Board: Jones Ultracraft
Size: 156
Camber Option: Directional camrocker. Camber through the inserts with more rocker in the nose and rocker in the tail.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Overcast skies, some snow falling, average temps, 7 plus inches of light blower snow, and soft groomers.
Flex: This board is STIFF! I mean it’s a plank, that’s for sure. You do get a little more give in the nose but a lot of that is due to the rocker more than anything. The torsional flex is almost non-existent and you have to drive your weight into it to notice anything.
Stability: I’ll say this, it’s a very stable deck. You can just plow through anything in its path and not worry about getting bucked around. There’s next to no chatter in this deck when on a groomer.
Ollies/Pop: You have to load the camber section up to get it to engage that rocker on the tail and when you do it will snap. Is it going to be a board that launches you? Oh hell no, but it’s more than enough to get the job done.
Butterability: Yeah I didn’t bother trying. Go for it.
Carving: The nice thing about this board is how stiff it is, it can really cut through anything in its path. When it’s on edge it just slices through the snow. Now with that said this is an aggressive board that you have to throw your weight into to drive it. Sure transitions from toe to heel are a bit less aggressive but they’re still very precise and powerful. It’s a deck that you have to be somewhat calculated and it lacks the nuances of the regular Hovercraft or the ability to ankle steer it.
Rider in Mind: Hard charging resort powder carver.
Personal Thoughts: This is too much board for me. It will always be too much board for me. That’s fine as I know who this board is for. With that said it’s still a very stable and precise powder carver. What I found was that in deep snow this board was easier to maneuver as the rocker on the tail would take over and allow you to manipulate it and get it to rise up. On a groomer it’s more direct and abrupt with how you push it through a turn.
Comparable Boards: Borealis Dark Koi, Ride MTN Pig, K2 Excavator
Recommended Bindings: Rome Cleaver, Burton Cartel X, Jones Apollo
