EzLounging

tp1_kenobi wrote: Thu Jan 02, 2025 3:20 am Taka is off the team next year. If you're thinking of nabbing his board, this would be the time.

Do you know who scooped him up?

He posted on his IG something along the lines of bowing out so the younger generation can have the dream of having a snowboard career

Vanni wrote: Tue Dec 31, 2024 5:55 am Nothing new, the new SickStick has already been posted in the forum, but also with the board come a nice little book with a little bit of specs and explanation of the choices.

What noticed, comparing to maybe the old Assassin from 5 years ago or more (for what I can remember, I checked at the shop and the amount of rocker in tip and tail was aboundant), I think after the rocker crazy years, now they have the camber zone a lot more extended, with just the right amount of rocker effectively needed in the board design.

If you notice in the drawing, the rocker in nose and tail is way past the insert packs. And this is a pow oriented board, I'm expecting a board like the assassin, to have even a bit less

I used it yesterday for the first time, with Jones Mercury bindings (back foot at the reference, and front one insert pack from the reference, in center board direction, so I gave the board a 10mm setback).
Not much snow coverage of the resort, just the slopes with artificial snow, but it snowed all day (outside of the slopes was impraticable), so we had fresh snow every run, and the slopes became messy during the day.
Honestly, I had a blast on this thing. For sure the great conditions early in the morning helped, but then it was super fun for all the day.
It's for sure the most longitudinally soft board in my active quiver (Kazu and Super 8). I'm not a freestyler, but I can bend and press the SickStick easily. The board mantain a nice pop, and surprisingly you can ollie like a camber-to-tail board (in the past, with tail rockered boards I had issues, because my automatisms was setted to ollie with a camber-to-tail board. For sure it was my fault, but this board maybe doesn't have a so big rocker in the tail, so it was quite similar to camber).
The width is right up my alley (250-255mm). Also I didn't have any issues with the tight 7m sidecut (my size is 153), but let's see what it behave in more normal groomers conditions. It grips well in hard snow.
It's a nice approachable board, I have to test it in powder, but the description of Wolle Nyvelt in the booklet, so far, is quite honest.
So far so good!

Salomon didn't have the Taka 161 from memory second season in (which would've been my preferred size) and I wasn't expecting him to leave given they released the EP a season or so ago. Props to him for stepping aside, but I feel the board he's designed is unique given flex pattern, width and ethos. I don't see Wolle working w/ any new comers into the HPS line.

Given the news, I'm very tempted on the 161 to have in the back pocket as I haven't ridden anything like this before, but have been eyeing the Gril Master for months...

was on the taka 61 most of last winter and i love it and never letting it go.
it feels well thought out and refined.
i realy enjoy the "calm" flex and nice pop on all salomon bamboo loaded boards.

MarkusM wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 8:37 am it feels well thought out and refined.
i realy enjoy the "calm" flex and nice pop on all salomon bamboo loaded boards.

great description, and I agree also for the SickStick

tp1_kenobi wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 5:49 am Salomon didn't have the Taka 161 from memory second season in (which would've been my preferred size) and I wasn't expecting him to leave given they released the EP a season or so ago. Props to him for stepping aside, but I feel the board he's designed is unique given flex pattern, width and ethos. I don't see Wolle working w/ any new comers into the HPS line.

Given the news, I'm very tempted on the 161 to have in the back pocket as I haven't ridden anything like this before, but have been eyeing the Gril Master for months...

there is a new shape coming next year in the HPS line from Luke Lund. I saw a peak of it on IG recently, i'll see if I can track the post down.
looked like a cross between Louif's & the Taka as far as overall shape goes. I'll hopefully get to check it out in person next week.

shape looks really fucking good but I’m a sucker for round noses with a squashed/square tail

MarkusM wrote: Tue Jan 07, 2025 8:37 am was on the taka 61 most of last winter and i love it and never letting it go.
it feels well thought out and refined.
i realy enjoy the "calm" flex and nice pop on all salomon bamboo loaded boards.

With the updated recycled ABS sidewalls and this comment....ugh...makes decision that much harder.