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What is the most expensive/exotic snowboard currently available?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Just curious. If you won the euromillions or something and you wanted to buy a stupidly expensive/exotic snowboard that you just couldn't otherwise justify - what are your options.

Not stupid ones made out of diamonds and rubies, but more like cool carbon fibre/titanium/adamantium type snowboards.

Of course, it would be completely unnecessary but it's important to have these options prepared in case the lotto numbers come up, isn't it?
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
there's a Lib Tech one (can't remember model) that's apparently hand built by the boss man himself and was on at the ski show for around £1800.
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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?
I'm far from an authority on the subject, but I remember there being an expensive Burton board - the Buron Method:

The board is constructed with Burton’s unfortunately named UltraMeth technology, which employs finely woven carbon strands, titanium edges and S2 carbon composite instead of glass.

It's really light, I think they did an episode of the Gadget Show (in the UK) where it was featured.

Not sure how much, but I'm sure it was expensive.
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This is the one I have my eyes on (but my piggy bank is empty):

2009/2010 Rad-Air Tanker Limited Edition Silver Tanker 200 cm RR

I have a 6'7" Lib Tech Doughboy that I will have to make do with for the time being - they don't make them any more.

But if money were unlimited I'd get one of these too: Deuce X-2 Snowboard, yup, the Wilkinson Sword of snowboards - TWO edges, a pair of skis mechanically reconfigured into a snowboard. FUNKY! Cool
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Probably go for a selection of kit, rather than 1 hyper expensive board. Park board, high end all rounder and a split for hiking with... plus the R&D board for that flat-land/ascent Jet assist unit I planned last season (no hadn't forgotton)

How the heck is that X-2 going to work? how are you going to get usable pressure on the centre channel edges effectively when you've got your weight hung out over the far toe or heel side? Imagine all that ironmongery would do all kinds of weird things to the flex too, let alone weight considerations... Anyone ever seen one used in the wild?
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Richard_Sideways, worse case is you have the same single edge you'd have on a single board.

Best case, like traversing a steep and glassy piste, with centred weighting you have two edges. It would mean beginners would start venturing on to steep black runs knowing they had the grip to falling-leaf them. rolling eyes

I think the most odd bit would be those few inches of extra height above the snow.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Seeing as Deuce Snowboards website is currently 'offline for maintainance' and looks like it has been since Feburary, I won't hold out alot of hope for seeing one soon.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Richard_Sideways, oh well, we didn't really need much more than a photo, but yeah, looks like we're going to have to wait a while for more. Maybe one day there'll be a video of someone doing extreme carving on one?
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monkey, we sort of covered an answer to your question in this thread. it's the same one boardiac mentioned.

i haven't gone looking for a more expensive board though, so don't quote me as the lib tech one being the most expensive out there.
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A Kessler Custom board.

A snowboard company that wins 50% of all medals in the disaplines entered.
At least you know the tech is tested on the world race circuit and certainly cutting edge and works.

Palmer ran some of his tech in its boards.
Win on sunday sell on monday, palmer liked winning.

No diamonds but if the freestyle market can sell it, they will,probably coming to a store near you very soon.

I believe its alloy sheet .3mm thick they use and it works, titanal alloy... not titanium.
The BX board riders tended not to have it though (or yet) and the boutique brands have been developing its use for say 5 or 6 years .
Carbon composite has been around swiss for awhile with -Radical snowboards

HardBoard race tech has a trickle down effect as in other sports but is largely a euro/american sport and you can not sell it... like say libtech sells to a youth market or Jones is now selling the largely (sales) forgotten freeriding to the youth market.

Other real tech.
New elevated Plates are now being used on top of hard boards now i.e picture a short stiff small plate (20-30mm above aprox), the main deck for the bindings to be mounted on.
The board flexes, twists but the bindings are "much more stable" on the elevated stiff plate.
Your stance and binding angles do not flex/twist but the board flexs and twists torsionally underneath, in a more-so one way transfer of forces.
A connection is present for this.
The youth snowboard snake oil is in abundance asking Hans Kessler what he thinks of a lib tech brochure would be something.
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Tirol 164, titanal... seriously? And HOW are you pronouncing that?
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Richard_Sideways wrote:
Tirol 164, titanal... seriously? And HOW are you pronouncing that?


