K2 Eco Pop
Hi again!
So I've been doing some research into a possible new board for next season (the NZ season that is)- I figured it might be time to start thinking about moving on from my current board.
I am an intermediate rider 5'4 and about 145 pounds. I currently ride a Burton Feather 149 which is my first board (and I still love it).
I am trying to progress into riding switch and eventually get good enough to go for my instructor qualifications so I'm looking for a board to take me way into my future riding. I have looked at a few reviews for the K2 Eco Pop and they have all been really good, I'm just unsure if I am looking in the right direction and a little unsure to what size I would go for as the 148 and the 152 cover my weight range (but do I go slightly shorter than my feather or quite a bit bigger?) I would prefer an all mountain board to cover a bit of everything, but there is so much out there that I would love to hear opinions and if there are any other suggestions :D :D :D :D
Good luck! Sorry I didn't reply to this originally - I must have missed it. I have ridden the eco pop before and it's a very fun board to ride.
First day out with my new toys yesterday - epic! I had a perfect powder day with clear skies. New board is AMAZING! Super light, and very forgiving. Many times I did silly stuff where my old board would have thrown me off, not with the new one :) I'm already feeling heaps more confident and have tried a few new things, LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
If anyone is thinking about the Eco pop in future I highly recommend and you will in no way regret the decision. Plus it looks awesome too.
that sounds great! i'm also considering the eco pop... i hope i can try it out.
Sweet!!! Congratulationss on the new board and bindings...and snow!
Last year, I also moved from a Burton Feather to a K2, but mine is a Fling and I can't be happier. I'm also pairing it up with 2011 turquoise Agogo's and can't wait for them to arrive...and of course for the serious snow fall.
Unfortunately my season has now finished for the year :( Short but sweet and can't wait to hit the slopes again next year :)
I also looked at the fling and almost went with it but they no longer had my size left so I went with my first love- though a wee bit pricier, totally loooove it :) I now have K2 everything including boots! They make some fantastic gear.
Glad to hear you loved the Eco Pop.
I'm just about to embark on a season and I have ordered the 2011 model, can't wait to get it on the snow and try it out. Well, I was until just now I spoke to a man in a snowboard shop about boards and he said he would never have recommended this to me, it's too pro for the amount of time I've spent on snow (three weeks) and I will find it will lead to a lot of fatigue. I have actually ridden it (only at a snow dome for a couple of hours) and I really liked it and the one he suggested to me was the Fling which I didn't like as much. Now I know you have to go on feel and trust yourself a bit here but obviously I'm not that experienced and now I'm worried I've done the wrong thing buying the Eco Pop because I will find it too hardcore.
What are your thoughts on this? On the board and on the advice given. I'm starting to have a bit of a panic.
Thank you
Victoria xx
Hello,
Sorry to maybe put other ideas into your head but I would definatly agree with the guy in the shop. I have done 13 seasons riding and competing and I see so many girls on baords that are high end and way too stiff for them to ride properly. Snowboarding is about more than just carving down a hill. You need to learn the basics and that is nose and tails presses and edge control through being able to butter a board. Riding the eco pop is great BUT it is a stiff advanced board that wont teach you how to do these things without a lot of effort and exhaustion.
I ride k2 always and I am thinking about a eco pop for myself, but it will be my freeride board, not my everyday board. I made that mistake when I learnt to snwboard. I walked into a shop with lots of money and was sold a high end womens board and wondered why i got really bad shin splints and couldnt turn it properly without alot of effort.
Dont make the mistake, get a board that suits your level and learn how to ride it properly not just slide it round a mountain. There is a big difference!!
Good luck
Firstly DON'T PANIC!!!! 
I have now owned 2 boards in my life and my snowboarding career is only about 30 days on the mountain. I got on the Ecopop and honestly, it was amazing! I am by no means a pro rider- not even close and the difference between my old board and the Ecopop was incredible- I have found the Ecopop way easier to progress on because it is more forgiving when I do silly thing- and I do many silly things!
You should always go with how a board feels for you. Had the guy in the shop even ridden the two boards? At the end of the day, you have to go with whatever feels best for your style- you are super lucky to have been able to test ride first and if you liked the Ecopop better then that's the one you should go for! The guy can only give advice based on his knowledge and opinions.
Hope this helps put your mind at ease :) Keep me updated on how it all goes for you!
I second ninjakittykat! You like riding the board,and what's more important - you like it more than the one the SA suggested - so just enjoy it! You're indeed lucky because you could test the board first. I had the same panic thoughts when I blind-ordered the Fling instead of the Airdu. I thought that it would be too noodly, but it turned out to be great, just what I wanted. It's all in your head, don't let it spoil the ride :)
Thank you both! Since your advice I feel so much better about the whole thing and I'm not worried at all.
My latest problem is boots! I've picked out the Salomon F20's after trying on several different pairs at the weekend but have since been told that because they are such a 'low profile' small boot, they maybe too small for my board and that I would be better off looking for a larger boot such as the Kiana. I wear a UK size 3.
