Home › Forums › Splitboards › First Splitboard for me, please help!!
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- September 24, 2013 at 4:33 pm #578912
cmiddsParticipantHowdy, been reading this forum for a while now and finally signed up to participate in the awesome discussions and all-round stoke! Seen many questions similar to this, but I figured I’d ask one of my own – what board should I get for my first splitty?
I’ve only been on a splitboard once, the conditions were horrendous but I loved every second of it. Leaving the resort behind and splitting full-time has been the goal for a long time, and now it’s time to make it happen this 13/14 season. I’ve been riding in B.C. for ~15 years and can hold my own on any terrain. My resort board is a rockered Burton Joystick 157, it’s awesome, can rail turns and I love the skatey feel and float in pow. I’d describe my riding as fast all-mountain shredding with lots of freestyle influence. I like to spin, jump, drop, and jib off whatever I can. Now I want to take this into the deepest and steepest terrain possible, everything from tight trees, to pillows, to steep exposed lines.
I’m a 5’10, 155 lbs male with 9.5 boots. Been looking at many boards and was hoping members could instill some wisdom; offer up their thoughts/recommendations if they’ve got a second – help out this new guy. Will likely pair the new ride with Spark Magneto or Blaze bindings.
I’ve narrowed it down to a few different choices, likely the most obvious:
-GNU Billygoat. 159 or 162? I’ve been leaning toward the 62 for a bit more uphill traction and float, but I’m a little concerned it’ll be too stiff.
-Prior AMF 159. Sounds like this is one of the most tried tested and true designs. I like that it’s made in my province and Prior’s reputation for quality is second to none
-Arbor Abacus 160. I really like the shape of this thing and the size seems perfect. Where are these made, and are the materials used as durable and quality as they claim?
-Jones Mountain Twin 160. Basically the same story as the Abacus. I dig the shape of this one too.Any thoughts, experiences or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I’m a student and this is a big investment for me, gotta make sure I make the right choice.
Super stoked, and many thanks!!
September 24, 2013 at 4:43 pm #669711BGnightParticipantI’d vote Jones out of that list just cuz I love his boards. Haven’t ridden the twin but I’ve heard good things. Don’t think the billygoat would fit your style.
There’s a lot of other freestylish splits that would fit your riding style out there too so keep looking. If money isn’t an issue I’d get a custom Prior AMF with carbon. It’d be insanely light compared to anything else. It’s $200 more for their carbon but it sheds a lot of oz’s. The carbon 159 AMF is 2920 grams on their website. That’s only 6.4 pounds! And 1.14 lb’s lighter than the non carbon AMFSeptember 25, 2013 at 3:11 am #669712fustercluckParticipantI haven’t ridden any of those, but I think the GNU would be the most ideal out of those. rocker Camber is the way to go. i’ve got a similar riding style, full throttle, large hucks, and some spins thrown in here and there. While my Venture Helix split (with setback stance, so more like the Zelix) works well, it doesn’t compare to my NS Legacy that I ride inbounds. Crushes it on steep and techy, deep pow, hauling ass, or popping off whatever features I can find. Other Lib boards with RC that I have tried rode similar. If you’re comfortable on a 157, a 159 should do the trick, but you are only talking about a one inch difference if you bump up to a 162. While some on here are big fans of giant boards, if you like freestylin it, don’t get more than you need. I 6’2, 200 and generally ride a 166/167.
September 25, 2013 at 11:20 pm #669713barrowsParticipantSounds like you want a freestyle stick, but with the ability to also handle pow and with a wide speed range. I would suggest a Never Summer SL, basically a (slightly) directional twin. The Rocker/Camber profile will make it skatey, but still have some pop of of both the nose and tail, no taper so good for switch riding as well. And, super high quality. Just get the size that suits your freestyle oriented riding style.
BTW, I just saw a flyer form mountaingear.com where they had some NS SL splits on sale…
September 26, 2013 at 5:15 am #669714cmiddsParticipantSweet, thanks for the feedback so far everyone! Great to hear the different thoughts about sizes, brands etc…. I think a freestyle stick is definitely the way to go for me…
What are folks thoughts on the Karakoram board clips vs. the Voile? It looks like the karakoram would offer a much tighter fit making for a more solid ride… Right now I’m partial to the GNU, Jones, Arbor, etc for this reason. Still many of the top companies use the traditionals Voile clips, so they must be pretty solid too. Prior uses these… and it’d be pretty rad to ride a board made on home turf.. Thoughts?
