Icon Vs. Ambition

[nathanf]

From my experience with last year's Icon boards, I have to disagree.

(even with extreme and tru concave) The extreme grip + tru concave gives you UNBELiEVABLE control over the board. It's much much easier to maneuver around an icon with grip/concave than a flat ambition with ambition grip or an 08premier max hilty

I feel that it is only the extreme grip and true concave that makes you feel this, my icon from last year (with the improved groove pattern) yes felt amazing because of the extreme grip, I later took the grip off because I wasn't satisfied with that board (will get to that soon) and put it on my ambition, just as good, and I felt better feel than the icon due to the shape and size of the ambition. The same goes for my friends premier, its pop and flick is just as good as my icons if not better. (it has extreme grip)

Pop/tail angles: after ollying and doing some flip tricks on flat land for a good 20minutes, i couldn't believe the difference in pop/flippability between icon and it's competitors. The icon tail angles are a little steeper than premier/ambition. I'm not sure if it's due to the concave, the extreme grip, or both. But flip tricks on an icon are INCREDIBLY easier/higher/faster then on my ambition and premier.

I do agree that the Icons tail and nose are higher and provide more pop than old ambitions or premiers; but the tail shape on my icon made it seem that whenever I went to do any trick on slightly loose snow, when I popped, I would stop. Due to the higher tail it is more difficult for me to get my foot on the back of the icon for its maximum pop while moving without having my back foot slip, and experiencing some pretty bad groin pain. Ambition has a higher tail now too, much similar to Icon's I think.

Speed: The icon was a very pleasant surprise. EASILY as fast as the ambition. I went back and forth between the icon and the ambition about 10-15 times. They averaged the same distance every time. The only difference was the icon seemed to "float" on the snow a lot better than the ambition. IT seemed quicker too. Even though they both went the same distance, I honestly think the icon was quicker or faster. (Much easier to control!)

no. My icon is slow, slower than my premier, I wish I had my old videos from last year up so you could see me slipping and sliding and stopping every single trick down a 3 stair. And no, it is not my ability to snowskate, with my ambition I was able to do more tricks and maintain control. I can't stress enough how much the speed on the Icon affected my performance last year, my friends premier was faster. I couldn't make it off of a medium sized kicker that was at the bottom of the hill because of its speed.

Flippability: During my basement sesh, i went back and forth between every deck. Trying all the flip tricks i have in my book. Every one i tried was MUCH higher/quicker/more controlled on the icon.

Sorry to tell you, its because of the extreme and the concave. try taking both of those off, the ollies will still be reasonable, kickflips, not so much.

I'm going to be straight forward here,If your debating between an icon and an ambition. I highly suggest icon.

I highly suggest Ambition especially because their new line up contains some much more promising features than icon.
For example:
Pro Models:
-Carbon Fiber Technology-Much lighter,more pop, more flex, better durability
-5 channel groove patter for better lock in on rails, with sharper cut then icon
-UHMW base, non p-tex, doesnt matter, no need for waxing because of the speed
-6 ply, light, and strong as shit
Team Board
-Now 33" instead of 33.5"
-7 ply, not eight, lighter
-Red stained ply-looks amazing
For Both
-Improved nose and tail pattern
-Colored bases
-Die Cut Ambition "A" on the bottom of each board
-Variety of 4 colors
-They are amazing.

I am not bad mouthing Icon, I am saying that in my opinion ambition is a much much much much better company. Maybe the 34" will somehow magically fix all the problems that the 32" had for me last year. Overall though I was very disappointed with the performance of my icon snowskate last season.

[whats a snowskate]

i agree with everything you said, deffently the speed issue...seriously last year my friend had an icon and he let me try it and we were skating this like 2 1/2 foot drop just sessioning for fun and me and my other friend were just doing shit off it and hes trying stuff and cant get close to single trick he was like strugling to ride the thing. so im like yo let me test er out so i jump on it and it doesnt even make it to the edge of the drop, so i put it even closer to the edge of the drop and jump on it and stomped a perfect kickflip off the drop and i swear to god when i landed i rode no more than like 6 inches, just stayed in place.

idk i hope it was a defect but wow was it incredibly slow.

