KTP/Sipapu, NM Review

[cn06]

I just got back from a 3 day trip to Sipapu, NM. On my last trip, I spent 5 days on the ALP and felt that they were a little too long for me.

The KTP length felt perfect. I never even noticed the width once or any issues getting them on edge. They really feel way more natural skiing aggressively. I can lay them over to drag my hand in the snow much easier. It also felt more natural spinning around and going backwards at low speeds.

Where I felt these boards really shined was in the moguls and trees. Any time I wasn't with my friends I spent going down the center moguled black at the mountain. I'm pretty shocked at how fast I can get down them now compared to before where I didn't even feel comfortable turning left on moguls with the ALPs. I felt I really furthered my technique on the moguls. Bouncing down them at a fast pace using my knees to absorb the shock wa the most fun I've had skiing in a long time.

Even the double black at the mountain seemed a bit easy with the KTPs. I didn't feel worried at all even though I went on my first day. I'm not really that great of a skiboarder at all either.

It was also much easier to skate.

The mountain itself was really close to Taos. The greens felt a bit narrow, especially for my beginning snowboarder friends. Way too many portions of the route was blocked way too many times by people sitting. You really have most of the mountain to yourself if you stay off the common center greens/blues. Overall the mountain was a bit on the easy side. Many things were a rating above what they would have been at Taos, NM. It was really cheap. They ran out of rental snowboards above 150cm on the first day and snowboards completely on the second day. I'm not too fond of what I call the crotch lifts that they use for the beginner hill.. I don't think I've ever seen that many beginners fall on a lift before.

Anyway, now on to the negative aspects of the trip.

Stepping back into release bindings on a black is..really hard. It was the first release I've ever gotten on these bindings. I raised the DIN up..but the whole situation put a bad taste in my mouth. The skiboard went flying thanks to the metal clasp on the leash breaking in two. Thankfully I was able to hop down the black without a bit of an issue. Getting them back on wasn't very fun.

Also,my Full Tilts were pretty much destroying my big toe by the end of the day. It wasn't that big of an issue last time I went.. I got my foot properly measured for a 27.5 and them fitted twice. My right big toe is incredibly painful to any sort of pressure by the end of the day. I'm thinking of putting the shims back in the rear to cant my leg forward..maybe that'll help. I'm also using http://www.masterfitenterprises.com/eliminator.html these.

I'm sticking with my KTPs..but I'm debating on switching to non-release. I haven't had any really bad falls since I've starting skiing so I think it'll be worth the weight decrease/more direct feel.

[slow]

Good to hear that you like the KTPs.

A few suggestions:
* get coiled cable leashes
* keep the center buckle/cable on your boots tight to keep your foot back in the boot and less pain on your big toe.
* seat your foot back in the boot by aggressively bending your knee down, then retighten the middle buckle with your knee back up
* if the tight middle cable does not work, get the boot punched for more room. I had it done for $20 on my old boots

[cn06]

Yeah, I waiting for the coil leash to get back in stock here. Might pick up some Receptors while I'm at it. I'm debating if I should spend that over lower-end non-release.

My center buckle is incredibly tight. I'm probably gonna have to get the toe punched out. They measured my foot multiple times and have no idea why I have such a big problem with my big toe. I guess I just have a really weird foot.

[slow]

BTW, you should set your heel in the boot with the bottom buckle unlatched.

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But it sounds like the punching is the way to go.

[koneco]

I love my Receptors, but I cannot compare them to anything else. I will say I favor them above the Aluminums I'm selling, though they win when it comes to price.

But yeah, love these damn Receptors. Forgot all about how much I paid for 'em. I think I'm going to look into the KTPs next year, as I've gotten used to the ALPs in moguls, but they never really feel as natural as a 99 or 101.

[cn06]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I do it slow. :(

[valmorel]

Yeah, that's pretty much how I do it slow. :(

Here is a little tip worth trying: glue something to the plastic foot support in the boot (the removable piece under the liner) to raise your heel a couple of millimeters. This has the effect of moving you whole foot up and BACK in the boot. Something like using the forward lean wedge but more effective and without giving you unwanted lean.

[xxxander]

Cn06... I am trying some receptors tomorrow for the first time (thank you DCox) I will let you know what I think. So far I have used a wide variety of non-releasers but have not felt a ton of difference in the products.
my travels so far...

My first pair - Crazy Blades - 8 hole fixed split bindings
riding these was interestingly simple. my first step toward what I later learned the REAL DEAL
these were very easy to step and snap into. Very hard on the jump landings tho.

Next it was Journey Composite.
These were a world of difference! So much more comfortable. Very soft on the landings and easy to step and snap into. They have the same sizing style (screw forward and back) so sizing was not a problem.

Then came Line FF-CAMS.
These are so easy to set up! Amazing since I had begun to think I was getting carpal tunnel from adjusting the last two bindings! however they are not very precise in sizing. You most likely will have slightly loose or WAAAAY to tight.
Not so easy to get into... If you have any ice buildup on the bottom of your boots it will be almost impossible to get into (especially if you are on the tighter side of sizing)
These binding are GREAT... For your loaner board. it will take about a minute and a half to set your friends up on your loaner boards!

