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2013 Burton & Union bindings
I dropped by my local shop and they had the 2013’s in stock! It was pretty exciting. I picked up the Union Atlas’ and they looked really good. I then picked up the Force’s and they felt so heavy! I had forces in the past so I know they’re not overly heavy, so the Atlas’ must be super light! I also picked up the contact pros which looked really really good. The ankle straps on all the bindings is new and feels awesome, and the buckles are a bit more plasticky than the pair I had. I think this is for the best and think they will be really smooth and Burton-esque. I’m not convinced on the toe strap and I still don’t like the one screw for attaching the ankle strap and highback to the base plate. Maybe if they don’t loosen like the ones from 2 years ago did, I’d be interested.
Burton: I looked at the Genesis, Cartel, Malavitas, missions, escapades and lexas in both the est and reflex versions for all. The big winners were the Genesis and the escapades (women’s). The highback is so dope. I tested them last year and didn’t want to give them back. They are soooo good. Next year the cartel gets a new ankle strap: the react strap that was on the prophecy and diodes in 2012. I am tempted to get a react strap for my 2012 cartels to ‘upgrade’ them.
With the big influx of new tech into the burton line, it’s trickling down and even the lower priced missions seem better than cartels of just 4 years ago.
Thought I’m just gonna give my opinions on some of the boards I demoed today. By no means I’m “qualified” to do a review, so here are just some quick thoughts.
YES Pick Your Line 159 w/ NOW bindings
This combo is sickkk. Probably the best board I’ve tried so far, I did not want to get off this board. I would like to try the 156 but they only have a 159 which is on the longer side for me. It doesn’t ride like a long board though, felt I could ride it like my 153 T.Rice just that there’s more nose that tail. Really stable at speeds, carved great, just an all around awesome board. Flex is a medium stiff probably around a 7/10, which is the same as my T.Rice. One thing I need to get used to is the tip is “flapping” a bit when you ride fast. It has more camber than the Greats or any other YES boards which is nice. You can feel the rebound when carving and doesn’t feel loose like the Tasmaniac I tried (Marc’s board).
The bindings are awesome. Marc explained it nicely on the other thread. The heelcup is a bit tight but JF told me they’re gonna be wider on the production models. The bindings are super responsive and they hold your boot insanely good. I have almost no heel lift with this binding, I never knew bindings could reduce heel lift. Ankle strap is nice, but not a fan of the toe strap.
[img]https://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/529672_10150773172581665_515001664_9294281_557243645_n.jpgC7vnJCzvBqJM370cS5dpafgOq4hINUXgtypography_img_src_end width =“800” src =“http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/541175_10150773172636665_515001664_9294282_974135295_n.jpg” width =“800”>
Never Summer Evo 154 w/ Flux DS30
Thought I’m gonna try a softer board this time. It was alright nothing special about it I thought. The sidecut is really nice though, for some reason better than the magnetraction on my T.Rice when doing heelside carves. Flex is medium soft, maybe around a 4-5/10. Even though it’s a 154, it felt short (even with the blunted tips). I also like C2 better than NS’ RC profile even though they are similar.
I’m sorry Mizu but I don’t like these bindings. I don’t like the toe strap, the footbed, and the highback.
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Salomon Powder Snake 156 w/ some Salomon bindings that has flexible heelcup
This is supposed to be a powder board but I felt it ride really nice on the groomers. Wanted to try the Man’s Board but they don’t have the sizes. I think the profile is flat with rockered tip and tail but it felt like a flat board all the way. Medium stiff flex maybe around a 6-7/10, sidecut is nice too.
Didn’t notice anything special about the bindings. Not sure what the function of the flexible heelcup is.
<img src =“http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/543181_10150773172541665_515001664_9294280_1521514300_n.jpg” width =“800”>
Rossignol Krypto 159 w/ some Rossi bindings
Wanted to try the Experience aka Xavier’s board but they only have 163 which is way too big for me. Good thing I demoed this one. By far the stiffest board I’ve ever tried, can’t imagine how much stiffer is the Experience when the Krypto is supposed to be a toned down version of the experience. Stiffer tail and nose and stiff torsional flex with really aggressive magnetraction. The only “playful” thing about this board is the huge rockered nose. This board REALLY held an edge. I usually still skids out sometimes on my heelside carves, but not with this board. This thing just holds and meant to be ridden fast. Best edge hold of all the boards I tried.
