Summit Invertigo Rocker 118's
Atomic XTE 10 Demo bindings
We received 30 plus inches a few days back and now it was time to get out to checkout some new boards. So I got out yesterday on a set of Summit Invertigo Rocker 118's.
Conditions
Slopes had been pretty well skied off, with lots of spots 1 ft of heavy powder, crud, ice etc. Grooves and piles of heavy snow all over the place - No pure fresh light powder other than in the glads.
I have "RVL8" Rockered Condors, "Spruce Mountain" 125 LE and Sherpas. The Spruce 125 LE's has been my go to boards period. I love them. Other than deeper powder (over 8") they are a one board does all for me.
If the powder is deeper or I am in fresh powder glades I could go to RC's or Shirpa's. I would switch to my Sherpa in all out powder in set back position. I had the chance to get out on the RC's in deep powder and liked the ability to stay centered and float really well.
Here is my take on the 118s. I thought this may be of interest since I don't see much about them out there. I am 6' and around 180 pounds with out gear and extra clothing.
The Summit Rocker 118s are great in the conditions I loved my 125s in and more! I do not get the chance for clean deep powder but these float so well I hope some one gets them out and rights a review.
Board specs - hope this makes some sense -
Full contact point measured from tip to contact and tail to contact 68.5 cm spread, (they ski like they are short in this area) camber section 61cm inside of that about 2 to 3mm camber (leaves 7.5 cm contacting ground with no load), 23cm last base contact point to front of board, 21cm last contact to tail, 115.6 total length top of tip to top of tail. Factory mount binding seem to be set back about 2cm in standard settings. Make any sense? A bit of an engineer here.
A)They are firmer in flex than the 125LE's, which I like. I believe the firmness of the board helps transfer lift in powder. I felt more support from the board forward and aft when I needed it.
B)They seem to me to be easier to initiate turns with. Most likely because slight camber "2 to 3mm" and asymmetrical board.
C)For some reason I am able to switch to fakey at speed and back again easier than with my 125s or any other board for that matter. I also carve in fakey pretty easy. I am not sure why as these do have some camber.
D)With my 125 LE's I can hear the tips slap on chopped up hard pack at times. Not an issue at all just softer tips so they can bounce a bit. None of that with the 118s.
E)These felt light. I have not weighed the boards but it was a perception. Should make little difference in reality. Maybe I will tire less in the long run.
F)These do have 2mm or so camber but I couldn't feel it, although it could be the reason for faster turn initiation and easier control. Not that extra control was needed, but its there.
G)The 7 cm reduction in length compared to the 125LE is actually quite nice with no apparent loss of anything. Yet gain in control.
H)These boards are fast. I use F4 paste wax as I am not setup yet for hot wax and I keep up with my sons skiing easily.
I)The top sheet on the board is quite amazing. Not sure how its done or what it is but, so far very durable, cool look. Looks like a clear coat of snake skin. You can't see it in the pictures.
End result:
These boards will take the place of my 125 LE boards. I have headed into the glads with them more and they have performed well. Do remember I am in the North East our general conditions apply. I look forward to getting out in fresh new powder to see how they do as well. I did get out in about 1 plus feet of blown powder and they were a blast, great lift, easy carving etc. We will have to see if they take the place of other boards. First impressions leave me wondering which boards will be redundant or obsolete. Although I have no issue with redundancy's. I do see these as my new goto boards. I may even start bringing only these to the mountain. They do it all.
Just a side note. I had a woman I have been helping with ski boarding all on corduroy, switch to my 118 boards from her favorite boards "87 Jades". We switched after getting off the lift at the top. A big plus with these bindings. I skied down on the Jades and had to grab another set of boards at the lodge. She finished the day on them. She said they felt easier than the Jades to ski.
I have now skied them @ Stow, Ragged, Wachusett. Wachusett in about every condition, Ragged in the perfect 20 degree day groomed to perfection (glades as well) and Stow with snow coming down on and off heavy at times, wind, ice, powder 6" to 8". I am liking these more and more each time I ski them. May be the board for New England. I forgot to mention I don't do parks so nothing on that from me.
Pro's - Demo binding allows you to share with anyone with interest at any time and any place, as well as move boot forward and back of center as you feel needed.
Con's ? - No 4x10 mounting inserts, some local shops refuse to mount bindings, Summit of course will mount several binding types.
