Lib Tech Skate Banana Review – 09/10

Board: Lib Tech Skate Banana 152

Lib Tech Skate Banana 2010

Boots: 32 Lashed / Rome Libertine

Bindings: Rome 390 (Neon) / Union Force

Stance: 17 / -17,   25″

Mountain:

The skate banana always amazes me, although you would think riding a 152 for all mountain would be a little short for a 5′10 160lb guy but surprisingly its not. It performs like a 154 for all mountain and like 156 in the powder, this board is so versatile.  I love only having to take one board for everything from urban to back country kickers. The new skate banana rides just like the last one and when mine breaks I will be picking up another one. This board is definitely a favorite!

Park:

And now back  to the playground…. I love this board, have a mentioned that yet? The skate banana is just so much fun to ride in the park, from rails to kickers the board is so controllable. The swing-weight is low and the board spins so easily it makes 3’s effortless. I love the feel of this board on the rails, and it has given me m

ore confidence in the park. Check out the other review of the 2008/09 banana for a more in depth review.

Summary:

Don’t fix whats not broken… Innovation Of  The Year 2007 (SIA Snowpress), Good Wood Test Winner 2009, Good Wood Test Winner 2010 (Transworld Snowboarder Mag), Platinum Pick Excellence in Design (Snowboard Mag 2008) This board is just truly fun and amazing to ride.

Grades:

Steeps/Speed: C+/B- (for a freestyle deck)

Butter: A+

Jibs: A+

Spin-a-ability: A+

Jumps: A

Pipe: Unknown

Fun: A++++!!!

Edited: November 7th, 2009

Lib Tech Skate Banana – Review

Lib Tech Skate Banana 152

Boots: 32 Lashed / Rome Libertine

Bindings: Rome 390 (Neon) / Rome Targa

Stance: 17 / -17, 25″

Mountain:

I had been waiting to get my hands on this board for a long time;  truthfully, I was as excited as a kid in a candy store! I Went to the mountain, headed up the lift, and we’re off…  First thing I noticed was the firm grip and the strange feeling of the skate banana due to its shape… The board stuck to everything – it was amazing! Its like a snow magnet.  The banana shape was strange at first, but sweet after a few minutes of getting used too.  I was popping so high off of little lips and throwing 3’s effortlessly, and the board seemed catch free yet, grippy.  Down the runs it held up even with speed; it had a little chatter at high speeds, but it’s a 152 park board (so I wasn’t supprised).  The lib tech skate banana was smooth for carving, easy for butters,(especially after it broke in), and had so much pop.  Over the season, I de-tuned (and beat up) the edges for the park and the board was surprisingly still like griptape into the mountain. This board will make you laugh (or giggle like a little school girl) when you ride it. It’s so much fun.

Park:

And now to the playground…. After about 3 laps my jaw was on the gorund. I could not believe that the flexible banana could not only dominate on the rails and boxes but could still hold its own on the jumps.  I’ll start with rails: so much control, so much flex, and so light. Jibbing was so nice with this board; I would recommend any park rat to try this one. The skate banana’s performance on the jumps mirrored the rails and boxes. I loved how, it popped high, spun easily, and was solid on the landings; nothing to complain about. From day one to day 20 on this board the edges held even after the park abuse. After about 10 days this board becomes the butter machine, it’s a dream to ride. I am a fan!!

Summary:

Where do I even start with this one…? Good wood of the year, best of test, need I say more?  The board is sick, pick one up if you can find one!  I love mine

Grades:
Steeps/Speed: C+/B- (for a freestyle deck)
Butter: A+
Jibs: A+
Spin-a-ability: A+
Jumps: A
Pipe: Unknown
Fun: A++++!!!

Edited: July 9th, 2009

Rome Graft Review 08/09

Board: Rome Graft 155 / Graft 153

Graft 155

Boots: 32 Lashed / Rome Libertine

Bindings: Rome 390 (Neon) / Rome Targa

Stance: 17 / -17, 25″

Mountain:

I reached the top of the lift, strapped in, and got ready to take this new board on a few runs before hitting the park. This deck was nice and buttery; it felt like it wanted to be ridden on the nose or the tail. I was cruising down the run and I decided to see how well this board could ollie, and s#@! could it ollie! Despite the buttery nature of this board, it  produced a decent amount of pop.  Down the blues I found myself hopping off of everything and throwing little 180′ s and 3′ s. I was over rotating a bit at first due to the lightness of the board and to my surprise the board was very forgiving, allowing me to wash-out and not bail. This board is very nimble and easy to maneuver whether on the ground or in the air.  Then to the blacks for the speed test! I knew this would be the weak spot for the board due to its park nature, so I started down the first black to test its limits. I found the deck holding its own – very little chatter or wobbling at all. Over all, I would say it’s a stable board. (I would not recommend this board for someone looking to do a lot of speed runs or blacks.)

