 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys,
I thought I'd be cheeky and ask for a bit of advice on my first post! I am looking to spash out on a new board - and the Bataleon Hero has caught my eye. I have read a few posts here and they sound pretty good - the only thing that concerned me was that it couldn't grip well on ice. Have any of you guys used them much on the hill?
The other boards I was looking at were the Rome Flag & the Baron (or ES) (I'm 6' 3" and need a mid-wide because of my MASSIVE feet).
Most of my riding while away will be freeriding as I tend to save the park for the snowdome.
Do you think the Bataleon would be a good move? Any advice appreciated!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi MBros, welcome to the zoo.
It's a sweet, sweet, board. it's fine on ice, you just have to edge it properly, it does need a bit more body English than many boards and it is incredibly stiff and pretty heavy. Lots of swing weight and inertia.
It does have one bad idiosyncrasy. Because of the transition to flat under the board centre you can't relax and bimble along narrow icy tracks without spinning out and eating ice. It's fine if there's soft but hard ice has to be driven through and it can still catch you out.
You can go stupidly fast on it if hard carving is your thing and it transfers onto powder without needing a footplate move or too much mass transfer.
I love mine, but if I'm tired or not 100% on the ball I'd prefer my old Peter Line or even better my stolen Never Summer Legacy
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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 for the reply. I guess any board I buy will be stiffer than my Rome Solution - so I will have to be more alert on tracks.
Usually I'm not that cautious about buying new kit - but this just seems a lot different to any board I have ridden. It's a shame no one has a demo (TSA do but they are the size of a skateboard).
Might just have to bite the bullet and get one ordered!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've never tried the bataleon cos they dont do one short enough for me But last season i worked in Norway and the boarding patrolers all used them and loved them, they used them to check the slalom comp runs aswell which were like solid ice. My mates who tried them said that they were very forgiving as well, much lower chance of catching an edge on the rail, so i think if you get it you should treat it to at least one day out in the big Park!
I dont know how easy it would be to tune a bataleon though, unless you go somewhere that specialises in that shape of base, otherwise a couple of grinds and the shape will be messed up, it could be twisted when your grinding it but will it be the same?, you should ask about that before you buy one! Unless there is some one out there that knows, i'd like to know!
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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 am also interested in Bataleon and would go for Hero cause it's the longest board and the only one that suits me (I am 1,87 m). The thing that worries me is stifness of this board. If I rate my skills I would give 3 maiby 4 out of 10 which means I'm only beginner. Any ideas?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have now bought a Hero. Not had a chance to give it a good test (on a mountain) - but I have had a go at the snowdome. With regards to flex - I was previously riding a Rome Solution and the Hero is only slightly stiffer than the Rome. I tried to carve on it (as well as you can indoors!) and it help an edge really well. Edge to Edge was very quick, and I got no chatter at all straight lining it (the slope is only 200m-ish long).
Freestyle wise - buttering couldn't be simpler, and it had plenty of pop. The only thing I didn't try was rails - this was due to a combinatation of being overly protective of my new board, and myself - a curved base and a 50-50 makes me nervous, but this may just be me being soft.
If you can test one I would, but I just risked it and ordered one (they couldn't demo the 164). I have to say I am very happy with it. All the guys at TSA have had a go, and a few are taking demos away with them. The guy I bought mine off from Blue Tomato also uses it as his board.
Finally, on the beginner thing, how well do you ride - I take it by 3 out of 10 you are confidently linking turns and starting to carve??? If so I think it may be a little advanced of where you are now, but it won't do you any hard and I would say it would be a great board to bring your riding on.
Hope this helps.
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You're never to old! Lets just say the my 21st birthday was a 'few' years ago!
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FAQ
I had a theoretical chance to test Bataleon but just like in your case the boards were too short. Anyway I have ordered mine and will get it in a couple of days. As you said in your first post it's somewhat strange to buy a thing that almost nobody knows but I am quite shure that Hero will be much better than my previous board F2 WideGlide. Regarding my skills I think I will carve like monster as soon as I get my Hero. 
