Wanted to demo: Axis 182

[D-Sub]

I want to see what a "wide" carver is like...in the back of my mind I think that riding lower angles would suit me

odd request, but does anyone have one they might be willing to loan out? Im sure we could work something out in regards to "insurance" an' all that?

now that I dont have a real carver (except the Hot Blast that Mr. Dryer was so kind to offer) I figured maybe I have some time to try one of these?

dunno. just thought I would throw this out there

[drscott]

My advice would be to just buy one. I love mine. Spent the weekend in Aspen on spring conditions riding my 182 Axis - what a great board for corn and sugar snow. I think it extends my enjoyment of carving an extra month or two in the spring (think
A-basin in May). I also take it out for carving later in the day when the groom is crap, or when there is less than 6" of fresh in regular. Am glad I got the longer length also. A very solid ride and fun, fun, fun.

[D-Sub]

well...problem is...cant afford new due to recent events.

would you say it would work as an all around carver, too?

I still dont quite get why not...why it couldnt be "the one?"

thanks for the response tho

[Trip43065]

If you just want to play with the wide board concept, try hardbooting on a decent allmountain board. I sometimes ride an Eldorado 174 this way. Lots of fun. Not as stiff as the axis, but it will get the wide board idea across.

[Alex Walters]

I saw this on Donek's website

"The number of high-quality retail shops carrying Donek products is growing. In some cases, demo boards may be available. Contact the specific retailer for information.

Bomberonline, Silverthorne, CO – Retail
The Startingate, Bondville, VT– Retail

If you are not located near these stores, you can contact Donek directly. We have a selection of boards that we can make available for demo to interested buyers."

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by Trip43065
If you just want to play with the wide board concept, try hardbooting on a decent allmountain board. I sometimes ride an Eldorado 174 this way. Lots of fun. Not as stiff as the axis, but it will get the wide board idea across.

right...but 25.5 is a lot wider than 21.5...but yes, you have a point.

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by Alex Walters
I saw this on Donek's website

"The number of high-quality retail shops carrying Donek products is growing. In some cases, demo boards may be available. Contact the specific retailer for information.

Bomberonline, Silverthorne, CO – Retail
The Startingate, Bondville, VT– Retail

If you are not located near these stores, you can contact Donek directly. We have a selection of boards that we can make available for demo to interested buyers."

yup, already talkin to Sean there. will call tomorrow.

[kamran]

D-Sub,
I bought an axis 177 simply just because it was available and the price was right. Now that I have tried it, it's a KEEPER for sure. It carves really really good (well, on perfect groom, I'd still take my virus but then again that's a different level of a carving board) and it's a hero on slush/choppy snow.
There are so many days when the groomers are not perfect and you definitely need a weapon for those days and axis really delivers!

[DrCR]

How well would the axis do in powder? I'm going to Col. (Snowmass probably) with my uni. in December '05. It'll be a new experience for me since I've only been an east-coster. I'm looking for something to pair with my Indys. I already have an OSin 4807 (got it for $130), but I'm curious as to the Axis's performance as well. Still thinking a Tanker would be my best beat over an AM alpine though.

Just curious. Thanks.

DrCR

[Chubz]

I picked up a 4807 this week as well but have to wait until next year to ride it.

I got to ride 10" of fresh at Okemo this year on and as I told D-sub, I have ridden pow on both coasts on my freestlye board, but I was completely blown away on how much float and control this board offered. I left my bindngs at the normal location and set my boots in pow mode. Absolute sensation of gliding. after the runs began to get tracked out, it still did well floating and pounding through where it needed to, but once larger mounds began to form, brakes needed applied. plus I was in my 3rd full day of solid top to bottom riding at Okemo. The thighs were done.

The 182 allowed for my easiest turns ever in powder. Wish I had one when I used to make my west coast trips. Wife, house, baby limit those opportunities now.

I cant wait to try the 4807.