I’d never really considered something like a Never Summer or Venture as they’re not as common where I’m at and generally seem a little more pricey online (if only by a $100 more), but they sound rad so will definitely keep in mind…
Thanks!
September 26, 2013 at 5:31 am #669715barrowsParticipant@cmidds wrote:
Sweet, thanks for the feedback so far everyone! Great to hear the different thoughts about sizes, brands etc…. I think a freestyle stick is definitely the way to go for me…
What are folks thoughts on the Karakoram board clips vs. the Voile? It looks like the karakoram would offer a much tighter fit making for a more solid ride… Right now I’m partial to the GNU, Jones, Arbor, etc for this reason. Still many of the top companies use the traditionals Voile clips, so they must be pretty solid too. Prior uses these… and it’d be pretty rad to ride a board made on home turf.. Thoughts?
I’d never really considered something like a Never Summer or Venture as they’re not as common where I’m at and generally seem a little more pricey online (if only by a $100 more), but they sound rad so will definitely keep in mind…
Thanks!
There is a good reason why Venture and Never Summer cost more, you get what you pay for in terms of a quality and a durable board: consider Venture has a two year warranty and Never Summer has a three year warranty. They can offer these extended warranties because their boards are built to a higher standard than most others.
Karakoram clips have no advantage against Voile as long as the Voile clips are perfectly mounted, but the Voile clips do require very precise drilling to get a tight fit, hence you see a lot of manufacturers choosing Karakoram. Given a choice, I prefer Voile as long as the company is precise with their workmanship (as Venture and Never Summer are). In fact, in my testing, properly mounted Voiles actually result in a stiffer interface across the board, and they are lighter than Karakoram as well… Either system will work though, and I have boards with both and do not sweat the difference.September 26, 2013 at 9:38 am #669716ruapehu_explorerParticipantfor what it’s worth, my friend is about your size (same height, maybe a tad lighter) and has the Prior AMF in 159. He really likes it’s freestyle ride, but he thinks it doesn’t give him quite enough float for full on powder (his experience with pow was japan) and thinks it’s because it has mostly camber and just a bit of rocker. i’ve never ridden it so maybe someone with the direct experience can chime in, but Canada can get some deep storms.
keep in mind DIY as well, if you can’t find your perfect board, there is always finding a perfect board to cut. if cutting you can always get a wider board (some of that width would be lost in the cut) for a bit more float while keeping the length down for spin weight.
September 26, 2013 at 4:15 pm #669717davidrParticipant@barrows wrote:
Sounds like you want a freestyle stick, but with the ability to also handle pow and with a wide speed range. I would suggest a Never Summer SL, basically a (slightly) directional twin. The Rocker/Camber profile will make it skatey, but still have some pop of of both the nose and tail, no taper so good for switch riding as well. And, super high quality. Just get the size that suits your freestyle oriented riding style.
BTW, I just saw a flyer form mountaingear.com where they had some NS SL splits on sale…
If you go with the SL split I would get the 161. I rode a 153 SL solid all-season a few years back and was too short, just got tossed around everywhere. Especially with it being a split, I think the 158 would be too short for you. I’m about your size.
I haven’t ridden any of the Rome splits, but I’ve been on their reg-camber solid’s the last two seasons (an Agent then a Mod). They are the most poppy/skatey feeling board I’ve ridden, and just as durable as a Never Summer. A 158 Rome Double Agent might be what you’re looking for.
October 4, 2013 at 10:46 pm #669718cmiddsParticipantMany big thanks to everyone who posted with their thoughts and experiences tryin’ to help a guy out.. It’s greatly appreciated!
Wound up finding brand new Arbor Abacus 160 for $600 and couldn’t turn it down. Figured it was meant to be. When it all comes down to it, I figure this year is about gettin’ out as much as possible. I can get all choosey in the years to come as the quiver grows larger..
Super stoked! Now just gotta find some deals on the rest of the gear…
October 4, 2013 at 11:08 pm #669719Jefe009ParticipantFWIW I think you’ll like the Abacus a lot. I have one and it’s very skatey feeling. Great first split in my opinion.
Have fun out there! :doobie:
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