The Annual Review
For the last few years I’d put together an annual review of everything I rode to put it all in one spot and help people utilize it in the ultimate quest to find a shred stick. As this year I’m doing the blog thing I thought I’d consolidate them all into one place for everyone to find them nice and easily. I’m also going to select my top choices of decks that I think straight up killed it and people should keep their eyes on.
Every year we as riders get inundated with top choices whether it’s Good Wood, Top Choice, MVP, etc. etc. If you look at the top picks it’s relatively a whose who of boards. Some tested well others just won a popularity contest. Here’s 5 decks that I feel are under dog picks that people should take a further look at.
First and foremost the Unity Rocker is hands down a board that blew me out of the water with how amazing it was when I rode it. Unity is usually just a company that’s there, not one I put a ton of merit into. After Pete had told me about this deck in October I had been curious as to how it’d ride, lets just say it handled it all amazingly and I put this as the top pick for most under rated deck and one I personally want.
Technine is a brand that I don’t fit their image at all. They’re also another brand that I honestly haven’t put too much thought into over the last few years. Back in I believe it was late November I had heard about their rockered deck The Enforcer and that piqued my interest. After riding it I was super satisfied with how something so small could ride like a longer deck. Jibbing was so much fun on this board and hitting 20 foot jumps was great.
When it comes to Salomon it’s usually hit or miss with their decks and how they ride. The Grip was a board I could jump on butter my muffin, jib to win, then rail hard carves with. It rode shorter than it was and excelled at what I threw at it. Out of their decks I rode for this upcoming season this was the one that made a lasting impression!
Back in March I snagged a Never Summer Circuit R to test out. The last time I rode their price point jib stick I hated the fucking thing with a passion. Knowing that this board had some serious change ups most notable being the R.C. Technology I had to give it another try. This board while not as damp as the Evo or SL can handle its own outside the park and it has become my new go to deck for jibbing and jumping.
The final slot goes to Nitro for creating the Rook. With a brand that has a huge line where a lot of decks over lap this board was a bit of refreshment in what I feel is somewhat stagnant. I’ve never had a Nitro ride like this and it was completely different, while I know it got mention in the Good Wood, I still feel it won’t get as much love as it’s bigger contemporaries.
For more hype on these decks check the reviews out yourself.
Here’s all the 2010 stuff since everyone is frothing at the mouth to sink their teeth into these decks first.
Arbor
Draft with Titans
Capita
Green Machine FK with Forces
DC
BDR (Bender Done Right) with Formulas
Flow
Era with NXT AT’s
K2
Believer with Formulas and Auto uprises
Never Summer
Circuit R
Nidecker
Addict with ACT 1′s
Nitro
Rook with Phantoms
Omatic
B.S Wiggle Stick with Formulas
Ride
DH 2 with NItrains
Salomon
Acid with Codes
Smokin
Big Wig with Indy’s
Technine
Enforcer with Team Pro’s
Unity
Unity Rocker with Formulas
Kicking it in the past here’s a run down of the 2009 decks that you’ll be able to snag on clearance right now.
Burton
ConDom with Co2 EST’s
Capita
Horrorscope with Forces and Contacts
Forum
Destroyer with Liens
Gnu
Riders Choice BTX with Formulas
Lib Tech
Lando Phoenix BTX with Sweaters
Nitro
Subpop with 0′s
Ride
Dh2 with Contrabands
Salomon
Answer with Formulas
Popularity: 41% [?]
This beats good wood anyday.
Thumbs up! Thanks for this. Your reviews of the Horrorscope FK and the NS boards certainly influenced me if not made my decision making even harder (SL-R or Ultrafear FK).
Hi
So I am looking at the slayblade, but also the believer w/ zero camber and the parkstar (jib rocker). If I like playing around, but like to visit the trees and go fast now and again, AND if I demand POP (my limp skate banana never promised on that one) as well as stable landings, which of those 3 would you recommend? I also still have the NS EVO R in there as a choice. I hate it's graphics but I wouldn't let that stop me if it were the best choice. I'm leaning slayblade but would love your opinion. Can the parkstar realy handle "the rest" of the mountain? Sorry, I',m probably asking for some apples to orange comparisons, but I am having a hard time even beginning to decide.
