Bindings & Boards

[sunshine kid]

I m a former skier making the trany to skiboarding. I used to race for the local ski team where all that mattered was speed, but i have given it up as i like to go big and carve. Was wondering about skiboard gear. I tested only the salamon's and as fun as they were....i thought they were junk. I m looking to get the best that is out there and I hear it is the canon m7's or the Neal Pro's. Also ...what about the bindings...as a former skier...lock in bindings are a bit scary. Has anbody tried the Rev. X's....What do u think of a Rev X binding with the canon m7....will that allow for max air and speed and safety?. Thanks. Mad Props to those who do what they like.

[C.Langer]

My 2 cents . . .
Boards:
Made the transition to skiboards from 200cm skis 3 seasons ago. My first set of boards were Journey 87cmPros. Great boards, but a bit too short and flared at the ends for the speed I was used to. Did a bunch of research before my next purchase, and all fingers pointed to M7's. Love them. Best of both worlds w/o sacrificing too much speed. Well worth the money. I only use my Journey's for parks, while I go everywhere on my M7's. Only place they let me down(any skiboard would) was out west in deep powder. Otherwise, great.
Bindings:
I'm 6'-2" and skiied 200cm's since I was 15 (12yrs). I went for the best in skb bindings, Bombers, for my first purchase. They are virtually indestructable and will probably outlive me. I have had NO issues in 3+ years on all different terrain with the non-release binding. In fact, I like the security of being locked in when I'm on steep faces and deep glades. They are overpriced, but I will never have to replace them. in case you missed my point, much love for the bombers.
Moral of the story, I love my Bomber/M7 set-up and would not trade them for any other board/binding combo.

Langer

where in PA r u at?

[sunshine kid]

i live in Philadelphi, a long way from most mts. but i love the sport. have u heard anything about the rev x bindings?

[C.Langer]

I'm in philly too dude ... lots -n- lots 'o trips this year to blue during the week if u wanna get in on any.

I believe there are some posts regarding the Rev X's, but I have no info personally. Gave up on the release bindings when I chucked my long sticks. might feel different if I broke a bone before, knock knock , but I haven't, so . . .

[sunshine kid]

trips to blue during the week?...i might be in on that dude. when is it gonna snow around here....when do u think that mt opens up.....camel is much better....elk is the best around here though i think...i have to get the snowboards first....waiting for the m7's to come in somewhere so i can buy em.... i m a little afraid of the non release bindings cause i don't might to blow my leg/ankles up.

[C.Langer]

it better start snowin soon! i'm geared up and ready to hit it. I agree that Camel is better than Blue and Elk is, by far, the best in eastern pa, but blue is 1.2 hrs. from my job and has $10 tix monday & tuesday night. can't beat that w/ a bat. I check the reports a couple times a week ... the temp has finally dropped for good, so they'll start makin snow real soon. hopefully some real stuff'll fall in the meantime.
BTW, the best place to get ur M7's is a site called www.skiboardsonline.com, u may of heard of it?! The proprietor is a real man-o-the-people with skiboards, though he's a little weird;) Support the biz that supports the sport!

[sunshine kid]

sounds good man. i don't get off work until about 4.30ish during the winter..but i'll definitly go on some trips during the week with you...10 bucks....that is sick cheap dude. blue is fine for me right now anyway as i m just learning how too use the ski boards. who is this guy greco...i hear he is the man in this sport..what about skiboards.com...dude's name is doc.? i can't wait to try out the m7's...might even get the neal pro's....i m jacked up to go ...big time bro...even contemplating a trip to vermont because i can't wait a month.