[DrCR]

Awesome, thanks for your input Chubz. I have to find out as the time draws near whether nor not Donek will be demoing. If not, perhaps I can get a loner demo from them.

Thanks again!

[garyj]

Dave, surely you've heard about demoing from Donek. Not sure on the price, but you can demo their boards through the mail, that is if the board you want is available. gdboytyler aka erwin just demoed a free carve 2 and I was suprised at how long he was able to keep the board. Pretty cool program. Check it out.

[jeremiah]

Hmmm, I also picked up a 4807 recently, and I suspect that it will be my main powder board. That being said, I've had very good luck with my Axis 177 in the powder. It requires a bit more space to turn than a shorter freeride board, but it certainly handles the deep with aplomb.

I was lucky enough to be in Vermont when they got 18" in February, and I found a steep, open glade that was completely untouched. I had been on the same run a couple weeks prior on my old freeride setup, and had a blast. When I took my Axis in there, I was expecting to have to really work it, but the board stays up on top of the snow and really begs to do big, sweeping surfy turns. After riding my Axis in powder, I pretty much decided that my freeride setup is only a rockboard now.

The Axis is not as comfortable in the tight trees, but given the length and the stiffness, I didn't expect it to be. (Vermont tree runs are usually nothing more than very narrow, 1-line mogul runs, with no safety line.)

I've only had my Axis out in open powder one time, and I only had a couple days on it. I was still getting comfortable on plates, and wasn't as confident as I should have been, but it was great in the open powder. I had some trouble with the outrun, but it was basically a very narrow creekbed, and I've had problems on that same outrun on skis and softboots.

Jeremiah

[D-Sub]

in all honesty Im not concerned about how it might handle in pow. I got a replacement Steepwater 171 for a good price and just LOVE that board, so...thats the all around freeride board

I just dont think I like SUPER stiff carvers, and there's no way Ill be able to afford another COiler (let alone GET one!) so I figured...axis might be a good forgiving carving board.

thanks all for the input tho. its always fun to read storys about fun days!:)

[Chubz]

D
Dont worry about its ability to carve, it will, but doint expect race type hold from it as I said b4. Let me know if Donek doesnt work out foryou

Greg

[Trip43065]

I spent years carving alpine on narrow boards with all sorts of crazy cant setups. I became very comfy on race gear and was even starting to get bored. Then I saw the "extreme carving" site. So I gave it a try and found that I'm not that "extreme." What I also found is that the stance is much more forgiving and I'm having a lot more fun. Now I can stand up and freecarve or get down and throw some classic alpine turns on the same setup. Flexy boots help. I'm using Head boots with Raichele Thermoflex liners. Last year I sold an Axis for a stiffer Donek custom. I love the new board but miss the Axis and will probably look for another one next fall.

[Art]

And let me tell you it was (MY) money well spent. I still have not had it in any decent pow, but it eats the crud. Thanks, Hall. D, if I get to hood for a possible mini MHES, I will bring my 177 along and you are welcome to give it a spin, O r see if Mike T will give you a spin. OT- Hall are you still considering the move west?

[tex1230]

I had my 172 axis out in ~12 inched of fresh in vermont and it was amazing - floated surprisingly well for a carving board. plus it was stable enough to cut through the crud late in the day. Don't know how well it would do in the deeper Colorado stuff though - I'd probably go for something a little wider.

[D-Sub]

are you guys even reading the intent of my post?

I never once asked how it would do in powder :)

[DrCR]

I did though. Sorry for the thread hijack. :D

[Chubz]

It started with me mentioning how blown away i was by it's performance in powder from someone else's inquiry. Overall, a good board that will carve when you want it to and you can lay it down on.

Sorry
Greg

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by DrCR
I did though. Sorry for the thread hijack. :D

heh...I guess you cant expect someone to come along and actually read what the initial inquiry is about

OT indeed:)

I think I have the info I need...now to talk to donek and see about tryin one out

thanks all!

