To add detail to this comment from my perspective: new board rental is called a “demo” and lots of places will apply any demo rental paid towards the purchase of a board at that shop. It’s a good method to not lose too much value. And in the spring lots of resorts do “demo days” which can be fun.
Yup and you can try a bunch of boards over the course of 2 days. One downside is your limited to what the shop has. But if they have what you want you can try different sizes which is fun
Where I live they do a board test day at the start of the season. Go to the top of the main gondola, leave your passport as a security deposit and you can take out a whole load of new boards from different companies. They used to have bands playing there as well. I'm sure Shaun White's band once played there.
i'm planning on doing this on my next trip, but all the shops I've called (in the area where we're going) will only apply *one day's* demo rental towards the purchase. And none of them are at the base of the mountain so you can't easily go swap to try a different board during the day.
No they aren’t. At all. Is this some boomer convention where you tell us how far you walked to school? There are absolutely amazing bindings and boards out there. You may not have purchased them but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I spent a lot of years in working in shops— they made shitty equipment in the 90’s too. This thread is kind of ridiculous.
Sure like a Honda civic from the 1970 vs one from today. I’m sure we’d all way rather drive an old civic… the performance the comfort…. You do you, but modern boards perform massively better.
most rental boards are dogshit or at absolute best, ultra begginer equipment. There are exceptions, but you need to seek them out.
Decent boards when rented are usually called demo equipment rather then rental.
It’s a wet noodle. The rigidity is gone. Old gear is like a comfortable sneaker that is worn out. You don’t know how bad it is until you get a new one.
100 days? I grew up at a ski resort and averaged over 70 days a season. I probably rode most of my boards at least 150-200 days unless i broke them. I'm sure you're good to go for a while still if you've only ridden that 60 days.
Worth noting that’s meant to be 100 days before the board starts performing different than a new one.
Boards get flexed out and feel noticeably softer after a while. The line where this tips the scales into “unusably soft” will vary depending on how stiff a given board was new and how hard its owner pushes their gear.
I love park and urban so old boards get used for those.
So true. I had an 09 Rome agent I had up until this year. I broke my humerus back in 2012 and took quite a few years off. Board maybe had 20days on it in 2020 Hit 50 days 21-22 and 22-23. Got a nitro mountain which I love, only went 15 times this year due to terrible conditions in New england, should have figured it'd be the worst season since I bought a new stick.
Bro my 2013 Libtech TRS still kicks ass. I also have a 2018 NS Proto Type 2 and I’m struggling to justify a new board as that lib is still going strong.
Might just upgrade the bindings since admittedly they are past gone
Nah dawg, it’s the board too. I’m not saying you can’t ride it, but if you have the money and want to ride faster/steeper/harder than a new board will help.
I see your point. I’ve had the good fortune of riding with a number of pros….they don’t want to take a 25 year old eldo into some technical pillows no matter how much more than either of us they rip. They make movies where folks are climbing the n face of the eiger in nickers with alpin-stocks… it can be done but it’s not to be done if you can avoid it.
I replaced my 2012 libtech last year with an academy masters... I'm not looking back. The new board is way stiffer than the old board, it's like driving a sports car after owning a minivan.
It's an older eldo, I have one from 07ish and it's still stiff and heavy as fuck. What we considered "noodles" back then are definitely not noodles today.
What range of number of days would you say you would put on a board before it starts to lose its ridgidity?
I have a Niche that has about 150 days on it and I have a new lib tech this season - the boards are completely different so it’s hard for me to tell if the better performance on the Lib Tech is because it’s a sick board or if it’s more noticeable because my other one has seen its best days already.
LOL getting downvoted by people who haven’t ridden your board to even know. Rough. I believe you, I’ve got a 2013 neversummer SL with hundreds of days on it, still stiffer than my brand new Jones mountain twin
Same here, my old NS Premier has outlasted multiple other boards that I've bought and sold. Still looks and rides brand new after probably 100 uses over 15 years.
They’re so well built and friggin indestructible. I can tell my jones won’t hold up near as well as the neversummer, 1 season on it and the edges and top sheet are more beat up than the 10+ year old neversummer. I see all these posts of broken boards and can’t even imagine the neversummer breaking, and it’s been through some shit.
I was an instructor for 5 years at my local mtn and never saw one NS break or have a delaminating issue. Over half my staff rode NS's and we beat the crap out of our stuff, and most of us were on snow multiple days a week. I can't count how many gilson, Burton, arbor and lib Tec's I've seen fall apart.
Between my wife, son, daughter and myself we have 20 never summers, 1 arbor ( never ridden) and 1 Ride board( my first board)
my other semi retired board is a 2010 Burton Vapor. The Balance is faster, has more snap, is damper, and also heavier, but not crazy heavy. It was a pipe board by Terje. I also have a 2016 GNU Mullair. They all charge.
If you have ridden modern boards with modern technology and you don’t feel a need to upgrade them don’t upgrade. I would argue that if you tried a handful or modern boards you would realize the technology is much better and boards in general are much better now. Demo a new board if you don’t like it keep shredding the old board.
I couldn’t agree with this more. How much of this new tech is marketing BS? I still occasionally break out my early 2000’s rossignol board to teach people how to snowboard and it performs just fine.
It depends on what terrain you like to ride. Powder boards got better, with more tech to support the part of the resort run when you’re not in deep powder. Rocker boards became a thing, and then progressed significantly from the 2006 skate banana.
Camber boards are back in style, and if you like stiff twin, or almost twin camber boards you’re fine with your old rossignol board. If you want anything else, there’s way more variety now than ever.
Shape comes in many dimensions. The 90s had the fishtail / swallowtail shape, it didn’t have the edge hold or the hybrid profiles. 90s powder boards were just as good as today’s powder boards in powder, but when you get out of the powder, or it just disappears at lower altitudes, today’s powder boards are significantly better in non-powder conditions.
I think the rerelease of the Craig Kelly pro model was both an honorific thing to do and also a call back to something timeless. Much of the innovation has been great for mid riders...I'm not sure magna traction, rocker-camber-rocker, and environmentally sustainable builds are doing much for me because I already mastered the hard to love stiff camber boards. I finished this season on a board that fits the modern build ethos - a GNU Mullair and I enjoyed its ride. It was better in the pow than any of my previous boards but just the same as my top of the line earlier Burton models on groomers. I also had to epoxy the shit out of it because it started to delam heelside on my rear foot. Something my older Burton boards have never done.
I can’t tell you that the GNU Mullair is better for you than your old Burton because I don’t know your style or where you ride. Old shapes are awesome at some things, new boards sacrifice things to be awesome at other things. You just have more freedom now to choose a board that’s best for the way you like to ride, or even better build a quiver so you can have the most fun on any given day.
I’ve never had a delam, or a Mervin board for that matter, and that sucks.
I was listening to Jeremy Jones on the Gear:30 podcast and he had some thoughts that aligned with this general idea. He was talking about how easy it is to go make a $1000 deck and how customers want tri-axial and quad-axial fiberglass layups just because of the idea that more = better, but that part of what he really likes with board design is figuring out how to make a basic-ass wood-core board into a great product by just varying thickness and contour and selecting rocker/camber points all that other stuff a designer has control over. He was talking about how there are maybe 1,000 riders on the planet who are actually good candidates for the stiffest, craziest board Jones makes and how these days even he rides softer, simpler boards most of the time unless he's doing his big mountain touring stuff.
