For a background I ride pretty hard, like to go fast and carvebut still like to play in the park and pow. After trying 27 boards last season in 1999(all the Burtons from 155 to 169, 4 Nitros, 1 Winterstick, 4 Salomons, 1 Never Summer, 2 Options and 3 Rossi and a Stainless Steel Aggression) I took the two boards I loved most, the Agression Steel 163 and Nitro ARX 159 and told Chris Prior to build me one better.

He took out a template for his 2000 boardercross line, the size was 158cm with a 23.5cm waist. He custom built a board for me, beefed up the flex and I got a one of a kind rocket. I went out to see what it could do. When I compared the new Prior to the ARX, the Prior was stiffer in flex, more torsionally rigid and had a shallower nose and tail. I can normally rocket down on the ARX and when I tried to do the same on the Prior I had problems. After a dozen runs I could not figure out what I may be doing wrong, so I decided I may need to go faster. This is when the Prior shines, the faster I went the better the ride, this board doesn't like to go slow. I went faster that I would normally go on the ARX, this is due to the loss in "confidence" om the ARX when one goes beyond what the board can handle. I have yet to find this point for the Prior.

I went to Blackcomb and Sun Peaks and literally screamed down some of their beautifully groomed Blue runs (which are almost race courses) and couldn't believe this board. I could not wash out on this board, when I got scared, I applied more edge pressure and held on for a wild ride.

After a couple of months I was so impressed by the first Prior I asked Chris to build me a second one that was 10 to 15% stiffer for more carve performance and better ride in crap/powder conditions.

Now I have two boards of exactly the same dimensions meant for different conditions. Try finding that in a "McBoard" company. Custom made to your weight and style for less than an entry level Burton.

The only complaint I have is that this board is too stiff for the pipe. It is not meant for it, but I tried it out anyway. When going up a wall, it board will flex, but it is soo stiff that you literally pop off the wall halfway up the transition. I got this on videotape where I would ride up the tranny, get 2/3 up and then I would be 1 foot off the wall. There is that much rebound from this board.

Ollies off this board is incredible once you figure out how to pop off of it. As I said, it's pretty stiff. You can get a all terrain or freestyle model which may be more suited to halfpipe.

Try one, you will be a believer too. Prior, the dream ride.


-=( For more info on this board feel free to E-mail me @ wyeung@helix.net)=-