Snowboard Review: 11-12 Lib Tech T.Rice C2BTX

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Location: Mammoth, CA

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to softpacked groomed runs.

Setup: I rode the Lib Tech T.Rice with my Union Team bindings and Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Size: 157cm.

First Impression: Pop, check.  Stability, check. Charging, check.  Ride a little more like Trice in your head?  Sure.

Weight: Tad heavier than average

Flex: I was expecting a stiffer ride and while it’s up there on the flex, it’s not so overly stiff you can’t play with it.  From the bindings to the nose/tail were noticeably stiffer and that helped keep it longitudinally on the stiff side.  However torsionally, the T.Rice had a easier/softer torsional flex that made quick turns and it feel softer during riding.  Lib Tech says it’s a 7 on the flex scale for 2011-2012 but a 7 that’s still capable of riding anywhere you want.  The T.Rice has C2 technology which is banana rocker between the bindings and camber from the inserts to the contact points.

Turning: I was expecting the 25.8 waist width to be a slow turner for me while riding so I took warm up runs on the first day with it but eventually realized that the softer torsional flex made it handle turns without delay.  It was quicker to turn than I expected.  Eventually I took the Trice into the pipe, in the park and on the jumps feeling very comfortable on it and how it handled.

Stable: The wider width definitely helped on stability, making it a bomber board to ride.  But already the flex and handling, made it a very stable ride down the mountain.

Pop: When I first got on the Trice I didn’t take it immediately into park but when I did, the pop was there very loud and clear.  I started small and ended up realizing that the pop was carrying me past the landings.  In fact some of my best park laps this year were on the Trice.  I’d hit the first jump, tap the bonk barrel, hit the corrogated tube and then do the three jump line before either a run through the pipe or onto the flat box.  In fact the majority of riding on the Trice was in the park but also some good freeriding laps as well.

Switch: Rode like a twin during my time on it and got in some fun switch riding in the pipe (didn’t look pretty though).

Overall Impression: The T.Rice is Travis Rice’s destroyer pro model snowboard and it shows in it’s handling, stability and how it rides.  It’s a board that you can ride park or drop lines on, the board shows no mercy to the mountain.

Shay’s Honesty Box: I was really surprised on the Trice.  The combination of the midwide with my size 8’s required not thinking about it but the Trice excelled so much it didn’t even matter I was riding a midwide.  I ended up borrowing the board for a week longer because I was having so much fun on it, that’s a good board.  It was hands down my favorite mid wide board.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Lib Tech T.Rice or shop their full line of Lib Tech snowboards

On Snow Photo

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Lib Tech T.Rice description

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Review Disclosure: I borrowed this board from P3 Snowboard Shop in Mammoth.  Thank you Mike and Steve!