The 2009-2010 season is well underway and I’m already surpassed 50 snowboard reviews for the 2009-2010 models that I feel confident putting out a “early season” best of list. Each year I demo, try and review boards for both men and women riders and the end process is boards that rode for a variety of riders, skills and progression levels.
This isn’t meant to be a board test because I can’t ride every single board out there, it’s now just a Seal of Approval of what boards stand out from the reviews. The list now includes winners for both men’s and women’s as well as honorable mentions that I saw as close calls and runners up for the categories. Thanks to my facebook fan page readers for ideas on what to call my “best of list” and thanks to Kim came up with the Seal of Approval stamp design.
These boards came from the 2009-2010 snowboard reviews section on my blog and more reviews will be coming this week as I start to push out the snowboard and binding reviews that I’ve been riding the last couple weeks.
[singlepic id=6772 w=400 h=397 float=]
All-around Board
Men’s: The Indoor Survival was that board, a do-everything ride anywhere board and can handle it.
Women’s: The Never Summer Lotus-R is the board I’ve been riding for the past couple seasons and it’s handled everything from freeriding to park to powder days.
Honorable Mention: Rome Pusher 1985 for men and K2 Eco Pop for women.
Graphics
Men’s: Burton Malolo for the basic white topsheet with the tiny surfer dude influence on the snowboard.
Women’s: The Capita Midnight women’s snowboard graphics were done by Tj Schneider and show a drawn out girl with bloody knees and tears but a heart right in the center. It’s one of my favorite women’s graphics.
Honorable Mentions: Bataleon Riot for men and Stepchild Mustache rider for women (even though I didn’t ride it, I wish the sizes allowed me too).
Aggressive/Freeride
Men’s: GNU Billy Goat C2 is the board for aggressive freeriding that just wants to charge the mountain.
Women’s: Roxy Envi BTX was a women’s freeride dream board, could handle powder and yet give a girl something to charge with so she can keep up with the boys.
Honorable Mentions: Bataleon Enemy for men and Nitro Carrara for women.
Fun
Men’s: Capita Ultrafear FK, I haven’t stopped riding it because I really enjoy how it rides.
Women’s: Smokin Vixen DTX, won me over with how much fun this board is and just a overall good board for women.
Honorable Mentions: Drake DF2 for men and Capita Saturnia for women
Progression
Men’s: Ride Crush for being an overall easy ride without being too much to adjust to from camber to reverse camber or rocker.
Women’s: Ride Compact, same as the ride crush. All around easy ride for women to get onto and a board you can keep around regardless of where you ride.
Honorable Mentions: None at this time.
This isn’t a final list for 2009-2010, so stay tuned as the season is well underway and I continue to ride 09-10 models that will be in the end of season list.
mark
November 16, 2009 at 10:29 amgood stuff shay. have you got out on a YES board yet? really curious about the 156.5
like the art work/seal! makes me think of whiskey!
mark
November 16, 2009 at 10:42 amwoop! i went to the reviews and answered my own question! sorry
Shay
November 16, 2009 at 10:51 amMark, yep it’s over in the review section…exactly the board you are looking for!
The seal will be changed a little bit soon.
Francis
November 16, 2009 at 4:30 pmGood stuff
Like the Graphic of the Ultrafear FK too! And was my pick on paper as well… Will like to try…., hope they will make more from this model in the next year…
Like also your Seal, the Flour is like the Quebec Flag 😉 nice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Quebec
Francis
Montreal, QC
Adrian
November 17, 2009 at 6:46 pmLike yer picks shay, and I don’t care what anyone says graphics totally make the board ride better!!!
Johan
November 17, 2009 at 7:12 pmDid we really get 4 boards in here? Insane.
Mike
November 17, 2009 at 9:00 pmHey Shay,
I got my girlfriend into snowboarding last season, on the very last trip (day 13 for her) she started linking turns on beginner/easy trails. She’s absolutely convinced she’s forgotten everything already though, and I’m looking to get her her own board for a Christmas gift. She’s probably only going to go 20-30 days max. Do you have any recommendations for her? Thanks
Steff
November 18, 2009 at 7:59 pmawesome. i love the graphics for the capita midnight, definitely one of my favorite graphics this year. i just love how it’s a girl, and not girly at all.
Erlantz
November 19, 2009 at 5:18 amHi Sahy.
My snowboard skills and preferences are very similar to yours, i am thinking about purchasing the capita indoor survival Fk. I am 6 0 tall and 160 lbs. I thank it the right size for me will be the 156, what do you think?
Shay
November 20, 2009 at 7:09 amMike,
What’s her weight and boot size?
Steff, totally! Girls board and yet not girly but artistic. Definitely a favorite, glad you like it!
Erlantz, The 156 would suit you just fine and I’m a huge fan of the board. I just had my friend Philip ride it at demos and he loved it as well, so it’s definitely up there with across the board opinions on it being a all mountain suitable ride for a mix of conditions.
Erlantz
November 20, 2009 at 8:39 amThanks Shay, you are very polite.
I have just received as a present a 157 Bataleon Goliath, so now i dont need an all-around board. I am a lucky guy, i guess.
I am thinking about a park only stick, i would like the ultrafear but its a litlle pricey so i am watching the Horroscope in 151 or the Sierrascope special edition 152 but i think the sierras will be harder. Have you demoed them? 151 too small for me? I am an absolute park beginner with no high aspirations.
Mike
November 20, 2009 at 11:05 pmHi Shay,
She’s 5’5, 135~140lb and wears a size 7. Thanks!
hoon
November 24, 2009 at 6:12 amlists are like opinions and assholes. everyone has one.
likin’ the logo shay.
jarred
November 25, 2009 at 12:23 pmhey shay, you should totally try to get soem reviews on some nitro boards. i am lookin at getting a nitro josh mills one off board. its like the nitro t1 just with some things added. idk how much you know about nitro. but yeah that would be sick if you could do that. thanks
barbara
December 16, 2009 at 6:41 pmwhat did you like more about the Envi than the Gnu B-Pro — you said you wisht the Envi had C2 . . . no?
Shay
December 17, 2009 at 7:49 amJarred,
I’ve got the Nitro Rook review coming up soon but I didn’t ride that many Nitro boards this year unfortunately. I’ll try to get on more for you! Nitro is a solid company.
Barbara, good question. Envi i’m sure will have C2 in the future so definitely looking forward to that day. I think overall the envi just fit me as a rider better than the B-pro, both are solid but when it came down to the specs the envi was just a notch ahead for me.
db_db
February 5, 2010 at 10:03 pmHey shay, just wondering did after trying the Sierrascope change any of the line up?
Shay’s Best of 09-10 – Shayboarder.com
May 24, 2010 at 6:03 am[…] originally published the best of 09-10 in November but wanted to re-touch on this list, some stayed the same but there were some changes […]