@reximus It’s a 12m sidecut so the turns are naturally a bit bigger than your average board (that's almost 80’ in diameter).  To tighten that up you need to really flex the board at higher edge angles.  Without the weight, you need more speed in order to generate more force.  Someday you might want that, but it’d probably be a chore now.  The ‘soft’ flex is probably more than a ‘7’ on most stiffness scales.

On the interface, I tried them with Flux XV bindings and Vans Verse boots (with Intuition Dreamliners).  I’d probably use Flux CV-LTD and maybe Ride Insano (if I can ever make them comfortable).  But I’ve got little size 8 boots, so I don’t have as much leverage as most people.

Posted by: @evilofrex

↑

Thanks for the input. Just how different are the stiffness between the soft and medium? Will I ever get to need the medium flex if I only grow in technique but not in weight? Thanks!

They're quite different, the mid is a big step up in stiffness.  But "need" is difficult to interpret...  

My suggestion is get the soft now, and when your technique is better get a faster board.  Don't forget that the C4 is meant for the intermediate and advanced carver.  When you reach the expert level you'll probably want a faster board that carves a thinner line with more conservation of energy, but you'll probably also still ride the soft C4 early season or in poor or variable conditions.  I do.  I have eight JJAs and four soft boot Coilers in the house right now, and I chose the soft C4 proto with EGS for a very firm but barely icy day at Nakiska on Saturday (rode with @slayermtb and @slabber) and it was definitely the right choice.  (I'm 70kg.)

This is the board that's gonna accelerate your progress so you're ready for the bigger board after a couple of seasons.  If you get it too stiff it will slow down your progression.  The soft is definitely enough board for you, I would recommend the same board even if you were 15kg heavier.

I took this season to unlearn some bad counter-rotating habits and I'm wondering if this video of my riding might help decide which stiffness option to go for as I'm getting on edge more: Had a friend film me on a Salomon Highpath 162W (33/30 stance) – Post Your Videos Here For Analysis – Carvers Connection Forum (US 10.5 boot, 160-170lbs or 72-77kg weight, 6'1" or ~185cm). I haven't found a lot of groomed slopes in the PNW but that might change depending where I'm living in a few seasons. Thanks!

Posted by: @wild-cherry

↑

I chose the soft C4 proto with EGS for a very firm but barely icy day at Nakiska on Saturday (rode with @slayermtb and @slabber) and it was definitely the right choice.  (I'm 70kg.)

This is the board that's gonna accelerate your progress so you're ready for the bigger board after a couple of seasons.  If you get it too stiff it will slow down your progression.  The soft is definitely enough board for you, I would recommend the same board even if you were 15kg heavier.

Proof.  

Unfortunately I got motion sickness and had to bug out early.  Was great to ride with @wild-cherry and @slayermtb and if I'd stuck around, would have loved to ride one of the prototypes.  Every board rides differently and the only way to really know is to ride them yourself given the opportunity.  But given James' expertise, both in his riding history and the development of these boards, his recommendations will be on point.  

I've been riding since early 2000s, and I'm 53yo. I weigh in at 95kg and I'm 183cm tall. I had a break for a few years and now I'm riding like 30-40 days per season + a cabin in the mountains. I'm using a Nidecker thruster 162w ( https://www.nidecker.com/de/snowboards/910-thruster.html). I mostly run firm groomers. It's not overly populated where I run, but I'm far from alone :(. My stance is about 52ish cm wide, and 43/33 ish degrees posi/posi (goofy). Referece widht for my board was like 56cm but I had to move them closer because I found it awkward angels for my knees. I find it easy to do toeside turns but struggle with heelside, i tend to go "duck style" and use my butt alot (hanging it out) but thats driver error not the board's fault :). I like the locked in feeling. My bad heelside turns make me pick up speed alot, especially when it's steep and with that I need to use up alot of the slope :-(.

I'm thinking ESG and either the medium flex or soft flex. My weight I guess send me to the medium one, while soft might make it easier to navigate narrower terrain. Perhaps with the right training with my heelside turns the medium is the way to go?

@wild-cherry just finished your latest video. Just curious, are those the new canting plates that will be available next season?( 3rd board from the right.)

Posted by: @maximelearning

↑

'm wondering if this video of my riding might help decide which stiffness option to go for

Hey @maximelearning, after watching the video and reading your form submission I recommend the soft flex with EGS for you.

Posted by: @moonshine

↑

I'm thinking ESG and either the medium flex or soft flex. My weight I guess send me to the medium one, while soft might make it easier to navigate narrower terrain. Perhaps with the right training with my heelside turns the medium is the way to go?

