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After all the good reviews, last December I couldn't resist the temptation and got myself a pair of '22/23 Playmakers. I finally got to try them - over about 10 days - in almost all conditions, except very deep powder. Must say I cannot be happier about my decision.
I also experimented with several bindings set-ups, all center mount:
- using Spruce risers and Tyrolia Attack - was surprised by this one, something must be off with my bindings setup, as I was rather off balance, not comfortable at all. Same bindings a while back on the RCs resulted in a similar feeling, I didn't pay attention back then, just switched to non-release, but now that it adds up, I'll have to look into, should be a mounting issue, not due to the boards
- using snowboard Ride A8 ( flex 8/10) with the third Snowjam strap and softboots (medium stiff) - nothing of the above balance issue, softboots are immensely comfortable, nice feeling in both powder and hardpack. But the softboots have more ankle freedom that I'm used to, so I didn't stay long on this setup
- using RVL8 Receptors plus riser kit - I figured that the riser kit would add more leverage, that would be useful for carving on hardpack. This is the setup I kept for several days, the previous ones only for a few runs
As for the boards themselves, absolutely and totally love them ! For the first few runs on hardpack, the tips or tails were occasionally catching a little bit, Steeps mentioned this as well, so I took a gummy stone for a few passes on tips and tails, starting an inch or two from where the rocker starts, and this fixed the issue.
I think it was already said but it bares repeating: the edge hold is massive, equal to none in my experience, and them PMs being stiff, they provide you with a rock solid platform on which you slide with fantastic confidence. Especially in variable off piste conditions, when the snow is not that fresh any longer, and you get to some packed snow, or there's a thin layer on top of icy blocks or other variations. In all these situations the PMs just cruise along, no slippage whatsoever, they grab immediately to whatever is there and hold steady.
One other thing that stands to attention: these things want to carve hard and go fast. Put your weight into it, put them on the edge and they go so fast that you start searching for the handbrake
After I slightly de-tuned the tips and tails I could also slarve on them, but for this you need to have half an inch or more of soft snow on top of the hardpack, be it crud or warmed up or man made or natural snow. When you ride on very hard, frozen, close to blue ice, they cannot slarve, but this is totally normal and should not be expected. They will carve in these conditions, just that you need to put a bit more effort into it.
In any reasonable snow conditions the PMs are a blast, I haven't experienced any wobbling on them as it was mentioned, but I found that you need to ride more "in control" compared to other boards. On the LE125 I can go fast and be lazy and still feel steady, as the board is very forgiving, it goes over anything and smooths the ride, but the PMs are a different beast, they go equally fast, actually they go *through* everything, piles of fresh or crud, they are unfazed, but you need to stay in the driver seat, they will go wherever you want - but you do need to steer them.
Much like the LE125, they can handle anything in all conditions, I rode them both in whiteout circumstances, when you don't see where you're going (while on groomers, ofc), and the PMs bring you the same confidence, only on a more solid-feeling platform. And they easily excel the LE125 in off-piste conditions. Riding the PMs I would constantly go off groomers, even when the snow was no longer fresh, they really open up the mountain, as you know they will deal with anything you will find.
In 10-20cm of fresh powder they were just great, at first I was riding the tails quite a bit, but I'm not sure it's really needed, when I got used to them I started staying more centered and they were still going fine. I didn't have the chance to compare them head-to-head with the RCs in deep powder, but looking forward to it.
Oh, and talking about head turners - at every lift line I would have people asking about them
Big thanks to Greco for coming up with such a fantastic board !
I also experimented with several bindings set-ups, all center mount:
- using Spruce risers and Tyrolia Attack - was surprised by this one, something must be off with my bindings setup, as I was rather off balance, not comfortable at all. Same bindings a while back on the RCs resulted in a similar feeling, I didn't pay attention back then, just switched to non-release, but now that it adds up, I'll have to look into, should be a mounting issue, not due to the boards
- using snowboard Ride A8 ( flex 8/10) with the third Snowjam strap and softboots (medium stiff) - nothing of the above balance issue, softboots are immensely comfortable, nice feeling in both powder and hardpack. But the softboots have more ankle freedom that I'm used to, so I didn't stay long on this setup
- using RVL8 Receptors plus riser kit - I figured that the riser kit would add more leverage, that would be useful for carving on hardpack. This is the setup I kept for several days, the previous ones only for a few runs
As for the boards themselves, absolutely and totally love them ! For the first few runs on hardpack, the tips or tails were occasionally catching a little bit, Steeps mentioned this as well, so I took a gummy stone for a few passes on tips and tails, starting an inch or two from where the rocker starts, and this fixed the issue.
I think it was already said but it bares repeating: the edge hold is massive, equal to none in my experience, and them PMs being stiff, they provide you with a rock solid platform on which you slide with fantastic confidence. Especially in variable off piste conditions, when the snow is not that fresh any longer, and you get to some packed snow, or there's a thin layer on top of icy blocks or other variations. In all these situations the PMs just cruise along, no slippage whatsoever, they grab immediately to whatever is there and hold steady.
One other thing that stands to attention: these things want to carve hard and go fast. Put your weight into it, put them on the edge and they go so fast that you start searching for the handbrake
After I slightly de-tuned the tips and tails I could also slarve on them, but for this you need to have half an inch or more of soft snow on top of the hardpack, be it crud or warmed up or man made or natural snow. When you ride on very hard, frozen, close to blue ice, they cannot slarve, but this is totally normal and should not be expected. They will carve in these conditions, just that you need to put a bit more effort into it.
In any reasonable snow conditions the PMs are a blast, I haven't experienced any wobbling on them as it was mentioned, but I found that you need to ride more "in control" compared to other boards. On the LE125 I can go fast and be lazy and still feel steady, as the board is very forgiving, it goes over anything and smooths the ride, but the PMs are a different beast, they go equally fast, actually they go *through* everything, piles of fresh or crud, they are unfazed, but you need to stay in the driver seat, they will go wherever you want - but you do need to steer them.
Much like the LE125, they can handle anything in all conditions, I rode them both in whiteout circumstances, when you don't see where you're going (while on groomers, ofc), and the PMs bring you the same confidence, only on a more solid-feeling platform. And they easily excel the LE125 in off-piste conditions. Riding the PMs I would constantly go off groomers, even when the snow was no longer fresh, they really open up the mountain, as you know they will deal with anything you will find.
In 10-20cm of fresh powder they were just great, at first I was riding the tails quite a bit, but I'm not sure it's really needed, when I got used to them I started staying more centered and they were still going fine. I didn't have the chance to compare them head-to-head with the RCs in deep powder, but looking forward to it.
Oh, and talking about head turners - at every lift line I would have people asking about them
Big thanks to Greco for coming up with such a fantastic board !
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