2012 Smokin M.I.P. Used and Reviewed
Smokin is one of those brands that’s not scared to be controversial, in your face, or subscribe to the ethos of the punk culture. The M.I.P. is the board for someone that doesn’t give a shit and wants to shred the mountain like it’s a skatepark. During one tragic day in Breckenridge this is how it rode.
Size: 155
Camber Option: Flat
Bindings: K2 Formulas
Stance: 22.5
Angles: 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 T1 DB Size 10
My Weight: 165
Resort: Breckenridge
Conditions: Sunny bluebird February powder days at Breckenridge.
Preconceived Notions: The biggest attraction for me to this board was the blunted shape on flat camber.
Flex: It’s a playful park deck with a fair amount of give between the feet and slightly stiffer out in the tips. The torsional flex has about the same amount of give as the middle of the board does.
Stability: It’s a playful deck so not overly stable. I was slashing pow and got into some tracked out stuff that the nose would flap around a bit.
Ollies/Pop: Popping over small trees and wind slips this board just had great snap. Throwing little 180′s and stuff off rollers was just a breeze and that blunted shape just gives a great surface to pop.
Butterability: The flex of the board with flat camber and the blunted shape really let you press it out on the snow and play around. Pow butters were a breeze as well.
Cruising: Smokins version of Magnetraction has always been far superior in my opinion. It always grips well and lets you control the board without locking you in to the point you feel you have to follow through the arc. With this board that was no different. Railing hard turns on groomers wasn’t an issue nor was just being lazy and doing short set up turns.
Jibbing: Unfortunately I didn’t get to jib with this board.
Rider in Mind: The park kid that wants flat camber and a blunted shape who is going to play around on the whole mountain as if it’s a skatepark.
Personal Thoughts: The biggest let down was I hit a rock coming through a pow field and obliterated it. R.I.P. M.I.P. how’s that for acronyms? Over all I was super impressed with the blunt shape and flat camber it just let the board be overly playful and do what you wanted. Blunted shape in my opinion just give a better surface for playing around and with the longer effective edge and the abrupt upturn in the kicks it gives way more snap than a traditional shaped deck.
What They Say: The M.I.P is exclusively available with anti-rocker. The blunted tip, camber free M.I.P. is the perfect tool for getting creative and taking your skills to the next level. It’s flat camber makes it versatile and predictable in all conditions, while the blunt tips give you extra effective edge for stability. This years graphics take us back to a simpler time when wrestling was real, cowboys were our heroes, and when suitcase airs won big air contests. Here’s to the good ole days.
Support your local snowboard shop buy locally. Find a shop here.
Popularity: 5% [?]
hey i was looking into this board for a jib board. i know you said you didnt get to jib it unfortunately but going off of what you felt of it buttering what would you say the flex is? on their site they have it listed as about a 5 which kinda scares me cause i ride a ride machete and they listed that as a 6 and i hateeee it, way too stiff for what i like. i figured it’d be best to ask you that because you get to ride everything. i was looking into a technine jib or a re enforcer, if the flex is anything similiar i am sold. thanks angry snowboarder.
Fuck those god damn numbers they are unquantifiable. A 1 to me could be a 10 to you I fucking hate that bullshit. Well flex isn’t like the Technines due to different construction methods. But trust me that board can jib I actually hammered the shit out of the broken sidewall and topsheet so it was somewhat rideable and lent it to friend and he’s been pressing the shit out of it. Go with the Smokin you won’t be disappointed.
How does the MIP compare to the Rook in terms of flex, playfulness, and ability to handle the whole mountain? Also, would you recommend sizing down on the MIP because of the long effective?
They’re pretty similar if it’s the Rook and not Rook Factory, MIP has a little more give in the tips. Sizing is your call I don’t size down or up I just stay consistent in what I ride.
Yeah, I was referring to the zero cam Rook. Any preference between the Rook and MIP? Thanks man.
Me personally I’d go Rook it’s just more my style and flex that I want.
your personal thought pretty much sums em up. there was a time when Made in America meant something! These boards are like that lamp in a Christmas Story “FRAGILE” maybe they’re from Italy or somethin’…but serious the bases can’t take the abuse and look close and you’ll find weird imperfections all over. Gaps between base and edge. odd bubbles in top sheet. I bought my wife and i each one. detroyed mine with a month and her’s just seems like a ticking timebomb…pretty bummed cause everything else about the brand seems rad…