Spliffs review -- late season update.
My season is quickly fading, with the late start it seems like is was only a few weeks long, with it coming to a close I figured I would revisit and update my review of the Spliffs.
My initial view was that they were awesome but I had moments throughout the season where I thought I might be wrong but also where I was positive I was right. Currently I sit where the Spliffs are my board of choice. While Jeff and Greco have made boards in the past that are easy riding with mass appeal, like the 120s and Blunt/Blunt XLs, the Spliffs (IMHO) fall in to a different category where, similar to the KTPs, they are an aggressive board that require hard input. They can be very tiring if you are not prepared for that but fantastic if you are willing to really commit to what they are. For me they are a skiboarders skiboard. These are not short skis and will bite you in the ass if you try to "ski" them. I came to this conclusion after riding with a buddy who is a ski instructor at Beaver Creek. He noted that unlike riding with me last year, when I was on 120s, my body position was more upright will almost no forward lean. In his words it looked "more like skating than skiing."
Over the season I've had the chance to ride the Spliffs in everything except deep powder. In the light powder I had them in I had to ride them a bit from the tails so I think Jack is right on riding them with a little set back in his regular conditions but on groomers and East coast hardpack centered is just fine for me. The only place where I initially found the Spliffs a little unnerving is their edge grip on rock hard steep ice. In these condition I need to keep the boards under me, drive them hard, and know that they will drift a bit.
Who are these boards for? As I noted above these are a "Skiboarders Skiboard" and will perform best under the feet of intermediate to advanced riders who understand that skiboards are not skis. There are some skiboards that ride like short skis. These are not those skiboards. Aggressive skaters and skiboarders will enjoy these more than skiers looking for something new to try. While you could start on these as your first skiboard it is probably best to start with something narrower and less aggressive.
Would I change anything? Maybe. I would love to see a Spliff SKNY XL (aka the Chronic)... a board that RVL8 likely won't make .... but here is my wishlist:
One little thing I love about these that I suggest that RVL8 do on all boards going forward is that they have have "Skiboards" boldly printed along with the brand and their name on the toe of one board. While standing in the lift lines and riding the skier bus everyone noticed the name and correctly called them "SKIBOARDS". This was a definite positive conversation starter and should be a RVL8 Brand hallmark on all boards.
My season is quickly fading, with the late start it seems like is was only a few weeks long, with it coming to a close I figured I would revisit and update my review of the Spliffs.
My initial view was that they were awesome but I had moments throughout the season where I thought I might be wrong but also where I was positive I was right. Currently I sit where the Spliffs are my board of choice. While Jeff and Greco have made boards in the past that are easy riding with mass appeal, like the 120s and Blunt/Blunt XLs, the Spliffs (IMHO) fall in to a different category where, similar to the KTPs, they are an aggressive board that require hard input. They can be very tiring if you are not prepared for that but fantastic if you are willing to really commit to what they are. For me they are a skiboarders skiboard. These are not short skis and will bite you in the ass if you try to "ski" them. I came to this conclusion after riding with a buddy who is a ski instructor at Beaver Creek. He noted that unlike riding with me last year, when I was on 120s, my body position was more upright will almost no forward lean. In his words it looked "more like skating than skiing."
Over the season I've had the chance to ride the Spliffs in everything except deep powder. In the light powder I had them in I had to ride them a bit from the tails so I think Jack is right on riding them with a little set back in his regular conditions but on groomers and East coast hardpack centered is just fine for me. The only place where I initially found the Spliffs a little unnerving is their edge grip on rock hard steep ice. In these condition I need to keep the boards under me, drive them hard, and know that they will drift a bit.
Who are these boards for? As I noted above these are a "Skiboarders Skiboard" and will perform best under the feet of intermediate to advanced riders who understand that skiboards are not skis. There are some skiboards that ride like short skis. These are not those skiboards. Aggressive skaters and skiboarders will enjoy these more than skiers looking for something new to try. While you could start on these as your first skiboard it is probably best to start with something narrower and less aggressive.
Would I change anything? Maybe. I would love to see a Spliff SKNY XL (aka the Chronic)... a board that RVL8 likely won't make .... but here is my wishlist:
- Stretch the board out to 115cm
- Install 4x10 inserts with 4cm setback inserts
- Keep the rocker and camber the same
- Take a full cm out of the tip/tail with and 1/2 cm out of the waist to give them a longer turning radius and make them quicker edge to edge on hardpack.
One little thing I love about these that I suggest that RVL8 do on all boards going forward is that they have have "Skiboards" boldly printed along with the brand and their name on the toe of one board. While standing in the lift lines and riding the skier bus everyone noticed the name and correctly called them "SKIBOARDS". This was a definite positive conversation starter and should be a RVL8 Brand hallmark on all boards.
Comment