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Gear Reviews, Snowboard Reviews 38

The 2021 Lib Tech Orca HP Snowboard Review

By Angrysnowboarder @angrysnowboard · On January 3, 2021

Board: Lib Tech Orca

Size: 153

Camber Option: C2X. Camber under foot with reverse between the feet. The camber section is a bit longer.

Bindings: Rome Black Label

Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy

Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10

My Weight: 200lbs

Resort: Loveland Ski Area

Conditions: 10 inches of fresh snow, perfect corduroy, overcast skies, cooler temps, and some choppy snow thrown in for good measure.

Flex: With this board getting the HP construction it beefs up the flex. Overall it’s just a hair past middle of the road. You have ever so slightly softer tips then a stiffer mid section. There’s a little bit of torsional flex but nothing overwhelming.

Stability: This board is noticeably more stable than the previous versions. You have a board that’s damp and does a great job of absorbing micro vibrations. It cuts through chunder with ease and never gets knocked around.

Ollies/Pop: This board has snap and its relatively easy to engage due to the C2X profile. Load it up, pop, you’re in the air. It is a bit stiffer so it takes a bit more work.

Butterability: With this board getting stiffened up it takes a bit more work work to press on this thing. You really want to get your weight out over the tip or tail to get it locked in.

Carving: This board is nimble edge to edge and having the C2X camber profile lets you manipulate how you drive the carve. It gives independent steering zones. On edge this board feels locked in and just plows through everything in its path with ease.

Rider in Mind: Pow chasing freeride guy that wants a volume shifted board or a T. Rice fanboy.

Personal Thoughts: I don’t like the fact they stiffened this up. It doesn’t make sense for what the board is and tells me that they’re trying to make this more of an all mountain board do it all. It loses its playfulness and the fun side of it to instead be more precise and power driven.

Comparable Boards: Gnu Gremlin, K2 Cool Bean, Ride Superpig

orca revieworca snowboard reviewsnowboard reviewThe 2021 Lib Tech Orca HP Snowboard Review

Angrysnowboarder

More than likely he has pissed you off, shocked, amazed, or mortified you at some point with his ramblings. Yet, you still continue to read what he writes.

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38 Comments

  • Conner Heggem says: January 4, 2021 at 5:43 pm

    Hey Angry, I was looking for some advice into what board I should get next. My parents got me my first board 5 years ago (2014 rossignol angus 164w) and it was the board I learned on. I am 6’4 220lbs size 13 boot and have been considering boards like the jones frontier, freerider, the roasignol xv, etc. With my angus, I love hidding groomers, and steeps, moguls, powder etc and I feel I can ride decently hard. I also do enjoy the trees, but my local resort doesent have much for tree routes as it is very densely forested. When I travel I find myself in the trees more often. I’m looking for somthing to replace this board as it is showing its age a bit and kind of beat up, and I don’t just want to ride this board into the ground. So I guess somthing that would be an upgrade that I could replace the angus with as a daily driver but also keep progressing with, thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 5, 2021 at 8:29 pm

      Kind of all over the place with boards you’re looking at. Check out the Libtech Dynamo.

      Reply
      • Conner Heggem says: January 6, 2021 at 12:09 am

        Haha yeah i know, and I didn’t mean freerider I meant flagship. Been looking at the Dynamo and it seems like a really awesome board geared towards what I’m looking for, wasn’t sure if the 159w offered in the Dynamo would fit the size 13 boot, and in terms of my body size, and I actually weight more like 230lbs haha
        Thank you for the help!

        Reply
  • Marcus says: January 12, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    With the changes would you say that the Superpig or even optimistic are better at this point?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 13, 2021 at 8:45 am

      They’re just different rides.

      Reply
  • KindaTippy says: January 15, 2021 at 4:37 am

    I gave in and ended up getting the Orca. I was looking for a powerful powder board for those deep days in Revelstoke. I had a Signal Disruptor and I love the amount of pop that the board has. But it’s not a powder board at all. Tried riding it with a foot of fresh powder and there I was cartwheeling down the hill. When I jumped on the Orca I was expecting a lot more playfulness and pop from it. Pretty disappointed in the performance of the board, yes it floats great and its fun to carve. Also does great dropping off of cliffs. But when you line up a decent kicker thinking you’re gonna be launched to the moon you’ll be extremely let down. What would be a board for those deep days that’d have the insane pop that I’m looking for?

    Reply
    • KindaTippy says: January 15, 2021 at 4:38 am

      I’m also a pretty big boy standing at 6’3″ and pushing 240.

      Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 16, 2021 at 8:59 am

      Jones Ultra Mind Expander, Ride Mtn Pig, Rome Ravine Select.

      Reply
  • Man says: January 16, 2021 at 6:05 pm

    Really had my mind set on an Orca, thinking 144 or maybe 147 (shorter rider at 150lbs), but after this review I’m not so sure. What I’m looking for is a board that just goes fast and carves. I don’t butter or ollie and I never hit the park. I just resort ride, groomers and love the days when the resort gets big dumps of fresh powder (because of the powder days is why I was looking at the orca). I mainly ride Whistler as I live in Squamish, I also head up to Mt. Baker 3-4 times a year. Would the Orca be a good choice for what I’m looking for or is there anything else you recommend I look at?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 17, 2021 at 9:22 am

      Libtech Dynamo, Gnu Essential Service, Ride Berzerker all better options for what you’re describing.

