Swallowtail pros/cons Quiver question??

[cliffhucker]

As most everyone else is, I am really anticipating the coming season w/ higher hopes of precipitation than last year. In preparation I am looking at swallowtails. My question is this, is a swallowtail any better than a pintail (wide nose/ narrow tail) design in performance/durability. From what I understand they accomplish the same thing but which is better??????

Also, advice on what board to purchase.....
Currently i have a Glissade shortbus 165 and a Prior Kyber 165 splitboard.
To round out the quiver I would like a longer board for powder/steeps/drops would a Glissade Big Gun 175 or a Winterstick swallowtail round out the quiver more nicely????

[marshalolson]

they try to accomplish the same thing with different designs.

there is more than one way to skin a cat as the saying goes.

[nick > jesus]

if i am not mistaken, a swallow is more hooky and a pin is more buttery

[cliffhucker]

I don't quite get what hooky and buttery mean and anothewr question, how does the Winterstick line up w/ other st's???????????

[refried]

the Winterstick is a deep powder board, it's not designed or does it work on groomed runs. take a look at the Prior Pow-Stick, It's a great powder board that will still carve on a groomed trail, the nose has enough flex to stay on top of the snow, but it gets fairly stiff after the first 10".
The Rossignol Undertaker (Big Gun now?) is another great swallowtail, Stiffer than the Prior, better in deep powder (this may be due to the length) and carves just as well.
The O-Sin 4807 is another fun board, while not a true swallowtail, the tail sinks and the nose rides at the surface of the snow and throws snow like the bow of a boat. I like to break this board out when everything turns to crud, it just breaks thru everything and gives a nice smooth ride, it's also a great tree board.
Tapered boards allow you to ride a shorter board in powder, the tail will sink slightly and the nose will want to stay on top like a swallowtail, but it is more suited to everyday riding with the upturned tail for riding switch. If you want a tapered board, look at Priors Snakehead, It's a nice combination of taper/swallowtail. have a look at Rad-Air too, Tankers are nice riding boards that will work in all conditions.
Winterstick had a tough year last year, they plan on coming back this year with last years board designs and will bring back the Swallowtail and Tom Burt board again.
I have 7 swallowtails now, and none of them are a do everything board, but work great in the right conditions.

[nick > jesus]

I don't quite get what hooky and buttery mean and anothewr question, how does the Winterstick line up w/ other st's???????????

on a swallow once you into a turn, you are locked into it, where as on a pin tail you can let the tail slide out

[Sinecure]

refried covered most of it and clearly has more ST experience than me.

My experience with STs is that they are terrific in open, light powder. Good in mixed conditions and just so-so in heavy crud.

I was not impressed with the durability of the O-Sin (now Dynastar) 4807. Also, its swallowtail wasn't deep enough to really sink.

I second the Prior recommendations. Great boards. Also, you can ask Prior to add an extra pack of inserts behind the standard pattern. This gives you more mounting options toward the tail. I find moving my bindings rearward makes a huge difference in terms of rear-leg fatigue. I tend to initiate my turns with a fair amount of pressure on my front leg so this really helps me keep the nose from sinking.

You might also check out www.swallowtails.org Nils has some great stuff on there. Plus some pics of awesomely huge Pogo swallows.

My new powder board is a Prior 4WD.

[rideit]

I have three Prior swallowtails, and two Khybers. (among many other boards)
The 167 and 176 ST's are hands down the fastest boards in my quiver...even on groomers, chunder, crud, what have you.
The 181 is *slightly* softer, so that is for big, light days, (when I don't take out the Nitro 195).
The Khyber 161 is kind of like a playboat...'buttery' is a good description, whereas the 165 is more like a normal board.
I pretty much run the 167 powstick as my day in-dayt out board for Targhee.

[cliffhucker]

Thanks for tips and stuff I have a long time to think about it.