I have had a few replies from other small-footed ladies on another forum, reassuring me that this combination will be fine. I'm also thinking about the K2 Auto Agogo's and can only seem to find them in a size medium which I am concerned will be too big for the boots and I can't seem to find anywhere that stocks them to go and try this out.
I love snowboarding but getting all my gear is so stressful!
Victoria xx
Hmm, yes the gear thing can be stressful- wouldn't it just be much easier if you could have one of everything!!
I have seen small auto agogos on a couple of websites (can't remember which ones though) and would definately try to get the small. I have a size 8.5US foot and a medium auto and there isn't much more room for me to tighten them up. I fear that with a UK3 (is that about a 5 US??) that you would struggle to try and get them adjusted tight enough.
Where abouts in the world are you writting from?
Yes it definitely would! Well, at least to try out for a few days until you've found the right type of boot/board/binding.
I'm in the UK and I think you're in NZ right? Judging from your post about the season you were doing. I have spoken to the K2 UK sales rep and even he says I may very well need a small but no shops in the UK have them. Apparently, girls don't buy high end stuff. What's that about? I feel there a hole in the market over here at least, for girls-only snowboard shop! I would sell a range of gear starting from the smallest of sizes!
How are your Agogo's working out for you though? I've found a pair of last seasons K2 Bliss bindings for a really good price so I am considering them with the F20 boot at the moment.
Yes I'm in NZ. That really sucks that they don't bring them in, is it not possible for K2 UK to get them in for you? I don't believe for a second that girls don't buy high end stuff, I used to work in snow retail and I saw plenty of girls walk out the door with flash stuff! Plus obviously by that fact we're having this conversation girls DO buy high end stuff!!
My Agogo's were great, I love them. I did only get to use them about 2 days of the season though by the time I got them. They don't really save heaps of time but they have a really nice fit. My old Burton bindings used to make my toes numb and weren't comfortable but I haven't had and problems with the Agogo's. Plus they look really cool too- I got the zebra strip!
I have heard good things about other K2 bindings though. Just make sure your boot fits properly- I am lucky enough to have K2 boots also so that made it easier when I fell in love with the Agogo's!
So glad to hear there's more K2 fans out there. I've got a Luna and a Fling. Havn't ridden the Luna in a few years but I used to love it. I'm still riding the Fling and have rocked it around hills in Canada and France. Love it. Keen on the EcoPop too but can't be buying more boards just now.
I have just took delivery of a K2 EcoPop 152 - can't wait to check it out after reading all your comments. I too love K2 snowboards after having my Luna for the past 4 years.
I agree too that the shops here stocking high end girls gear is rubbish. I found it so hard to get hold of the K2 eco pop, the other board I was considering was the Roxy envi (similar to Eco Pop although a lot stiffer).
I was so excited yesterday when I got home to find it on my doorstep, I just had to get it out the box and put my bindings on it! incidently my bindings are last years virtue, love them on my luna so just hope there are as good with the eco pop.
Can't wait to hit Banff/Lae louise in 6 weeks - praying for plenty of powder days!!!!
x
Enjoy your new deck and let us know how it rides:)
I'm ripping every week on my Fling now with the Auto Agogo's. I put them on the board as soon as they arrived in early December even though we didn't have snow at the time and tested them just before Christmas :)))
Hey ninjakittykat,
A bit late joining this thread, but I just got a K2 Fling 146cm (yay) and am looking for some bindings. How do you like the Agogos? They seem to not have much padding over the toe but I haven't heard any complaints about them. Also where did you find them in NZ? I'm in Chch and can't find anywhere selling them! They look awesome though.
Cheers
Hey Ali C,
I ride a K2 Fling 146 with blue Auto Agogos size M. This is a wicked set up, both really amp up their charachteristics. The agogo is a super comfortable binding and the strange toe strap proved my suspicions that you don't actually need so much padding in the cap strap. I do wear the toe strap as a cap strap and so far I haven't experienced any pressure or having them untightened while riding. The auto system is really handy, fast and so far reliable. The bindings are super comfortable with the gel and canted footbed, middle of the road in terms of stiffness. Hope this helps. I posted a more 'in-debth' review in the review section here.
Hi Ali C!
Sorry, haven't checked in on here in a while! I knew some people that were able to help me out with getting them, but if you talk to the people at Snow & Surf on Tuam St they are usually pretty good with ordering bits and pieces if the wholesaler has them in. They're about $550 though that's the only down side, but worth every penny.
I don't have any issue with toe padding, in fact the way they're designed makes them heaps more comfy than any other bindings I've had and they don't cut my toes off either
Hope this helps & let me know how you get on!
Ok people, a quick update. Today I became the pround owner of a new 2011 K2 Ecopop 148 matched with some sweet zebra stripe K2 Auto Agogo bindings!!!
I'm currently floating on cloud 9 and itching to get up the mountain on Thursday this week- hopefully the weather gods bring me some fresh pow and clear skies!! Will update and let you know how it goes :D