(and its nice to know it would dig powder if need be:))

[D-Sub]

got one on the way from Donek!

what a great group of people! how awesome! feelin all warm and fuzzy right now

[DrCR]

Good to hear! What was the deal? You have to tune it after use and ship it back at your cost? I'm curious as I may have to contact Donek to do the same if they don't have any reps when I go to Col. in December.

[D-Sub]

yup, tune it and ship it back.

really, really cool people!

[gdboytyler]

I did the mail order demo program for a Donek Freecarve 2 163. Since it was the tail end of the season and no one else was asking for a FC2, the folks at Donek didn't give me a deadline for when they wanted it back.

I had the demo board for a couple of weekends (rode it A LOT)and would have kept it longer, but I was going to the Post Office to mail off a Burton Balance that I sold on EBay, so I figured, I might as well send back the Donek at the same time.

Only problem was, I left my TD2 2nd board kit on the board when I shipped it back to CO :mad: That's what I get for packing the board just before I leave for work, when I'm in a rush and not paying attention.

I think my incident was actually dumber than D-Sub forgetting about the protective film on his Prior:D

Anyway, I think I'll be ordering a Donek later this summer. A mail order demo program is a great marketing tool --- if you have good product!

[D-Sub]

Originally posted by gdboytyler

I think my incident was actually dumber than D-Sub forgetting about the protective film on his Prior:D

oh heck yes!!!! (and it was the coiler, btw. we shouldnt talk about the disappeared disrespectfully:))

[dantheman0177]

I am a new carver, SES being my first time, therefore I find the lower angles easier to handle.
I demo'd the Axis 167 and the Prior 4WD 168. Both were awesome boards.
I went up the lift with a guy who raved about the Priors and told me how he found it to ride. My first ride down did exactly what he suggested and it was amazing.
I still would have bought the Axis but Sean wasn't selling them at SES, so for a variety of reasons I ordered a new 4WD with a square / flat tail. It arrived in the country today, so I am now hanging out for it to snow down under and then for SES 06.
For what my limited experience is worth, I would recommend either board though, definately.

[D-Sub]

so Ive ridden the Axis two days now...wait three...

it carves NICELY. as an only carver, this would work great, especially in the two longer versions which are much stiffer

1st day on it was an in-betweener day. about 6" over groomed...variable but still soft. could carve through anything on it, felt totally confident!

took it off trail in both untracked and tracked...NICE!

hit a few airs here and there with it (just straight airs. im not flexible enough for grabs these days) and it really inspired confidence!

took it up to summit chair here at bach. rode Healy, Cows Face, and Beverly. Didnt do the cirque due to exposed rocks and not wanting to ding the base on the Axis.

worked great on the steeps, and having the power of hardboots really felt stable when cruising through wind/hardpack. Its nice to be able to carve through that stuff or set a firm edge when needed.

the only thing that I wasnt quite comfortable doing was riding the trees below Cows Face, around rainbow chair. Trees here can get fairly tight, and I was a bit awkward coming through there.

wish Id have asked to try a 177 also, but in all honesty if I had to pick ONE board to do (almost) everything, the Axis would certainly fit the bill! Havent been on a Prior 4WD so no idea. really keen to try the 179 now. wish they had a program like Donek!!!!

oh...also...the 3rd day was semi-mush that was firm in some places. that weird consistency that almost feels like hardpack...and I rode it with both TD1s and some Intec Challenge Comps

the TD1s felt WAY too stiff. I could feel each and every little fluctuation in the snow, but with the challenge comps that was lessened very much. Id have to say that for an "all rounded" a set of less aggressive bindings would be the best idea.

overall Id have to give this board very high marks! topsheet still seems a bit soft but thats obviously only cosmetic. was able to hit long drawn out turns and short snappy ones as well. Im no CMC but hey...this board rocks!