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I moved my review here, I posted it in the wrong thread.
Blunts and Jades.
I got to compare the Blunts and Jades today at Arizona Snowbowl. I rode both with hard ski boots and Line FF Pro non release bindings. There has been no new snow here for a week so the conditions were mainly hard packed groomers and chopped up moguls. It was icy in the morning and softened up a little by lunch. Nice sunny Arizona day.
For record the Jades are 87cm with a 14/11/14 profile, 6.3 turning radius and a tip/tail height of 5.6cm. They are the classic cambered style of skiboard. The Blunts are 88cm with a profile of 16/13.8/16. 4.2 turning radius and a tip tail height of 3.5cm. The Blunts have no camber and full rocker.
I rode the Jades first in the more icy conditions. They were everything I remembered them to be; fast, quick to edge, easy to turn, easy to control and just plain fun. When I ride them I don't think about whats on my feet, I just go. They were great on the hard pack and held an edge really well. The down side is that sometimes the ride feels a little stiff and bumpy. Perhaps this is a result of their camber? Although they are fast on the slopes they do seem to loose glide speed quickly on the flats.
I switched to the Blunts after a couple of hours and hit the same runs. The difference in the ride is fascinating. The Blunts are much softer and smoother. The don't edge as quickly, but do hold an edge as well, if not better. You have to be more patient with the turn initiation, but then they reward you. They definitely flatten out the bumps and were easier to slide/slarve when I wanted to. I'm not sure if they were faster on the hill, but they did glide better than the Jades on the flats. I'm sure the rocker and bigger surface are has a lot to do with the smoother feel and speed. I did notice that I rode them differently to the Jades, not deliberately, but they made me want to smooth my turns out. A more relaxed style? The only downside was that they felt more tiring. Maybe that's me not being used to "slarving".
Both boards give me that feeling of freedom and release that short skiboards reward us with. If I had to choose a board for icy conditions, it would be the Jades. For the groomers, chop and moguls, I would want the smoother feel of the Blunts. No powder today, but the Blunts should out perform the Jades there as well.
In trying to choose a one board quiver, the Blunts are much more versatile than the Jades. I may have to change and/or improve my technique to make them an all mountain board, but it's a good start.
Blunts and Jades.
I got to compare the Blunts and Jades today at Arizona Snowbowl. I rode both with hard ski boots and Line FF Pro non release bindings. There has been no new snow here for a week so the conditions were mainly hard packed groomers and chopped up moguls. It was icy in the morning and softened up a little by lunch. Nice sunny Arizona day.
For record the Jades are 87cm with a 14/11/14 profile, 6.3 turning radius and a tip/tail height of 5.6cm. They are the classic cambered style of skiboard. The Blunts are 88cm with a profile of 16/13.8/16. 4.2 turning radius and a tip tail height of 3.5cm. The Blunts have no camber and full rocker.
I rode the Jades first in the more icy conditions. They were everything I remembered them to be; fast, quick to edge, easy to turn, easy to control and just plain fun. When I ride them I don't think about whats on my feet, I just go. They were great on the hard pack and held an edge really well. The down side is that sometimes the ride feels a little stiff and bumpy. Perhaps this is a result of their camber? Although they are fast on the slopes they do seem to loose glide speed quickly on the flats.
I switched to the Blunts after a couple of hours and hit the same runs. The difference in the ride is fascinating. The Blunts are much softer and smoother. The don't edge as quickly, but do hold an edge as well, if not better. You have to be more patient with the turn initiation, but then they reward you. They definitely flatten out the bumps and were easier to slide/slarve when I wanted to. I'm not sure if they were faster on the hill, but they did glide better than the Jades on the flats. I'm sure the rocker and bigger surface are has a lot to do with the smoother feel and speed. I did notice that I rode them differently to the Jades, not deliberately, but they made me want to smooth my turns out. A more relaxed style? The only downside was that they felt more tiring. Maybe that's me not being used to "slarving".
Both boards give me that feeling of freedom and release that short skiboards reward us with. If I had to choose a board for icy conditions, it would be the Jades. For the groomers, chop and moguls, I would want the smoother feel of the Blunts. No powder today, but the Blunts should out perform the Jades there as well.
In trying to choose a one board quiver, the Blunts are much more versatile than the Jades. I may have to change and/or improve my technique to make them an all mountain board, but it's a good start.
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