DirtyHarry Posted February 18, 2006 Posted February 18, 2006 You better be on some steeeep shit b4 you bust out the axe. You'll probly want poles for skinning but hiking poles would work I guess - just put some powder baskets on them. I imagine you'd want some collapsible ones so you can put them on your pack when you go down and shit. Quote
slaphappy Posted February 18, 2006 Posted February 18, 2006 You mighta jumped the gun a bit, a 166 is a tad long, not undoable just long compared to your 54, assuming your not a "bigger" lady. (I don't mean fat just tall and strong... ) Two of my buds have 66's and they're both in the 6' 170ish range, I have a 73 and like it fine. If your're an aggresive rider you won't be disappointed. Set your stance back from your normal setup, it will help. Home jobs suck and still cost a fortune. The $150 split kit does not include the $100+ skins. Priors are hot but cost $930. Have fun out there, splitting rocks! Now buy a snowmachine and we might let you into our "club" ... - Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 18, 2006 Posted February 18, 2006 I'm 5'8" 155 lbs and ride a 166 cm Voile. It's the right size for winter conditions. Something shorter would be more appropriate for summer corn riding. Quote
jlag Posted February 18, 2006 Posted February 18, 2006 That board sounds a bit big for you. Really depends on what your terrain your planning on riding. Wide open bowls/or glades will be fine, especially with deep pow. Tight trees or steep chutes are gonna be a bitch with a board that big. Voile makes a 159, that would fit you better. I'm pretty sure you got the Freeride, I don't think Mt. Gun's come in 166, just 161. As far as boots/binding, just use your resort set-up for now, to get used to it all. Strap bindings work just find for skin mode. But it does take some practice. Practice your transition at home before you brave the elements, it'll save you time. I've got it down to about 5 minutes, even in wind. Get yourself some collapsible(sp) poles so you can put them in your pack on the way down. Forget the ice axe, but you'll need poles for skinning/booting. Remember, if it's too steep put the boards on your back and hike, it's safer. Also consider putting tail clips on your skins, they'll last a lot longer. It'll pay to learn how to take care of your skins, treat them kindly. I've been splitting for 3 seasons now and have learned a lot through trial/error. Feel free to pm with any questions/concerns you have, I'd be happy to help. I just put tail clips on and could walk you through it. Have fun! Quote
Double_E Posted February 19, 2006 Posted February 19, 2006 Yep, plenty of "buyers remorse" goin' round... I just dumped a lotta money on some new ski gear... ahh well, the big tax refund coming in a couple weeks will let me recoup some of it. And you definitely want adjustable poles, KG, both for the uphills... and also perhaps sometimes for the downhills, while you're getting used to b/c conditions. The only splitboarder I've gone b/c with used them on the downhills this one time in really deep pow thru the trees... I told him I promised that, if I ever met his inbounds-snowboarder buddies, I wouldn't tell them I saw him using poles. I love telling that story (about that promise ). PS.. what Jon said. Quote
ken4ord Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Hey Kitergal, As far as I know you got three options, you got the Voile Splits, Burton and then make your once with Volie Split Kit. I have experience with the Voile split which I like a lot. The downside to it is there is a lot more flex than normal boards. You don't notice the flex in powder so much, but when you get into Cascade cement or hardpack you don't have as much control. Upside to the Volie split is it is cheaper than the Burton. I checked out the Burton boards and I like the way the binding system looks, but I have never tried using it so I am not sure how it works out in the bc. In the store it seemed to work well. The third option is taking an old board and buying a conversion kit. I met a few people who have done this and have it work well. downside is that you can have delamination issues if you don't seal you cut well. The nice thing is you can get a stiff board which might help with flex issues. Being Kitergal I am surprised you are looking into split riding since there is kite board which eliminates having to ski up hill and as long as there is wind you have continuous riding. Have fun. Well I guess this info is a little late hopefully someone else can benefit from it. Kitergal have fun tearing it up out there I jealous. Quote
Geek_the_Greek Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Don't stress about new collapsible poles. Get yourself a pair of 80's vintage downhill poles in the right length -through garage sales, craigslist, or even ebay you should be able to find these for $10 or less. They might even be pink. The $100 flicklock whatever jobs can wait for later. When you ride down, of course, you'll have to strap non-collapsible poles to your pack, and they will point up into the sky a bit, but it's rarely any sort of issue. Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 I ride with poles in my hands. In fact yesterday, I was even using them to initiate jump turns in the sastrugi. Quote
Geek_the_Greek Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Yeah, I've seen quite a few boarders in the B/C with one pole in hand - apparently used to poke themselves around, and to help avoid getting stuck in low-angle spots. Not being a boarder myself, of course, I can't comment on the pros/cons of this setup. Quote
philfort Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Not being a boarder myself, of course, I can't comment on the pros/cons of this setup. The only thing to note, is that it negatively affects your steeze. Quote
Geek_the_Greek Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Not being a boarder myself, of course, I can't comment on the pros/cons of this setup. The only thing to note, is that it negatively affects your steeze. My steeze is so suck.... Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Not being a boarder myself, of course, I can't comment on the pros/cons of this setup. The only thing to note, is that it negatively affects your steeze. What WHAT? photo by philfort Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 20, 2006 Posted February 20, 2006 Also, I just bought a Whippet pole that I will use while riding from now on. Quote
ken4ord Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 Yeah poles in hands are fine in the backcountry. Go with both of them a single pole is pretty useless in the backcountry. Quote
crackers Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 I think priors are the best of the bunch. But i am staying with my old ascent skis and my real deck. Can I recommend switching bindings to bomber's trench diggers? They'll take your mountaineering boots and make the deck much more responsive. Quote
RogerJ Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 Speaking of mountaineering boots and split boards. I've used the Voile SD adapter with limied success with mounaineering plastics and great success with AT boots. Has anyone found one model or another of mountaineering boot to be better for splitboarding? My issue was with Scarpa Alphas and doing heel sides. They have a large V notch in the back. Thanks. -r Quote
scoe Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 I recommend the black diamond 3 section flick locks seen here: http://www.bdel.com/gear/fl_expedition.php Quote
slaphappy Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 Poles in hand while riding is completely dork, I guess if you're merely side-slipping. To each their own... Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 Poles in hand while riding is completely dork, I guess if you're merely side-slipping. To each their own... Whatever, I'm not sidelippin', bizitch! Shit, where's the video, Phil? Quote
slaphappy Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 My, my, aren't we defensive... I stick with my original blanket statement, completely dork... *nice lookin line! - Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 So inspecting the whippet poles, I have to say the attachment point for the pick looks pretty damn weak. All that's holding the pic in is about 1/32" of aluminum (and that's being generous). Sketchy? Quote
ashw_justin Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 Yeah slap I probably don't need to have poles in my hands for anything steep enough to be fun, but I'm too lazy to put them away, and my ski partners think it's funny, and I like to entertain them (because I'm nice like that). Quote
slaphappy Posted February 21, 2006 Posted February 21, 2006 Yeah slap I probably don't need to have poles in my hands for anything steep enough to be fun, Exactly. - Quote
Kitergal Posted February 21, 2006 Author Posted February 21, 2006 My board's arriving tomorrow!! SOOO STOKED! I have collapsable poles (the hiking type) and I found bigger baskets for powder...so now...I just need advice on the best bindings?!? oh yeah..and some-one to teach me how to ski!! Quote
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