I have to admit, when I first started snowboarding, I really wanted to get my money's worth, so I would ride my gear until the wheels fell off. I have been known to ride a board for 5 seasons and it wasn't until I visited Powdertools that I realized that I had to stay up to date with the technology because it does get better as the years progress.
The WHITEPOWDERRUNS crew was fortunate to spend some time up in Steamboat Springs Colorado, a place known for its champagne powder. And after our experience with Powdertools, we realized that this is one of the best resorts to demo a bunch of snowboards or skis because if you get a dumping, its going to be amazing. Bernie Tomassetti and the cres of Powdertools are experts for a number of reasons. First because everyone in the shop loves to shred. Second, because its Steamboat and they get some of the best snow conditions. And third, because these shop rats know everything about the ski and snowboard products, they are an excellent source of information guaranteed to tell you something you do not know about your own products.
Bernie and the Powdertools crew assemble for some turns on a dump day.
I showed up at Steamboat with my 3 year old Libtech Lone Wolf not knowing that I have deprived myself of new snowboarding technology for years trying to save a buck. Equipment demos allowed me to learn about technology I never would have explored unless it was on sale. While it is good to save a buck, I learned that our research and development on outdoor sports equipment has to be ongoing in an ever changing and evolving industry.
I took the RIDE Mountain Pig out for the first couple of days and it is unfair to start with the RIDE Mountain Pig because after spending a day with this board, if you do not own it, you will remember this board. In powder, this board plows through and stays on top of everything. The set back binding make it perfect for powder days, but this thing also plows the grooms like a silver bullet.
After riding the RIDE Mountain Pig, I felt like the demo was over because that board was so amazing, I need it in my arsenal. So 3 days laterit dumps again and this time @shreddlocks recommends something that seems outrageous to me. Now I have seen the Gentemstick Rocketfish as well as the Jones Storm Chaser, but it was not until @shreddlocks recommended the YES 420 148cm snowboard that I finally understood the YES crews description of the Liter or a way to use width in a snowboard to make up for super long boards. I normally ride a 159 cm, so when it was recommended that I try the 148cm, I thought I would be back shortly to trade in this board. But what I learned was that not only coud the YES 420 hold its own on a powder day, but it was so small and light to carry around, it felt like a different type of freedom not being restricted with the weight and height of a board.
Ty getting a little specific with the PTEX drip to fill in the scratches.
Steamboat The Jones Flagship was the third board that I tried and this board proved to be a great board as well. The Jones Flagship provides the stability and support that can take you anywhere on the mountain, as well as through the park, but if you want to hit big powder, this is a fun board that will keep you on top.
This snowboard is like the Homer Simpson of powder because it never can be too much snow for the RIDE Mountain Pig. It eats up everything.
Another board that is pure bliss on a powder day. Do not let the smaller size fool you, this board will get you through the deepest powder in the steepest powder with ease.
The Jones Snowboards have a reputation of their own because their movies are awesome. It lives up to the name and can handle anything on the mountain.
Very similar to the rider, the Burton Danny Davis Deep Thinker is a snowboard that can take you anywhere in the backcountry but it also has the foundation so you can land just about any jumps anywhere.
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