Board: Venture Paragon
Size: 156
Camber Option: Straight Line. A flat through the middle and rocker in the tips profile.
Bindings: K2 Indy
Stance: 21.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 177lbs
Resort: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Sunny skies with a little bit of haze, slightly cooler spring temps, frozen death corduroy and firm snow that was ridiculously fast.
Flex: This board features a directional shape and flex. Softer nose, stiffening up through the middle, and then stiffer tail. The torsional flex is abundant but not overwhelming which lets you really drive the board through the middle.
Stability: Ventures are known for being stable rides, this board does not disappoint in that. It is damp yet lively which makes it playful when charging around. Being in firm variable snow conditions I could feel some chatter on the excessively icy early morning runs.
Ollies/Pop: The rocker profile gives this board a little bit of snap that is easily initiated. Hitting side hits, rollers, and moguls I found that I could pop easily enough and concentrate on the more important aspects like going fast and turning to the left.
Butterability: Surprisingly this board was a butter beast. I constantly found myself locking in the nose and just riding out a butter further than I thought I would. This is a result of the directional flex and the rocker. High speed or slow speed it didn’t matter.
Carving: The edge to edge initiation took minimal effort. When railing hard drawn out carves never once did this board falter or want to buckle. Even in variable conditions it cut through the snow like a Ginsu steak knife through a bad infomercial.
Rider in Mind: Someone that wants a little set back and will do it all from powder to groomers with everything in between.
Personal Thoughts: It’s good to see Venture back and creating a new board in their line. It’s probably the most playful board they’ve built to date which adds to its versatility as being a first chair to last call type of snowboard. Overall it’s a solid ride that gets the job done.
Comparable Boards: Endeavor KTV, Jones Mountain Twin, Rossignol Angus
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This board was loaned to us for review from Venture Snowboards marketing department.
4 Comments
Really torn between the Paragon & Zelix?? Is the Paragon that much better when it gets deep? Basically only storm chasing these days, manage 30+ days a year.. looking for best float but also freestyle versatility. Outside of riding switch do you find the Zelix to be superior in other freestyle regards? (I ask because I read that you thought the Zelix buttered well but had a very small window, compared to the Paragon which you called a butter beast) Pow butters are one of my favorite things to do and after all the failing learning them lol I’d like a board that gives it up easily. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
You want a Paragon.
So which one wins? Paragon or Zelix?
I’m 6’0″ 230 with size 12 boots and need to replace my NS Snowtrooper 162. The Snowtrooper was always a little too short and narrow at speed and in steeps but still super playful and easy to ride. It always got the job done at the resort took a lot of abuse.
I have a 164 Hovercraft for deep days, so I’m looking for a daily driver. Normally searching for pow stashes, carving groomers, side hits, and attempting to learn butters. I was looking at the 170 Paragon. You think it’s playful enough when not going fast or riding steeper lines?
Should be.