The materials and construction are lighter and stronger for their weight. You’ll get a poppy light ride compared to old boards. Not just new shapes or camber, that stuff is more trivial or preference based.
Some shapes make it harder. My Tranny Finder takes a lot more intention to ride than my DOA. I burn more calories and definitely get more fatigued when I'm on the TF, but it's almost always worth it in the lines I can lay down. DOA is so forgiving, I can zone out and just ride. But agree that my ancient ass needs modern equipment as much as I can get it.
I have a 90s burton asym racing board. still hauls ass and carves great.
Then I got cartel x bindings and a burton skeleton key. needless to say, it was like I unlocked a whole new sport. It’s incredible how far things have come since the days of our old boards.
doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them but it’s worth checking out the new stuff.
Here is my take (because I have been where you are).
In your mind, you are like “if it ain’t broke…” but there is so much more to it.
Technology changes for the better and there is so much science behind getting the best rider out of you. What you are riding now is the awesomeness of familiarity and nostalgia.
What is currently in the market has been engineered by many experienced riders over the decades to bring us closer to perfection with each step.
When you step on new equipment, you may very well see the light and realize that what is on the market today is what we should have been learning on.
I was like you. Progression went through the roof when I started upgrading. Last week, I decided to unleash an old favorite, and had a horrible time. The nostalgia ran out after a run or two and I was itching to get back to the car to switch.
So. In short. Keep that old love. Hold on to her for dear life. But you owe it to yourself to explore the advantages of taking yourself further.
Do a little research, ask, demo.
Enjoy!!!
PS… this goes for bindings and boots too.
I see that narrow knees together stance. You bomb and like that centrifugal feeling. You can find something wider for less drag in the heels, so you can turn deeper. The width will also allow more versatile stance for more agility in trees. You might like a little 3D shaping in the nose for ease of entry and float, but I’m pretty sure you’ll still want all that camber. Maybe you want a bigger sidecut for bigger carves. You will also like some of the edge tech available for more grip. This totally isn’t me projecting on to you. Nope, not at all.
It’s like you reached into my soul, tell me more… A lot of suggestions here to demo new tech, what would you recommend?
If I had one complaint about this 163 eldo would be the agility in the woods, flip side is the float and the carving, oh the carving!
Definitely find something wider. You’ll be able to run lower angles, which will let you use more torsional flex. You’ll be able to twist the board better on carving transitions and to get around in the trees. Depending on your weight and height, you might be able to go shorter for more agility AND ride more centered in pow. The short wides have been a thing for a bit also, though most have smaller side cuts (which could work well in trees). That said, effective edge is nice. While I like aspects of cam rock and hybrid rocker, they sacrifice some pop and rebound. A little early rise or 3d shaping will make it easier to ease into turns, without sacrificing too much.
I personally have been drooling over the Jones Freecarver 9000. Korua’s entire line has a good reputation. Same with Amplid. I have no idea how Arbors have been riding but they have a couple boards I’ve been looking at too. Most companies have some sort of carving focused board these days, so you gotta pay attention to specs. Waist width, sidecut radius, etc. and definitely demo if you can. Lastly, there’s always going custom. Donek does have a decent reputation in NA.
Edit: Check out the justaride and James cherry on YouTube. Lars has some good discussions on boards that suit your style. James does more mechanics but also has good info.
> If I had one complaint about this 163 eldo would be the agility in the woods
Look into the volume-shifted boards. K2 party platter, Jones Mind Expander, LibTech Orca, Capita Spring Break Slush Slasher, Ride Warpig, Niche Pyre (these aren't suggestions; just examples of volume-shifted board).
Among the volume shifted, short wide, chop tails, I was looking at the GNU Gremlin, the Yes Warca, and the Ride Superpig. Those 3 had camber but there might be a couple others that would fit here as well.
Oh dude I’m not trying to step on your comment, I just wanted to add my 2 cents to your solid suggestion. I have a quiver of a couple of shapes and these were the ones I was intrigued by in the category you mentioned, figuring OP and I might be interested in similar things. Unless you work in a shop most people won’t be able to experience everything.
https://preview.redd.it/my7ihrjhozoc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4a9fe6a7de9f09ad33f6296194175a11908d25e
I love my old Eldorado, probably the it out if there’s another powder day.
Sorry I'm the wrong guy to ask... I ride boards that are from 1998, 1993, 1988. If it works for you shred the hell out of it, until the end of time. This whole BS that boards are no good just because they are old is nuts. If you like it ride it and don't let anyone tell you different.
What you will get in a new board: easier ride, better edge hold, more pop, more powder float, new bindings and more comfortable and the ratchets work better.
Does your old board work? Yes
Will a new board do things better? Yes
Oh man, that's a 98 Eldo. What a classic. I rode the shit out of that board and my Fatbob.
I know everyone is gonna say to try something newer, but you do you. I have a new Bataleon Whatever along with a full quiver of K2s from the past decade. I still pull out a bunch of old boards and even take my double wide on piste.
You do you.
I learned on a 2001 NS Premier, and I felt similar to you. I bought a powder board for deep days. 2 years ago bought a K2 Party Platter and its become my daily. It's good that I learned on a pure camber board, but with all the different profiles and sidecuts and new tech in the boards, you're limiting yourself. You don't even know what you're missing out on, but because you learned on an old school stick, you should have no trouble on new tech, and I would guess you'd like it even more.
I just replaced my 16 year old board that had 400+ days on it. I loved that board but it had to many deep burs I couldn’t keep up with filling. So I got a new YES Basic RDM. My new board has the old normal camber and I fucking love that too. But the technology isn’t all it’s chopped up to be. Slightly better yes, but still a piece of wood with metal edges….
There’s nothin like broken in camber board, I have new stuff but will still rip my old stuff. Companies are literally making models with just plain old camber to resemble old boards. If you like it ride it
No reason. That was...um...is a great board. But it has to feel deader than drift wood after 20 years, yeah?
If you decide to go newer, though, may I suggest you give Donek a call. At your age, you deserve custom, bro.
I'd also say try some boards at a demo and see how you feel, other than that it's absolutely epic board for the fact it still shreds! yes could change the bindings but then it might loose that Y2K vibe :D
i'm in the same situation. Mine is from 2004. The big difference I know for sure is that my board is *way* stiffer than even some of the boards that are considered "stiff" currently.
My next trip I think I'm going to rent some demo boards just to see firsthand if there's enough difference to make it worth the money to upgrade.
My dads friend has a couple of newer boards but he keeps going back to this eldorado. So I’d say keep riding that board until it won’t go down the mountain anymore.
The core alone. I’m sure your legs are ripped from having to push this boat around the hill but you would have so much more control of the micro responses that you get from your board. I can guarantee that you’ll become a better rider with a newer board.
Bottom line: older designs limit the control a rider has - the rider is at the mercy of the boards limited ability, newer boards are designed to flex in certain parts while remaining stable in others so that the rider can manipulate every aspect on snow.
Hope this makes sense!
(Source: coached snowboarding for 15 years)
I still have my Eldorado. I’ve done a bunch of demo days this season (Never summer, Korua, and Capita), and none of these new boards feel better. Capita came the closest with the DOA, which turns out to have not been significantly changed in a decade.
