+1 for Prior Swallowtail

trondh · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2012 12:29 pm

I thought I'd write a quick note on this board to anyone else on the fence on getting a longer board:

I've been looking at this board for probably 2 years, but been afraid to buy it since I wasn't sure how it would ride. Previously I've done a lot of tree-riding which has kept my boards short - I've been riding 159 and 162's mostly.

However now that I've moved to Åndalsnes, Norway - which has a lot more open bowl type terrain, I decided to do it.

I can't tell how much I'm loving this board already. It feels like a ship, although you can still ride it in tight conditions if you apply some pressure. It's soft for a 172 board (at least compared to other "long"boards I've tried), and the split tail really softens the tail and lets you whip it around if you find yourself in a tight spot.

On tracked powder in open terrain, I could almost double my "relaxed riding" speed compared to my AMF 162. It's just that calm.

Basically, I'm in love with this board. I'll still ride my shorter boards for missions with lots of treeriding (which I still love), but for those big, bluebird endless bowl conditions, this is now my go-to board. And since I've just turned 34 I don't mind if you call me old-school :-)

Here's the board after mounting. I put on the new Spark Burners and Spark LT pin system

...and some laidback turns in the sidecountry at Voss, Norway on first testing weekend:

I'm just SO glad I finally went ahead and bought it!

Snurfer · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:30 pm

Welcome to the dark side :headbang:

SLUFFDADDY · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:57 pm

i think your climbing bars are mounted backwards.

Taylor · **Joined:** Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:16 am **Posts:** 301

Welcome to the beautiful world of speed security.

KGN · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:37 pm

I have eyed the 167 Swallowtail solid for a while, its on my demo list for one of these days. Nice looking board.

firstlight · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:59 pm

The following is getting bigger.

trondh · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:52 am

SLUFFDADDY wrote:

i think your climbing bars are mounted backwards.

You are completely right. I was assembling under the influence. All fixed now :-)

trondh · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:36 pm

And thanks for the welcome guys. I now consider myself a member of the swallowtail ambassadors club.

NoKnees · **Posted:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:57 pm

Welcome to another happy member of the club. Not sure how much they've changed their construction of the 172 ST over the years, but I've been loving mine for many years now... 6+? Can't keep track... Anyway, in most conditions I like it better than my old OSin 4807 too... Great in powder, bowls, trees, you name it. Even good on properly ripe corn.... Hardpack? Iced out sketch, maybe not, but I try to avoid that when soul surfing anyway...

Have fun!

trondh · **Posted:** Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:29 am

Looking forward to testing it in spring/summer corn. We hit some breakable crust this week, and it was less than stellar. Felt like the crust interfered with the splittail design. But like you say, this is a soul surfing board, not a sketch condition board.

Here's another pic from yesterday at my own back yard here in the Norwegian Northwest:

(and yeah, I know I'm lucky :-)

)

Tap · **Joined:** Fri Nov 12, 2004 9:39 am **Posts:** 144

Sick shot

Bjørgvin · **Posted:** Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:58 am

Nice!
Is that ride at voss down from Finnbunuten at Myrkdalen?

trondh · **Posted:** Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:11 am

Bjørgvin wrote:

Is that ride at voss down from Finnbunuten at Myrkdalen?

The second pic with all the tracks from the top is, yes. The last one is taken near Strandafjellet.

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+1 for Prior Swallowtail

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