HARDGOODS 25/26

[eleveneightnate]

Finally got to ride again this past weekend, during a big demo day event set up by my main local shop (the hermano @ad1105 was helping out the Mervin tent, actually ).Only tried two boards; don't really have much interest in any other ones at the moment, tbh.

Rode both the W26 Capita Aero & the Mercury. Both didn't really excite as much as I was hoping, esp the Aero. Could be due to the fact it felt barely broken in, but the 57 Longo felt a lot stiffer underfoot than I expected and prefer these days. Rode it for a few laps (conditions were firm slush, fwiw) and wanted to switch out sooner than I was expecting.

Tried the 57 Merc right after it and felt a touch less stiff underfoot & had a touch more torsional flex than the Aero, but not by much. Stayed on the Merc longer, for maybe close to an hour ... But tbh, enjoy my 54 & 57 Passport much more. Similar flex overall, but a little less dead feeling. Was really surprised ngl, esp the Aero. The feedback I've heard since it released was it was not that stiff and rides pretty lively, which is what I was looking forward to. And I've been wanting to get a Capita board for a while now. Guess the wait continues ;p.

Haven't ridden the Aero, but I've never liked the Merc and think it's way too overhyped. But, I love the Navigator, Powder Racer, and Indoor. Hoping to snag a Resort Twin next. Most Capita decks are pretty mid-flex, lively, and light, so there's gotta be one out there for you!

[pow_hnd]

The feedback I've heard since it released was it was not that stiff and rides pretty lively, which is what I was looking forward to. And I've been wanting to get a Capita board for a while now. Guess the wait continues ;p.

Obviously taken with a grain of salt, but I've spoken to a few Aero owners and read reviews that say it's just a so-so deck, and that it honestly doesn't ride lights out in pow.

It's one of the few Capita decks that has the specs I like in a size I like and I was for a moment pretty sure one was in my future. I'm glad I decided to ask around a bit and read/watch a few reviews on it.

[Vanni]

Going to ride some of the 25/26 boards this weekend and will get some ride time on the new Kazu to see how the 'new' camber profile compares to the old version with the camber through the tail. I'm already planning on buying next year's Kazu to replace the Aeronaut as the DD, but we'll see how much I like it. Worst case, I'm back on my old Kazu.

let us know your impressions of the new Kazu

[SJF_NH]

I sold my Aero because it wasn't damp enough for our chunky frozen eastern snow. I liked the board overall, but I rode it back to back quite a few days with my Banked Country and the BC handled everything no problem, bashiing through the chop, etc. In the same conditions I felt like I was continually getting knocked off my line on the Aero, especially in frozen banged up snow on the steeps.

Having said that, I have a current year Kazu still in the wrapper that I'm hoping will be damper, looking forward to taking some laps on it soon.

[G.D.]

The feedback I've heard since it released was it was not that stiff and rides pretty lively, which is what I was looking forward to. And I've been wanting to get a Capita board for a while now. Guess the wait continues ;p.

Obviously taken with a grain of salt, but I've spoken to a few Aero owners and read reviews that say it's just a so-so deck, and that it honestly doesn't ride lights out in pow.

It's one of the few Capita decks that has the specs I like in a size I like and I was for a moment pretty sure one was in my future. I'm glad I decided to ask around a bit and read/watch a few reviews on it.

My thoughts exactly!

Sidenote, seen someone posted the Resort Twin on here recently. That was heavily enjoyed by one of the guys in the crew looking for something more chill & fun to compliment a 52 Dart. Next random that tried it after was raving about the same SB Resort Twin and wanted to buy the demo right then and there lol. Guess that's something to try, for whoever looking for a fun mid to soft-ish flex that's stable enough.

That & Lib Mayhem Rocket 57.5 was the board of the day, for the 10US+ dudes in our crew that rode that day. They all wanted to get back on it and we're hooked. Lively & fun, but stable when they pushed it, esp majority of them above 190lbs+ and >10US boots. Just the aesthetic the only hindrance haha.

[drmoebius]

well not like that, you can ofcourse get cheaper labour from neighbour countries etc, in finland the "cheap" workers come from estonia even cheaper from latvia and cheapest from lithuania.

and they will be given a minimum wage contract as it is but usually when they work as contractors so they can be paid even less.

i think in aus there is no minimun wage so you can just give them a deal and aus general income is about 55k and slovenian 25k so its simple you can get cheaper labour from there.

AUS would be Australia; Austria is AUT ...

but anyway, there is a minimum wage in Austria, we basically have collective bargaining agreements specific to different jobs, i.e. the CBA for a hairdresser is different than the one for someone working as a welder or so.

if the slovenian workers in the mothership do work there as contractors, then yes, they might be paid less - but as you said, they obviously still earn more than they would if they worked in Slovenia.

btw, I live in an area in Austria where loads go to work in Switzerland because there they earn more...

[Kevington]

I'll get on the Aeronaut at the weekend. I have similar reservations that on paper it's great but on snow it wont be damp enough for my current tastes. I'll bring the Banked Country too so I can always return to Damp City if I get homesick.
I feel a bit weird about it but I can see myself just having a small Mervin quiver going forward. They only have a few boards that work for me but the ride feel is just super nice.

[Kevington]

That & Lib Mayhem Rocket 57.5 was the board of the day, for the 10US+ dudes in our crew that rode that day. They all wanted to get back on it and we're hooked. Lively & fun, but stable when they pushed it, esp majority of them above 190lbs+ and >10US boots. Just the aesthetic the only hindrance haha.

Do you know if the Rocket has changed for 26? I've had my eye on it as a pow/carve board that isn't too serious and there are a few from previous seasons available cheapish.

[Raaz]

That & Lib Mayhem Rocket 57.5 was the board of the day, for the 10US+ dudes in our crew that rode that day. They all wanted to get back on it and we're hooked. Lively & fun, but stable when they pushed it, esp majority of them above 190lbs+ and >10US boots. Just the aesthetic the only hindrance haha.

Do you know if the Rocket has changed for 26? I've had my eye on it as a pow/carve board that isn't too serious and there are a few from previous seasons available cheapish.

It's the same.

[YukonCornelius]

I'll get on the Aeronaut at the weekend. I have similar reservations that on paper it's great but on snow it wont be damp enough for my current tastes. I'll bring the Banked Country too so I can always return to Damp City if I get homesick.
I feel a bit weird about it but I can see myself just having a small Mervin quiver going forward. They only have a few boards that work for me but the ride feel is just super nice.

i loved my aero contrary to some of the others in here, sad i broke it so quickly... thought it was pretty lively, had a great amount of pop and was stable at speed. definitely a bit twitchy because of how thin it is, but i had been riding twitchy boards for a while so it felt fine to me. but like you, the banked country has become my work horse and i cannot wait to get back on it (haven't ridden since early march).