      Reply
  • Man says: January 17, 2021 at 10:22 am

    Thanks Angry. Would a telos backslash fit as well or is that too close to the orca?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 17, 2021 at 11:03 am

      Too close.

      Reply
  • mario says: January 25, 2021 at 1:08 am

    Hey Angry, what size would you recommend for the orca… 5’10, 150-155lbs, 8.5 boots

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: January 25, 2021 at 7:38 am

      147

      Reply
    • Paul says: February 20, 2021 at 5:25 pm

      Hi Mario,
      I’m looking at getting the 147 or 150 and similar specs to you. Just wondering if you got it, rode it and how you felt with the size?
      Happy shredding

      Reply
  • Broh says: February 5, 2021 at 11:54 pm

    Any chance you’re gonna get to test the Golden Orca?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 6, 2021 at 1:56 am

      Probably.

      Reply
  • Tyson says: February 6, 2021 at 9:12 am

    Angry!
    I’m a big fan of your shit.
    Looking at the 2021 orca but I’m only able to land my hands on either a 152 or a 159 (156 is out of stock).
    I’m 6’3 195lbs.
    What would you recommend for size between the two or should I wait for a 156?

    Thanks man

    Reply
    • Tyson says: February 6, 2021 at 9:13 am

      Oh yeah, size 12 boots!

      Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 6, 2021 at 12:57 pm

      I would probably wait for the 56.

      Reply
  • Ben says: February 13, 2021 at 2:33 pm

    going out to Revelstoke looking for a all mount powder board. intermediate 6’1 , 215 lbs . 11.5 boot, would a 56 or 59 by better ? And would suggest looking elsewhere

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 14, 2021 at 9:10 am

      56

      Reply
  • Chris says: February 22, 2021 at 1:04 am

    Hey Angry!

    Debating between the 47 and 50.

    Mainly socal riding but want a board for pow days when I travel.

    5’7 165lbs, 11 Boot, Burton Malavita bindings.

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 22, 2021 at 8:28 am

      50

      Reply
  • S. Foster says: February 25, 2021 at 10:52 am

    To all the people that live at a resort like Telluride and ride 100+ days a season and are aggressive riders, my advice would be to size up. I’m 5’7″ 130lbs size 9 boot and usually ride 56, 57ish size boards and I got the 56. I’ve got it mounted more centered to get snap out of the tail (there is a point where too far forward and it pushes in the corners so back up a little from that point) and so far this board rips everything and allows me to carry more speed everywhere (much like going from a 27.5 enduro mtb to a 29er.) I know this is not recommended for my size and weight but whatever I just like to go fast and the length goes a long way towards damping the ride at high speeds.

    You will need to know how to turn a snowboard and I’d suggest supper stiff bindings and a proper wide stance because with the wide width you’re putting a lot of pressure on the board to make it work and floppy bindings would probably lead to ankle issues and slower rider input resulting in hitting a tree or whatnot.

    It plows through everything and crushes chunder yet float is fantastic in deep powder.
    You need to be pretty aggressive though and if you just wanna fart around at mellow speeds with your grandmother and her aunt from Toledo then a short one could be really fun too I suppose.

    Reply
    • S. Foster says: February 25, 2021 at 11:20 am

      I forgot to mention, the extruded base out of the wrapper is pretty slow…get a bunch of layers of wax on it and it gets faster but it is a lot of ptex on the ground on flats so keep that in mind if it feels slow. The more wax you get into that base the more fun it becomes.

      Reply
  • Bjoern says: March 13, 2021 at 4:00 am

    Hey,
    what size would you recommend me? I am around 6’4 and 200lbs.

    Reply
    • Bjoern says: March 13, 2021 at 4:02 am

      Forgot to mention especially as a powder board not for the groomers.

      Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: March 13, 2021 at 8:06 am

      53 for more play 56 for more float and charging.

      Reply
      • Bjoern says: March 13, 2021 at 9:49 am

        Perfect, thanks!

        Reply
  • DC says: March 22, 2021 at 1:12 am

    Hey Angry,

    What size for me? 150lb, US size 9 boot, 5’10”. I ride a Jones Mountain Twin 154 as my daily driver, looking at the Orca as a powder board for pow hunting days in Tahoe and a trip to Niseko.

    Eyeing the 147 or 150 – want something that rides deep pow effortlessly but still want something maneuverable. Worried the 147 might sink and worried on the 150 the jump in waist width will be slow for my size 9 boots. Should I go 147 or 150?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: March 22, 2021 at 6:53 am

      50.

      Reply
      • DC says: March 22, 2021 at 1:14 pm

        Wow thanks for the quick reply! Love all the content you put out for the snowboarding community man.

        Reply
  • Colin B says: March 31, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    Hey, thanks for the review! What size would you recommend? 150 or 153?
    5’10” – 170lbs – size 10 boots

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: March 31, 2021 at 8:54 pm

      Depends what you want it for.

      Reply
      • Colin says: April 6, 2021 at 11:17 am

        Plan on using it as my daily driver in varied conditions in the PNW

        Reply
        • Angrysnowboarder says: April 6, 2021 at 2:49 pm

          Then go with the 53.

          Reply
          • Colin says: April 13, 2021 at 9:03 pm

            Thanks!!

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