Skwal riders?

[tufty]

Finally! Mubarak has gone, and I have a 3-axis skwal. And it's a palindromic date.

1 pretty much spanking new 178 Panther, 100€

[sabestian]

Where? How?! I mean the Panther, not Mubarak.

[tufty]

Being based in France helps, there seem to be more here than anywhere else. Could have got myself a second SK200 as well, but the guy wanted more for that than the Panther... http://www.leboncoin.fr is the place to look.

Had to wait for 2 years before one came up at the right price, though. Took it out this morning. Most amusing.

[sabestian]

Today was my first two hour day on SK200, first time on a skwal, too. This thing is a fekkkkin rocket! Absolutely love it. After 1 hour of trying to figure out how to step in these bloody Elfgens and how to stand without tripping over I suddenly got it and I can carve all the blue and red slopes in the resort. Now I need something with smaller SCR, the snow's on fire!

tufty, thanks for the link. Too much of a hassle to try to translate it for me.

[tufty]

tufty, thanks for the link. Too much of a hassle to try to translate it for me.

If you're in Poland like your profile says, your best bet is probably ebay or the polish equivalent of leboncoin (which is a French free ads site *not* linked to frickin' paypal, but most people don't wanna ship, so you have to look locally). Or, if you can afford to pay for a new plank, there's a few online shops dealing with skwals (http://shop.skwal.eu/ is the european skwal association's shop, they sell Lagriffe boards direct - if I had the money that's where I would have gone, the Lagriffe boards rule).

There's always a few chancers out there, there's one guy on leboncoin who regularly advertises a "snow-skwal" at ~150€ which is, in reality, a fat, straight, 1980s ski with elfgen snowboard bindings screwed to it (it has a radius of >50m, but he doesn't advertise that).

If you're up for trying to organise shipping, here's an auto translated (french-polish, change the "tl=pl" to "tl=en" for french-english) link to leboncoin : http://translate.google.com/translat...D1%26q%3Dskwal

the other option is the skwalzone.org forum personal ads.

The SK200 is a fantastic board, but massively fast with a big radius. Like you say, a rocket. To learn on, you might do better with a 173°F or 183°F, although carving at Mach 10 on the SK200 is insanely addictive once you've got a handle on it.

[mikel45]

Sabestian, thanks for sharing.

Yesterday, my second day out on skwal - one run without poles was a bit of disaster balance-wise. Finding being shot out like slingshot at the ends of carves a bit un-nerving. I've decided more comfortable with walking mode boot flex for slope entrance into carve. Presently experimenting with stance distance and back boot angulation.

What are people using for back foot angulation? Never even thought of this possible variation:


Source: Snowgo: Riding the Skwal in Courchevel

[tufty]

I'm running 90/89 or thereabouts. The two in that photo appear to be goofy, but with the panther set up "wrong footed". That's just plain wierd, but whatever works, I guess.

[sabestian]

The SK200 is a fantastic board, but massively fast with a big radius. Like you say, a rocket. To learn on, you might do better with a 173°F or 183°F, although carving at Mach 10 on the SK200 is insanely addictive once you've got a handle on it.

I *think* I can handle it. Perhaps I shouldn't have written that actually , now it will probably kick my arse! I am being thrown in the air between curves, all that with control (after 90 minutes on skwal). All the ObiOne's teachings clicked into place. Awesome feeling, I think I'm in love. If this is what an oldie like that is capable of doing, I can't even start to imagine what a modern skwal can???

Thanks for being so helpfull, this is really encouraging. I am thinking of buying the Lagriffe RS176 Titanal with Piokka bindings of the shop.skwal.eu. This, I believe, would be a slower, tamier and more versatile skwal. Perhaps I could even throw some extremecarving into it? Question is, is it going to be stiff enough for my 90kg (with gear, boots etc) and 180cm?

[mikel45]

After a long drought there have been 2 or 3 skwals recently sold right here in bomber land. Alternatively, retail options within North America are the following:

- Donek [scroll to bottom]
- CODA
- SkwalUSA (to be determeined)

[mikel45]

Recommendation: Go the extra mile and get a Pozidrive screwdriver for your skwal needs.

[tufty]

I am being thrown in the air between curves, all that with control (after 90 minutes on skwal).

You're doing fine, then.

Question is, is it going to be stiff enough for my 90kg (with gear, boots etc) and 180cm?

The RS176 should be fine, but it might be worth finding out if you can get to any of the skwal association's tryout days first.

[zarkod]

Without doubt we can say that the angulations shown below on the left skwal are wrong : 3 degrees on the front foot and more than 5° the back foot is not right.

The front foot should always be at 0° and for the back foot, it should range between 0° to 4° max (especially on a board like an easy jungle with very short SCR).

What are people using for back foot angulation? Never even thought of this possible variation:


Source: Snowgo: Riding the Skwal in Courchevel

[Alexx]

For me I'm 92 kg, it was a bit soft, and I had to get rid of it and ordered Donek custom 180 fiberglass 13m SCR, stiff 8,5 (Donek's scale). Custom fits me PERFECT!

