The Official Burton Thread

[kimchi]

But all the weather is like that. We had three consecutive years of “the girl” and now there is “the boy”… atypical climatic changes grouped together… (I don't know if in America the climatic phenomena that come from the Pacific are called the boy and the girl)

Took me a sec to realize this is a reference to "El Niño" and "La Niña".

But yea, retail is rough right now. Sucks that the biggest local retailer by FAR in the Bay Area is the big box store Sports Basement, but volume discount and diversified revenue streams are the rational approach in this environment.

California specifically had a terrible early season, and now suddenly the floodgates are open with a decent February and what's shaping up to be a Miracle March. Completely misses the typical holiday / early season bump, but hopefully the retailers can at least clear out their stock so they're not saddled with a bunch of carryover.

[McK21]

They are leveraging every channel they can get now, overall sales are pretty bad this year for everyone, or so the wind told me.

I would imagine sales are down for all snowsports in the Americas. First the economics and second the insanely weak winter snowfall for much of the country. One of the hills north of me was literally open for 3 days this winter. My local is already pushing next years season pass. Their lot has been half full at best all season. Idk what other countries are like, but I'm expecting to see early sales on gear.

in Europe the same. in the alps raining at atypical heights... southern Europe without snow... and suddenly very heavy snowfalls... but few... and very high temperatures... my local resort opened for 3 days this season... There is only one small local snowboard shop in that resort. Today I called them with a question. They must have cried with joy when they heard the phone ring. Where I live there were 5 snowboard shops. today only one. This surf shop belongs to a friend of mine. He sells snowboards out of nostalgia. It is not business for him…

B and other brands will use channels to dispose of their products. but they end up screwing the stores from which they then ask for large purchases of material...

But all the weather is like that. We had three consecutive years of “the girl” and now there is “the boy”… atypical climatic changes grouped together… (I don't know if in America the climatic phenomena that come from the Pacific are called the boy and the girl)

and now in tahoe there is a snow storm with a forecast of 2.5m, breaking all records...

How is it possible to maintain stores with these radical levels of uncertainty?
and it is impossible to compete against the large online megastores

Where are you from?
One of the worst seasons in south europe, west/north west Italy alps are a little bit better thanks to higher mountains range elevation, but Dolomites-north east we are living one of the worst seasons I've seen so far, last year at least was a little bit colder but not that much snow either.
I was planning to buy a new pair of bindings, I'm a long time burton bindings lover, but the weather situation luckily killed the monkey.

[eleddieo]

Anyone know the sidecut on the 158 high fidelity?

[jota]

I would imagine sales are down for all snowsports in the Americas. First the economics and second the insanely weak winter snowfall for much of the country. One of the hills north of me was literally open for 3 days this winter. My local is already pushing next years season pass. Their lot has been half full at best all season. Idk what other countries are like, but I'm expecting to see early sales on gear.

in Europe the same. in the alps raining at atypical heights... southern Europe without snow... and suddenly very heavy snowfalls... but few... and very high temperatures... my local resort opened for 3 days this season... There is only one small local snowboard shop in that resort. Today I called them with a question. They must have cried with joy when they heard the phone ring. Where I live there were 5 snowboard shops. today only one. This surf shop belongs to a friend of mine. He sells snowboards out of nostalgia. It is not business for him…

B and other brands will use channels to dispose of their products. but they end up screwing the stores from which they then ask for large purchases of material...

But all the weather is like that. We had three consecutive years of “the girl” and now there is “the boy”… atypical climatic changes grouped together… (I don't know if in America the climatic phenomena that come from the Pacific are called the boy and the girl)

and now in tahoe there is a snow storm with a forecast of 2.5m, breaking all records...

How is it possible to maintain stores with these radical levels of uncertainty?
and it is impossible to compete against the large online megastores

Where are you from?
One of the worst seasons in south europe, west/north west Italy alps are a little bit better thanks to higher mountains range elevation, but Dolomites-north east we are living one of the worst seasons I've seen so far, last year at least was a little bit colder but not that much snow either.
I was planning to buy a new pair of bindings, I'm a long time burton bindings lover, but the weather situation luckily killed the monkey.

South of Europe. I usually go to the Pyrenees. sometimes to alps. There are advantages in the Pyrenees. You can go a little further out of the controlled areas because there is less risk than in the Alps.

I have several B bindings. go to skatetech “now or jones”. They ride better than the B (IMO)

Dolomites, it has to be a luxury!!!

[alex]

For some reason, out of all boards out there, I want Flight Attendant 168 second most. First Cut 164 will be my first choice, but it is gone at least in Europe.

I was looking for replacement for my way too small HTH 156, which will be HTH 165w, but FA 168 is even better on paper, longer EE , longer sidecut, narrower WW…

However big question is if FA 168 will have good dampening, as Sensei 170, or no dampening at all, as Straight Chuter 162? Both should have same construction, if someone choose to believe Burton, but cannot be more different in practice.

Also, will FA 168 have very good edge hold in icy conditions, like Leader Board or Straight Chuter, or no edge hold, like Sensei or Stun Gun (all with same edge tune)?

The sale on Burton's Europe site is only available for few more hours and I afraid that there is only one (expensive) way to find out answers to my questions.

[casjcade]

Edge hold is relative, but fightattendant should be stiffer than sensei, which might mean more edge hold, and doesn't have as much carbon and rocker as straightshooter. Want a softer leader board, i think they had one?

[wino]

I haven't ridden a Sensei but I have a flight attendant 159 and also a 163 (but that one is a split). Edge hold is great, it's a powerful board and can definitely cut some trenches. The 168 would be a beast... I hope you are a big dude and / or like riding fast!

[wino]

Also I rode the 159 last month on the black piste into Lavancher bowl in Chamonix... first thing in the morning, in the shade, on bulletproof ice... and it was fine. It wasn't fun... but it was fine.

[alex]

Want a softer leader board, i think they had one?

I have the latest model of Leader Board with no 3D, I believe they made it a little bit softer. https://www.burton.com/fi/en/p/burton-f ... 09621.html The last leaderboardish model was First Cut, and in my understanding, it is even softer.

Maybe Power Wagon is leaderboardish this season? I was able to test it, feels aggressive, clearly different from Leader board or any “original” Burton’s board, but maybe softer. It has shorter EE, so not for me to substitute First Cut.

I guess even FA will be gone next season?

[alex]

I haven't ridden a Sensei but I have a flight attendant 159 and also a 163 (but that one is a split). Edge hold is great, it's a powerful board and can definitely cut some trenches. The 168 would be a beast... I hope you are a big dude and / or like riding fast!

Thanks, I am not big (5’10”, 185lbs, size 9-9.5 boots) and definitely do not like riding fast (top speed is lower when I carve better ), but I do like to carve, and Leader Board 162 feels way too small. I wish I was brave enough to get Leader Board 166 in first place or First Cut 164 last season instead of Amplid Pentaquark and Stranda Cheater, as I do not like either of them. Pentaquark has destroyed sidecut “more open toward contact points for easy turn initiation” and no modern steering geometry, as opposite of Burton boards, and Cheater is crazy stiff raceboard, does not even resemble snowboarding.