Board Exam: 2011/2012 Lib Tech Travis Rice Limited Edition Snowboard Review

What the rep said: All-mountain freestyle; mellow magnetraction; C2 power banana for better edge hold, stability and pop; true twin shape

Stats/Setup: I checked in at 6'1" (1.85m) and 170 pounds (77.3kg) when I rode the Travis Rice Limited Edition in a 157 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and some old Technine MFM Pro bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon. Count the prepositions in that sentence.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

Check out Lib-Tech's site for the goods

First impression: Dig that limited edition Art of Flight graphic by Mike Parillo

The Ride: A nice deep sidecut has the T.Rice going edge-to-edge like a tweaker standing on a rocking chair. When the turns open up, the mellow magnetraction shines. It's not as aggressive as the MTX found on some of Mervin's other boards, but it will hold on even when you're carving like a Euro hardbooter. I don't know exactly which boards have which version of magnetraction, but my guess is the deeper the sidecut the less need for a deep magnetraction. It works for this board anyway. It charges hard and holds on tight.

Another shining area is the stability. Even at 157 when I'm used to something longer, I was comfortable at speed, through chop and falling off stumps and jumps. This is a damp board that likes speed and likes a challenge.

The pop was pretty good. I've found Lib's C2 poppier than full rocker (or their earlier BTX), but not as poppy as full camber. This is to be expected as it has rocker between the feet, but camber to the contact points. The C2 does give you that little bit of buttery flex advantage over camber, though, for those who like to get your press on.

Bottom Line: It's not going to get you into a helicopter followed by a helicopter all by itself, but it can do everything else. In general, a hell of a lot of fun to ride. I wish I could've ridden the 161 and ridden it in a wider variety of conditions because this seems like a great all-mountain freestyle board.

Similar Boards: My Never Summer SL-R

Bonus Package: As a bonus to the Limited Edition board, the LE package includes The Art of Flight book, DVD and Blu-Ray all in a collector's edition box. It's a rad little package that I paid $80 for. Check it.

The art of book, Field Notes for scale

What's inside

The collector's edition, pop-up box

Current State: Snowboarding

Out Now!

Remember that book David Benedek started working on two and a half years ago? Me neither. But I reserved a copy way back then, so I got the update today when it finally released.

I can only imagine the labor of love that project was. It ended up as two books designed to be viewed simultaneously. Craze. Check it out at David's site and then just go buy a copy. Never mind the price. There's no snow out there anyway. Just stay inside and read.

Board Exam: 2011/2012 K2 Turbo Dream Snowboard Review

What the rep said: The Turbo Dream is flat between the feet with an early rise nose and tail (slightly higher nose), Harshmellow dampens vibration underfoot, Carbon web stringers will pop your socks off.

Stats/Setup: I'm checking in at 6'1" and 170#. I rode the Turbo Dream in a 159 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and K2 Formula Bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

First impression: Some bright-ass bindings, but nothing else out of the ordinary.

The Ride: Right off the lift all systems were go. The board went edge to edge just fine on slow, short-radius turns. Pop was OK, probably due to its stiffness and carbon webbing and in spite of its reverse camber profile. Stability at speed and on landings was a high point. Nothing bothered the Dream on that front. Again, this board is pretty stiff longitudinally, maybe a little less so torsionally. Also not a board you'll be pressing too much.

Then, it came time to crank a turn. Higher speed carving was a sore spot as the board wanted to wash or rotate a little. I would attribute this to the camber profile and traditional sidecut. Reverse camber boards that carve best have some sidecut augmentation, whether it's magne-traction, grip tech, vario power grip or what have you.

Stolen from K2's 2011/2012 site. Check it while you can.

Bottom Line: I was disappointed in this board. It might serve well as a pow board, but I can't see riding it in all-around resort conditions. The stability was there, but the sidecut didn't lock on like some of the alternative sidecuts that are available leading to a looser turn than I'd like. Overall, I think this board might work better with regular camber.

I have a buddy who has an older model of this board, maybe I can get him to weigh in on it in the comments.

Similar Boards: Bataleon Omni

'Guch Teaches You the Backcountry

Last post I was talking about how we didn't have any snow. One week and nine feet of snow later and we're back in business. Of course, going from cold to rain, back to cold and dry and now a bunch of wet heavy snow has left the snowpack about as unstable as it gets. Who could possibly teach us about about how to have fun in such a minefield? Umm, Bryan Iguchi? Just to be sure, this isn't meant to replace any structured or accredited avalanche training, just 'shop talk'. Probably more like common sense stuff, which is not nearly common enough these days. Maybe like that North Face thing. Come check it out, though. At the very least, you hear some stories from a guy who has a few and a lesson worth repeating. (Seriously, THE GUCH!) Maybe you'll learn a thing or two while you're there and meet some shreds who like to get out and get after it on the other side of the ropes.

Burton Mountain Festival Coming to Meadows

There's nothing better than riding pow. Since I'm not going to Alaska or the Alps any time soon, I'll have to settle for riding other peoples' snowboards at the Burton Mountain Festival this weekend at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Aside from the snowboard demos, they're throwing a big ol' party with music and dancing and games of chance or at least a 4-star TTR event that can qualify you for the qualifying rounds of the US Open. A mini-park will be set up for those shred-kins too young for the main even, but whose overbearing parents insist they work on their double cork before nap time. And judging by the list of sponsors, you'll be tripping over caffeinated beverages and hair care product samples all day long. But at least you'll be out there and on some free gear. That's fun, right?