Product Review: the grey monster in the corner
gka...@earthlink.net
Hi folks,
It's been a weird few years where I got into motorcycling in a big way
and neglected snowboarding for almost all of last winter save one trip
to Mammoth and one to Snow Summit.
So my trusty '95 Alp 7.0 was looking and feeling a little long in the
tooth. Its a great board for big guys like me (6'2", 200#) and does
well on the groomed stuff.
But I've been thinking about a race board for a long time. I used to
rep for F2 when they were out of NH and they had a line of decent race
boards. I never really got used to their stiffness and chose alpine
boards for their carvability with their forgiveness. But now, with
Mammoth as my "home" mountain, I figured I wanted something for the
groomies, something to really challenge me, and push me beyond my
limits.
I started looking around at the new stuff and everything was
symmetrical. I priced stuff and most of the best boards were easily
over $500. Prior, who makes some of the best racing boards out there,
sell custom boards for $700 and above. Even the tried and true
Factory Primes are $450 and since they're in such high demand, they
dont ever sell at discounted prices.
I was alerted to a huge fire sale at Mistral. Everything for $199 or
less. Freestyle boards, race boards, everything. I remembered when
Mistral was making kick-ass asym boards a number of years ago and
called up the website.
After some more shopping and realizing that a new raceboard with an
Electra 4000 base and Mistral quality for $200 is a deal, I went
ahead and bought a Sonic 167 sight unseen and was talked into a pair
of the Proflex titanium bindings that F2 is selling that North Sports
is distributing. I paid $199 for the board, $107 for the bindings and
$20 for shipping (UPS 3 day).
I havent had a chance to ride the board yet but here's my impression
of it for anyone who's thinking about it.
The Sonic is Mistral's race line and they have 4 boards. The 153 and
157 are both traditional sandwich construction while the 167 and 174
are cap construction. There's a full steel edge around the front and
sides and an aluminum tailpiece. The construction seems to be
first-rate in most areas. The base is mostly the traditional black
Electra base with a touch of the 200o at the nose. The edge material
seemed to be uniform along the running length of the board. The one
area which wasnt quality was the area where the cap sat on top of the
aluminum tail protector. Either this is a production flaw or someone
was really dumb. It's not going to affect the ride of the board
though so although its ugly, I dont think it'll matter. There is a
LOT of camber in this thing right now- and the sidecut is pretty
fierce. I'm pretty intimidated by the narrow width of this thing
(18cm) and
There's some gimmicky F.I.R.E. "Fully Integrated Rattle Eliminator"
plates that run down 50% of the length of the board in the middle of
the board in two strips that straddle the 4x4 holes. I have no idea
what they're made of- but they have some really cheezy faux carbon
fiber weave print on them that I'd rather not look at. I assume from
their name that they're meant to "eliminate rattle" but I'm a tad
skeptical.
The Europeans still don't seem to understand that their design
sensibilities aren't in line with ours. The board is decent looking,
but I'd rather have something more simple without the white stripes
and But most of the board is a handsome dark blue/grey. I'm a tad
worried that the rough surface of the top of the cap material is going
to attract snow, but oh well. All things considered, I'd rather have
a board surface that is snow phobic instead of having to always brush
off the snow that accumulates on the tops of the board.
And finally, there's some guy's name on the board, Lui Holzinger- no
one I've ever heard of but I guess that's par for the course these
days with signature boards, eh?
The bindings on the other hand are nice, but I think I'm going to
return them. As advertised, both the baseplate as well as the disc
are made of titanium and the whole package is very light. The bails
are also made of a decent guage steel, much heavier than they were a
few years ago. My main problem is with the plastic that holds the
bails onto the base. This plastic is integral to the fuctionality of
the bindings and I'm just not convinced of their quality. I remember
this design from when I was repping F2 a few years ago and they work,
but I'll put my money elsewhere.
Tim Requa of North Sports told me that one of the racers who's been
using these bindings at the races has had them hold up for 2 years
straight, but I'm going to pass on them. I don't know if I'm going to
buy a set of custom aluminum bindings (Bombers or Cateks) or some Race
Plates, or maybe just switch my Alp's step in Race Plates back and
forth.