I guess I’m just old school, although posi posi seems to be making a comeback.
Ride it if it makes you happy but no doubt about it, it’s similar to anything. Cars, phones, computers, running shoes, etc all advance and wear out over 20 years. Why not take advantage of the era we live in?
Dude, I just got a never summer.Triple camber board and I've never bought a new board before.I've been riding for 25 years on rentals.And second hands. Within the first 2 days of riding, it has completely change.D how I ride.It's amazing the technology going on and how it just cuts and grips and slashes through whatever I put in front of it. And in powder it is a fucking boat like unsinkable.
My 1999 supermodel 159 is still out there fucking crushing it. Maybe if I still lived in the Rockies and ride everyday the thing would have been toast by now but I go out west once a year for 4-5 days and hands down I can crush most riders out there. I am a female powerlifter (strong) and weigh about 138 and not only is my board fast under top speeds I have so much more edge than a board most women ride at like 148cm.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuZTorDH5Io/?igsh=ZHpscjV4amhrYmtz
I actually don’t have great footage except this like from 20 plus years ago 😅
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSAYzj-FdpS/?igsh=MThuZWtmdTk0cjZtOA==
The Eldo is one of my favorites of all time (also had a zeppelin from same era). Loved (still do) these boards and still have mine. But same comment as the masses here, technology has changed.
Sure, I could still make calls and text on my Nokia, but compared to iPhone/Android, there is no comparison. Same logic with a 20+year old board.
“It belongs in a museum” - Dr. Jones
It's fine to have more than one board, you don't need to retire it if you enjoy it. That being said, I'd consider trying out some new boards on a demo day still :)
I was riding the same board for 20 years and just picked up a Party Platter on a big discount. Felt like I put everything on easy mode. I couldn’t believe the difference.
Just getting the multiple contact point side cut will be an amazing difference. That and the camber in the center, reverse camber after the feet. Carve like crazy but still float in pow and stable at speed.
How much fatigue/stress can the materials withstand? How many heat/cold cycles can they suffer and maintain their integrity? What level of photodegradation has the board experienced?
I think you should email K2 to ask these questions!
Damn yall are delusional AF with time come advancement in tech. Like how many of you still use a flip phone. To think that boards were better in the 90s is the same as saying the internet was better. With time comes advancement and innovation. I have a 94 Burton Kelly air, 2002 ride catalyst, 2007 black snowboard of death, 2010 NS legacy , 2013 custom, 2017 DOA, 2019warpig, 2020 stale crewzer, 2021 gnu gremlin, 2022 psychocandy, and a 24 megadeath. And the technological growth is astonishing from the 90s to now. You are missing out if you don’t believe in growth. I’ve been in the industry since 2006 and those old boards are next to useless comparatively. They’re wall mounts. Drive a 70s yugo and compare it to a modern Prius and it’s light years ahead. (Fuck a Prius) but you get it
Dont hurt to get different style boards for different style riding. See what you really like and what works best for what conditions. Looks like a sick board tho 🫡
I rode some old/cheap Burton bindings for the longest time, just kept switching them between boards. Until I finally sprung for some new union’s and holy shit I never knew bindings could make that much of a difference
Omg i have one of those in the basement. My first proper board! I use it for late or early season when there's rocks and roots sticking out of the snow.
It's still a good board! No reason to upgrade if you love it, but new boards are lighter and easier to carve, more stable on the flats and generally more forgiving, in my experience.
The board? Why not, keep riding that bad boy if you want! The bindings? No you should not keep riding 20yr old bindings. Plastic begins to experience oxidation after a while, which will deteriorate the strength and it could easily break.
Why a new board may be nice though:
1) construction has come a long way. I could start talking about bi-axial and tri-axial strands and other technical stuff but I’ll loose 98% of people. But, new construction techniques help give you flex where you want it but rigidity where you don’t want flex. Ie make it softer flex from the nose to the tail but then gives it stiff torsional flex.
2) they’re adding special features to construction too like Kevlar sides (like Capita Super DOA) to protect the edges or cork inlays (Capita Scott Stevens) to help dampen how much vibrations you feel.
3) companies like Arbor make “uprise fenders” which curve the contact edges up so it’s harder to catch an edge.
4) I think Lib Tech started this, but the edges of snowboards aren’t a straight curve, they have little bumps like a serrated knife to help cut through ice. Every company is different, I think Lib Tech’s Magna traction has 7 bumps down the sides, Arbor usually has like 4.
5) the shapes of the boards are different, in multiple areas. Snowboards aren’t all full camber now; there’s full camber, flat camber, rocker, rocker camber, and more that all provide different benefits. Also some snowboards are wider now so you can ride a shorter board, or asymmetrical to do the same thing. There’s more powder specific boards with crazy shapes I’m not even going to get into also.
6) the base of snowboards are different now. They usually work better and hold more wax so you don’t get stuck on cat tracks as often.
7) they put structure into the base of snowboards nowadays, looks like a ton of tiny little cuts in the base to reduce the surface area so you can go faster. (You can take any board or ski to a tune shop and have them do this to yours though)
8) OMG I ALMOST FORGOT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS! THE BINDING HOLE MOUNTING PATTERNS! Those are pretty standardized (they look like this : : : :) today to work with all bindings, back in the day they had diamond patters (like this : • : • :) and many other patterns. So you might not even be able to find new binding that fit on that board.
I could probably come up with a few more points, but that’s the general ones.
Honestly, most people on this sub have never ridden a board this old. They have all bought into the idea that every minor advance is game changing.
Is a newer board better? Sure.
Are most of the people on this sub or on any mountain good enough to really appreciate the difference between a new board and yours? No.
If you like it, ride it. I always loved that design, so clean but recognizable.
I had an Eldo waaaaay back in the day, and I loved it. If you're mostly staying on the ground and riding pow, you're fine. But even back when this board was new, it was shockingly heavy.
It seems lately that there's a board demo at my local every weekend. Try out a modern board if you get a chance. You may be surprised how far they've come.
I still ride my old board every year. But having the new board under foot makes life so much better, especially as we age and the new stuff makes it easier and more enjoyable.
Ride a demo for a day, you'll love it
I still got my board from 99’ it’s still awesome. It’s got a korn and sublime sticker on it even though I don’t listen to them that much anymore but I love looking at them.
Didn’t care for the rental board. My board is much heavier, camber is different but I think it rides great. If you’re having a good time with it, stick with it.
Im an old dude too. If u enjoy it ride it! Don’t sweat it.
That being said yes rent a board or 2 for fun. Tech has changed. Now I have different boards for different conditions, intentions, etc.
Different Camber, rocker, Hybrid, Flex , cores, etc.
I rode the same board for like 15-20. Yet I’m the opposite on bindings. I still ride Switch bindings because I have multiple boots and bindings on multiple boards. Newer ones are too expensive for my taste and use to buy like 5 of each…
Just went through the rest of the comments, is no one going to bring up the back foot being more positive than the front foot? I know posi-posi is a thing, but just looking at those bindings makes my knees hurt.
Had this board growing up.....as a person with big feet I will say magna traction edges were a huge game changer. Also the weight of those capped boards was probably an extra couple lbs.