Bindings felt good just like any other bindings. Better than the Flux for sure. Forgot to take picture of this one.
Rossignol Templar 155 w/ some Rossi bindings
Tied with the Pick Your Line as my favorite board. Really like the flex maybe around a 6/10. Has a mellow 5 bump magnetraction which held a really really nice edge. I don’t know what else to say than it’s just an awesome board. I’d be hard to choose if someone offers me a YES PYL or this board. The YES seems more of a freeride, meant for going a bit faster and the Rossi seems to be a more playful all mountain board.
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posted the review below
You didn’t get a chance to try out the 2014 NOW bindings, skip?
No, I figured they’d ride almost the same as the current one so there is no point in trying them. Just a few different models with different stiffness for the straps and upgraded straps and ratchets.
did you notice if the board glows on the snow? lolz
I recently got a chance to ride the DC Ply and wrote a review for our website and thought I would post it here for you guys.
Location: Mt Buller
Snow Conditions: Early Season
Size: 156
Camber: Lock and Load
An Honest Review of the DC Ply
Personal Thoughts: The DC Ply really impressed me. I have heard good things about the Ply for years but this was my first time riding it. The response I have always heard from other people is that the Ply manages walk the line of a super poppy board that still has a looser surfy feel. While this may seem like a contradiction once I rode the board I could see exactly what everyone was talking about. The board uses DC’s Hybrid Camber shape called Lock and Load. It has positive camber between the feet and then it is flat in the nose and tail. The result is a super responsive and poppy board in between the feet with a much softer and forgiving nose and tail. When you want to ride fast and get aggressive with this board it responds beautifully. At the same time the softer nose and tail absorb a lot of the energy to create this super smooth feel. I would compare it to a short skateboard with super soft urethane wheels. This perfect combination of energy and smoothness created an added confidence to my riding and to the board itself. Riding this thing I instantly felt comfortable and in control. The Ply is a board that everyone will love and really enjoy riding. I can’t imagine anyone not liking it.
Flex: DC called it a 6/10 but I would call it more of a 5/10.
Pop and Ollies: Great pop in between the feet with a looser nose and tail. The looser tail means your ollies snap off your foot rather than off the tail of the board. It still felt good but it was more of a skateboard Ollie.
Turning/Carving: Amazing. So easy and smooth. That combination of energy and softer tips made this board really enjoyable to ride.
Park/Rails: The softer nose and tail made it super easy to lock into nose and tail presses. The camber between the feet still locked into rails well. If there were any jumps I think the camber would have created a stable platform for take offs and landings.
Ideal Customer: Anyone
Ideal Conditions: Anywhere
Extra Tech Explained: The Art work was done by an impressive artist by the name of Jeff Soto who is well known for bridging the gap of Street Art and Pop Surrealism.
-Alex Kruse
Quick review on the Ride El Hefe bindings. Super customisable, hard charging bindings that’ll suit your intermediate to advanced rider.
Some quick thoughts on some 2014 boards I tried today. All boards are tried only for 1 run, except the Never Summer Proto HD which I rode for 2-3 runs.
Lib Tech Jamie Lynn Classic C3 157
By far the stiffest “modern” (meaning old super stiff cambered boards are excluded) board I’ve ever tried. Cambered overall shape with a super mellow banana that does not touch the ground unless weighted. Really hard for me to ollie or do any sort of butter tricks. This is a pure charger for me, carves well, rides like a normal cambered board with a little bit easier turn initiation.
Salomon Sick Stick 156
Always wanted to try this board after seeing a lot of them in Whistler on a pow day. Medium stiff flex, but still snappy/poppy because of the bamboo. Liked the board except the edges were dull, couldn’t carve on the hard pack stuff in the morning. Does not feel tapered (12 mm taper). Board has really mellow camber (almost flat) past the bindings and mellow rocker at the contact points. I wish I can try this in pow, but I like it just cruising around groomers.