Now we get to my most recent ZERO PRO
WoW! the bales on these are huge! Very easy to size... very easy to slam the ice off the boot (thanks to the rubber pads on the bindings both front and back) and nice tight ride!
I love these bindings... however they are hard to maneuver the bales and clip in place as they are not properly rounded out at the ends of the pieces holding the bales. You must set the binding bales in the center by yourself so it takes just a few more seconds to step in.

Receptors
I have merely set up the bindings for my boots so far... They were very easy to set up. The footbeds have excellent traction for busting up the ice... the bales are set center and easy to move.
They also seem a fair amount lighter.


On first look and set up... I would say these are worth the extra $30 over the zero's. I would have bought Receptors first had I not found an incredible deal on the Zero's

I shall update this after tomorrows romp!

[cn06]

Thanks for the info xander. Hope you have fun and enjoy the receptors. I'll be looking forward to hearing how they were. :D

[JPARK]

I love KTPs too lol


for non-release
I used several different types
my favorite is Bomber Elite II and Receptors
in performance wise, i think these two are the best.
i feel so much confident and solid with these than snowjam extreme.
on park, jump, ice, powder, and groomers
they both are lighter than zero pro.

for screwing in the bindings to set them to the boards,
i like bomber elite 2.
it's so much easier cause you can't screw after certain point. and that point is so much obvious than receptors. with receptor i kept screwing in and didn't know when to stop.
and i actually screwed up the insets. :mad:

but performance wise i think they are about the same.

if i don't worry about money at all, i will get bomber elite 2.
but receptor is cheaper and has many different color options.
wish bomber elite 2 comes in different colors as well.

[cn06]

Oh god. :p

I have an issue with overtightening things. The technique that's worked for me is tightening as tight as I can purely with my wrist and fingers. I hope that works on the Receptors.

[MitchK]

I love my Bomber's, but they are a pain to micro-set to your boots. I had a problem for a while with them that I thought I had them set well, and was having them release on hard impact. Other then that, I'd recommend them to anyone.

[SkaFreak]

Sipapu is a pretty easy mountain, but if you know the right places to go you can definitely find some good stuff. You are also right about toned down difficulties, but that is partically because Taos ratings are a bit tougher than most local ski hills. The key to Sipapu is knowing where the unmarked trails are. For example, Jip and Josh Chutes are pretty fun and rarely traveled, since you have to know right where to duck into the trees to get to them. Should have let me know you were headed that way, I have a season pass there in addition to my Taos pass.

The Poma lifts are not too bad if you ride them right. They are tough for beginner snowboarders, but at the same time, I'd rather have a lift like that where they just fall off than a lift where it stops every 20 seconds because of someone falling off like the beginner lift at Sandia.

[cn06]

I only had a few days on the slopes. We also had too many newbies to take this time around or I woulda given you a call.

I don't think I'll hold you back on moguls and tree gullies anymore now! I'm not really looking forward to the first few days of Taos after my hematocrit adjusts back to TX altitude though..

I'll be sure to give you a call once I return to Taos next season.

I'm actually a little slower on groomers with the KTPs unfortunately. :p I don't quite feel as comfortable carving at speed with the shorter edge. That and my boots were destroying my feet. Gotta bring the receipts and hit up the ol' boot doctor again.

Upper gamble under the lifts was a good way to improve my mogul technique. The double diamonds I hit were on the far left: Indecision and Oops. Me and my snowboarder friend had way too easy of a time getting down them. I generally avoided the right side of the mountain. I regret it now that you mention jip and josh chutes are fun. What are they like?

[mahatma]

cn06,

Yea, I love my KTP's, too. I run mine with Zero's and love 'em. I also own a set of Receptor's that I use on my Condor's. I think the Receptor's are more adjustable and lighter but the Zero's give that monster feel of indestructibility. I grab my KTP's when I feel I need to just have plain, old fun. I just love stomping around with them. Compared to my longboards they get freaky at speed but nothing makes me feel like I can do anything like the KTP's. I'd walk off the ends of the earth on KTP's with complete confidence. A wonderful, extremely competent platform that are short enough that non-release bindings are a no-brainer even for old guys with battered knees. I can heartily recommend the KTP's with non-release bindings to absolutely anyone. I guess for the record I own the 2008's which I've read are stiffer than the current KTP.

[SkaFreak]

Upper gamble under the lifts was a good way to improve my mogul technique. The double diamonds I hit were on the far left: Indecision and Oops. Me and my snowboarder friend had way too easy of a time getting down them. I generally avoided the right side of the mountain. I regret it now that you mention jip and josh chutes are fun. What are they like?

Oops is a really easy run, but the one time I rode Indecision it was actually really hard. That also had something to do with the snow conditions though. When there's only enough snow to basically straightline it it gets a little exciting.

Jip and Josh Chutes are just little gullies with tight trees and is the best place to find fresh snow. I have been there a week after a storm and was still getting first tracks in parts of them. All of the runs off of lift 4 are really fun, but none are particularly challenging. I go to Sipapu for days when I just want to play around and have a good time. If I'm looking to be challenged, there's no substitute for Taos (until I get my gear/training for the BC).

[pinkkid]

Cn06... glad you like those KTP's!!!!! sweet! What's your height & weight?