[Greco]

Hey sunshine, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Greco, owner of Skiboardsonline.com and the guy Langer mentioned. If you have any questions or anything, you can get me at greco@skiboardsonline.com, SBOL2k on AIM, Private Message me on this forum, reply to this post, 888.819.2492 or via the chat service on SBOL (Skiboardsonline.com). Thanks for joining the forum. Here's a pic of Langer on his "over-priced" bombers and his M7's. I took the pic last year at Stratton. (he's first one on the left)

Later,

Greco

http://sbol.ws/images/langer2.jpg

[CSails]

So I am kind of on the outs...
I rode my M7s/Bombers for half last season and loved em. They were awsome, I had been disapointed in skiing the years before(after 15+ years on the mountains) , snowboarded off and on the last 5 years then started skiboarding 2 years ago. the M7 s were great... until I snapped one of them jumping a 6 footer. I can;t afford to have skiis that brake!! it took Canon the rest of the season to replace it on waranty(it was very nice of them though) it was clearly caused by the bomber bindings- they didn;t allow the board to flex past the binding plate. Why does everyone ignore canon, and tell me to get all metal bindings?
So I ended up trying out all my friends skiis for the rest of the season, and figured out the skiboards are great for easy groomed, steep, moguls, and trees cuz you can turn on a dime and jump off anything. But: moguls are a waste of time, and on steep groomed runs you can go twice as fast with much more stability on a real ski. I skied the fastest(and most fun) day of my life after my M7 broke on a pair of Dynastar 4X4 186cm- skate off the top, point and go, stop at the bottom( and just pray nobody gets in your way) I had done the same thing on the M7, it was fun but they just never get that kind of stability or speed
The rest of the time, in powder and jumping a full ski is easier to land, and balance (no faceplants) .
So the question is, why am I the one with a broken M7, it looks like you guys all ride them on bombers? has this not happened to any of you guys? I would mount my bombers on the M7s again, but I can;t afford replacing another broken board just cuz I jump too hard! so for now they will just sit in my room
Pray for snow!! !! kevin

PS.
right now I am skiing Dynastar trouble makers (twin tips jibers) and working on setting up some fast skiis. I ski summit county CO, has anybody else on this forum been out here? people should stop wasting there time on the east coast. Besides, my season passes: summit county 5 mountain: 320$, Eldora: 20min drive from Boulder Co, 99$ unlimited skiing! + ski A-Basin till July(still on the pass!) Helll Yea

[Golden Boy]

Once again my input here is loaded but seriously, I rode Bombers on M7s fro 2 seasons and only broke 2 boards (and the way they broke would have finished any ski). As well, you should know that your old M7s were made in China and any current m7s are not...

[sunshine kid]

hey dude...don't be such a dope and tell us to stop wasting our time on the east coast. if this is our place of residence....do u think it really makes sense to fly out to colorado everytime we want to ski. take a minute to think before u write something so ignorant...P.S. get a job so u can afford a new pair of skiboards. bum.

[C.Langer]

I'd think by design, that bombers would flex more on the toe and heel because of the circular plate only being about 4" in diam and centered. most of the toe and heel hang over the bumpers. groove's plates are much longer and only offer about a 1/4" of flex anywhere between the board. Regarding broken M7's ... smacked into some serious trees OB at all different angles with my M7's and they're still w/ me (though not too pretty).

*Disclaimer* IMHO, Bombers are well worth the price.
And Greco isn't weird.;) *End Disclaimer*

[CSails]

yikes, everyone seems a little feisty here :)
first of all, I am not a ski bum, I am a colege student at CU studying engineering so don;t give me that crap. I only rode 20 days last year, I have only rode once this year so far, expecting to ride aroud 30-40 days max.

"As well, you should know that your old M7s were made in China and any current m7s are not..."

you might be right- they are the ones with black top, new last november, but I kind of thought it was the year before (with the flame design) that wern;t built very well.

on another note, my Dynastars have a full 2 year warrenty, which means what ever happens to them(not counting blown edges), no questions asked they will replace them in a matter of a few weeks. Also, I can buy 3-4 year old brand new down hill race skies for about 30$ so who cares if I ever mess up one of them.

