Gear Correspondent
Greetings, powder fans, and welcome to the dawn of a beautiful snowboarding season. Some of us have been staying in shape by skateboarding all summer, while others have prepared for the cold by packing on beer weight. But whatever form your off-season training has taken, the time to shred the gnar-gnar is nigh -- and spirits are high.
As an offering to the snow gods, we’ve compiled a list of 2010’s top snowboards. Big bad Burton’s product line reigns supreme once again, but Burton’s brand of excellence always comes with a hefty price tag. So, when considering this list of 2010 snowboards, we placed quality as first priority, but value as a distant second.
Happy trails, my dear snow-bro-ders, and enjoy these 2010 snowboards.
2010 Snowboard Round-Up: Guy Gear
Burton Joystick (Powder Board)The most significant innovation in snowboard construction over the last few years has been the “reverse camber” shape first introduced by Lib Tech, and quickly copied by everyone else. By constructing the board to sit on the snow more like a teeter-totter than a flat plank, the shape makes it easier for beginners to initiate turns, makes trick landings more forgiving, gives the board a skateboardier energy, and, most importantly, allows the board to effortlessly float on powder.
Love it or hate it, Burton stole the idea, called it “V-Rocker” technology and perfected it in the Joystick. So succumb to the dark side or support Lib Tech like a nice little Jedi.
Retail price: $499.95
Ride DH2 (Freestyle)The key word here is “pop” (pronounced “pahp!”), and this board is oozing with the magical stuff. Its “LowRize” shape is very similar to the reverse-camber shape, but its biggest selling point is how snappy it is in all the right places.
This 2010 snowboard feels a little stiffer than many park boards, but this is largely due to the “Pop Stixs” inserts in the nose and tail that give you that little bit of extra energy when popping off the snow. This extra stiffness also makes it more versatile outside the park.
Retail price: $499.99
Burton Method (Freeride Board)Freeriding is about milking the mountain for everything it has, and this involves a lot of hiking. Thankfully, Burton has come through with a board that is 30% lighter than the Burton Vapor, which used to be the lightest snowboard on the market.
The Method’s superior lightness comes from its “Alumasuperfly” woven aluminum core (which also gives it great pop), and its titanium rails provide the board with epic edge-hold, but also provide the board with an epic price tag.
Retail price: $1,300
Rome Artifact (Urban/Jib Board)Urban/jib-focused snowboarding has quickly gone from being a weirdo niche market to being a large part of what many proriders focus on, and this 2010 snowboard was designed specifically to withstand this unique brand of punishment.
The board features buttery brass rails, which are actually softer than the lightweight flexy core. This means that the edges will resist cracking, and will also deflect damage away from the precious core when hitting kinked rails.
The board also has the reverse-camber shape that all the kids are demanding these days. Use this board on a straightaway and you’ll get schooled, but take it to the rails and you’ll be a champ.
Retail price: $370
Ride Prophet (Boardercross Board)Boardercross snowboards are designed to go really fast, while handling bumps, jumps and banks in stride. This is why the Prophet is built long and stiff, with a high-centered base, and with “slimewalls,” which are designed to act as shock absorbers against edge-chattering. (No reverse camber here -- just curses from ski-patrol to slow down.)
Because this category of board is much less popular than trick-oriented boards, there are still quite a few Prophets from last year floating around. If cash is a little tight, we recommend purchasing one of them instead of a 2010 model, as the difference between the two models is hardly noticeable.
Retail price: $479.99
source: askmen.com