SIA and More

Oh boy! I definitely haven't been the most prolific writer, well, ever. But recently, I've been feeling especially slow. Thank you for your patience. At times I feel like I'm losing my mind and the words are going with it. I'm sure it's temporary. Just gotta get back on the horse. What better way to remount the steed than the good ole snowsports industry tradeshow, SIA? 

Right now you might be thinking to yourself, "But you weren't that prolific after last year's SIA, what's new this year?" Well, I'm glad I'm telepathic enough to hear you ask yourself that question, so I can provide the answer. Perhaps because of last year's shortcomings, I feel I owe it to you (and to myself) to produce more this year. It's what I should have done last year anyway. It wasn't snowing enough to ride as much last year, so why didn't I write more? I had the material. I had the time. I just got lazy. Sometimes that inertia is hard to overcome. But here I am.

In a stroke of  'better late than never,' here's a brief wrap up of 2015's SIA.

• GoPro accessories everywhere. More sticks and mounts than a polo match.
• Burton didn't have a booth, they had their own venue. Seriously. They held down a three-level warehouse/rave venue for the week and ran shuttles back and forth to the convention center. They're doing the same this year.
• Mervin didn't have a booth, they had a suite next door at the Hyatt. That one was weird. Not GNU weird, just strange. It was a two-bedroom hotel suite casually decorated in Lib Tech and GNU boards, bindings and clothes. They have a small booth this year.
• Skullcandy didn't have a booth, they just ran the show at the Hyatt bar. DJs and banners included. Same deal this year.
• Highlights from the on-snow demo were the Nitro Quiver MTN - a charging, all-mountain ripper - and the GNU Zoid - a directional, asymmetrical charging ripper. Also, I was a fan of the Electric EG3.5 goggles. It may be personal preference, but they fit my face well and the tupperware-like press-and-seal was intuitive, quick and confidence inspiring.
• A lowlight from the on-snow was the Lib Tech DUH - two edges per side (one inner, one outer), so different I probably should have ridden it more to truly understand what was going on, but with the time I gave it, it seemed like a big swing and miss.
• Airblaster and Celtek (two companies that gave me walk-in meetings after I didn't schedule appointments with them) knocked it out of the park. Both of these rider-run companies are crushing the big dogs. 

Now I'm off to the current SIA show. Look for a little something from me on YoBeat in a few days. Until then, check out this bib roundup I did for Transworld (remember what I said about Airblaster?). Drop any requests you have for SIA in the comments.

Board Exam: 2012/2013 Burton Mystery Flying V Snowboard Review

Not much to look at...

What the Rep Said: It costs $1500. What's it made out of? I dunno, moon rocks and unicorn fur?

First Impressions: Understated topsheet. Holy shit, this is light!

Stats/Setup:  I'm 6'1" and about 162 pounds as of this demo. I rode the Burton Mystery 158 with Salomon Dialogue boots (men's 9.5) and Burton Malavita bindings at Mt. Hood Meadows.

...except the price tag!

Conditions: Soft groomers and some boot-top pow

The Ride: This is the lightest board I've ever ridden. That translates into increased maneuverability in all situations. It helps get edge-to-edge quickly (along with the Flying V profile and narrow waist). Even when you are out of position, you can get back into position quickly and easily. You never have to muscle this board around, you just sort of put it where it needs to be. It actually feels like the board isn't there at times, in the air and in powder, for example. It's a surreal feeling.

On landings the Mystery feels damp to the point of tinny deadness. It slaps down like an aluminum pan on a granite countertop. When you match transitions, it's a thing of beauty.

The mid-flex of the Mystery, along with the Flying V allows for great presses and impressive pop for a rockered board. You can also slash like a fiend and get the board back under you with a quickness.

I confess I didn't hit any rails and I didn't really get it up to speed. I was too busy bobbing through trees, where this board shines. It floats fine, but I didn't find anything deeper than a knee-capping drift or two.

One last thing, if you demo this board, try to make it the last one of the day. Anything you ride after it will feel heavy and sluggish. Sorry Burton Juice Wagon, I can't even give you a fair shake.

Head on over to Burton for all the gory deets.

Bottom Line: It's light and expensive. I could never spend $1500 on a snowboard (short of tripping over a duffle bag full of gold) but if you've got the means, and you want to walk on the moon, this is your board.

Similar Boards: Yeah right.

Burton Mountain Festival Hits Mt. Hood Meadows

Do I need 3D goggles for this flyer?

Demo some boards, get your kids a jump on the 2026 olympics (if we still have snow then) at the smallest terrain park ever, lose to me at trivia and listen to some live entertainment (maybe drink some liver entertainment, too). The Burton Mountain Festival. I can't wait.

Board Exam: 2012/2013 Burton Con Artist Snowboard Review

What the Rep Said: Aggressive powder board; high-end, Dragonfly core (same as in the Custom X); 20mm taper, only available in a 152

First Impressions: Not the best day to demo a powder board, let's see how she rides in a resort setting. What's up with the name? Lighter than average, but it's also shorter than anything I've ever ridden (besides my girlfriend's board).

Stats/Setup: I was 6'1" tall and 165 pounds when I rode the Con Artist 152 at a Mt. Hood Meadows demo day. I completed the setup with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and Burton Cartel EST bindings.

Conditions: Variable groom, some powder off the groom (boot-top at best), chop and chunder

Ask Burton for the whole story on this board. Specs on pull-down menu here.

The Ride: First, the paradox: you want to demo a powder board in real powder, but would you really want to risk a board you're unfamiliar with on a rare and precious deep day? Risk vs. reward. In this case I didn't have a choice. The demo day was not a pow day. I walked up to the Burton rep and asked him, "What's new?" This is what he gave me. I was intrigued and did my best to find some pow.

The Con Artist combines specs like a tight sidecut and 20mm of taper for the ride of your life through the trees. I found one grove that held boot-top powder and she was right at home, slashing mercilessly and floating effortlessly. It got back and forth on edge faster than some caffeinated ping pong pros.

Despite almost entirely lacking a tail, the Con Artist popped nicely. That's the camber and Dragonfly core talking. Burton calls it a 5 of 10 flex, but I'd say 6, especially torsionally. Lengthwise, there's so little board that it's easier to flex and even press on the nose and tail, but the waist holds firm through turns.

Even with the benefits of camber and all the carbon in the Burton universe, this is not a board you want to be blasting away on at high speed on hardpack. Unless your normal resort board is also a 152. Or you have a titanium skeleton. It definitely got squirrely on me as I pushed it. Interestingly, I've seen racers who are fast as hell through banked slalom courses on small tapered boards.

Bottom Line: The Burton site says it best, "Depending on your reality, it's a quiver board or a lifestyle choice, but either way this is for those days that define light and deep." I'd love to either make that lifestyle choice or at least be able to test powder boards in deep powder. Until then this will have to do. I still prefer a bigger board in the pow, but the Con Artist's deep sidecut and heavy taper performed better than some of its fishy kin. I don't fee like it conned me out of anything. 

Similar Boards: Jones Hovercraft (stiffer and less sidecut)