the BMB

Hi all,

now i've already done some searching on these forums and there are a couple of threads with the same topic but none with definitive answers.

I'm going to be buying my first board, I'm 6'1, 180lbs and wear a 10.5 boot. I don't want a quiver, just one all mountain board.

I've been looking at either the 158 hero or 157 joystick. From what i've read the only difference is that the joystick is stiffer. What are the advantages of a stiffer vs more flexible board, for what activities are they more suited for. The 1cm extra length on the Hero is probably better for my height, but then again its only 1cm.

I reside in Australia and to put it bluntly our snow seasons over here are essentially crap compared to what you guys get in the US/Can. So i'm not really going to see much pow.

I've also read comments about the more flexibile hero being unstable at high speed and harder to hold an edge on ice. However, these comments have been rejected by other riders who reckon that the previous comments are from inexperienced boarders.

I also don't really have an opportunity to test the boards out on the mountain.

Thanks for any advice.

in general, a stiiffer board works better at higher speeds and in crappier/chopped up/firm snow than a softer board, and that doesn't mean a softer board is better at slower speeds or fresh snow etc

all rockered boards are somewhat more "unstable" than cambered boards, how much so depends on the type of rocker and he boards design

all snowboards work, and everything is a trade off, choose a softer board if you don't really need stabillity to charge big nountains and crappy snow (read: you ride alot of park)  and deal with its shortcomings when you do, or choose a stiffer board that will be better at charging and deal with it being slightly more work to ride in a park setting

I am trying to figure out the same thing, but with the Joystick 157 or the Hero 155. I currently have a 161 W Cruzer camber, does anyone think the 155 is to far down or to soft for me never riding a rocker? (me, 5'11,175,intermediate+,skiing az,co,ut)

if i were you i would go for the joystick over the hero if you are looking for an all mountain board. i have demoed the joystick a few times and it is an awesome board to ride in any type of snow. its got a great flex offering lots of pop and it carves very well. from my personal experience i would get a rocker board. they are so much more fun and forgiving to ride. i would also look into the flying V and the custom V rocker. i currently ride the 2010 Custom V rocker and its awesome all over the mountain