2014 Launch Session Snowboard Used and Reviewed

The Launch Session is one of those snowboards that really fits a certain customer really well. While a lot of companies have seemingly forgotten about them in this day and age these guys haven’t. So for all you camber loving half-pipe riders give this a look.

Board: Launch Session

Size: 156

Camber Option: Traditional Camber

Bindings: Rome 390 Boss

Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy

Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10

My Weight: 175lbs

Resort: Breckenridge

Conditions: Spring decided that Winter wasn’t done and let it come back to play. It went from slushy park laps into frozen chunder mounds, blowing snow, and flat light.

Flex: I don’t think there was any. This is possibly the stiffest board I’ve ever rode. The torsional give is minimal and from tip to tail there just wasn’t any give.

Stability: Due to the flex pattern and it being traditional camber it was possibly one of the most stable park boards I have ever rode. The conditions were optimal to test stability and this thing did not budge.

Ollies: There’s a certain snap with traditional camber that if you’ve ever used it you know and love it. The only deterring factor was the flex on this board limited how well you could load the tail up to get pop.

Pop On Jumps: This board is a big jump destroyer for someone that is going fast and can muscle the flex pattern to load it up.

Butterability: I’ve never worked so hard to try and butter a board like this. It just was not meant for buttering.

Jibbing: If you’re riding a slopestyle course you’re just doing basic tricks most of the time. This is how I felt on this deck. Go into a rail don’t try anything crazy.

Carving: The sidecut is actually pretty solid for a park deck for ripping a hard turn. It doesn’t do crazy deep carves but the ones that it does allow for are solid enough to make you happy. The edge hold is optimal as well.

Rider in Mind: The guy that’s sending bigger features or riding pipe and needs a stiff deck.

Personal Thoughts: This board was just insanely stiff, almost to a level that borders on obscene. I can’t remember the last time I rode something this stiff except for the Lamar Volt which was traditional camber and had some crazy carbon array. They tout this as the deck for the guys that are going to the Olympics and I could see that as you would need the muscle mass to make it happen.

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Disclaimer: This board was sent to us by the Launch Snowboards marketing department for review.