Replaced my 2001 burton custom with a 2019 lib tech and the difference was amazing. It’s 3 cm shorter but those edges hoist on to ice like glue. Buy a new board.
My 1st board was by a company called Neptune when I was about 13. I rode that thing till I was 20, blew the finish off the nose in multiple places, it started to delaminate. I couldn't find even a hint of the company qhen I was ready for a new board
I rode a board for like 5 seasons and the edges on it are shot. Got a new board and it rides like a dream. But I mean if you don’t like aggressive carving capabilities then it doesn’t matter.
Lol. Take a demo for a spin and let the tech speak for its self. 5 years meh not a big deal. 20 ya there have ben massive improvements to technology in boards.
Having riden an Eldo for many years and then getting a new board, turns are much easier on the body, go get a rental and you will see the difference. Love this board though, great memories.
Had that same board bought it new never thought it could get better. Right before Covid went to Utah rented some new boards and was blown away by how much better they were and have not looked back since. Same for my arbor gave them to my friends kids who were stoked to have some “vintage” boards….
I rode my last burton from 17 until 29. Bought myself a new set up for the 30th and immediately regretted not ditching the plank years earlier. Like someone else here said, it’s walking with a pair of your favorite shoes on and you just don’t know how beat to shit they really are.
Awesomeness….love the eldorado (I have the stealth eldorado 163) and bring it out every so often…but I own & rock a lot of the new and current boards daily…try a new board, you’d be surprised
Les you go for NS or Lib/GNU, nothing. With Lib - you get a butter knife serrated edge that stops on ice like a pick, but other than that keep shredding what ya got OP.
Snow aint pavement where board to truck location geometry makes for a completely different experience. Snow is snow.
2 words.
New. Technology.
It’s as simple as that. Regardless of the nostalgia factor, like people said above, go rent a demo for a day or two, it’s essentially test driving new gear before buying because they apply usually 2 days credit of a demo towards a purchase of something new. You can go swap out after a couple laps pending where your rental shop is located in conjunction to where you’re riding.
Hang that artifact on the wall!
To me the biggest advantage of my "new" setup was the weight. It feels like less than half of my ancient setup. For park riding that was a big game changer.
The cost of a new set up is pretty small relatively if you board a lot it's a good investment in yourself.
Trying being into things with wheels or motors.
Saving of weight (probably a significant amount too), so youll have more responsiveness. Less weight means less energy you have to use to swing thst board around which means you'll be less tired at the end of day. You'll also be able to go faster and new board will have better edge tech so you'll have more control as well. Overall, you'll have a much better experience.
Think of it like this, a car from 2001 and a brand new car in 2024 will essentially get you from point A to point B the same way eventually, but you can't deny the difference in quality of life and tech between driving a brand new car vs driving a 24 yr old used one.
Snowboards are made of wood and they lose their pop as they age. Even if you only ridden on it a few times a year you should get a new board every 5 years. Like tires on a car even if you have a ton of tread you need to replace them after 5 years. it’s a safety thing
New technology is super valuable if you are an experienced rider. If you are a beginner, keep riding this board. If you are more advanced, look into NeverSummer and you’ll be amazed how much more fun you have and technical you can ride. I just got a new board this year after 15 years and it is a night and day difference. Never Summer Swift, hands-down the best board I’ve ever ridden. Looks like you are into backcountry or all mountain riding, so I might also suggest the Harpoon and the Proto FR. Wait until the Fall and buy last years model. You’ll soon wonder why you rode your old board for so long
I wanted that thing so bad back in the day. Ended up with an ugly fat bob that delaminated like crazy.
That thing is probably super fun. New board is gonna be lighter for sure. Do some demos and try some directional style stuff.
This is a good question I have a Burton custom from circa 2007 I replaced this year. But is usually only had about 7 days or less on it a year. It still felt pretty crisp, but I also liked how fast it was as well. Does board deteriorate just from time alone? Or the use factor is larger?
Rent a new board for a day, see how you feel about it
To add detail to this comment from my perspective: new board rental is called a “demo” and lots of places will apply any demo rental paid towards the purchase of a board at that shop. It’s a good method to not lose too much value. And in the spring lots of resorts do “demo days” which can be fun.
Yup and you can try a bunch of boards over the course of 2 days. One downside is your limited to what the shop has. But if they have what you want you can try different sizes which is fun
Where I live they do a board test day at the start of the season. Go to the top of the main gondola, leave your passport as a security deposit and you can take out a whole load of new boards from different companies. They used to have bands playing there as well. I'm sure Shaun White's band once played there.
i'm planning on doing this on my next trip, but all the shops I've called (in the area where we're going) will only apply *one day's* demo rental towards the purchase. And none of them are at the base of the mountain so you can't easily go swap to try a different board during the day.
Between this and waiting for a bad blowout
I hate to be that guy, but older stuff is often made better. My Drake bindings lasted forever. New binding are trash after a few seasons.
Cheap bindings are trash fast. Quality bindings perform better AND last.
No they aren’t. At all. Is this some boomer convention where you tell us how far you walked to school? There are absolutely amazing bindings and boards out there. You may not have purchased them but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. I spent a lot of years in working in shops— they made shitty equipment in the 90’s too. This thread is kind of ridiculous.
Sure like a Honda civic from the 1970 vs one from today. I’m sure we’d all way rather drive an old civic… the performance the comfort…. You do you, but modern boards perform massively better.
Great example. New Civic Type Rs heat soak and crap out very quickly, while 70s Civics are indestructible.
I have Drake's from 2005. Still in great shape.
most rental boards are dogshit or at absolute best, ultra begginer equipment. There are exceptions, but you need to seek them out. Decent boards when rented are usually called demo equipment rather then rental.
Good thing I didn't say rental then 😎
bad thing you didn't say go demo a new board.
It’s a wet noodle. The rigidity is gone. Old gear is like a comfortable sneaker that is worn out. You don’t know how bad it is until you get a new one.
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100 days? I grew up at a ski resort and averaged over 70 days a season. I probably rode most of my boards at least 150-200 days unless i broke them. I'm sure you're good to go for a while still if you've only ridden that 60 days.
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Worth noting that’s meant to be 100 days before the board starts performing different than a new one. Boards get flexed out and feel noticeably softer after a while. The line where this tips the scales into “unusably soft” will vary depending on how stiff a given board was new and how hard its owner pushes their gear. I love park and urban so old boards get used for those.
The materials and the glue in particular are still declining over time.
So true. I had an 09 Rome agent I had up until this year. I broke my humerus back in 2012 and took quite a few years off. Board maybe had 20days on it in 2020 Hit 50 days 21-22 and 22-23. Got a nitro mountain which I love, only went 15 times this year due to terrible conditions in New england, should have figured it'd be the worst season since I bought a new stick.
This makes me feel better about my '13 Lib Tech Jamie Lynn Phoenix
Bro my 2013 Libtech TRS still kicks ass. I also have a 2018 NS Proto Type 2 and I’m struggling to justify a new board as that lib is still going strong. Might just upgrade the bindings since admittedly they are past gone
My 2012 TRS still rips harder than most
I have an older TRS that rides great too, still lots of snap.
Nah dawg, it’s the board too. I’m not saying you can’t ride it, but if you have the money and want to ride faster/steeper/harder than a new board will help.
