Looking to Replace Board

[snowpixie]

I'm looking to replace my husband's board (hopefully during a sweet end of season sale) but he's got an ancient (think 1995) board thats way longer than anything we've seen anywhere, even on the mountain lately. Its 169 inches (I think) and every time we ask at our board/ski shop they look at us like no one would wan to ride a board that long. Anyone know somewhere that still sells longer boards?

[RenegadeRick]

169 inches? That would be 14 feet long. Simply not possible.
169 CM really isn't that big though.

Bigger boards (180+cm) are typically for powder conditions and they do exist.

How about you try this instead? Tell us his height, weight, shoe size, and the type of riding he likes best (park, freeride, pow) and we will eSpeculate an appropriate size for him.

[Snowpug]

I'm 6' and 200lbs with a size 10 boot. I ride a Burton Malolo 162 with Burton C60's for deep powder days. It's the perfect set up for me. Look at a Burton Malolo or even a Supermodel. Or if you want a true premium pow board look at the Never Summer Summit. It is designed specifically for deep pow days and backcountry excursions, and tops out at a massive 172cm. I don't think he will need more than that!

[slushy]

169inches? You've gotta be joking! If it's 169 cm, that's not all that long. Are you looking for another long board? What kind of boarding does he like to do? I personally like boards that are shorter than my own height by at least a good 25 cm.

[snowpixie]

Alright, thats the last time I rely on him to give me measurements. After reflection (and me telling him he's an idiot) he says that the number is probably cm, but he's not sure (its actually in the attic as he needs new boots so we rented for him this season).

He's 5ft 11in tall and about 180lbs. Shoe is 9.5 ish.
As for what he likes to do "fast and tight carves" although I really think he just likes having a bigger board than anyone he sees out on the mountain

He's definitely the guy who likes to ride circles around you because you don't always like to go fast or know what you're doing as much as he does. Or kick snow in your face just because he can.

His last reflection is that his board "is perfect cause its a Nitro 196" although at this point I'm inclined to disbelieve its even the right size or type for his riding style. He's probably got the brand wrong too but he feels inclined to stick up for himself at this point. *giggles*

[gnurider1080]

i really have no idea how someone could have fun on a board that long, especially if they are only 5' 11" and 180#. get him on a good 158-160 and i think he will realize how much better a shorter board is.

is cost an issue? if you can swing the cash or if you can find one on sale like i did, check out the head intelligence. i'm between 5' 11" and 6' and 140 pounds and i ride a 157. it is definitely my favorite board, extremely stable and responsive. the board wants to go fast and i have yet to get it to the point where it feels like i've got too much speed. a rome anthem would also be a good choice, i had one up until midway through this season when i broke mine after clipping a stump in the woods. it is also a very fun board, a little more pop than the head, but i could definitely tell when it got to the point where i was going too fast for the board.

to put things in perspective, i've been riding for 13 years and spent most of those years at loon where the trees were almost always bumped out and crap, so i would just go full throttle down the steep groomers.

[snowpixie]

Cost isn't completely an issue as much as finding him a board he can use for some time. I figure if I can find him the perfect board and some new boots I can then not worry about replacing them for quite a few years. We'll be watching end of season sales and summer markdowns in hopes of stumbling across something. He's also rented a couple times at Gunstock to test out things but hasn't found anything he loved yet. I need to point him this way for some guidance.