Powsurf/WakeSkate/NoBoard

[wizard_of_aahhhs]

So I want to branch out into snow-surfing, the whole pow surf movement looks sick and I want in, although the boards out on the market are expensive as hell, my thought was to take a wakeskate and use it on snow. Thoughts? already tried?

 

[iLLbiLLy]

I've got a 2015 Grassroots Powder Slut and it's soooo much fun. Rode a 2016 model with the 3d base and it's even better than I could imagine. 20% lighter and the new base allows it to almost edge on firmer snow (huge when you're crossing tracks).

A wakeskate would probably work ok depending on the snow conditions, but it's not going to be anywhere near as good as the real thing.

 

[wizard_of_aahhhs]

I've got a 2015 Grassroots Powder Slut and it's soooo much fun. Rode a 2016 model with the 3d base and it's even better than I could imagine. 20% lighter and the new base allows it to almost edge on firmer snow (huge when you're crossing tracks).

A wakeskate would probably work ok depending on the snow conditions, but it's not going to be anywhere near as good as the real thing.

I love the grassroots boards and want one badly, but I just cant afford it. Also have looked into doing my own pressing and shaping to build my own, any experience with that?

 

[gapersarefriends]

burton throwbacks are 130, and signal makes one for like 100

 

[ReetsAdeets]

Do you think the wakeskates not having any flex will be an issue? If we never ride them at the resort or really on packed snow at all I think it would be fine. I feel like the ones the Provos and stuff use don't have any flex but I don't know...

 

[wizard_of_aahhhs]

burton throwbacks are 130, and signal makes one for like 100

Yeah thats more of a snurfer and not what I am looking for, I am talking a true (no rope pulling up the nose) pow surfer

Do you think the wakeskates not having any flex will be an issue? If we never ride them at the resort or really on packed snow at all I think it would be fine. I feel like the ones the Provos and stuff use don't have any flex but I don't know...

I considered that, but I feel like with this short kind of board and not using it on firm groomed trails that flex isn't needed, that just rocker will get the job done, but then again this is only an assumption

 

[iLLbiLLy]

Do you think the wakeskates not having any flex will be an issue? If we never ride them at the resort or really on packed snow at all I think it would be fine. I feel like the ones the Provos and stuff use don't have any flex but I don't know...

All the pow surfers I've been on are stiff as 2x4 (at least grassroots and jones).

I think the biggest problem with the Wakeskate is just going to be how the shape floats and turns in powder. It would be interesting to see... I think you'll have the best success if the snow is light and bottomless.

 

[ReetsAdeets]

All the pow surfers I've been on are stiff as 2x4 (at least grassroots and jones).

I think the biggest problem with the Wakeskate is just going to be how the shape floats and turns in powder. It would be interesting to see... I think you'll have the best success if the snow is light and bottomless.

Well I'm glad to hear they're usually stiff. What was the camber like? I ended up getting a blank House one off Amazon for super cheap with foxxy-bang, and they say they have continuous rocker. I've ridden wakeskates and wakeboards on water quite a bit and I think they'll get better the deeper it gets. We've talked about sanding down the shape in the middle a little too if they're terrible.

 

[iLLbiLLy]

Well I'm glad to hear they're usually stiff. What was the camber like? I ended up getting a blank House one off Amazon for super cheap with foxxy-bang, and they say they have continuous rocker. I've ridden wakeskates and wakeboards on water quite a bit and I think they'll get better the deeper it gets. We've talked about sanding down the shape in the middle a little too if they're terrible.

0 chamber to ALOT of rise in the nose (mine is a directional twin so it also has tail rise. This is one area where the wakeskate might struggle. While they do have some rise, it's not really drammatic. It might be hard to keep the nose from diving.

The other area is the square shape. When you turn a traditional tapered snowboard/surf shape on its side, the nose is elevated above the surface plane. A wakeskate has a much for square shape and you don't really get this as much.

But you never know how it will work until you try it. Now it just needs to start snowing again.

 

[wizard_of_aahhhs]

0 chamber to ALOT of rise in the nose (mine is a directional twin so it also has tail rise. This is one area where the wakeskate might struggle. While they do have some rise, it's not really drammatic. It might be hard to keep the nose from diving.

The other area is the square shape. When you turn a traditional tapered snowboard/surf shape on its side, the nose is elevated above the surface plane. A wakeskate has a much for square shape and you don't really get this as much.

But you never know how it will work until you try it. Now it just needs to start snowing again.

UPDATE: The wake skates absolutely rip, can carve nice S turns and get deep slashes, only issue is the snow has to be 6" or more of fresh for them to work, but that was to be expected. Gone out three times now with the wake skate pow surfers and its my new favorite thing to do