Hey guys,

First of all, just found this forum and really appreciate what you all do here! Secondly, I’m looking for a new board, and I’ve been doing some research and am pretty much trying to decide between the Gnu B-Nice and the K2 Duchess. A little background about myself: I’ve been riding for probably about 5 years, but not super consistently. So, I would categorize myself as an experienced beginner/intermediate rider. I can pretty much cruise around the mountain and carve and whatnot and will *occasionally* pop a tiny little ollie off some bumps in the snow when I’m feeling confident. Haha. I’ve got a house up in Tahoe, so I’m going to need something pretty versatile, as we can get both powder days and icy days. I don’t have very much experience riding in powder (but according to the forecast, it looks as if I’m about to get some! :D) and would also like to venture on to hitting some super small baby boxes and rails and whatnot later on in the season (however, my main focus is getting an all-mountain board, not freestyle). I was initially really into the Gnu B-nice because it seemed like a pretty sick board within my price rage (< $400). But now I’m having second thoughts because from what I’ve been reading it seems as if the B-Pro is really more where it’s at (but too expensive for me), and the B-nice is more entry-level, which kind of defeats the purpose of getting a new board since I’d like something that’s going to help me progress. Right now I ride a Salomon Ivy, which I do like but am just ready for a new board. The K2 also sounds like a pretty decent all-around board. I like the idea of the harshmellow technology and from what I’ve read it manages pretty well in powder…so now I’m undecided. I know the only way to *really* decide between the two is to demo, but I’ve got snow coming and I’d like a new board for it! Can anyone give me any feedback?

Also, I could use some new boots. Right now I have Vans 07-08 Encore, and I don’t really like the Boa sys. I feel like I can never tell if they’re tight enough/too tight. They’re super stiff to me and tend to make the outside of my feet cramp up as well as the muscle along the the side of my calf/above my ankle. I also tried on some DC Graphix, but I don’t like how the heel fits. Can anyone recommend some comfy boots for free-riding? I’ve been looking at some ThirtyTwo Lashed but am having trouble finding them in my size…

Thanks for all your help!
M

I would go for the Duchess. Seems like a board that you would progress better on, although I’m not sure how it would do in the park. I personally ride the Gnu B-street and love it for most all-mountain riding, but like the B-pro it is a bit expensive.

As for boots, look into Salomon. I have and love my Ivys - very comfortable, keep my feet warm, no pressure points, and good support. The Ivy is a mid-stiff boot, but you might like the Kiana for a bit more support. Foot cramping could be caused by a boot that is too big, by the way.

Cool. Thanks for the help! I went around this weekend and tried on a few boots and, like you, fell in love w/the Salmon Ivys. They just fit my foot really, really well. The Europeans understand their footwear!

Still undecided on the board, so if anyone has anything else to weigh in on this, please let me know!

K2 Duchess all the way.  I had one all last winter and LOVED that board.  Only one thing that wasn’t great was the topsheet is fabric, and the snow stuck on it.  It got a little heavy when riding powder due to that, but I was still able to float fine.  I rode my Duchess everywhere, it was definitely a great board for a one-board quiver.  I have a detailed review of it over here at:  http://www.tundrawookie.com/2009/02/k2-duchess-144.html  just scroll down a little bit after that big white space- the picture disappeared… lol.  i gotta get a new one later.

i’ve never ridden the k2 duchess, but i’ve heard great things about it.  i have a k2 vvv, and love that board.  if it is any indication of k2’s other boards, i’d say go for the duchess lol it has held up to a good amount of abuse for the 2nd season in a row, and still going strong.  i haven’t heard much at all on any of the gnu boards, nor have i ridden any. 

if your looking for other board options, i’d suggest a rome vinyl, which is a great board for freeriding, and i learned park on it as well, and it did pretty good.  the only thing im not sure on is powder, as i dont get much of that where i live.  and i think neversummer’s lotus or something like that, they make it in a rocker version, for freeriding, and the rocker i think helps with floating in pow.

Thanks again for all your advice! Lauren/Vixen, I actually have already read your review (yes, I’ve been geeking out and researching everything I can find on this!), which is one of the things that turned me on to the Duchess in the first place. NOW thanks to you and Lilfoot, some others and more research, I’m trying to decide amongst the K2 Duchess, Rome Vinyl, and Neversummer Infinity. Still, though, all the reviews for the Duchess are pretty killer… Does anyone know why they discontinued it?