Too wax or not to wax a new snowboard

[@markosilhard2326]

Hi I own a K2 excavator but looking to add ravine select to my quiver...how would you compare except that one is volume shift...does the select float just aswell?

[@LagmasterB]

Yo!! I have not ridden Excavator yet. I was too excited to get on the Ravine Select. I’ll be riding the Excavator maybe tomorrow (1/16), definitely Wednesday and Thursday (1/17-1/18). Big storm cycle coming through tomorrow night. I can tell you that the 158 Ravine floated better than my 154 K2 Instrument (volume shifted like Excavator). Excavator is basically a powder version of the Instrument, in my book. Little more taper + fish tail. The problem with the powder I was in, was that it was very heavy. PNW cement. So it was catchy, transitions in trees were not as crisp as they could have been. I’m taking the Ravine Select and Excavator both with me. I’ll give you a better comparison end of this week. I chose Ravine Select > Stale Fish. Don’t know if it was the best idea for my style of riding or not. I’ll find out as my legs get stronger and I ride more varied terrain.

[@LagmasterB]

Ok. Gave the Ravine the full day, with powder and a few tracked out areas. I’m at reference stance but with front binding moved back 1 set of inserts. Amazing float dude. Just effortless. Pick your line and go. Really good at NOT washing out when I cut through powder to bumps. Angry Snowboarder said it best: little damp, retains liveliness. I didn’t get bucked, but you need strong legs to ride through tracked-out snow and chop. Really good at leaving the ground, launches itself off jumps. Again, little lively on landing, but strong legs gets you confidently out of choppy landing. I’d say it’s an A-game board for Advanced riders. For expert riders? Who knows. Nose did dive a couple times and got me stuck. Probably user error. Gonna try to ride the Excavator tomorrow. But man, this Ravine Select is a fun f’ing board.

[@markosilhard2326]

@@LagmasterB Just scored a new model at 30% discount so stoked to hear it!!

[@LagmasterB]

@@markosilhard2326 That’s a smokin deal!! What size did you get?

[@markosilhard2326]

@@LagmasterB 158

[@randomdude8310]

I've never been impressed with factory wax. I like to use a temp specific fluorinated bar and a bar of all temp graphite on the iron at the same time, preferably One Ball J, but I guess swix/toko will do in a pinch. The graphite helps a lot with getting the board up to the speed it needs for the fluorinated wax to create that film of water under the base so it almost glides from a stop. I also like to buff with a green scotch-brite pad after a couple passes of the scraper, because it makes it easier to see where the wax is still too thick. Then I finish it with a white scotch-brite pad once I'm happy with the scraping. The black and red scotch-brite pads are the most abrasive and are nice for removing old wax or buffing p-tex repairs. It's a little unconventional, and some folks don't like that it removes some of the base structure, but it works for me since I don't really like structure on my base since it feels kinda grabby when buttering.

[@FareedFaghih]

I wonder to my self where the point of diminishing returns is. I am pretty lazy but enjoy the consistency and speed of a nice wax. Factory wax is always doo doo compared to what can be achieved. I think new boards need to be waxed more often. I usually barely scrap at all after a hot wax. I find it takes 1 or 2 runs out here to get the base to the same condition as if I scraped. I wonder how bad of a practice that is. Btw based out of Seattle so very mild temps. 3:53

[@LagmasterB]

Love One Ball. Their newish x-wax formulation where you drip in the black mineral bar is nice. They’re about to change again and just swirl-in the mineral. I like the etching effect of maroon scotch brite. Also, I’ve noticed that p-Tex metal scrapers are way too sharp. Run a risk of removing base material. Plastic scraper while p-Tex still warm, then maroon scotch brite.

[@LagmasterB]

@@FareedFaghih one ball F1 plus graphite is best deal out their, imo. If you want temp specific, their 4WD waxes are 👌🏻🍒 and priced right. For most of us non-racing peasants, x-wax prob overkill.

[@FareedFaghih]

@@LagmasterB 4wd is what I have been using for some time now.

[@LagmasterB]

@@FareedFaghih they have a scent to them? My older x-wax does.

[@kacper_o5274]

Informative video 👍

[@LagmasterB]

Thanks man. Any specific questions let me know!