background: as explained earlier, its the 175/23,1/13,3m radius board, first off press, that came out bit stiff due to excessive core thickness, and with a reduced edge lenght, due to misalignment of the nose curve at the time of press...(nose scoop begins to early). All these things are now corrected, and the first real production board (with color/logos etc) will be just perfect.
I am in Verbier now, and snow conditions vary from fresh powder over tracked pow, to groomed slopes with hard bottom. I have resisted the urge to ride my swallowtail powboard to ride the EC board in the fresh pow too! ( give me a medal!!)
The first week end riding it was kinda tiring, because my legs were still unused to turning such a wide board, but it goes better with the time and feels ok now after 7 days...
The board handles all kinds of snows, and i found myself laying down trenches where the slope was very cold, icy and the sound of skiiers was like a fork on a porcelain plate... i was the only living thing around able to cut the skin of the slope at that times... and this is where the amazing thing comes out from this test period: the edge grip! I have discussed it before, Jacques and Patrice too, but the very special thing about the board is the fantastic edge grip that the extremities of the board has... I will shoot a videoclip of a static simulation of how much grip you can get when just pushing on the feet while seated on snow on flat steep slope to show the grip. The board is able to support pressure on both feet, meeting the turning radius it is designed for without skidding while beeing just pushed at a 90° angle to the snow...
I can only say every one should try that test with their boards:
- sit on snow
- push legs trying to reach the point where all edge is in contact with the snow and see where the tips of the board slide and when... the EC board I have now is holding all the way to the contact with the snow, both tips holding huge pressures but not skidding..( I had to have someone push me a bit for i am too light to push it fully )..
> this grip makes the ride, especially backside, a total new experience: the board's nose tip grips the snow smoothly but surely, making it possible to lay 360°s backside like they are easy ( almost hehe)...
Powder: the width makes it fun to ride it in pow, the nose is still too flat to call it a pow board thu ! but its possible, quite cool, and way better than with a regular race board.. my friend rode a 164 factory prime, and he was sinking, having to fight in each turn not to dive under !
> moguls: i hate moguls, but sacrificed myself once more here: board is a bit too stiff to really be versatile in moguls.. i guess the softer flex will make it easier, but why would a carver ride moguls anyway
Patrice and Jacques have fun in moguls with their EC boards.. kinda strange no? 
more to come when i try the 175 midflex, the best match for my size/weight !
Just to add something: the EC board should be called versatile board.. it carves normal turn, high speed turns, EC turns, powder turns, slow turns, small jumps etc.... way better than my beloved Proton...
This to show that people should be aware that it is not just a board to lay down on the snow!! I'd love to have the feedback of someone actually racing it in gates!!! can't wait! but am sure it will do good...
nils