Park:

At the top of the park I found myself excited! This was where  the board wanted to be. As I took my first lap through the park and got comfortable, I found the board floating off the kickers ,and the landings were nice and easy. After a few more laps I hit some of the rails. The board is nice and flexible between your feet and is very easy to control. On the boxes I found the graft stable and easy to press and balance. The weight and balance of this board make a great combination – durable, yet light and nimble.  This board is truly at home in the park; this is what it was built for. Riding this board in the park was so much fun, I think I still have a smile on my face.

Summary:

Overall this board was very nice, even though you can’t do speed runs on it. I was really impressed with Rome on this one. I now know why they say it takes a skate approach to snowboarding; it feels like you are constantly in a skate park wanting to jump and spin off everything. This is a great board and I can see it becoming a favorite in my quiver or even my main ride. I love the board!  It’ll just makes you smile every time you strap it to your feet!

Grades:
Steeps/Speed: C+/B- (for a freestyle deck)
Butter: A-
Jibs: A
Spin-a-ability: A+
Jumps: A
Pipe: Unknown
Fun: A+++

I hope you enjoy this review, please feel free to leave any comments below. I will follow up when I have logged some more hours on the board.

Edited: July 9th, 2009

Snowboard Academy Review

Hey Shredders!!! Welcome to my review of Matt Belair’s video snowboard academy.

Snowboard Academy DVD

I have been snowboarding for about 5-6 years now and I am completely addicted to the sport! I get up to whistler about 35-40 days a season! Last season I ran into a fairly common problem snowboarders have: how to start shredding the park,  and how to stomp those gnarly tricks.  Over the past season I got comfortable hitting all the jumps in the park and some of the rails, but I was still not able to throw those 5`s, 7`s or even those smooth looking 3`s and my jibbing was a mess. I had no idea where to start. That’s where Matt Belair`s videos came in.  His step-by-step training videos show you how to:

• -Spin 3’s, 5’s, 7’s, and more
• -Throw off axis tricks
• -Flips
• -Jib rails like a pro

I found his videos very helpful but they also offered other benefits that no one else did, such as:

• -How to train for snowboarding (stretching & work-outs)
• -How to mentally prepare for the tricks (the most over looked part of snowboarding)

I explored many options before buying these videos, like:

• -Camp of champs (have you looked at the price?!?!?!?! I don’t know who could afford this)
• -Other professional instruction (once again very expensive for the instruction that you get)
• -Having friends help me (we all know how that goes)

After I had searched the internet and toyed with the idea of getting some professional instruction, I decided to pick up the Snowboard Academy videos and give them a try. Wow! Am I ever happy I bought them! The best part about these videos is that they are 100% guaranteed. If you don’t find them helpful he will refund your money and let you keep the videos… so what do you have to lose?

I watched these videos and shit! what a world of difference. Immediately my buddies started to notice how differently I was riding. No lie, within the first day of me riding after watching these videos I was throwing 360’s no problem! I could not believe it. My spins were looking solid and my jibing had improved 10x! I was riding all the rails in the park and throwing spins off of every jump! I was stoked! And my friends were jealous.

Matt Belair’s Snowboard Academy [Click Here]

7 FREE BONUSES worth over $100 to concrete your success:

BONUS #1 — SYSTEM INTEGRATION ($19.00 value)
We promised to leave no stone unturned and to give you the hands down best freestyle snowboard coaching in the entire world.

BONUS #2 — HOW TO GET SPONSORED ($29.00 value)
Finally a step-by-step, no bull-crap approach to getting sponsored.

BONUS #3 — SUPER PARK GUIDED VISUALIZATION ($49.00 value)
This guided visualization will do 2 things that will rocket your progression instantly.

BONUS #4 — THE ONE MINUTE SNOWBOARD MIND MIRACLE ($24.00 value)
What exactly separates a professional snowboarder from the average snowboarder?

BONUS #5 — THE 33 DAY TRAINING MANUAL ($24.00 value)
Designed to teach you a simple and effective way to train for snowboarding.

BONUS #6 — RESOURCE LIST
Have you ever wondered what the best snowboard sites are?

BONUS #7 — TRAINING LOG
Since you’ve just downloaded the most “kick ass” Snowboard camp in the world we want to make sure you are going to get off your but and train.

Edited: July 8th, 2009