Board Length, will I notice 8cm?

[mgroft]

I am a newcomer to the carving world but have been riding for about 10 years. I have always wanted to get a nice alpine setup but never made the comitment. Well this year I am going to spend some $$. I have spoken to the guys at Donek and they recommended the freecarve 171 for me. For some strange reason I feel that is too short but I don't want a board so long I won't be able to enjoy myself. Since I have never ridden anything longer then 161 cm before, and the jump is pretty significant anyway, will the extra 8 cm of the FC 179 be harmfull?

[D-Sub]

depends on how strong a rider you are, what size, etc

8cm is what...just over 3"

not a huge jump...but its not just the length to take into consideration, right experts?

(I'll defer here, since Im a novice:))

[cliffh]

I'm no Bordy (;) but I own a 171 and 179 Donek Freecarve. I ride the 171 90% of the time. Since I'm just a desk jockey / weekend warrior (;) ;) ) I find it easier to slice through the other Joeys on the shorter stick. Plus - it is just an ultra fun ride. Don't get me wrong, the 179 is a fine ride and will turn as tight as the 171 - I just like the 171 better. And IMO the 171 does everything the longer stick does - just easier.

[Baka Dasai]

I haven't ridden the 179, but I have ridden the 171.

The 171 is already quite long for its sidecut, and yet the 179 has the same sidecut as the 171! I reckon that would make the 179 a very carvy carvy board that wouldn't be too happy doing anything else (such as skidding around crowds, and being generally maneouverable). I think the 171 is enough like that anyway.

So, no need for the 179, especially for a first alpine board!

If you must have a longer board, get one with a bigger sidecut. That'll mean you'll need more speed to get it to turn in a reasonable amount of room, so you'd want to be confident about your riding if you go this route. You could get my board :) - a Donek 177, 12.7 m sidecut, 19.5 cm waist. Feels like a faster, less twitchy version of the Freecarve 171.

[slam]

New to alpine, but definately not new to snowboarding . . . I know in any set up ive ridden, 8 cm is noticable, since you are a beginner you might think about hanging on a shorter board for a while.

It also looks like the 171 goes a long way.

[Randy S.]

I demoed both the 179 and 171 before settling on the 171. I came from a 178 Burton FP and figured I'd want the longer board since that was what I was used to. The 179 felt much longer than my FP178. The 171 is an awesome ride and loads of fun. I like the 18cm waist version, but if you don't like angles of 55+, you might want the wider version. FWIW, I'm 195lbs and 5'10". I like to ride fast and the 171 is fine for that (up to about 50-60mph).

[Jim Callen]

I demoed the 179 at ECES, and it was a fun ride. It was my 8th time riding on an alpine setup and I enjoyed it a lot. Very stable ride at speeds and held very nicely. I'm 5'5" and 160 lbs.

Jim

[mgroft]

Thanks for all of the info. I'm shocked at how fast replies came in, very different then other message boards I have used. It sounds like the 171 is the way to go. Now all I have to do is make it through the spring and summer. Thanks Guys.

[Jack Michaud]

The ~171cm/~11.2m formula is quickly becoming an industry standard. It is easy for many riders of varied abilities to enjoy thoroughly. Everyone should have one in their quiver. Notice that the Donek 179fc has the same sidecut radius as the 171fc. So it will want to make very similar turns as the 171. In my opinion, unless you are very heavy the extra 8cm is not necessary and only makes the board less versatile (yes, you will notice 8cm!). Some people love it, and obviously Sean sells enough of them to keep it in the lineup, but the 171 is simply a harmony of all parameters. Fantastic board.
-Jack

[CarvCanada]

I own one too, I really like it. It's very well balanced. Go with 171.

Some people complain of the 0 taper design being "twichy" when trying to ride straight, but I prefer 0 taper. With no tapering angle, there's no setback with the bindings and your stance is smack in the exact middle of the effective edge. I find this, along with a wide stance makes it really easy to sweep the board out and make drifting turns, which is great for a beginner!

I started on a 186 Coiler Pure Race, and it did beat me up the first half run (I carved for 2 years on softies before) but after I loved how it's so smooth and stable and forced me to get the technique right.