Here is what I want: Forgiving ride (at least to some degree). Boost (I wanna go high when I ollie and jump). Stable on landings. Able to go fast without washing out completely. Playful (at least to some degree.
Thanks a lot.
Followup:
What about the EVO R vs the SL R? Have a preference?
Circuit R actually that's pretty much my go to board now.
Anyways out of the K2 line up what you're describing is the Believer. Slayblade will be a bit over kill for what you're looking and parkstar probably too soft.
I'd say another option to consider would be the new Jibpan with Rocker, just a bit stiffer and with more pop than the Parkstar.
What Salomon boards flex about the same as the skate banana? Preferably reverse camber/rocker ones.
Thanks again for the advice – Really! Good advice (disinterested advice especially) on boards is hard to come by. I'm interested in K2's flat or zero camber (or whatever they are calling it) but also in dual camber, so I will have to flip a coin between the Believer and the Jibpan.
In your review you said (I'm not quoting) that the Jibpan felt soft or dead or something, but you mentioned that you were on an early production board and that they were going to improve it. Any news on whether they have actually improved it? I ask b/c I am stuck with my limp Skate Banana and don't want another over-soft board. Two more questions on the subject: Have you been able to ride anything from Lib Tech with C2 tech on it, or do you have an opinion about it? Also, are you serious about preferring the Circuit R to the EVO R or SLR? Wow. Isn't that their cheapest offering? That would be nice!
[...] [...]
Hey,
Any opinion about the 2010 Ride Concept UL? I see you were selling one on snowboard forums and I thought you might have something to say about them. I am interested in the Concept UL but I don’t see a ton said about it.
Thanks
I love the Concept UL there’s a reason I owned one. It’s a high end fun all mountain deck that’s super light and insanely snappy. Not much has changed with it for 2010 compared to my 2009 model. I was riding it more for a pipe deck though due to its edge response and snap.
Thanks Angry.
Would you have taken/did you take the Concept UL into the park? I don’t really spend much time in the park, but It would be nice to know if you think it would be at all suitable for that. I am really looking for an all mountain board, I would just like it (and maybe this is asking too much of one board) to be playful when I want it to be. If not, maybe I will look for last year’s UL on sale if, like you say, it hasn’t changed. It would be awesome to save some money on that one (and buy a Circuit R to goof around on).
I’ve taken it in the park I don’t recommend it for most people though. I do have a 59 of last years for sale.
Thanks for the offer, but I just got a new (08/09) Concept UL from SnoCon for 375$. It should arrive in two days. I am stoked. If it can’t handle goofing around, I’ll just find a cheap jib board that can, and then I’ll have a “quiver”.
I’m planning to put my Burton CO2 bindings on the UL. I’d like to get something with canted footbeds, but my (06) CO2′s are in such good shape It doesn’t seem to make sense not to use them. Seem like an ok binding for the Concept UL?
Thanks
So im planing new binds this season.Last season I rode Burton(which sucked) so I am opening my eyes for some alternatives.
I ride a lot of freestyle and like to go now and then to ride pow(I like the binds to be not very soft cuz the burtons just feel unstable and not very responsive).I got my mind set on some models but I am open for any kind of brands and ideas:
Rome 390;Rome United;Raiden EERO;and some sort of Ride binding but they have so many models with little difference in beatwean;
Could you give me an advise on what to take.I see how you advice the people and since you know more than all of my friends combined,I hope you will help me.
Nik don’t bother with the 390′s or uniteds you’ll find them too soft. The Eero is an OK choice or even the Wiig if you do go Raiden. With Rides I’d look at the Nitetrain contraband as well as the new Beta. Also scope out the K2 Formula’s that’s what I ride from park to pow every day I’m not testing a binding.
I think I read in one of your post that you were not a big fan of the equalizer that can be found on some Salomon snowboard. At the same time you gave a pretty good review (i think) about the Grip. I have not tried one yet so could you explain to me why you are not a big fan?thanks
Doesn’t initiate the way it should on a cambered board, reverse camber changes things a bit.