the BMB

Spent the last 3 evenings searching the forums but not able to find a definite answer so here goes.

What size Malolo should I get?????

My current boards are 2004 166cm custom, 169cm K2 Ambush and a 175cm Volkl Selecta (with an enclosed swallow tail)
I tend to ride the K2 if there has been no fresh snow, but as soon as it fall i swap to the volkl as I seem to struggle with the K2 in deeper powder, back leg burn, slow to turn, and generally not much fun. My ability (or lack of it) probably pays a part in this. The volkl has its good and bad points its fantastic in wide open powder fields, dead stable, really easy and relaxing
to ride a proper long board surfy feel to it, but again probably due to my lack of ability its a nightmare in the trees and
when tight turns are needed. Its ok back on the piste when the resort is tracked out but it wouldn't be my first choice of
board for groomers. I am prepared to sacrifice the bad points for the few "king of the world" moments as you are floating across a huge bowl.

But i often ask myself can I have that enjoyment more of the time, a Malolo might be just what I need and it will hopefully end up being by board of choice for 90% of my ridding (Selecta for 5% after 3 ft of fresh when I fancy a cruise and the Custom or K2 for the other 5% when its icy as hell and im stuck on the piste full time)

Looking at new old stock, as I can't really afford or justify some new ICS compatible bindings, managed to find a 2008 model
in 162 and 166.

The Burton site has always suggested you down size by 2-4 cms but is that 2-4cms from your normal all mountain board i.e. your custom or is it 2-4 down from you super tanker sized powder specific board.??

I'm 5'11, just the wrong side of 210 pounds (95kg) probably 220ish with all my gear and safety stuff on.

My riding is mainly in the European alps, 60% of it is what you would refer to as resort powder riding, off piste in 6inches+ of fresh stuff on top or old tracks, with a few hikes into the Backcountry with proper bottomless pow, no park, no pipe and definitely no rails!!. still saving up for a heli trip. Getting on a bit know, wrong side of 40 so non of these young mans tricks anymore. Poor snow and the custom will come out but touch wood I have normally had plenty of fresh snow at some point during my trips. The resorts and the time of year I visit mean I have fresh stuff to go at days after the storm. I drive to the resorts so one more board is no worries.

Should I go with a 162, and be slightly over the suggested weight limit in the catalogue but 4cms down from my 166 custom or go with the 166 malolo which has a upper weight range of 210+ but I have not down sized from my custom.

I imagine the longer board would be better in the deep and steep bowls but lose out to the shorter 162 in the trees and back on the piste.

Or will I struggle to notice 4cms difference and just get what I can find cheapest??

Or push the boat out and try to justify a 2010 model with s rocker? $500 more with bindings but the rocker may mean I can ride it a bit shorter.

Thanks for taking the time to help

Regards

Phil

go with the 166 the extra 4 cm in the woods probley wont matter much. with the 162 being over the weight is going to make the board fell less smooth. stick with the Malolo very nice board

the weight range, for starters, is only a GUIDELINE. The only places where it's really ganna matter is if you ride it HARD or if you really need the float. 10 pounds over, though, isn't even worth the time of day.

you don't down size because a board is rockered. Rockered boards, however, do float better so you can ride a shorter board in pow than you otherwise would. Still, though, there's no reason to downsize based solely on the fact that it's rockered.

Judging by your current boards I would probably wait until late season or summer, if money is an issue, and get a rockered board.

Take the time to go to a demo. Or find someplace that rents boards. Otherwise you're shooting in the dark.

First off, you don't need to buy new bindings for the channel system if you already have burton bindings. The new boards come with plates for non-ics bindings. The difference in feel is .... well, nothing to worry about.

The malolo, to me, rides like a normal board and has a floaty nose in the pow. So if you're used to riding big boards, just think of it as your custom for pow and get the 166. Your post does mention your difficulties in steering though and this would mean that the 162 might prove to be the wiser choice. It would certainly diversify your board quiver. You can ride the 162 centrered and if you get a big dump, just throw the bindings as far back as you can. This will turn the 162 into a 166 ;-)

The new s-rocker brings some new tech to the plate though. I have the 09 fish and have found that the s-rocker elevates the nose out of the way on hardpack, which makes it ride like a regular board.. I do find the malolo nose a bit 'hook-y' sometimes (but it could be a mental thing) and if I could choose to get either a '10 or something older, I would go for the '10. On the fish, the s-rocker really made riding pow SUPER fun. The regular-cambered older malolos perform more like regular boards and might perform better for you in steep holy sh!t backcountry (with the longer running length from the non-elevated nose)

if i were your size, id want the 162 (at least) no question.  id even like riding it at my size now, which is your same height, but im only 150 ish pounds.

id ride the 162 for resort stuff if there were more trees, and the 166 for open pow/bigger lines

Go with the 162. I ride a 158 and I am exactly your size. It works great for me in almost all conditions. When it's really deep, I pull out a 161 Piranha.

Not sure what your foot size is, but check the waist width out as well. I think the 66 has a much wider waist width...

Go with the 166, it rides small and will float you even in the deepest powder. You'll be able to move it around easily.

YOu're getting a POWDER board--why get a 162 and then find its too short. Then have to sell, ship, take a loss, etc etc --just get the 166---in pow you wont even notice it.

Good luck--its a sick ride!

 

The Custom and Malolo have a few things in common in terms of materials and flex, but the Malolo has a 20mm taper.

At 215 lb, I'd say the 166 is better for your weight.  If you have large feet, then the 166 is definitely the choice.  Only get the 162 if you use a Medium Binder and the manueverability in trees is a super-high priority for you. 

 

Since you're used to longer boards, why not ride the 166? More effective edge, more float, no real downside.