Arbor Whiskey 152
Arbor new board for next season, rep said it’s kinda an all mountain board but more on the price point (around $400+ ish, which to me is not a price point board haha). Has parabolic rocker and grip tech edges like most arbor boards. Love the grip tech, really awesome. I’m no used to a full reverse camber board so hitting jumps and doing ollie is a bit sketchy to me. Turns are nice though.
Never Summer Proto HD 154
BY FAR, the best board and the funnest board I’ve ever tried (and this is with bad bindings, some Flux that are too big). Blows my T.Rice and Pick Your Line away just for resort crusing, side hits, carving, etc. Funny, because I demoed an NS Evo 154 last season and I didn’t like it. The flex is perfect, a little past medium but not stiff. You can butter around and hold the press easily without washing out on the tail. This board is also the poppiest board I’ve ever tried when doing ollies off rollers and surprisingly in and out of carves. It is lively but also damp enough. The side cut is awesome on this board, by just using different radius on different sections of the board it grips almost as well as a regular cambered board or boards with mag. Carving is a blast on this board. All in all, if I’m still in Vancouver next winter this will be my next board for sure. I will probably still go to my PYL for powder days but this board is just sick. I sound like a Never Summer fan boy now, but this is truly super awesome board, can be a quiver killer too.
Union Contact Pro - Mini Review
Design is awesome, fitting and adjustment wise. Way better than my old Forces. Only need to undo 2 screws to adjust the heel cups. They have on the fly forward lean adjustment done with a little ratchet lever kind of thing. The toe straps are way better than the ones on my old Forces as well. (they have the same/similar one on newer Forces though) They’re also quite a bit lighter.
In summary, stoked so far. Just have to get them out for a test run. Lucky PPP is only down the road, hopefully get down there next week and i’ll be able to leave a bit more feedbackl! 
Here’s how they look on my K2 Parkstar, I’ll be putting them on my WWW to ride park though 
Burton Flight Attendant 59
After seeing some reviews, gotta try Nico’s newest board. Wanted to try the 56 as that is the smallest size they got but they didn’t have it so I settled for the 59. Tested this up at Cypress, condition was wet fresh pow turning to slush and wet snow. The board is S-Rocker with camber from the tail to a few cm short of the contact points then mellow rocker; also has 10mm taper. The size is a bit too long for me and I find it a bit difficult trying to ollie and butter. Other than that this is a really fun board. Carves awesome, flex is about medium stiff but somehow still feels kinda playful. It’s a bit softer than my PYL. Riding switch is fine, I didn’t really feel the taper affecting so much. It’s pretty quick edge to edge (quicker than my Proto) and really fun just doing side hits and slashes. I took only took 3 runs so couldn’t give a detailed feedback. I’m stoked on this board, simple black base graphic, simple top sheet, awesome nose and tail shapes, ridden by Nico, what more could I want. I’m 90% sure I’m getting this board next season in a 156 unless Capita BSOD, Lib TRS, or a Lib Jamie Lynn will ride much better than this.
EDIT: I think it’s the balanced freeride geometry that burton uses that makes the board feels like a twin when riding switch.
What binders are ya usin, mate?????
Genesis EST. Real comfy bindings, but just lacking the response. I much prefer my NOW bindings.
I was gonna ask ya why the NOW’s weren’t on there!!!!!
I hate taking off my bindings on demo days, I usually just try to use their bindings. Never Summer boards don’t have a reference mark on their boards. I’m too lazy to find my stance again and have it centered (NS board rode differently even if it’s only 0.5 inch back, felt catchier for some reason) so that’s why I try not to use my own bindings on demo days.
I’m gonna try to demo the 56 up in whistler in about 2 weeks time during the Telus festival. List of boards to demo:
- 56 flight attendant
- 56 BSOD
- 54 TRS horsepower (all of lib tech’s board has different cores for next season according to the catalog
- 54 Jamie Lynn
- 53 T.Rice horsepower
I reckon it’d be harder to compare boards if ya use different binders though?????