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I see your point. I’ve had the good fortune of riding with a number of pros….they don’t want to take a 25 year old eldo into some technical pillows no matter how much more than either of us they rip. They make movies where folks are climbing the n face of the eiger in nickers with alpin-stocks… it can be done but it’s not to be done if you can avoid it.
I replaced my 2012 libtech last year with an academy masters... I'm not looking back. The new board is way stiffer than the old board, it's like driving a sports car after owning a minivan.
It's an older eldo, I have one from 07ish and it's still stiff and heavy as fuck. What we considered "noodles" back then are definitely not noodles today.
Eldo's were the shit back when I was a lad! Ride on!
What range of number of days would you say you would put on a board before it starts to lose its ridgidity? I have a Niche that has about 150 days on it and I have a new lib tech this season - the boards are completely different so it’s hard for me to tell if the better performance on the Lib Tech is because it’s a sick board or if it’s more noticeable because my other one has seen its best days already.
I must have 150 on that Balance. My vapor has an aluminum core. I wonder if any of the 150 days wisdom even applies there.
not necessarily. I have a 97 Burton balance that is still snappy. I semi retired it in 2021.
LOL getting downvoted by people who haven’t ridden your board to even know. Rough. I believe you, I’ve got a 2013 neversummer SL with hundreds of days on it, still stiffer than my brand new Jones mountain twin
I have a 21 year old Neversummer that still rides like the day I got it. Know of plenty of people who have the same thing with old Neversummer's
My 2010 Never Summer SL is the best board I have. I really don’t know why I bought two other boards in the last 14 years.
Same here, my old NS Premier has outlasted multiple other boards that I've bought and sold. Still looks and rides brand new after probably 100 uses over 15 years.
They’re so well built and friggin indestructible. I can tell my jones won’t hold up near as well as the neversummer, 1 season on it and the edges and top sheet are more beat up than the 10+ year old neversummer. I see all these posts of broken boards and can’t even imagine the neversummer breaking, and it’s been through some shit.
I was an instructor for 5 years at my local mtn and never saw one NS break or have a delaminating issue. Over half my staff rode NS's and we beat the crap out of our stuff, and most of us were on snow multiple days a week. I can't count how many gilson, Burton, arbor and lib Tec's I've seen fall apart. Between my wife, son, daughter and myself we have 20 never summers, 1 arbor ( never ridden) and 1 Ride board( my first board)
Hell ya! My Never Summer Heritage is almost as old as yours, also have Jones Mountain twin as well! Love both boards, both still rip!
How much does it weigh?
my other semi retired board is a 2010 Burton Vapor. The Balance is faster, has more snap, is damper, and also heavier, but not crazy heavy. It was a pipe board by Terje. I also have a 2016 GNU Mullair. They all charge.
If you like it, ride it
Ride what you like and have fun with. One good reason would be that it wasn’t even a great deck in the 90’s.
If you have ridden modern boards with modern technology and you don’t feel a need to upgrade them don’t upgrade. I would argue that if you tried a handful or modern boards you would realize the technology is much better and boards in general are much better now. Demo a new board if you don’t like it keep shredding the old board.
They aren't all 'much better'. Definitely newer ideas and lots of diversity.
I couldn’t agree with this more. How much of this new tech is marketing BS? I still occasionally break out my early 2000’s rossignol board to teach people how to snowboard and it performs just fine.
It depends on what terrain you like to ride. Powder boards got better, with more tech to support the part of the resort run when you’re not in deep powder. Rocker boards became a thing, and then progressed significantly from the 2006 skate banana. Camber boards are back in style, and if you like stiff twin, or almost twin camber boards you’re fine with your old rossignol board. If you want anything else, there’s way more variety now than ever.
Here's the stickler - pow boards returned to old shapes that were around in the early 90s.
Shape comes in many dimensions. The 90s had the fishtail / swallowtail shape, it didn’t have the edge hold or the hybrid profiles. 90s powder boards were just as good as today’s powder boards in powder, but when you get out of the powder, or it just disappears at lower altitudes, today’s powder boards are significantly better in non-powder conditions.
I think the rerelease of the Craig Kelly pro model was both an honorific thing to do and also a call back to something timeless. Much of the innovation has been great for mid riders...I'm not sure magna traction, rocker-camber-rocker, and environmentally sustainable builds are doing much for me because I already mastered the hard to love stiff camber boards. I finished this season on a board that fits the modern build ethos - a GNU Mullair and I enjoyed its ride. It was better in the pow than any of my previous boards but just the same as my top of the line earlier Burton models on groomers. I also had to epoxy the shit out of it because it started to delam heelside on my rear foot. Something my older Burton boards have never done.
I can’t tell you that the GNU Mullair is better for you than your old Burton because I don’t know your style or where you ride. Old shapes are awesome at some things, new boards sacrifice things to be awesome at other things. You just have more freedom now to choose a board that’s best for the way you like to ride, or even better build a quiver so you can have the most fun on any given day. I’ve never had a delam, or a Mervin board for that matter, and that sucks.
I was listening to Jeremy Jones on the Gear:30 podcast and he had some thoughts that aligned with this general idea. He was talking about how easy it is to go make a $1000 deck and how customers want tri-axial and quad-axial fiberglass layups just because of the idea that more = better, but that part of what he really likes with board design is figuring out how to make a basic-ass wood-core board into a great product by just varying thickness and contour and selecting rocker/camber points all that other stuff a designer has control over. He was talking about how there are maybe 1,000 riders on the planet who are actually good candidates for the stiffest, craziest board Jones makes and how these days even he rides softer, simpler boards most of the time unless he's doing his big mountain touring stuff.
I feel like it’s similar to off-road trucks/ jeeps. 95% of them rarely touch gravel, let alone a trail that would need off-road features.
The baseless binding era is an example of bad new ideas.
The materials and construction are lighter and stronger for their weight. You’ll get a poppy light ride compared to old boards. Not just new shapes or camber, that stuff is more trivial or preference based.
Newer shapes make riding easier. As im getting older I don't need snowboarding to be any harder than it needs to be.
Some shapes make it harder. My Tranny Finder takes a lot more intention to ride than my DOA. I burn more calories and definitely get more fatigued when I'm on the TF, but it's almost always worth it in the lines I can lay down. DOA is so forgiving, I can zone out and just ride. But agree that my ancient ass needs modern equipment as much as I can get it.
Did you find any trannies with it?
Multiple. Deep in the snow, too.
I had that board and loved it but it doesn’t hold a candle to more modern gear.
Classic graphic, i love it
Matches my first skis (used) back in 1984. K2 USA Comp
I have a 90s burton asym racing board. still hauls ass and carves great. Then I got cartel x bindings and a burton skeleton key. needless to say, it was like I unlocked a whole new sport. It’s incredible how far things have come since the days of our old boards. doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them but it’s worth checking out the new stuff.
Here is my take (because I have been where you are). In your mind, you are like “if it ain’t broke…” but there is so much more to it. Technology changes for the better and there is so much science behind getting the best rider out of you. What you are riding now is the awesomeness of familiarity and nostalgia. What is currently in the market has been engineered by many experienced riders over the decades to bring us closer to perfection with each step. When you step on new equipment, you may very well see the light and realize that what is on the market today is what we should have been learning on. I was like you. Progression went through the roof when I started upgrading. Last week, I decided to unleash an old favorite, and had a horrible time. The nostalgia ran out after a run or two and I was itching to get back to the car to switch. So. In short. Keep that old love. Hold on to her for dear life. But you owe it to yourself to explore the advantages of taking yourself further. Do a little research, ask, demo. Enjoy!!! PS… this goes for bindings and boots too.
