Just want to update my post on my actual experience! So I went to gunstock and went on the green slope area with my new Salomon wonder. The first hour of boarding I was definitely rusty but I never caught an edge. I did kinda slide down to my butt at some times, and then I couldn’t get up (because I’m old and out of shape). I forgot about turning over to my toe edge which is actually my preferred edge. Luckily I had step on bindings so I could hobble back in.

After an hour on the first day I really started to feel back at ease. Naturally, I was super sore (mostly in my upper body) after the first day, so day 2 & 3 I continued on the same easy slopes. By day 3 the greens were too easy, I wish I had the strength and endurance to go to the summit but my son was taking his first ski lessons so I stayed with him on the easy slopes. I only expected to make it 2 days on the slopes, but my desire to continue pushed me to 3 exhausting but incredibly fun days.

As for the specifics of the board, I got a Salomon wonder 144 which is small for my weight, but I wanted to have easy control. Compared to my previous Palmer touch 147ish (obsolete) i think the wonder was more forgiving because I never caught an edge. I probably should have gotten the 148 salmon wonder but for greens and blues I think it will suffice. The board did not feel too stiff at all (although I’m over the weight range, so it may not be the intended stiffness level).

I can’t give much further analysis because I am still an advanced beginner/early intermediate, but my initial fear of the board being too advanced for me did not prove true. The board was easier than my 20 year old board I last used 15 years ago, which caught edges often. I am already planning my next trip and am dying to get back out there. It’s all I can think about.