 Poster: A snowHead
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I've been riding for 8 years on a K2 Darkstar 157.
I like fast carving and have experimented with powder. I Like the flexibility in the K2, but wanted to step it up and also find something that rides better in powder. I have been looking at the Jones Flagship and Head The Day 2016-2017.
I would like to maintain the same control in carving and uneaven terrain - also in low speed as the K2 has offered. When I look at the reviews, Jones and Head - are both rated with the same or better ability in carving and uneaven terrain than the K2.
But in most reviews it is stated that the flagship and head do not ride as well in low speed, but won't both the flagship and head perform better in carving and uneaven terrain than my K2? I mean the comparison that is reviewed in the flagship and head is towards other boards in the same league, so the flagship might not be the best for carving and maneuvering in lower speed in its league, but it will perform better than the K2 Darkstar?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can't say anything about the Head, but I've had a Flagship for a year or so now and, as a board, it does respond to being ridden aggressively. Grip is great, best of any board I've ever ridden, and I've found it easier to carve with and holds an edge better than the Burton Triumph I had come from. IIRC the Darkstar was quite a forgiving board, nice and stable, softish. The Flagship will certainly be stiffer than that, but it's not so stiff that you can't torque the board nicely through the turn to control the bite - think thats where its advantage comes from over my old board which was Very stiff. It's nice and light and it floats well, although its not some 'magic wand' and can feel a little 'twitchy' if you get lazy, but I guess you can say that about a lot of boards aimed at that bit of the market, but if you're willing to commit to the riding and take the thing by the scruff of the neck, you'll get a lot out of it.
Good luck with your choice and welcome to SH.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks mate!
That was very helpful.
I think I'll go for the Flagship - which lenght would you recommend, coming from the K2 Darkstar 157?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Well, depends on what you're riding really, I went for the 158, which was a little smaller than the 161 midwide I used to ride, but then I'd dropped a bit of weight since I'd had that.
I'm 5'10", currently about 75-80kg, with size 8UK feet. *IF* I were buying again, perhaps i'd go a little longer, but really maybe only back up to the 161. Reckon the liveliness of the turn I enjoy in it would get dampened down by going properly long, and I'm more likely to take the board off into the trees than be hitting properly steep pitches.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I've owned (and destroyed  ) 4 flagships - 158, 161, 163w & 164. They get a lot stiffer as you go up the size range, so I'd pay really close attention to their sizing charts and your riding style. I could get performance out of the 164, but to influence the radius took a serious amount of effort and speed, otherwise it was park and ride. The 161 was probably right for me, but the 158 didn't feel noodly in the slightest. Any chance you could demo one, maybe even get someone to watch you on one?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Interesting to hear some info on the Flagship.
Not a board ive ever took that much notice of.
How does this thing react to hard pack groomers?
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@dave_wick, for me, very nicely. Much less vibration coming out of turns than the old board, noticeably holds its edges better, and generally more 'lively' feel to it.
I had been looking at the Mountain Twin or the Bataleon Jam; but after talking to the guy in the store for a while about where I want to take my riding, he suggested the Flagship and I think it was the right choice.
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Brilliantly Dave, when ridden in the right length it's really fun.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| jiagedaping wrote: |
| Brilliantly Dave, when ridden in the right length it's really fun. |
When you read a lot of the online reviews etc you would think this things only any use when pointed south on a steep bad ass slope!
How would you describe it ?
For a daily driver? Someone that doesnt ride switch and only does the odd jump in the park for a bit of fun no rotations.
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@dave_wick, that's what I use mine for (plus a bit of side hit powder lines and occasional tree runs when you can fine a good one).
Didn't you order up a Yes The Greats a couple of months back? Shopping again already! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
@dave_wick, that's what I use mine for (plus a bit of side hit powder lines and occasional tree runs when you can fine a good one).
Didn't you order up a Yes The Greats a couple of months back? Shopping again already! |
Richard i am a total idiot cant make my mind up at all so i returned the Greats at least for now!!
I currently have a Jones Ultra Aviator which is amazing for hard pack infact i love riding this thing on hard pack more than anything else in snowboarding but we tend to go to Whistler everyyear and our snow luck is due a change so are expecting some powder for a change! The Aviator is full camber which i find so hard to ride chunder and chopped up slopes with n the afternoons as well.
I most recently have upped my carving game and can now hold a good speed all the way down the hill so i done want to lose that with another board.
Basically im looking to have my cake and eat it with cream on top.
Is it a 2017 Flag you ride? I ask as this spoon tech sounds to me that it would help blast chunder and still have the advantage of being an 8/10 charger.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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No, mines the '15. They've tweaked it a bit since then - different stringers and such, apparently to address some of the issues over it being a bit of a handful in chop... not something I'd noticed, but there ya go.
If you've got something like the Aviator, why not go for a proper directional powder board - something with a big taper on it or a swallowtail like the Jones Hovercraft or Bataleon Camel toe (without the suspect graphics package of a couple of years back - unless you like getting slapped!). Or if you're feeling properly flush and fancy some hardcore boardporn, go look at the Gentemsticks.
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
No, mines the '15. They've tweaked it a bit since then - different stringers and such, apparently to address some of the issues over it being a bit of a handful in chop... not something I'd noticed, but there ya go.
If you've got something like the Aviator, why not go for a proper directional powder board - something with a big taper on it or a swallowtail like the Jones Hovercraft or Bataleon Camel toe (without the suspect graphics package of a couple of years back - unless you like getting slapped!). Or if you're feeling properly flush and fancy some hardcore boardporn, go look at the Gentemsticks. |
Im from Scotland and get away abroad once trip a year we just dont see the powder often enough to justify one of these pow beasts.
The Flag with the spoon tech might be just the ticket.... the shortlist which changes every day is at the moment - Never Summer 25, Ripsaw, Capita Kazu Pro, Lib Tech T Rice and now thanks to you the Flagship.
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You know it makes sense.
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Still on this Dave? You're worse than my Mrs! The sooner you buy one the sooner you can move on to lusting after something else. Come on mate you know how this works. There are quite a few boards in a similar style (carve, charge and pow) to the Flag that would be a little easier going when riding slower and through chopped up chunder. I have a PYL right now and love it but it's a couple of seasons old so have been looking at the Flight Attendant, Rome Sawtooth and Lago Open Road (new graphic is sweet so will probably be one of these on the summer sale). You must have a tripplanned? Sort yourself out dude! I'm of the Mayrhofen in the morning and my PYL is quivering with excitement.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Snow Hound wrote: |
| Still on this Dave? You're worse than my Mrs! The sooner you buy one the sooner you can move on to lusting after something else. Come on mate you know how this works. There are quite a few boards in a similar style (carve, charge and pow) to the Flag that would be a little easier going when riding slower and through chopped up chunder. I have a PYL right now and love it but it's a couple of seasons old so have been looking at the Flight Attendant, Rome Sawtooth and Lago Open Road (new graphic is sweet so will probably be one of these on the summer sale). You must have a tripplanned? Sort yourself out dude! I'm of the Mayrhofen in the morning and my PYL is quivering with excitement. |
Was looking into the PYL a little I like the fact it has the edge tech. Put of by the stiffness ofnit though?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mines from before the edge tech. It still holds a great edge. Apparently they were a touch stiffer back then but I'd be happy using it for everything bar a lot of switch riding.
If I was going to Whis Dave I'd be seriously considering a Prior.
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