2013 EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARDS – SPLITBOARDS

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2013 EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARDSSkisBindingsBootsSnowboards

ARBOR ABACUS
$699
ARBORCOLLECTIVE.COM/SNOWBOARDS
SIZES (CM): 156, 160, 164
WAIST (CM): 25.1 (156)
WEIGHT: 6LBS. 14OZ. (156)

+ “Its bomber edgehold on firm spring snow inspired confidence. Quick edge-to-edge response thanks to the right amount of torsional flex.”
 “The swing weight was a little heavier than I expected. A little tough to maneuver in crud for my smaller frame.”
= THE ALL-MOUNTAIN ABACUS HOLDS AN EDGE WHEN IT COUNTS MOST, AND RIPS SOFT SNOW, TOO.

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BURTON SPLIFF
$700
BURTON.COM
SIZES (CM): 148
WAIST (CM): 25.4 (148)
WEIGHT: NA

+ “‘Light up and leave me alone’: the Spliff is your ticket to the real snow show.”
 “While climbing, the Spliff’s stubby split skis sank a bit more than I wanted in deeper snow.”
= A ONE-OF-A-KIND SHAPE THAT MAKES MELLOW BC TERRAIN MORE FUN.

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GNU B-PRO
$850
GNU.COM
SIZES (CM): 152, 155
WAIST (CM): 24.4 (152)
WEIGHT: 6LBS. 13OZ. (152)

+ “My favorite splitboard of the test—so versatile, handles all speeds well and has the perfect flex—landed jumps great but you can still get buttery.”
 “A little sluggish edge to edge on hard snow.”
= THIS SPLIT EARNED THE HIGHEST MARKS OF ANY WOMEN’S BOARD IN THE TEST. END OF STORY.

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JONES SOLUTION CARBON
$1,099
JONESSNOWBOARDS.COM
SIZES (CM): 161, 164, 163W
WAIST (CM): 25.4 (164)
WEIGHT: 7LBS. 2OZ. (161)

+ “Super lightweight and charges the fall line like a board possessed. Slices through windblown snow and rips steep powder.”
 “A little sluggish to turn at slow speed.”
= A FINELY TUNED, HIGHLY RESPONSIVE FREERIDE SPLIT THAT RIDES BEST WITH BOTH FEET ON THE GAS.

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PRIOR AMF XTC
$1,099
PRIORSNOW.COM
SIZES (CM): 156, 159, 162, 165, 169
WAIST (CM): 25.3 (162)
WEIGHT: 6LBS. 5OZ. (162)

+ “Super versatile and fun to pop off rollers and other natural features. Light and fast.”
 “Flex is a little stiff for nose presses and other random acts of jibbing.”
= AN AWARD-WINNING TWIN THAT JUST GOT LIGHTER.

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ROME DOUBLE AGENT
$600
ROMESNOWBOARDS.COM
SIZES (CM): 154
WAIST (CM): 25.4 (154)
WEIGHT: 6LBS. 13OZ. (154)

+ “Flexible and playful. Light and easy to whip around. Nice and buttery; really fun in soft snow; the perfect backcountry freestyle split. ”
 “Bouncy in crud/chop. Busted off a tail clip somewhere along the way.”
= THE MOST FREESTYLE-FOCUSED DESIGN IN THIS REVIEW, ROME’S DOUBLE AGENT BECKONS FREESTYLE RIDERS TO THE BACKCOUNTRY.

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UNITY WHALE
$899
UNITYSNOWBOARDS.COM
SIZES (CM): 160, 167
WAIST (CM): 25.9 (160)
WEIGHT: 7LBS. 10OZ. (160)

+ “So much fun in powder, I had to take another lap even though my legs were smoked. Big thwapper of a nose always stays on top.”
 “Heelside turns got a little washy on harder snow. ”
= FEED THIS WHALE WHAT IT WANTS—POWDER. LOTS OF IT.

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VENTURE EUPHORIA
$895
VENTURESNOWBOARDS.COM
SIZES (CM): 156, 162, 168
WAIST (CM): 33 (ALL LENGTHS)
WEIGHT: 9LBS. (162)

+ “Surfs like a dream in the pow. Incredibly agile and nimble for such a wide-waisted board. Extreme-ly fun in treesand open terrain.”
 “I would not want to ride anything but soft snow; needs extra-wide skins for firm/steep skintracks.
= A POWDER-SPECIFIC SNOWBOARD THAT OPENS UP NEW POSSIBILITIES IN THE BACKCOUNTRY.

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VOILÉ ARTISAN
$699
VOILE-USA.COM
SIZES (CM): 156, 159, 162, 162W, 165, 165W, 168 [MENS]; 146, 153, 156 [WOMEN’S]
WAIST (CM): 25.8 (165, MEN’S); 24.3 (153, WOMEN’S)
WEIGHT: 8LBS. 2OZ. (165, MEN’S); 6LBS. 14OZ. (153, WOMEN’S)

+ “Smooth sailing at all speeds. This is the split I’ve been looking for. Skinned like a welterweight prize fighter.”
 “Not overly poppy for freestyle but still plenty of boost for jump turns.”
= VOILÉ’S NEW DIRECTIONAL TWINS RECEIVED RAVE REVIEWS BY MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE, THUSBOTH MODELS EARN EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARDS.

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SPLITBOARD ESSENTIALS

2013-editors-choice-snowboards-deeluxe-spark-xvSPARK R&D BURNER [EDITORS’ CHOICE]
$329
SPARKRANDD.COM
SIZES (CM): SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
WEIGHT/PAIR: 3LBS.8OZ. (MEDIUM)
One tester’s comments solidified the Burner’s top ranking: “Stiff and responsive, these bindings did exactly what they were supposed to—I thought about riding, not about my bindings. Very easy adjustments and changeover from split-to-ride mode…I did it all with gloves on.”

 

 

2013-editors-choice-snowboards-spark-rd-burnerDEELUXE SPARK XV [EDITORS’ CHOICE]
$399
DEELUXE.COM
SIZES (CM): 6-13
WEIGHT/PAIR: 5LBS. 10OZ. (8.5)
Designed for pro rider Xavier de Le Rue, these freeride boots are on the stiffer side, testers found, and have a power strap that adds support and eliminates cuff slop. Interchangeable “shields” increase boot flex from a base level of seven to a nine out of 10 on the flex scale. If you like sneaker-soft boots, you best look elsewhere.

Comments

  1. travis williams aka poor ass white shithead says:

    seriously, all these products are giving me a stiffy for winter riding but last year I didnt make it out once because of financial reasons and no work oppurtunities. can you guys help with either of these

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