I have been riding the Blunts all year. I love what they can get away with in their small size. My home mountain only has small park features open right now (a bunch of rails and some jumps <10-15'), and the Blunts handle these without issue. I've also put them through their paces at all-mountain riding, and they can easily handle everything the East Coast has to offer.
Yesterday after riding the Blunts most of the day, I forced myself to switch over to the KTPs... wow. I was completely blown away by how different the ride characteristics were, completely changing my initial sentiment. The Blunts' soft flex, flat-base, and early rise make them extremely effortless, light, and playful. By contrast, the KTPs operate in a completely different mode... SKIBOARD AND DESTROY!
As soon as I initiated the first carve and felt them lock into the snow with an unwavering death grip, I just wanted to ride as fast and hard as possible. I went to the longest, steepest hill there, pointed them, and drove: full out speed with double hand-dragging carves. As much as I love the Blunts, the stiffness and camber of the KTPs allows them to grip the snow so much better when going fast, and even though they're only a short bit longer, the stiffness and camber makes them much more stable at high speed. I took a quick lap through the park, and the problems I had with the flex of the Blunts causing them to give out on sketchy landings were gone.... replaced with rock-solid stability.
So my take-aways from this:
1. The Blunts are definitely the #1 board I would recommend to almost anyone who wants to try skiboarding. They are effortless and playful, and they can handle any conditions that I've encountered so far. The ride they provide essentially defines skiboarding.
2. I would still recommend the KTPs to anyone who wants the classic skiboard feel, but prefers to ride aggressively. Riding the Blunts for all of this season makes me appreciate the power that the KTPs have to ride fast and hard.
And some new questions...
1. I haven't gotten to ride the Blunts in west coast powder yet, but I have a suspicion that in spite of their decreased length, they may actually provide an easier ride than the KTPs. The KTPs handle deep powder good with plenty of float, especially in the set back position, but you always have to lean back. I think the rocker and soft flex on the Blunts might give them an upper hand.
2. I really am wondering if it is the stiffness or camber that makes the difference in the ride characteristics. More specifically, I wonder if a stiff flat/rocker design would offer both the stability of the KTP with the playfulness of the Blunts.
3. I wonder why the KTPs look so "long and skinny"...
Yesterday after riding the Blunts most of the day, I forced myself to switch over to the KTPs... wow. I was completely blown away by how different the ride characteristics were, completely changing my initial sentiment. The Blunts' soft flex, flat-base, and early rise make them extremely effortless, light, and playful. By contrast, the KTPs operate in a completely different mode... SKIBOARD AND DESTROY!
As soon as I initiated the first carve and felt them lock into the snow with an unwavering death grip, I just wanted to ride as fast and hard as possible. I went to the longest, steepest hill there, pointed them, and drove: full out speed with double hand-dragging carves. As much as I love the Blunts, the stiffness and camber of the KTPs allows them to grip the snow so much better when going fast, and even though they're only a short bit longer, the stiffness and camber makes them much more stable at high speed. I took a quick lap through the park, and the problems I had with the flex of the Blunts causing them to give out on sketchy landings were gone.... replaced with rock-solid stability.
So my take-aways from this:
1. The Blunts are definitely the #1 board I would recommend to almost anyone who wants to try skiboarding. They are effortless and playful, and they can handle any conditions that I've encountered so far. The ride they provide essentially defines skiboarding.
2. I would still recommend the KTPs to anyone who wants the classic skiboard feel, but prefers to ride aggressively. Riding the Blunts for all of this season makes me appreciate the power that the KTPs have to ride fast and hard.
And some new questions...
1. I haven't gotten to ride the Blunts in west coast powder yet, but I have a suspicion that in spite of their decreased length, they may actually provide an easier ride than the KTPs. The KTPs handle deep powder good with plenty of float, especially in the set back position, but you always have to lean back. I think the rocker and soft flex on the Blunts might give them an upper hand.
2. I really am wondering if it is the stiffness or camber that makes the difference in the ride characteristics. More specifically, I wonder if a stiff flat/rocker design would offer both the stability of the KTP with the playfulness of the Blunts.
3. I wonder why the KTPs look so "long and skinny"...
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