[*Ace*]

Virus makes one of the best custom Skwals money can buy.

He has a few models that inculde the UFC Skwal and the Speed Skwal.

I had a custom twin tip Skwal made a year and a half ago called the 'Chimera'. It is 175cm in length, titanal carbon kevlar construction, decambered nose and tail, 18cm nose/12cm waist/17.5cm tail, ~9.5m sidecut. Mine was built with a medium flex for a 175lb rider. I would highly recommend this shape to anyone that is looking to go custom.



In action:

[davekempmeister]

That is beautiful Ace! How long did you wait from time of order to get it?, if you don't mind me asking. btw, riding not too shabby either.

[obi one]

...for those of you that could make it...come to the european skwal events organised by the European Skwal Association (ESA): come, test and ride (for free) most of the modern skwals and skwal equipments available today.

http://www.skwal.eu/public/index.php/

Skwal tests are regularly provided by ESA with their Skwal Masters and Facilitators that will help you skwaling around and giving free advice. These events are held during the Euro Skwal Tour (every Sundays as in the leaflet here below)
(e.g., 27 February in San Bernardino (Swisse)).





... give it a try! skwal in group!...

Obi One

[mikel45]

I'm using a pair of Raichle SB324 boots. Trying to figure what is the best flex, walk mode or locked? Or a variation, e.g., locked front boot with back boot in walk mode. I realize this probably based on personal preference but interested in your opinion to provide a starting point. So, here are the options:

- both boots in walk mode;
- both boots in locked mode;
- front/back boot mix;
- unthought variation;
- or, prefer the BTS (yellow, blue, red) spring kit

Interested in all thoughts on what works best.

[bobdea]

[bobdea]

[mikel45]

Bobdea meet Photodad

[b0ardski]

Don't get why flex preferences of hardboots on 12-14 wide alpine carving boards is off topic.
you sound like one of those that think square tails aren't snowboards.

[bobdea]

Bobdea (dic% #2) meet Photodad2001 (dic% #1)

well, at least he was half right being here, it being a alpine SNOWBOARD forum

[bobdea]

Don't get why flex preferences of hardboots on 12-14 wide alpine carving boards is off topic.
you sound like one of those that think square tails aren't snowboards.

says the guy who uses ski poles.

[tufty]

Bob, get off the computer and onto the snow.

[bobdea]

not saying it's not cool or anything but it's the same as if I went roller derby forum and started pimping inline skates or to TDIclub.com and started a thread about awesome 1996 gmc sierra 6.5 turbo in the main forum.

[Jack Michaud]

It's hardboots... it's one foot in front of the other... it's carving...

[tufty]

not saying it's not cool or anything but it's the same as if I went roller derby forum and started pimping inline skates or to TDIclub.com and started a thread about awesome 1996 gmc sierra 6.5 turbo in the main forum.

OK, I'll bite. I know I shouldn't. IHBT.

A skwal *is* an alpine snowboard. The only difference is width. Its even more "pure" than an alpine board, in many senses - the *only* thing that makes sense is carving, to do anything else requires unnatural movements. Its hard to "scarve", let alone skid the ****ing thing. Technique is the same, cross over/under/through is the same, weight transfer in carves is the same. You need to be a better ride to do it right, though. Riding a skwal for the first time is like going from a soft rig to hardboots for the first time - it all feels wrong and you get ejected a lot. In the same way that I doubt there is a single rider here who couldn't ride the piss out of the average softboot rig, though, when you go back to a more "conventional" board you will find your riding has improved. You will have a calmer upper body, more precise weight transfer, and so on.

There's even "modern" shaped skwals with metal construction, if you want to get all "if it's not decambered" about things. And fin makes bindings for 'em.

Like I said, get out on the snow. Try a skwal, if you can. It's even more fun than "classic" alpine, but you may need to spend some time waxing your ears.

[b0ardski]

says the guy who uses ski poles.

Can't you tell the difference between ski poles and snowboard poles? Why do some of you disdain my ability to use tools in my hands? They enhance my riding on a skwal, alpine board, powder board just as much as alpine skis, tele skis, xc skis and mono skis.
I can ride/ski w/out them but why should I have to
Closed minds blow mine.



Sorry for the thread jack... and now back to your regularly skinnied program

[bobdea]

It's hardboots... it's one foot in front of the other... it's carving...

some of them use ski bindings for god's sake.

[corey_dyck]

Come on Bob, would you say this stuff to someone's face? Having just been through the overwhelmingly positive and acceptive vibe of SES, I find this discussion to be silly. Carve ANYTHING at SES and you'll get cheers. We were cheering on the ski guides railing it at first tracks. Dick (forget his last name) is well into retirement age and rides with poles. He got lots of cheers!

The average jibber kid has the same negative attitude towards us, we all find it annoying or at least funny in a pitiful way for their lack of experience. Why perpetuate the hate?