. Its a good possibilty that I will go to the comp and we will meet up then. Thanx for sending the thing.

[SkaFreak]

If you're looking for a cheap place to stay and will be able to drive about 30 miles to and from Taos each day, try getting in touch with Sipapu ski area. They have outrageously cheap lodging. http://www.sipapunm.com Looks like you could get a room for $29 a night there. They're pretty much the same as those little KOA cabins if you've ever seen those.

[winterparkrider]

Thanx for the link I will look rite now.

[winterparkrider]

$29.00 per night is sick. The place isnt bad either I just hope its still available when I can afford it. Are you gunna be able to make it up here any time this season. Come on come on:D

[SkaFreak]

I make no guarantees, but I'll try. I do really want to get some park time in with someone with a bit more experience than me. I suck and every season relearn to hit boxes, but the most I've ever been able to do was a really really sketchy fakie out. If I am able to, it will probably be the week of January 14th, or the week of March 10th. If it worked out right, I might ride with you at Taos on the last day of the competition, spend the night at sipapu, then head back up to Colorado. We'll have to see if I can pull it together to work though. I ends up being at least $120 in gas for me, but I guess if I crash on the floor and can get free/cheap lift tickets that it might happen.

edit: just looked at airfare, and it might even be cheaper for me to fly out and back. If you're driving down here for the Taos competition, would you have room for another in your car? If so, I could pitch in some for gas and then just get a ride to the airport in Denver and fly back. That would keep it under $100 for travel.