Comments on: Shay’s take on the 2010 Platinum Picks

By: Shay

Shay — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:57:53 +0000

Zach, haha thank you! I love riding men’s boards and love riding women’s boards, just in my collection alone it’s a mix between the two so I’ll keep up with mixing between the two. There are more men’s boards to ride and in my sizes at demos so those will always have the popular number. Plus stay tuned cause it’s almost time for your input on what boards you want me to ride this season…that is the list that I walk up to demos with and start crossing them off.

Dylan, yep they are all-around boards on the list. Awesome on the horrorscope, it is a crazy noodle but super fun! Plus with the shaka’s, that’s rad! I definitely want to try the shaka’s this season to see how they are.

Fluid, sorry I missed replying to you. Right now I have the 09-10 evo-r which is softer than my 08-09 evo-r. I would ride the 08-09 evo-r everywhere and I did last year. But the 09-10 is definitely softer and it wouldn’t hold up on powder days in steamboat so it’s my early/late season and park board now.

By: Dylan Ontario

Dylan Ontario — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:15:37 +0000

Good list Shay. I take it these are all-around boards? (Sorry didn’t read the whole thing :S). I’m doing my own review and its only got the Capita Horrorscope FK on it just got it in the mail TODAY and its crazy noodly!! Combined with my new Shakas!! Wow! Watch out Jeremy Jones aha. Ve Shred Ze Gnar ya?

By: Zach

Zach — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:30:42 +0000

You know, I only said that about fat girls and not testing womens’ boards because I like the fact that you test mens’ boards (and I don’t want you to stop). There are a couple of womens’ specific snowboard blogs and that’s great. I just like that yours is useful to guys as well as girls (although you definitely test more guys’ boards than girls’!). I’ve got nothing against skinny girls. I’m just selfish. I want board reviews that I can use.

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:12:59 +0000

Brian
I used to live on the east coast and go to Sugarloaf. They have demos on Dec. 12 and 13. I don’t know where you ride but check the websites for other demo days. Also a lot of board shops will let you demo.

Thanks for all the info Shay. That’s why your reviews are useful.

By: Shay

Shay — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:30:44 +0000

Demo days are huge, I’m still amazed that I watch people walk by with super old gear that won’t stop at a free demo day and ride a different set up. Just to try out a board and see if you like it.

Good point Kyle on the educated consumer and uneducated consumers…most people just getting into snowboarding will think highly of the tests without ever trying it for themselves until they buy it.

Brian, i listed the demo days for CO last year on the site but it’s hard to list them for every region but I’ll see what I can do.

Zach, women come in all sizes, fat to skinny and we all love snowboarding so why not test women’s boards?

By: Zach

Zach — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:19:13 +0000

They don’t need to test womens’ boards. If you are a girl, and you are not fat enough to ride a mens’ board, then you should not be snowboarding. I want to see more fat girls on snowboards right now. If you are too skinny for a mens snowboard, go skiing.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:51:58 +0000

I agree with Andrew. It’s very difficult(especially in the north east)
to find demo days. Burton demos are easier to find here but they are also
show up towards the end of the season. I would like to try some of the
Lib Tech baords. Shay, maybe a good idea for the site is to list upcoming
demo dates/locations?

By: FLuiD

FLuiD — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:34:49 +0000

Why would the Evo-R not be one you ride in “every condition on the mountain?” Just curious as I have one and have rode some of the others and the Evo-R would be one of my top choices! Thanks Shay!

By: kyle

kyle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:11:02 +0000

Shay, Thanks for sharing the goodness………again. It’s an interesting selection of boards that grace the list and ultimately, it all reduces to personal preference, like you said. I can’t say that I’m suprised to see (almost) every type of alternate/reverse camber represented. That one was sort of a given. I don’t really think any of the “platinum picks” or “good woods” are valuable to an educated consumer, but it’s easy to see how uneducated people would make a decision based on information like this. It’s too bad that the Platinum Picks don’t share the same relevancy as Car & Driver’s annual 10Best awards. Similar methods of pitting products vs. products, but within the car segment, the end results will vary based on build quality and reliability.

By: Ali

Ali — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:54:34 +0000

I like that these tests are out there for companies to aim for and allow the names of less known companies like Smokin’ to get out there. But in the end Shay is right you have to go out there and see if the board fits your style. So get in touch with your local hill and see when the reps are doing demo’s. You can probably get rep contacts from some shops as well.