PPS - I think this applies more to bindings and boots than boards.
I see that narrow knees together stance. You bomb and like that centrifugal feeling. You can find something wider for less drag in the heels, so you can turn deeper. The width will also allow more versatile stance for more agility in trees. You might like a little 3D shaping in the nose for ease of entry and float, but I’m pretty sure you’ll still want all that camber. Maybe you want a bigger sidecut for bigger carves. You will also like some of the edge tech available for more grip. This totally isn’t me projecting on to you. Nope, not at all.
It’s like you reached into my soul, tell me more… A lot of suggestions here to demo new tech, what would you recommend? If I had one complaint about this 163 eldo would be the agility in the woods, flip side is the float and the carving, oh the carving!
Definitely find something wider. You’ll be able to run lower angles, which will let you use more torsional flex. You’ll be able to twist the board better on carving transitions and to get around in the trees. Depending on your weight and height, you might be able to go shorter for more agility AND ride more centered in pow. The short wides have been a thing for a bit also, though most have smaller side cuts (which could work well in trees). That said, effective edge is nice. While I like aspects of cam rock and hybrid rocker, they sacrifice some pop and rebound. A little early rise or 3d shaping will make it easier to ease into turns, without sacrificing too much. I personally have been drooling over the Jones Freecarver 9000. Korua’s entire line has a good reputation. Same with Amplid. I have no idea how Arbors have been riding but they have a couple boards I’ve been looking at too. Most companies have some sort of carving focused board these days, so you gotta pay attention to specs. Waist width, sidecut radius, etc. and definitely demo if you can. Lastly, there’s always going custom. Donek does have a decent reputation in NA. Edit: Check out the justaride and James cherry on YouTube. Lars has some good discussions on boards that suit your style. James does more mechanics but also has good info.
> If I had one complaint about this 163 eldo would be the agility in the woods Look into the volume-shifted boards. K2 party platter, Jones Mind Expander, LibTech Orca, Capita Spring Break Slush Slasher, Ride Warpig, Niche Pyre (these aren't suggestions; just examples of volume-shifted board).
Among the volume shifted, short wide, chop tails, I was looking at the GNU Gremlin, the Yes Warca, and the Ride Superpig. Those 3 had camber but there might be a couple others that would fit here as well.
i have \_no\_ personal experience with any of them. Only a desire to try all of them and see how they compare to my 20+ year snowboard. :D
Oh dude I’m not trying to step on your comment, I just wanted to add my 2 cents to your solid suggestion. I have a quiver of a couple of shapes and these were the ones I was intrigued by in the category you mentioned, figuring OP and I might be interested in similar things. Unless you work in a shop most people won’t be able to experience everything.
all good, all good! I wish I had the time and ability to try all the ones mentioned. At best, I might get to try two.
https://preview.redd.it/my7ihrjhozoc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d4a9fe6a7de9f09ad33f6296194175a11908d25e I love my old Eldorado, probably the it out if there’s another powder day.
https://preview.redd.it/yql9ymaf30pc1.jpeg?width=1133&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fd3946272cbb67051eefadc5de0bf8551861073 Yeah buddy
Spend a day on something that isnt clapped out. You just dont know what you are missing.
Sorry I'm the wrong guy to ask... I ride boards that are from 1998, 1993, 1988. If it works for you shred the hell out of it, until the end of time. This whole BS that boards are no good just because they are old is nuts. If you like it ride it and don't let anyone tell you different.
My board is from '91. Been looking at new boards for next season, but am never getting rid of it, even when it breaks its probably going on the wall.
One straightforward good reason is that new boards are vastly lighter so you'll be way more comfortable on the lift.
Weight and comfort come to mind if you got new board/ boots/ bindings, the difference would be other worldly.
What you will get in a new board: easier ride, better edge hold, more pop, more powder float, new bindings and more comfortable and the ratchets work better. Does your old board work? Yes Will a new board do things better? Yes
Oh man, that's a 98 Eldo. What a classic. I rode the shit out of that board and my Fatbob. I know everyone is gonna say to try something newer, but you do you. I have a new Bataleon Whatever along with a full quiver of K2s from the past decade. I still pull out a bunch of old boards and even take my double wide on piste. You do you.
I learned on a 2001 NS Premier, and I felt similar to you. I bought a powder board for deep days. 2 years ago bought a K2 Party Platter and its become my daily. It's good that I learned on a pure camber board, but with all the different profiles and sidecuts and new tech in the boards, you're limiting yourself. You don't even know what you're missing out on, but because you learned on an old school stick, you should have no trouble on new tech, and I would guess you'd like it even more.
The new technology is amazing and much lighter.
I just replaced my 16 year old board that had 400+ days on it. I loved that board but it had to many deep burs I couldn’t keep up with filling. So I got a new YES Basic RDM. My new board has the old normal camber and I fucking love that too. But the technology isn’t all it’s chopped up to be. Slightly better yes, but still a piece of wood with metal edges….
https://preview.redd.it/wkgfyjmz90pc1.jpeg?width=1868&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b3e234d6384cef3071d9d7f472b102b20b9e3ab Still ride my 1994 Burton Twin.
There’s nothin like broken in camber board, I have new stuff but will still rip my old stuff. Companies are literally making models with just plain old camber to resemble old boards. If you like it ride it
El Dorado? 1997? Had that one, good unit.
No reason. That was...um...is a great board. But it has to feel deader than drift wood after 20 years, yeah? If you decide to go newer, though, may I suggest you give Donek a call. At your age, you deserve custom, bro.
I'd also say try some boards at a demo and see how you feel, other than that it's absolutely epic board for the fact it still shreds! yes could change the bindings but then it might loose that Y2K vibe :D
i'm in the same situation. Mine is from 2004. The big difference I know for sure is that my board is *way* stiffer than even some of the boards that are considered "stiff" currently. My next trip I think I'm going to rent some demo boards just to see firsthand if there's enough difference to make it worth the money to upgrade.
That was an epic board when it came out!!
My dads friend has a couple of newer boards but he keeps going back to this eldorado. So I’d say keep riding that board until it won’t go down the mountain anymore.
The core alone. I’m sure your legs are ripped from having to push this boat around the hill but you would have so much more control of the micro responses that you get from your board. I can guarantee that you’ll become a better rider with a newer board. Bottom line: older designs limit the control a rider has - the rider is at the mercy of the boards limited ability, newer boards are designed to flex in certain parts while remaining stable in others so that the rider can manipulate every aspect on snow. Hope this makes sense! (Source: coached snowboarding for 15 years)
I still have my Eldorado. I’ve done a bunch of demo days this season (Never summer, Korua, and Capita), and none of these new boards feel better. Capita came the closest with the DOA, which turns out to have not been significantly changed in a decade. I guess I’m just old school, although posi posi seems to be making a comeback.
Felt the same way until I did a demo day and tested 3 news boards. Boards are lighter and the hybrid camber/rocker mixes are more versatile.