Yeah make sure you say titan-al and not tit-anal. But seriously this stuff makes a serious difference to a board grip. My Elan Vertigo has it and it before that had a Palmer Channel Ti with it. Great if you want a board that carves well on piste but not a big selling point in the snowboard market despite the fact that so many people dont actually go in the park or off piste but would rather a board that was marketed at that!
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Serious:
So whats the deal with it? As far as i recall the Palmer stuff was doing all manner of dark-art flex things with layered carbon and titanium stringers embedded in the board for torsional control, hence the embossed top-sheet. At .3mm thick i can't see it doing anything - it's basically foil at that thickness.


Normal:
So it's not pronounced t!t-anal, but tight-anal. Thats slightly worse - are you going to go into a shop and ask for titanal by name??? How much hard riding does it take before titanal goes all loose and wobbly? Venturing into the backcountry will never be the same again? Is titanal ok to grind in the normal way or should you use some kind of specialised lubricant?
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Its definately thicker than .3mm more like 3mm. It makes the board much stiffer torsionally with out being too stiff lengthways so board doesnt twist out under high load but still can flex and absorb bumps etc.

As to your other questions its stayed firm for me for several years without going loose and floppy! Wouldnt recomend it for hard grinding though as I prefer something softer and more foregiving when I go frontside on a box! Like all such things I think its easier to get on the internet than asking in a shop.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I,m not sure how to spell it Puzzled
You could check the top shelf of your local news agents for the spelling next time you are browsing though Shocked

Kessler builds expensive customs and sells on race results, not claims made by pro riders or board companys which seem to change each season.

The best claim I like is libtechs "turns ice into powder" .
Although...
If Ali G could be a pro rider he would sell the most boards ever. He would have the OP,s ultimate diamond/gold board.
Strangely It would,nt surprise me at all if that happened.


Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Tue 2-11-10 23:28; edited 1 time in total
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
What snowrider says,what board image people buy into and what terrain they ride are not the same.
The classic is deeper snow all the excuses come out with the wrong board.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
3mm would have a bit more influence than a 300 micron layer... about 10 times i'd say.

As for the other, I shall google it at once... *clicky* Shocked
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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?
Tirol 164, it's a bit like many having to have the lightest possible bicycle and yet they buy it for exercise rather than racing. Or, posh mountain bikes and 4x4s that have never been in the mud. Another thing is that most modern mountain bikes are designed for a hunched forward racing posture instead of the more upright cruising position that many would prefer. All because of fashion/aspiration.

No doubt the same happens with boards. I think it's very likely happened with step-in bindings - because the pros/competitors don't use them, then neither will the leisure market.

I bring my Swoard + step-in hard boots out for hard pack pistes, and my Doughboy + step-in soft boots for fresh snow anywhere. The right tool for the job, and I'll not miss doing 720s in the fun park or getting sea-sick in the half pipe. snowHead

This is probably a new thread "Do snowboards, boots & bindings follow aspiration more than practicality?".
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Yes I,m always off topic all over the show but it has bought up some interesting boards that posters are riding or wanting in reality.
Which has surprised me on here but its great.
As opposed to very expensive libs at £1800 which few will be on.Its not going to happen.
In my case i would buy £1700 ride time and a very old £50 supermodel or a cheap piste burner.

I was told by a seller of one of these £1800 libtechs how it was discounted down for the japanese buyer and sold,cash was king that day.
Shops bust now though so guess you take it while you can.

I thought I would suggest that custom board makers with very good reps are available as a option for the better off but not in a bad way or elite way.Alot of good and bad surfers get custom boards, some a quiver a year.
I actually think if you can afford it,its very smart so long as its the right builder for the job .
If you are on a swoard you will know anyway that certain stuff matters as you say, tool for the job.
Money won,t do it but helps with a custom.

To add for others, my memory is bad but another board maker is in the states and you can design, your own stick online then he builds it.
Its not expensive either as $300 rings a bell?.
Something "seven" is the brand I think and well worth a view.At the mo all I can remember.

As for the pro,s its sad that they can influence to the point of the piped piper.(Although if Iwas you Crosby I would look at bomber sidewinders for a modern flexy hardboot binding in pow and piste)
It was great that the market took them all to the park but Jones and rocker is going to put a % of them back in the powder.
It happens but when you surf or ride a place that in time changes for the worst it is really disapointing.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Tirol 164, Would that be the Burton Series 13 you're thinking of - looks like they've discontinued it for 2010/11. Would bet because of too many copywrite infringements of people sticking other people artwork or photos on a board. You could choose one of a series of boards including the Custom, custom X and Supermodel and replace the topsheets and bases according to your own design. cost about $100-$200 on top of the full price of the original board.
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Thanks Tirol 164, I have looked at those TrenchDigger bindings before, and yup the sidewinder would probably suit me just fine. They're definitely on my 'wish list'.