[nathanf]

When I first used my Icon on snow I hoped it was a defect also, and kept trying to find excuses to why it was sucking "the snow is too bumpy", "I'm just not used to it yet" I emailed Icon and sent me the latest snowskate with the newer grooves, I was excited. My first session with it, it was slightly faster, the second session, it was back to being slow. I wish that this was a defect, but I guess for me at least, ambition has been the only reliable company.

[Justin Majeczky]

I think they had a bad batch where they put the bases on upside down or something in the beginning of the year last year. I'm not sure.

[Rodney Mullen]

Why are you dissing icon?!?! I have one and its faster than a cheetah on steroids! The reason why your icon might be as 'slow' as you say is because you need to wax the board man; every time you wax it performs like new it is truly awesome.
And the thing about the tail is your just looking for reasons to bring icon down, the tail is beautiful I never had this problem you just got no skill.
The ambitions are actually HEAVIER the icons, why? Because the grooves on the icon are cut into the wood which dramatically reduces the weight, while ambition have their grooves cut into UHMW after it is put on the board. The result is the ambition board has a higher concentration of a heavy material which makes it heaver; both methods have their pros and cons though.
And lastly the icon snowskates base is made out of UHMW and the reason why they used a sintered UHMW is so that you can wax your board so it performs like new every time.

[waterboyhawaii]

nathanf.

You can't go comparing your last year model of icon to the OP of the review of the 2009-2010 line. That just simply doesnt work out too well. Icon and Ambition has made major improvements both on there decks and the OP was just stating his own opinion on what HE thought of the new icon. Dont go dissing it. Until you have the 2009-2010 models of Icon and Ambition dont go making any judgements or smart ass comments about other peoples OPINIONS.

[Jordan Levesque]

why fight about this? haha. both companys are supporting snowskating and doing what they can to progress the sport. which one you like better is personal preference.

but, i will be riding an ambition

[nathanf]

What the fuck are you dissing icon for fool?!?!

Icon and Ambition has made major improvements both on there decks and the OP was just stating his own opinion on what HE thought of the new icon. Dont go dissing it. Until you have the 2009-2010 models of Icon and Ambition dont go making any judgements or smart ass comments about other peoples OPINIONS.

First off, I am not "dissing the company" and second, Waterboyhawaii, the 09/10 icon 32" boards are the exact same as the improved last years model, except for true concave, which I have. I am not making smart ass opinions, and I am not judging, I am stating my experiences and opinions, I was disagreeing with him, and explained exactly why.

I know that both Icon and Ambition are huge contributers to snowskating, and both are working very very hard to make it grow and create better products for their riders. I am going to say again that I am not dissing either company, I am trying to make that very clear, I respect Icon, and think it is a very talented group of people who are running it and are involved with it, my point is that Icon boards are not the boards for me. Maybe its because my board was only 32" and I am 6' and weigh 150 pounds.

And "Rodney Mullen" I have waxed my board, and I do take into consideration of how much heavier ambitions are, however I like the heft of an ambition, I like how ambition doesn't cut into the wood, it makes them able to create sharper grooves in both the UHMW bases and the HDPE bases. Something that I like the most about ambitions is that you don't have to wax them, they are fast, and stay fast. I do believe that it is a great Idea to be able to wax your snowskate, but I hate waxing.

I think they had a bad batch where they put the bases on upside down or something in the beginning of the year last year. I'm not sure.

-Justin,

Last year Icon was just starting out, later on in the season they found out that the tail shape, and the way the grinded/cut the grooves in their snowskates could be improved, so they fixed it and sent everyone who bought the old version a free new version.

I am not bad mouthing Icon

I am not saying Icon sucks, I am saying that Icon is not the right board for me, I am just guessing that "Rodney Mullen" has a 32" board also and he is most likely smaller than me, both of the Plays look smaller than me, and that is probably why they can haul ass on their Icons, maybe in the future I will give a 34" Icon a try, but for me Ambition has been a very supporting, and reliable company, and for now I am sticking with them.

[bradenioi]

ambition rocks his socks off ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GriUrIcf ... re=related

[ceb]

Making topics like this is useless! it all comes down to preference end of story