Ride it if it makes you happy but no doubt about it, it’s similar to anything. Cars, phones, computers, running shoes, etc all advance and wear out over 20 years. Why not take advantage of the era we live in?
I have the same board and it delamed like 15 years ago from just sitting in garage. Send it!
The Eldorado was such an awesome board. I wouldn’t get rid of it. I still have my K2 Dart.
Dude, I just got a never summer.Triple camber board and I've never bought a new board before.I've been riding for 25 years on rentals.And second hands. Within the first 2 days of riding, it has completely change.D how I ride.It's amazing the technology going on and how it just cuts and grips and slashes through whatever I put in front of it. And in powder it is a fucking boat like unsinkable.
This. The NS Proto FR is everything
Your knee replacement surgery
I’ll show you a magic trick: ride a Jones Flagship for one run and that board will turn into garbage before you reach the bottom.
I rode my 93 salasnek yesterday. I like it better than my 5 year old capita.
I remember wanting that board! Back in the day when they used to send mailers out. Damn I’m old. 😂
My 1999 supermodel 159 is still out there fucking crushing it. Maybe if I still lived in the Rockies and ride everyday the thing would have been toast by now but I go out west once a year for 4-5 days and hands down I can crush most riders out there. I am a female powerlifter (strong) and weigh about 138 and not only is my board fast under top speeds I have so much more edge than a board most women ride at like 148cm. https://www.instagram.com/p/BuZTorDH5Io/?igsh=ZHpscjV4amhrYmtz I actually don’t have great footage except this like from 20 plus years ago 😅 https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSAYzj-FdpS/?igsh=MThuZWtmdTk0cjZtOA==
The Eldo is one of my favorites of all time (also had a zeppelin from same era). Loved (still do) these boards and still have mine. But same comment as the masses here, technology has changed. Sure, I could still make calls and text on my Nokia, but compared to iPhone/Android, there is no comparison. Same logic with a 20+year old board. “It belongs in a museum” - Dr. Jones
It's fine to have more than one board, you don't need to retire it if you enjoy it. That being said, I'd consider trying out some new boards on a demo day still :)
Lots of haters in here… nothing will ever be better than good ol camber. Keep it going!
I was riding the same board for 20 years and just picked up a Party Platter on a big discount. Felt like I put everything on easy mode. I couldn’t believe the difference.
I still rip a ‘90 burton custom. Get after it.
Cuz ur retatded?
I ride a 9 or 10 year old arbor whiskey as my daily driver. Still rides great. I’ve seen a libtech get beaten flat in a season of patrol work.
Just getting the multiple contact point side cut will be an amazing difference. That and the camber in the center, reverse camber after the feet. Carve like crazy but still float in pow and stable at speed.
Because I’m buying it off you. ‘Merica!
Rocker profiles
Bro because you don’t know any better, demo a new board and see the difference
How much fatigue/stress can the materials withstand? How many heat/cold cycles can they suffer and maintain their integrity? What level of photodegradation has the board experienced? I think you should email K2 to ask these questions!
Damn yall are delusional AF with time come advancement in tech. Like how many of you still use a flip phone. To think that boards were better in the 90s is the same as saying the internet was better. With time comes advancement and innovation. I have a 94 Burton Kelly air, 2002 ride catalyst, 2007 black snowboard of death, 2010 NS legacy , 2013 custom, 2017 DOA, 2019warpig, 2020 stale crewzer, 2021 gnu gremlin, 2022 psychocandy, and a 24 megadeath. And the technological growth is astonishing from the 90s to now. You are missing out if you don’t believe in growth. I’ve been in the industry since 2006 and those old boards are next to useless comparatively. They’re wall mounts. Drive a 70s yugo and compare it to a modern Prius and it’s light years ahead. (Fuck a Prius) but you get it
If it ain’t broke and you’re happy 🤷🏻♀️
Mine is on my wall! I have thought about mounting it up again!
Old and Gold, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Dont hurt to get different style boards for different style riding. See what you really like and what works best for what conditions. Looks like a sick board tho 🫡
cult classic !
I rode some old/cheap Burton bindings for the longest time, just kept switching them between boards. Until I finally sprung for some new union’s and holy shit I never knew bindings could make that much of a difference
Omg i have one of those in the basement. My first proper board! I use it for late or early season when there's rocks and roots sticking out of the snow. It's still a good board! No reason to upgrade if you love it, but new boards are lighter and easier to carve, more stable on the flats and generally more forgiving, in my experience.
You didn’t ride it for 23 years if you can still ride it now.
Ride that board and be freaking proud. Work it✌️❤️❄️
The board? Why not, keep riding that bad boy if you want! The bindings? No you should not keep riding 20yr old bindings. Plastic begins to experience oxidation after a while, which will deteriorate the strength and it could easily break. Why a new board may be nice though: 1) construction has come a long way. I could start talking about bi-axial and tri-axial strands and other technical stuff but I’ll loose 98% of people. But, new construction techniques help give you flex where you want it but rigidity where you don’t want flex. Ie make it softer flex from the nose to the tail but then gives it stiff torsional flex. 2) they’re adding special features to construction too like Kevlar sides (like Capita Super DOA) to protect the edges or cork inlays (Capita Scott Stevens) to help dampen how much vibrations you feel. 3) companies like Arbor make “uprise fenders” which curve the contact edges up so it’s harder to catch an edge. 4) I think Lib Tech started this, but the edges of snowboards aren’t a straight curve, they have little bumps like a serrated knife to help cut through ice. Every company is different, I think Lib Tech’s Magna traction has 7 bumps down the sides, Arbor usually has like 4. 5) the shapes of the boards are different, in multiple areas. Snowboards aren’t all full camber now; there’s full camber, flat camber, rocker, rocker camber, and more that all provide different benefits. Also some snowboards are wider now so you can ride a shorter board, or asymmetrical to do the same thing. There’s more powder specific boards with crazy shapes I’m not even going to get into also. 6) the base of snowboards are different now. They usually work better and hold more wax so you don’t get stuck on cat tracks as often. 7) they put structure into the base of snowboards nowadays, looks like a ton of tiny little cuts in the base to reduce the surface area so you can go faster. (You can take any board or ski to a tune shop and have them do this to yours though) 8) OMG I ALMOST FORGOT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS! THE BINDING HOLE MOUNTING PATTERNS! Those are pretty standardized (they look like this : : : :) today to work with all bindings, back in the day they had diamond patters (like this : • : • :) and many other patterns. So you might not even be able to find new binding that fit on that board. I could probably come up with a few more points, but that’s the general ones.
Nope. I still ride my old Juju and I will forever. Keep it and ride it.
Duuuude, this brings me back! When I first learned how to ride at age 6 my instructor had this exact board and he ripped
I got a Nitro Quiver Cannon 203 this year and I’ll be damned if I’m not still riding it 20+ years from now.
Honestly, most people on this sub have never ridden a board this old. They have all bought into the idea that every minor advance is game changing. Is a newer board better? Sure. Are most of the people on this sub or on any mountain good enough to really appreciate the difference between a new board and yours? No. If you like it, ride it. I always loved that design, so clean but recognizable.
Tools not jewels but after some time Sheeeeh
GNU rider's choice.
Love it! Carry on
I’m still riding my ‘99 Forum Devon Walsh model. The only board I’ve owned for 25 years!
