The RVL8 KTP’s are super fun boards that are way maneuverable. These things skate like a dream and are very stable for a shorter board. That makes them a total gas on groomers. They hold an edge excellently on ice. Nice stiff construction. They work in set back position in pow pretty well, although I prefer the longer boards for that.
Rider – Jack Jue – Expert Skiboarder
I am 5’4″ and 145Lbs female and rode these ‘o8 KTP’s with the pink/red Zero bindings and have heard a lot of people say they seem to wide, well they have not rode them; The KTP just might be the best all mountain skiboard I have rode, and I have rode the Revolt.
Solid, fast, yes some chatter, carve nicely, handle powder, handle grooms or non groomed runs, bombing down hills was great, and handled hard pack… I didn’t have any ice anywhere to try, but they will be fine in it.
Not too wide at all! That is a misconception.
A great board, don’t let the width steer you away from one of the best R8 skiboards made!
Rider – Shelley Bright – Intermediate Skiboarder
This is my second season skiboarding and I’ve been on Head Shape 94s, Tansho’s with Bomber Elites, and now KTPs with Spruce Pro Light riser and binding set up.
KTPs are stellar. For those of you who may be concerned about the width, don’t be. These boards are a dream.
I’m 5’8″ and about 195 lbs. Conditions were varied. I rode all day… mostly on groomers and found some icy hardpack, some fluffy stuff, and some in between.
KTPs floated through the soft stuff well (surprising considering my weight), held a good edge on the icy stuff, and really felt pretty effortless to carve. I was expecting directional changes and transitions to be be more work and more difficult due to the extra width of the KTP, but that did not end up being the case at all.
Don’t know what all the fuss is about regarding the width. Maybe it didn’t seem difficult to me because of my weight or maybe it was just because I was piloting them aggressively. Whatever the case, I had a blast and the boards rode beautifully.
I have been contemplating ordering a pair of Spruce 120s for more all mountain an pow work, but now I think I’ll just be sticking with these KTPs until I run into terrain that they just can’t handle for me.
Wow … these things are just absolutely tasty.
Rider – Robert OShea – Intermediate Skiboarder
I finally have a chance to try out the 2008 RVL8 KTP with Zero bindings. My first impression was “wow these boards are wide”, I even email Greco about their exchange policy. But good thing I didn’t exchange for another board.
Today condition was machine groom but with 15cm of fresh snow and ice patches here and there on the slope.
I went down a black diamond and the KTP reacts very well and its very responsive. But when I was going down a black diamond very fast, the KTP did chatter a bit as I was craving really quickly side to side but even going through an ice patches, it grips the ice very well. Skating with the ktp were very easy and not tiring at all even with the added width. I did went off a jump today and man it made the landing seems so easy with the extra width of the KTP.
Overall I would definitely recommend this board to anyone that wants a staple and responsive board. Don’t be scare of the extra width of the KTP, the weird feeling of the extra width will be gone after going down your first run with it!
Rider – Tony Wu – Intermediate Skiboarder
I have heard so much about how hard it is to ride KTP and how long it takes to get comfortable with due to its width.
I’ve ridden the RVL8 Revolt and i liked it. Today I rode KTP for the first time, not worrying about its width and all.
Man… this skiboard is amazing. It was so comfortable and I could do anything I want.
It carved great on groom. I tried rails and jumps. The boards are very stable and easy to control.
I’ve brought 2 other skiboard models and I didn’t even think about trying them, not even for one second. I was on the KTP all day.
It’s amazing. I will never give up this skiboard. I love KTP.. I can say this again and again…
KTP!!!!!
Rider – Jeahopark – Intermediate Skiboarder Riding the 2010 model
I got these boards late last year, the ’08 model, near the end of the season. Had a few trips out on them then, and was quite happy, and that has very much continued through this season. I love the maneuverability of them, and I don’t find the width to have any negative effects for getting it on edge.
I haven’t done a side by side review to my revolts yet, because every time I’m up on the mountain these days, someone is borrowing the Revolts.I can’t speak too much on the powder on these boards, since the only day I got out when there was any fresh this year, it was completely wet cement, due to a misty-rain falling, but with lots of snow in the forecast for this week, I’m hoping I can change that in due time.
This year I’ve been spending most of my time in the terrain park, I’ve been loving the maneuverability of these, and after a summer of inline skating, the shorter length of these compared to many others feels quite long for the surface area to land on, so no problems with that at all there. Doing one of the black runs (the only one that you really want to take without powder) at Mt. Seymour, I have yet to encounter any instability or any of that sort which I’ve seen people attribute with the shorter boards at high speed. I’ve never done any edge tuning on these things, and they work like a charm at high speeds, even on icier conditions, though I do tone it back then.
