Stranda Snowboards

[Spenser]

I hear ya, but I would say that's debatable (what isn't). Again, because it starts in a bent position, the true resistance and support doesn't start until it's bent further. So, you can only mitigate it to a degree by making it stiffer, although yes it's definitely better, and I'd love if it were beefed up. Plus, you simply won't get the suspension effect and stability of camber. That's part of why I just love full camber, or no more than a little early rise.

The cadets I've seen, and the one I have, are very much early rise starting more than half way to the contact point (just checked mine - the lift starts about 3/5 toward the nose from front insert). If yours started rising close to the front foot, that's new to me! Anyhow, although it's mellow for my taste, I still feel confident on it. I can trust its nose more than a Shorty, that's for sure. But, that could be profile related more than flex - I'm not sure.

[Shredder]

Thanks for the insight @Spenser. On paper the tree surfer and bowlrider sound more my jam followed by the shorty but with them being $1k+AUD its a bit of a gamble with no Demo options here in OZ.

[Spenser]

First run yesterday on the cheater. Hoping to get a few more clips on it - I'm usually alone on groomer days

[alex]

What stance position people use with Cheater for carving? Reference stance position is not marked on the board, also, there is no 55cm stance (as in specs) anywhere on the Cheater , from the middle of each insert pack it is shy of 54cm and everything else is in 2cm steps. So, it seems that Cheater is designed around 22" or 55.88cm stance...

I guess reference position should be one step up from the middle in front insert pack and middle in rear? And centered stance (on edge) will be the most front position in both insert packs.

My stance is about 54cm, (+33, +12) but when I put bindings in the middle of each insert pack it is a lot of setback on edge, ~ 2". I probably should move each binding one step forward, but do not want to experiment too much, as each experiment will leave ugly marks on clearcoat, btw, not the best material for top finish.

[Spenser]

I would ride it with factory setback as designed, and you can change if you don't like it. Personally, I'm picky about setback and rarely stay in the factory position on most boards, but I find the cheater perfect. The middle of the insert packs is supposed to be reference - I think mine is about 54cm but would have to measure again - so yeah, not 56cm as advertised I ride about 22", and use the same angles (33/12)

[alex]

Thanks, I was impatient and already tried to move both bindings one step forward, it did make handling easier, but to be honest, not much. May try tomorrow to move back binding to the middle of insert pack, which will result in 22” stance exactly, more than my normal stance, but not critical.

Carving is already very easy on Cheater, much easier, than for example on Amplid Pentaquark, but everything else is not. Until now, I was polishing my carving skills, but with Cheater I feel like I need to practice skidding, to feel confident on slopes again.

[alex]

... there is no 55cm stance (as in specs) anywhere on the Cheater

Sorry, just noticed, that on top of the board is written “Stance 55”, in specs - 56cm, and in reality, (from center to center of insert packs) - 54cm. Center to center of insert packs is exactly 40mm setback on edge, as in specs.

[Spenser]

I may not be understanding correctly. Why do you need to practice skidding on the cheater?

[alex]

I may not be understanding correctly. Why do you need to practice skidding on the cheater?

Because handling of Cheater is difficult for everything else, except carving, like unplanned direction change, emergency stop, jumps, sidehits, etc. This is why I am looking for "better" stance.

I was reading reviews of many boards, I own, saying "difficult to skid turn", but never felt or even understood it until now. Not with Burton Sensei 170, Leaderbord 162, Straight Chuter 162 or Amplid Pentaquark...

[Spenser]

Ah I see. So the cheater is so good at carving, it's hard to do what it's not designed for I do understand what you mean.

It's not a board I'd want to ride if I lived in a place with more people or crowds, I can tell you that. It definitely likes bigger, clean lines, whether groomers or powder. That said, I don't find it hard to stop quickly/etc, but I'm very used to it, and usually have a lot of open space.