Yup, at your size and experience, you should go for the mid flex with EGS.  That'll be perfect. 

Also, your 52cm stance is likely too tight for you.  56cm is probably just about right, if it feels awkward on your knees get a set of the canted risers when they're available, or try a custom cant and lift setup like mine.  I set up about eight people this season with cant and lift and everybody liked it (except @board-doctor, but he has some particular ankle issues).

Posted by: @flyguy

↑

just finished your latest video. Just curious, are those the new canting plates that will be available next season?( 3rd board from the right.)

No, those are just flat risers.  We'll have something similar in the store for next season along with the canted option.  The first prototype of the canted riser is on it's way to me now.

This is @slayermtb on his second run on the soft C4 proto (without EGS), this was Saturday, two days ago.

Posted by: @wild-cherry

↑

This is @slayermtb on his second run on the soft C4 proto (without EGS), this was Saturday, two days ago.

@wild-cherry Great video and carving! I'm glad to see C4 in action and can't wait to ride it next season!
For similar level of carving and riding speed, for a 76kg rider (myself), would you still recommend the medium C4 with EGS or perhaps the soft one with EGS?
@slayermtb made some great turns on not-so-great snow conditions with the soft one and without EGS... 😎

Posted by: @damir

↑

For similar level of carving and riding speed, for a 76kg rider (myself), would you still recommend the medium C4 with EGS or perhaps the soft one with EGS?

@slayermtb chose the mid flex with EGS and he's about 80kg.  

In your weight range(s) you can get away with either flex, it just depends on how fast you want to go and how big you want to turn.  The soft flex is still quite stiff (especially compared to production boards) but the mid is a good size step up yet.  At 70kg I like the mid flex for good conditions and the soft for rough days.  If I had to choose just one it would be the mid for sure.

Knowing that we'll be riding Revelstoke together next season @damir, I would suggest the mid.  Even if it's a little much at the start of the season it will be perfect by the end of your trip for sure!

I'm actually really looking forward to having a little crew here next season.  I'm trying to convince @slayermtb to get a season pass in Revelstoke and I know @board-doctor and @dan will be up here from time to time and we will all have JJAs to ride!  We're gonna turn some heads and drop some jaws for sure!  I might have to make some extra shark fins so we can all look equally ridiculous...

I think I'm leaning towards the soft flex with EGS.  In the suboptimal conditions that I rode them, I didn't feel like I could turn the midflex as tight as I'd like.  The midflex is probably better in stellar conditions though, so hopefully I won't regret that.  This would also leave the door open for a 'scalpel' in the future as well.  But @slayermtb , given the boards that you already have, I'd probably be looking at the mid flex.

I'm surprised Revelstoke's early bird pricing will be done next week. It looks like you'd need to go 9 times to make it worthwhile, but I don't think I'll make it up that much.  It'd be great to have a little carvers connection convention there though!  And if anyone's ever headed to Big White, definitely let me know.  It's been really great carving with @dan over the last month or so.

I am also agonizing about my decision re: soft vs medium. I can carve reasonably well on greens and flatter blues, and was working up to steeper blues at the end of this past season (roast my form video here). I am sure I can handle the soft C4 but still wondering whether the medium might be too much for me. 5’10” 177lbs, intermediate carver. I can definitely bend my Donek Saber into very tight turns and I am ready for something more stiff that’ll let me stay in the turn longer, but maybe the soft C4 is already more stiff? It’s just so hard to guess without having ridden any of the C4 boards. 

Posted by: @parkcityguy

↑

still wondering whether the medium might be too much for me

Definitely not too much board for you.  Your video is good, you're getting that Donek way up high on edge and carving smoothly.  You're ready for the mid stiff, it'll fit you like an old comfy slipper.  Especially because you'll be riding low density Utah corduroy; that stuff is slow so you can afford to up the board stiffness to compensate.

Hi, 

I'm realy looking forward to next season with a new carving board! Here is my specs:

52 years old. Have been riding snowboard since mid 80s and have been doing mostly backcountry splitboarding and carving the last 5-10 years. I'm 190cm tall (6'2"?), 85kg (190lbs), and have allways liked boards on the stiffer side. I like some speed, and I thought I would have the stiff versjon, but after watching your video James, I think the medium with EGS is my choice. Snow conditions are typically quite dense, and some times icy where I live in Norway. 

Posted by: @torkelro

↑

I think the medium with EGS is my choice.

Hey @torkelro.  I think that's a good call.