Rider – Mitch – Intermediate Skiboarder
I’ve ridden a lot of different boards over the past several years. The RVL8 KTPs are definitely my new go to board and all time favorite.
The stiffness really helps plow through anything, and can make bad/uneven conditions feel like a smooth ride. The 101cm length is great for all around riding without losing maneuverability. The width makes for a solid, steady ride, no matter where you end up.
From horrible ice and uneven man-made snow, to untouched Jay Peak Vermont powder, I haven’t found anything the KTPs haven’t been able to handle. If you’re looking for a board that lets you enjoy the ride and push the limits, look no further.
Rider – Courtney – Expert Skiboarder admin at skiboardmagazine.com
Finally have tried KTPs
I bought a pair of KTP 10 used and just tried them out friday. Loved them! I have been on Line 5-o’s for three years, that is my only skiboard experience. First ,all the ohhs and ahs from everyone in the lift lines, they all loved the boards. Second was how they ride, wow, they are fun. I road them over Ice/slush/crap, they just carved or plowed right through it. Had a great time cannot wait to try them out again!
Rider – bungy28 – Beginning Skiboarder
2012 Rockered Condor – Like no other skiboard before it, but owing much in inspiration to the original flexy bendy 2008 and 2010 Condors. A torsional stiff zero camber center is matched with early tip rise rockered very flexible tips. Way easier to turn then the 2011 Condor just foot steer or pivot and the thing turns, rock the edge over a lower speed or less angles and the very short straight section engages. On firm icy snow , you have much less edge to work with but the edge is straighter and you can apply all your weight to that very short edge and get very good grip much like you would riding a 75cm super wide bodied skiboard on icy snow. Tips and tails don’t engage until you have softer snow and then engage progressively the softer and deeper the snow. In nice soft groomed snow or chopped up firmish snow it begins to feel just like the 2011 Condor in the same snow but with a more relaxed carving feel with less tip and tail influence on the carve. Spins around and butters like no other skiboard, but perhaps less pop then the 2011 fully cambered Condor to initiate jumps. Maybe less crash durability off park features and awkward cliff drops then the stiffer more uniformly stiffer flexing 2011 Condor? The suspension is to die for in chop, variable snow, and powder with absolutely no need to set back the bindings. In deep pow the board has significantly greater speed and flow then the regular Condor. It floats higher in the snow. No set back is necessary and the rockered tips keep you on top of the snow without diving the tips. You still need to be careful with balance in deep pow and keep centered in the middle of the board to get the best performance but if you do you are rewarded with the best pow performance of any skiboard on the planet.
Overall, the 2012 Condor is less work and is easier to ride then the 2011 Condor. I feel goofier, and more playful on the 2012 Rockered Condor and a bit more serious and aggressive on the 2011 cambered, stiffer version. For me, it is a no brainer, the 2012 Rockered version is more ME but is it YOU? Maybe you will have to buy both to find out LOL!
Rider – Jack Jue – Expert Skiboarder
This is my first pair of fat skiboards. I am an experienced skier who also rides sometimes ‘blades’. I was always dreaming of a slightly longer and fat skiboard compared to the ‘standard’ blades you can find in Europe. So when I found out about the Condors I ordered them immediately.
After a few crappy ski seasons, this year we have an amazing winter here in Brasov, Romania with lots of snow so I took the Condors through the woods in 70cm (2ft) fresh powder. I would say that they are the perfect tool for skiing through the forest! I can take them anywhere. They are very easy to control and steer, ideal for thick woods. I could take them in places where I would not go on normal skis; moreover, I was enjoying every bit of the descent.
Yesterday we went down on thinly wooded south mountain face. First half of the descent, for about 600m altitude drop we had slopes of 40-50%. The powder snow was almost 1 meter deep. There was a bit of crust and the snow was a bit wet and heavy, but it was a joy to ride this mountain face on the Condors. My friends, (one on powder fat and long skis and one on standard all mountain skis) had quite some trouble controlling and steering their long skis and were complaining about the heavy snow. Riding on the Condors I had no idea what they were talking about! Down on the valley, when the slope become less than 5-10% it was clear that the Condors would not glide as fast as normal skis, but it was OK as I am always using ski poles – they are very useful for off-piste skiing.
I also rode the Condors on hard packed well prepared slopes and I was surprised on how stable they were, even at a quite high speed. Carving on them is a joy. Even though they are perfectly fine on hard packed snow and I enjoyed the run, in this conditions I would rather chose a narrower ski/skiboard.
I rode them with both race stiff ski boots and soft touring ski boots. In powder I prefer the softer option as I felt more relaxed. On hard-pack I only tried the stiff ones.
I also tried the Condors on soft bumps and they are fun to ride. I would probably avoid hard bumps as I would not recommend this skiboard for icy conditions – in fact they are not designed for icy conditions.
Rider – Mihai – Expert Rider