Bottom line? I think this board has a lot of potential and it'll be a
while before I'll be able to fully appreciate it. I'm impressed with
the construction and materials and although I have no idea whether or
not Mistral's still with the same manufacturer, their old race boards
were some of the best when asyms were the rage. You can't beat this
price for a new board but without a traditional warranty and with
Mistral getting out of the snowboard biz, I'm not expecting
Burton-quality customer service. I think this board would be a great
idea for racers on budgets or boarders who want a race board in their
quiver but dont want to cough up the big bucks.
When I ordered a the end of October, Tim's stock was very low on the
157, but he had a few of the 167s and 174s. I never asked about the
153.
Thanks to everyone who emailed me, especially Mark, who told me of
this deal!
If you want Tim's email, just go to the Mistral site- search under
Yahoo for snowboarding and Mistral and it'll come up fast.
Matthew Leo
I too heard about this deal,through PSIA.They are offering the same (a
little bet but not much) deal for instructors.I am a ski instructor
turning board instructor this year.I almost bought the Mistral but found
a deal on the same board you have but ia 6.3.(see Burton Alp 6.3 below)
Thought it would be more forgiving for teaching,and i haven't been
boarding very long ,3rd season.
I am still considering buying the Mistral also.I think the F.I.R.E.
things ae aluminum(not sure though)How do you think they compare in
stiffness? Ridability? Forgiveness? It's interesting to see someone with
the same stituation as me with their boards.
I saw the Mistral deal at Billy Goat,is that were you saw it?
Pray for snow Matt
slinkster
In article <345ea39...@news.earthlink.net>, <gka...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>The Sonic is Mistral's race line and they have 4 boards. The 153 and
>157 are both traditional sandwich construction while the 167 and 174
I think there's a 163 as well.
>seemed to be uniform along the running length of the board. The one
>area which wasnt quality was the area where the cap sat on top of the
>aluminum tail protector. Either this is a production flaw or someone
>was really dumb. It's not going to affect the ride of the board
>though so although its ugly, I dont think it'll matter. There is a
Hmm, you must have gotten a lemon. My Sonic has no problem there.
>fierce. I'm pretty intimidated by the narrow width of this thing
>(18cm) and
Don't worry, you'll get used to it quickly, and then you won't want to go
back. An 18cm waist makes for really quick edge-to-edge transitions.
>There's some gimmicky F.I.R.E. "Fully Integrated Rattle Eliminator"
>plates that run down 50% of the length of the board in the middle of
>the board in two strips that straddle the 4x4 holes. I have no idea
>what they're made of- but they have some really cheezy faux carbon
>fiber weave print on them that I'd rather not look at. I assume from
>their name that they're meant to "eliminate rattle" but I'm a tad
>skeptical.
Well, FIRE as a concept works -- the Sonic is the smoothest-riding GS
board I've ever tried. I don't know what's up with those sticker things --
I agree they look cheesy -- but I would have to think that they're just
decorative. All of the dampening materials should be inside the board, not
glued to the topsheet. But I suppose those could be carbon-fiber strips
intended to add stiffness between the bindings. Who knows...
>The Europeans still don't seem to understand that their design
>sensibilities aren't in line with ours. The board is decent looking,
>but I'd rather have something more simple without the white stripes
>and But most of the board is a handsome dark blue/grey. I'm a tad
Admittedly, it's not the most beautiful board I've ever seen, but wait
till you ride it.
>And finally, there's some guy's name on the board, Lui Holzinger- no
>one I've ever heard of but I guess that's par for the course these
>days with signature boards, eh?
Mistral claims he's some first-rate coach and board designer in Europe or
something. I haven't heard of him either outside of Mistral's literature,
but again, who cares, as long as the board rides well? And that it does.
>straight, but I'm going to pass on them. I don't know if I'm going to
>buy a set of custom aluminum bindings (Bombers or Cateks) or some Race
If you go the stiff route, go with Cateks, since they're much more
adjustable than Bombers (and a much better design overall). But I'd spend
a season on the board first with less-stiff bindings, since you're used to
step-in plates on an Alp.
>while before I'll be able to fully appreciate it. I'm impressed with
>the construction and materials and although I have no idea whether or
>not Mistral's still with the same manufacturer, their old race boards
>were some of the best when asyms were the rage. You can't beat this
I hear the Sonics were manufactured by Blizzard.
--mark
--
. . . . .
mark bock
ta...@clark.net