Conditions: Spring VT. Nice groomers bright and early. Sugar, crap and ice mid-day. Slush, rocks and bare spots in the afternoon. US Open chaos but took runs all over Stratton. Found some rock jibs, stump and tree jibs. Didn't roll through the park as my "rider" pass didn't allow me into the Stratton parks (just the US Open pipe and slopestyle).
Burton Method 155
This is the board that you've been hearing about. It costs around $1,300 to $1,600, depending on who you ask, and Burton raided the R&D department to create this ubermachine. I was 100% skeptical about this board, but like the Vapor, I was pleasantly surprised. The shape is pure freestyle with blunt tip and tail. Many boards in 2010 will be rocking the blunt tip/tail shapes, which are old skool, but I love them. It was surprisingly a fun ride. It handled everything well, but was a bit too dead compared to the liveliness that I’ve come to expect from Burton. Lighter and softer than a Vapor, livelier than a T6.
In the air, it was ridiculously light, like hit a kicker and totally overshoot the landing, light. After a few runs, I got a handle on the feel and started getting really comfortable with the board. I did a few rock taps and log jibs with no problems. You have to test the durability right? According to the Demo Tent Dude, it’s lighter than a Chopper kids board (that’s with bindings), whoa. I’d say my biggest issue was fearing that someone would steal it, so I had to bring it into the bar with me to keep it safe at lunch time.
Burton Jussi 156
Holy fawking crap! I've always liked the Jussi as a nice stiff freestyle board with insane amounts of pop and springiness. But it seemed a bit too stiff to be that versatile board that you want to rock everywhere. The latest incarnation of the Jussi offers a softer (not too soft) flex between the bindings and scoop tip and tail. In the past, I've also really liked scoop as seen in the Fix or Seven for 2009. Scoop seemed to provide me with the extra little love for butters and flat land without sacrificing the ollie pop that I crave. The Jussi didn't disappoint. From first to last run, it was like meeting back up with your old girlfriend. Sweet, comfortable and trustworthy. From high speed 180s to crud busting to goofing around, it was shredtastic. I'd right more, but I fear that this would be just another cliched "this is awesome" review.
And the graphics? Amazing. Burton put out all the stops on this one. For a short summary, I felt like they took my 08 Uninc, slightly softened the flex, added Scoop and sped up the base. This is definitely top 5 for 2010.
Burton Jeremy Jones 159
Another tested favorite from ye old closet, the Jeremy Jones was one of my favorites way back in 2007. My assumption that this would be that same board, but now updated with better construction, a faster base and zero camber in the 159. To my surprise, I hated this board. Hate might be too strong, but I really disliked this board. Part of it could be because the base wasn't really that well waxed, even though the Demo guys pulled the board right of the bag. Could it be that the zero camber was affecting the base on the flats? I couldn't really get a good feel with the board. Riding it was ok, nothing special. It just didn't feel right at all. I respect Jeremy Jones as a rider a lot, but I gotta say, it might be time to retire the board from the lineup after this season.
Oh and the graphics? Absolutely horrendous. Sorry Lance V, I'm just not into the topsheet. I do like the new Forum graphics though for 2010.
Burton Custom Vrocker 159
Every time I went into the demo tent, the Custom Vrockers were out. So finally I stalked the board by getting to the demo tent first thing on Sunday AM. The 156 (my preferred size) was already out, but they did have a 159. Unlike the Custom, the Vrocker is a mid-wide. The 159 has a waist width of 255, so I was totally able to take the board out even though it's a bit long and wide for me for East Coast riding.
Many people I know were pushing me to ride this board. And it pains me to say this, but they're right. The board is sick. The flex is slightly softer than the regular Custom and the Vrocker works in synch with this stiffer, all-mountain deck. It was super stable, held an edge at speed on ice, etc. and also at the same time was able to utilize the Vrocker to make your park riding, freestyle dorking sessions more fun. I've been testing the Never Summer SL-R. The Custom Vrocker reminded me a lot of the SL-R or the T.Rice that I was also riding. The common themes are: slightly stiffer flex, reverse camber, yet still maintains an edge and has ollie pop off the tail. So I think you'll see a lot of Custom Vrockers on the slopes in 2010 as it combines the traditional best seller: the custom with Burton's version of the rocker. Definitely a killer combo and this is also on my short list now. I just wish it came with blunted tip and tail.
Burton Easy Living 155
The Easy Living is Burton's replacement of the Uninc (RIP PIG). The Unincs are my opinion of the gold standard. I've had an Uninc in my quiver for as many year's as the boards have been around. I love the way these boards ride: stable, twin tipped, slightly stiffer flex and of course, sick graphics. So I fully expected to jump on the Easy Living and have a similar experience. On paper, the Easy Living looks almost identical to the 2009 Uninc 155, which was hella fun when I tested it a few months ago. The major difference is that Burton upgraded the base for 2010. The graphics in person are friggin' rockstar. I remember when I first saw them, I was skeptical, but they're tight.
The ride was a different story. It was stiffer than this year's Uninc, and it kinda didn't impress me at all. Of course it could have been the horrible conditions or the fact that I was super hungover or possibly still drunk, but I tested all the boards in this state. The board rode fine, but IMO it didn't meet the standards that I've come to expect from the Uninc boards. Rocking it switch was super twitchy, like unpredictable not happy to ride switch twitchy. The board rode fine straight and was also fine in the air. Talking to a few different people, there's been mixed reviews of the Easy Living. Surprisingly this board is not on my list for 2010.
Thanks to Southofthenorth for the Easy Living graphic.
spinning and centered pow riding while maintaining ollie pop (I've had a hard time finding a rocker board that still allows me to super ollie pop a board like a regular cambered board)