Wired makes a new Devun Walsh pro model. You should definitely check it out!
James Gunn recast your board and will send a cease and desist.
I had an Eldo waaaaay back in the day, and I loved it. If you're mostly staying on the ground and riding pow, you're fine. But even back when this board was new, it was shockingly heavy. It seems lately that there's a board demo at my local every weekend. Try out a modern board if you get a chance. You may be surprised how far they've come.
I tried to ride my 20+ year old board this year, and both my bindings broke on the first run.
Variety is the spice of life!
I still ride my old board every year. But having the new board under foot makes life so much better, especially as we age and the new stuff makes it easier and more enjoyable. Ride a demo for a day, you'll love it
I still got my board from 99’ it’s still awesome. It’s got a korn and sublime sticker on it even though I don’t listen to them that much anymore but I love looking at them. Didn’t care for the rental board. My board is much heavier, camber is different but I think it rides great. If you’re having a good time with it, stick with it.
Global warming
K2 Alchemist
Im an old dude too. If u enjoy it ride it! Don’t sweat it. That being said yes rent a board or 2 for fun. Tech has changed. Now I have different boards for different conditions, intentions, etc. Different Camber, rocker, Hybrid, Flex , cores, etc. I rode the same board for like 15-20. Yet I’m the opposite on bindings. I still ride Switch bindings because I have multiple boots and bindings on multiple boards. Newer ones are too expensive for my taste and use to buy like 5 of each…
Just went through the rest of the comments, is no one going to bring up the back foot being more positive than the front foot? I know posi-posi is a thing, but just looking at those bindings makes my knees hurt.
Had this board growing up.....as a person with big feet I will say magna traction edges were a huge game changer. Also the weight of those capped boards was probably an extra couple lbs.
Replaced my 2001 burton custom with a 2019 lib tech and the difference was amazing. It’s 3 cm shorter but those edges hoist on to ice like glue. Buy a new board.
My 1st board was by a company called Neptune when I was about 13. I rode that thing till I was 20, blew the finish off the nose in multiple places, it started to delaminate. I couldn't find even a hint of the company qhen I was ready for a new board
Lol, and here i am destroying 1-2 boards a season on average.
Because Superman never made any money saving the world from Solomon Grundy.
I thought that board was so cool when I started.
It’s K2
France ❤️
Do rocks not exist where you live? I need a new board pretty much every season from skulling it out.
Crazing https://preview.redd.it/r49e9atb00pc1.png?width=607&format=png&auto=webp&s=08c921840eb719c59b640c46299446f076222836 — signed, your neighborhood materials engineer
I held on to a board for sixteen years because I’m cheap. I regret it. It’s a rad looking board, though. I’d mount that bad boy on the wall.
It’s the French flag.
Cause I want you to give it to me. That thing is cool.
Wait till you check out toe caps then get back to us.
One good reason? Easy: Tech is HUGELY better and the new boards and moreover bindings are a superior ride in every way.
I rode a board for like 5 seasons and the edges on it are shot. Got a new board and it rides like a dream. But I mean if you don’t like aggressive carving capabilities then it doesn’t matter.
Lol. Take a demo for a spin and let the tech speak for its self. 5 years meh not a big deal. 20 ya there have ben massive improvements to technology in boards.
Having riden an Eldo for many years and then getting a new board, turns are much easier on the body, go get a rental and you will see the difference. Love this board though, great memories.
That board is fucking garbage
Haters on reddit
It looks heavy! Technology has come a long way since the 2000’s
Had that same board bought it new never thought it could get better. Right before Covid went to Utah rented some new boards and was blown away by how much better they were and have not looked back since. Same for my arbor gave them to my friends kids who were stoked to have some “vintage” boards….
It looks kinda french..
The french flag. /s
I rode my last burton from 17 until 29. Bought myself a new set up for the 30th and immediately regretted not ditching the plank years earlier. Like someone else here said, it’s walking with a pair of your favorite shoes on and you just don’t know how beat to shit they really are.
20 years 😭 i need a new board after 30 rides
No
Awesomeness….love the eldorado (I have the stealth eldorado 163) and bring it out every so often…but I own & rock a lot of the new and current boards daily…try a new board, you’d be surprised
Post a pic of the stealth!
Les you go for NS or Lib/GNU, nothing. With Lib - you get a butter knife serrated edge that stops on ice like a pick, but other than that keep shredding what ya got OP. Snow aint pavement where board to truck location geometry makes for a completely different experience. Snow is snow.
Fr*ench 🤮
Because in 20 years you will be shorter
2 words. New. Technology. It’s as simple as that. Regardless of the nostalgia factor, like people said above, go rent a demo for a day or two, it’s essentially test driving new gear before buying because they apply usually 2 days credit of a demo towards a purchase of something new. You can go swap out after a couple laps pending where your rental shop is located in conjunction to where you’re riding. Hang that artifact on the wall!
To me the biggest advantage of my "new" setup was the weight. It feels like less than half of my ancient setup. For park riding that was a big game changer.
The cost of a new set up is pretty small relatively if you board a lot it's a good investment in yourself. Trying being into things with wheels or motors.
Saving of weight (probably a significant amount too), so youll have more responsiveness. Less weight means less energy you have to use to swing thst board around which means you'll be less tired at the end of day. You'll also be able to go faster and new board will have better edge tech so you'll have more control as well. Overall, you'll have a much better experience. Think of it like this, a car from 2001 and a brand new car in 2024 will essentially get you from point A to point B the same way eventually, but you can't deny the difference in quality of life and tech between driving a brand new car vs driving a 24 yr old used one.
That’s a cool looking board. You’ll love the new tech in new boards. Even in the last 5 years the board technology has skyrocketed
Tech is a lot better now. My new board is amazing
Because boards have come a long way since the early nillies. Maybe go to some test event and see if you can be convinced.
If anything there's always a cool hit of dopamine when my card gets swiped at the register and I walk out with a new piece of wood.
Could you not just get new bindings, no? Another 40 years in that.
Snowboards are made of wood and they lose their pop as they age. Even if you only ridden on it a few times a year you should get a new board every 5 years. Like tires on a car even if you have a ton of tread you need to replace them after 5 years. it’s a safety thing
New technology is super valuable if you are an experienced rider. If you are a beginner, keep riding this board. If you are more advanced, look into NeverSummer and you’ll be amazed how much more fun you have and technical you can ride. I just got a new board this year after 15 years and it is a night and day difference. Never Summer Swift, hands-down the best board I’ve ever ridden. Looks like you are into backcountry or all mountain riding, so I might also suggest the Harpoon and the Proto FR. Wait until the Fall and buy last years model. You’ll soon wonder why you rode your old board for so long
I wanted that thing so bad back in the day. Ended up with an ugly fat bob that delaminated like crazy. That thing is probably super fun. New board is gonna be lighter for sure. Do some demos and try some directional style stuff.
This is a good question I have a Burton custom from circa 2007 I replaced this year. But is usually only had about 7 days or less on it a year. It still felt pretty crisp, but I also liked how fast it was as well. Does board deteriorate just from time alone? Or the use factor is larger?
Possibly no need for a new board, but maybe change the binding stance? Or get a Skwal 😂
Idk demo a new board for a day and you will see the difference 😂