I'm wondering how this 'rocker' malarky would affect the Tanker's grip on hardpack vs the Doughboy. Does it change from the Dougboy's 'not much' edge grip to 'virtually none' on the Tanker, or what? Or maybe the rocker and reverse camber don't affect edge hold that much?

It would be interesting to see more equipment designed for speed/carving/big-mountain rather than fun park or pylons and trees. Perhaps the boarder-cross thingy will attract more people in that direction?
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Where do I start?

You definitely do not need your numbers to come up for some amazing tech, built to your specs. Donek and Coiler will do you a custom board for much, much less than that Lib Tech. Coiler boards are $840 Canadian, which retails at roughly £540. Yes, £540 for a full custom built to your specification.
Kessler's are around the 1500 euro but don't quote me on that. I had a Kessler slalom board (bought second hand so not custom for me) before kst technology which was an amazing board. My current alpine set up is from SG snowboards and is the best board I have ever ridden. Don't forget other companies like Oxess, Sense and many more. All these companies focus on alpine/bx boards, but their tech is in their other boards which brings me nicely onto the next subject.
Titanal is an alloy which revolutionised alpine boards. It is an alloy which has been mentioned, gives a board torsional rigidity but allowing a board to be soft lengthwise. It gives a very, very damp ride, and loves ice.
Titanal has been used in bx boards especially in SG and Kessler, but the most successful bx board is from Oxess. If you look back at the Olympics most of the boards you will see are from Oxess, but one is white and one is black. The white one has titanal in it and the black one does not. The black one is the best, see podium. SG's bx board this year does not have titanal either so I guess more pop is needed for bx.

As for the x-2
Puzzled If I was going down that road I would get a Tinkler system

If the Tanker is rockered tip and tail but has camber in the middle it will be good on hard pack, but if it is a bannana, crap. I don't care what anyone say's, camber is needed. Its basic physics and I can't be bothered to explain, if you want to carve hard in all conditions you need camber. Thats why race boards have it, albeit with de-cambered tip and tail. I know alot of people will disagree but truth is truth. Same with mangetraction, if it was that much better than a properly tuned standard edge it would be on all race boards.

So in conclusion I don't know what the most expensive board is but I can guarantee it won't be the best. Actually I might take that back cause Virus make some good boards and they are very expensive.

P.s. Wow a hardbooter in the UK. You are in a very selet group Crosbie. Were you in Zinal a couple of years ago, if so I met you.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
willow 15, Yeah, banana seems like a bad idea on hard pack. Sure, a powder board isn't meant for hard pack, but it can't always be avoided - fresh snow soon gets compacted in places. Even so, it can probably be coped with.

Magnetraction sounded a bit iffy too, like de-tuning or serration.

I'm a hard booter because 1) I learnt in ski boots and 2) I mostly accompanied skiers rather than boarders.

I don't think I've been to Zinal. Courchevel, Avoriaz, Chamonix, Banff, are the places I've been in the last two seasons.
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magnetraction does sound iffy, but I'm a convert to it after last season, it works.

I'd be keen on a gentem stick. They make some nice looking powder boards. Haven't got the brain power to figure out how much the yen price is in pacific pesos, but they look like they would be pricey.

Always fancied a doughboy shredder. It appeals to the longboarder in me.
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
could try a windlip (www.windlipsnowboards.com) made just outside moutiers in the tarentaise , tried a couple last year very nice, TOH says no to any new toys this season though
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hang11, I can see that Magnetraction may cut a deeper groove, but it's probably one of those "You won't believe it until you try it" kind of things. Dunno if it affects how the board gets edge sharpened when serviced tho. Puzzled

The Doughboy is a bit of a tanker (no doubt why the Rad Air is so called), but still manoeuvrable (it gets fun/hairy in very tight spots tho). It almost makes powder unexciting - it's so gentle (one's moves must also be gentle and thought out in advance). Very fast on piste, especially down the fall line, and area&weight helps soak up vibrations/jarring from crud. In Europe it doesn't really turn any heads, but in Jackson Hole & Banff it was a surprise how many were fascinated by it.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
A mate of mine had a doughboy, guy's a psycho, think he held the local record one year for chopper rides off the mountain to hospital Very Happy

Magnetraction is worth getting a demo on. Not for pow, definitely for icy days. Haven't bothered doing the edges on my magne board since picking it up, hasn't felt like it needs it, but I think you can just get a smaller edge tool to do it.

I've not ridden the lib version of it, which I think is a bit more aggressive than what's on my board (smokin kt22)
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