Advice on a landboard - Brian? Justin?

[Kenny]

I bought an MBS Core 8 thinking that the light setup would be nice for airs, but I don't like the skateboard trucks and I think the deck may be a bit short and flexy for a rider of my weight (180 LBS). I am thinking of a MBS Comp 90. Looks like a good choice from what I have read. However, I can't find it for less than full retail $369. Does anyone know where I can get a deal or should I be looking at another board? Justin & Brian, I would appreciate your input.

Thanks,

Kenny

[btjsfca]

If you're looking at the Comp 90, I wouldn't expect to see that board for significantly less than retail since it is brand new.

The quality of the board is good, but weighing in at 180, I'd say that the Comp 95 is a better match due to the higher stiffness. The Comp 90 is also a shorter deck with a pretty high tip angle, so it will feel squirrellier. The nice thing about the 90 is that it has the new T3 tires which are supposed to be super grippy and very durable.

One way or another, either board will be better than the core 8, since they both have nice trucks (Vector trucks on the 90 and full-on Matrix trucks for the 95) and are probably stiffer. So, in the end, if you can swing the 95, you'd be better off, but the 90 will be OK.

Summary:

Comp 90:
Vector trucks: stable, light, but not tunable
Shorter deck + high tip angle = tight turns but possibly squirrelly
softer deck, less pop, more wear on the deck,
may bottom out on hard landings

Comp 95:
Matrix trucks: tunable, burly, but heavy
longer deck => smoother carves, slower spins
stiff deck, poppy, good for your weight

It's hard to do a strict comparison since I can't find all the specs on the Core 8, but chances are, since it's in the Core lineup, it's inferior to either board above.

Brian will have to give the dirt on the GI line, since he's more familiar with it.

All else failing, go to Salt Peaks and stand on these boards. Bounce on them. Jump up and down. Get an idea for yourself. They won't, unfortunately have any demo boards, so you'll just have to have faith in the internet reviews of the boards.

And, yeah. Mountainboards are expensive.

-J

[windzup]

The shortness of the board shouldn't be too big of a deal... with kiting I prefer the short board for lightness and there is a better freestyle factor if you are into spinning. That said, I am actually on the longer versions more often...this is the techy part as some long decks have a lot of flex and some are stiffer... and that all is personal preference.

The Big deal is the truck systems. I am NOT a fan of skate trucks, manufacturers just add skate trucks to decent boards to offer a more affordable price point. Go with adjustable trucks... either MBS Matrix or GI Bionic. I converted from MBS style trucks to GI due to the variety of stiffness that can be adjusted. The MBS style are like a teeter totter, and can be stiffened, but as its stiffend you lose the ability to teeter or carve as much.
Gi's Bionic have a central cube that has a variety of options from bubble gum soft to bowling ball stiff... so you choose the stiffness you want for edging and speed or loose carving, yet with the central position of the cube you don't lose any of your turn radius. (hmmm I made that sound complex eh?)

The unfortunate inside scoop is that while board companies now market to kiters, the only thang making the boards kite specific is a handle between the bindings...ironic huh? I would like to see a pre-set cube that has more tension on the heel edge and more flex on the toe-side, pre-loaded even so the board is tilted until you stand on it, at which point the board then sits level. (GI has been working on it for a while, but its still in R&D)

Keep in mind that these boards are designed for downhillers, who need complete stiffness for bombing down a steep single track or ramp. I am always amazed at how stiff the boards and trucks are rigged on the pro-riders boards, they want no carve at all just point and go. Of course they are standing directly centered above the board, while kiters are leaning way back over the heel edge. We both desire a stiff truck for a solid edge, but downhilling and kiting require different load positions. And kiting we still like to..no..we need to have a carvable toeside edge so we can carve thru a turn and not over run the kite. (Kiteboarding is more technical than downhilling, making us more diverse riders with more diverse needs)

The future is coming, just don't know from what direction.

BTW - Call me on the new office line and we can discuss further Kenny 435-462-5303

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

[mike loeser]

Brian,
We talked the other day about setting up the board with stiffer eggs/shocks on the heel side edge. Still need to do that. Another thing that would be nice is actually the opposite of what you said about leveling the board out. I'm doing a lot of long tacks and after a while my feet get a bit numb from the bindings. All the pressure of the kite gets pushed onto my feet. It would be nice to have a setup where you don't have your ankles bent while riding, more of a 90 degree angle. Imagine your snowboard or kiteboard's position. Hopefully that makes sense. Get GI to make that and I'll buy one off you. I'll try the stiffer shocks, that might help the pressure issue.
Mike

[joshgubler]

Doesn't seem like it would be that hard to do. Just bolt a couple of wedges between the trucs and the deck.

[Kenny]

Brian & Justin,

Thank you for all of the information! You definitely gave me some good advice. I hope to pick up a board this week.

Kenny