Also, I am not saying leave the east coast and its tiny hills, but you guys clearly show califoria a little love, you should just come out here for a few days and see why colorado really does have the best mountains

There's no hating here just oppinion :)
Kevin

[J.D.]

Hey, lay off the eastcoasters... The Colorado Rockies look like a series of Anthills from way up here in B.C., but you don't see me lording it over you. Oh wait, I just did.

[joel]

Originally posted by CSails
PS.
right now I am skiing Dynastar trouble makers (twin tips jibers) and working on setting up some fast skiis. I ski summit county CO, has anybody else on this forum been out here? people should stop wasting there time on the east coast. Besides, my season passes: summit county 5 mountain: 320$, Eldora: 20min drive from Boulder Co, 99$ unlimited skiing! + ski A-Basin till July(still on the pass!) Helll Yea

oh yeah dude. Lemme just sell my house, hop on a plane and go to the rockies so I can rush down steep groomed runs on dynastars just as cool as you!

The east coast may not offer as much as the west coast in terms of riding, but I love my coast dearly. Besides that, theres more to riding canon boards than just the money. When I get mine, if they break, I'm not gonna ask canon for new ones.. I'll get more, when I can afford it again. This sport needs our support and yes, big companies can give you better deals and custom service, but canon is a real company that knows what riders want, and it's worth every cent I have to keep them going strong.

[Greco]

I think he meant to say when you travel on ski trips, instead of going to California and places on the west coast, east coasters should go to Colorado... at least I think that's what he meant to say.

I hope so because it doesn't make sense otherwise.

-G

[CSails]

JD,
your right, BC has got everything on everyone below the 49th which makes it quite clutch that Canon is based up there if I am not mistaken. I believe you guys are also able to ski into the mid summer! Whistler Blackcomb are two sick mountains!
on another note, I have tons of friends out here from the east coast, especially Boston. I don't have anything against the east coast. I just live out here cuz I like these mountains better. sorry if I completely offended anyone. Colorado is a huge ski industry though, if you guys want to get your name out, you should come out here and show people what skiboarding and Canon is all about.
I think Canon is an awsome company, I am just confused why everyone puts metal plate bomber bindings on their boards despite Canons clear message that they see this as a problem and guarentee the TD1s as the right match. If I had heard this message before I ordered mine, I think we would all still be gung ho.
Its Snowin!

[cmbruin]

I bought a pair of bg pros with rev x bindings from Greco (great service by the way). I haven't had a chance to do much on them yet, but they are a safer way to go. The bg pros are stable at speed and landing jumps. The rev x's are 4 hole bindings, so it's much better than other skiboards with the releasable ski bindings (Head), and on paper they actually seem better then ski bindings. I haven't tried the miller z's, but that's also an option. Others on the message board have those.

The only thing I'm not too thrilled about the rev x bindings is that when they release you have to twist them back on. When they release, half of the binding is still attached to your boot, so you need to reattach the halfs of the binding. You start at a 45 degree angle from the skiboard and press down and turn your boot. I haven't had the bindings release yet, so I don't know how hard this is to do on the slopes. It does take some getting used to - even on carpet, so I expect that it'll be harder on the snow. IBS suggests you use poles to keep the skiboards stationary as you twist, but no poles for skiboarders. I guess, you could always reattach the binding to the skiboard by hand and then step into them. The other thing of interest is that the brakes only engage when the bindings release, which is when you need it the most. However, if the bindings are attached to the skiboard and you're stepping into them, the brakes are not engaged, and if you don't have a leash they could get away from you. It shouldn't be a big deal though - just something to know.

-cm

[WaltzKing]

I don't know about anybody else, but I'm thinking if and when I get releasable bindings I'm going to continue using leashes. Skiboards are just too light for brakes to do any real good, I would think. I've had too many skis head down the mountain, brakes or no brakes, to believe that brakes on skiboards will do much of anything (of course it doesn't help much when your skis pop off on ice :p )