Atomic XTE 10 Demo bindings
We received 30 plus inches a few days back and now it was time to get out to checkout some new boards. So I got out yesterday on a set of Summit Invertigo Rocker 118's.
Conditions
Slopes had been pretty well skied off, with lots of spots 1 ft of heavy powder, crud, ice etc. Grooves and piles of heavy snow all over the place - No pure fresh light powder other than in the glads.
I have "RVL8" Rockered Condors, "Spruce Mountain" 125 LE and Sherpas. The Spruce 125 LE's has been my go to boards period. I love them. Other than deeper powder (over 8") they are a one board does all for me.
If the powder is deeper or I am in fresh powder glades I could go to RC's or Shirpa's. I would switch to my Sherpa in all out powder in set back position. I had the chance to get out on the RC's in deep powder and liked the ability to stay centered and float really well.
Here is my take on the 118s. I thought this may be of interest since I don't see much about them out there. I am 6' and around 180 pounds with out gear and extra clothing.
The Summit Rocker 118s are great in the conditions I loved my 125s in and more! I do not get the chance for clean deep powder but these float so well I hope some one gets them out and rights a review.
Board specs - hope this makes some sense -
Full contact point measured from tip to contact and tail to contact 68.5 cm spread, (they ski like they are short in this area) camber section 61cm inside of that about 2 to 3mm camber (leaves 7.5 cm contacting ground with no load), 23cm last base contact point to front of board, 21cm last contact to tail, 115.6 total length top of tip to top of tail. Factory mount binding seem to be set back about 2cm in standard settings. Make any sense? A bit of an engineer here.
A)They are firmer in flex than the 125LE's, which I like. I believe the firmness of the board helps transfer lift in powder. I felt more support from the board forward and aft when I needed it.
B)They seem to me to be easier to initiate turns with. Most likely because slight camber "2 to 3mm" and asymmetrical board.
C)For some reason I am able to switch to fakey at speed and back again easier than with my 125s or any other board for that matter. I also carve in fakey pretty easy. I am not sure why as these do have some camber.
D)With my 125 LE's I can hear the tips slap on chopped up hard pack at times. Not an issue at all just softer tips so they can bounce a bit. None of that with the 118s.
E)These felt light. I have not weighed the boards but it was a perception. Should make little difference in reality. Maybe I will tire less in the long run.
F)These do have 2mm or so camber but I couldn't feel it, although it could be the reason for faster turn initiation and easier control. Not that extra control was needed, but its there.
G)The 7 cm reduction in length compared to the 125LE is actually quite nice with no apparent loss of anything. Yet gain in control.
H)These boards are fast. I use F4 paste wax as I am not setup yet for hot wax and I keep up with my sons skiing easily.
I)The top sheet on the board is quite amazing. Not sure how its done or what it is but, so far very durable, cool look. Looks like a clear coat of snake skin. You can't see it in the pictures.
End result:
These boards will take the place of my 125 LE boards. I have headed into the glads with them more and they have performed well. Do remember I am in the North East our general conditions apply. I look forward to getting out in fresh new powder to see how they do as well. I did get out in about 1 plus feet of blown powder and they were a blast, great lift, easy carving etc. We will have to see if they take the place of other boards. First impressions leave me wondering which boards will be redundant or obsolete. Although I have no issue with redundancy's. I do see these as my new goto boards. I may even start bringing only these to the mountain. They do it all.
Just a side note. I had a woman I have been helping with ski boarding all on corduroy, switch to my 118 boards from her favorite boards "87 Jades". We switched after getting off the lift at the top. A big plus with these bindings. I skied down on the Jades and had to grab another set of boards at the lodge. She finished the day on them. She said they felt easier than the Jades to ski.
I have now skied them @ Stow, Ragged, Wachusett. Wachusett in about every condition, Ragged in the perfect 20 degree day groomed to perfection (glades as well) and Stow with snow coming down on and off heavy at times, wind, ice, powder 6" to 8". I am liking these more and more each time I ski them. May be the board for New England. I forgot to mention I don't do parks so nothing on that from me.
Pro's - Demo binding allows you to share with anyone with interest at any time and any place, as well as move boot forward and back of center as you feel needed.
Con's ? - No 4x10 mounting inserts, some local shops refuse to mount bindings, Summit of course will mount several binding types.
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