Gear geek: Should I Vavavoom?

Dear Gear Geek,

I am wondering what board I should get for the upcoming season. Last season I rode the Roxy Ollie Pop 148 and I liked it very much. Sadly, an insert broke and I couldn't get a replacement board since it was already the end of the season.

I have been snowboarding for 15 years, I'm 168 cm tall and weigh 60 kilograms. I am looking for a board that can handle a lot of flatland tricks, a bit of park and also powder. I like to go fast and still feel in control. I love to play around.

I have been thinking about the K2 Va Va Voom - do you think this board could suit me? Do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you in advance,

Ollie Popped

Dear Ollie Popped,

It sucks when gear breaks but at least it means you have an excuse to buy a new board!  I’m glad to hear you liked riding a reverse camber board, because that’s definitely what I’d recommend. In traditional thinking you want something short and soft for flatland tricks and something long and stiff for powder which would make it hard to find a single board to suit your needs. Thankfully reverse camber has changed all that.

The reverse camber shape, with the tip and tail higher than the middle, provides several benefits. In the park, this shape helps prevent you from catching edges on rails and boxes.  You can also take advantage of this shape on jumps, using the camber to act as a spring to give you pop.  The reverse camber shape also makes it easier to press and butter.

On the free riding side, reverse camber boards are responsive.  The shape puts the contact points on the snow - making it faster to initiate turns. For powder riding the raised nose means you can still ride centered and not worry about back leg burn.  I can tell you from experience a reverse camber board can work magic on a powder day. Last season I was riding a Burton Lipstick in deep powder and the board saved me from burying my nose many times.

Keep in mind there are many different flavors of reverse camber. If you want to learn more about them I recommend reading an article we published last year called School of Rocker.

But you asked for specific board recommendations - so let’s get to it!

You said you are considering a K2 Va Va Voom Rocker, which is part of their Nikita collaboration this year. This board is reverse camber, but it is very soft and primarily a jib stick. I think you would really enjoy this board for flatland tricks and jibbing, but it may not meet your requirements for control at high speeds.

You also ride this board a couple of millimeters shorter than normal because it has a longer effective edge, which will probably impact your powder riding.  From what I've heard people really do love this board for park stuff - so I'd recommend trying to demo one. That way you can see if the great park riding is worth trading off the weaker free riding aspects.

I also have a few suggestions for boards that are similar to a Va Va Voom but are not quite as soft.

Burton Blender 148 - $430
I was considering recommending either the Blender or the new Burton Deja Vu, but what tipped me to the Blender is that it has Spoon tech on the tips. This should make this board really easy to press for those flatland tricks you love. It's also got V-Rocker and a new Mid-Spoon tech which makes the base slightly concave between your feet. This is supposed to help the feel on jibs and make it more responsive going edge to edge.

Gnu B-Street 149 - $470
The Gnu B-Street is the more park focused of Gnu's B line so it's soft enough for buttering and park.  It's also got BTX which is Gnu's combination of reverse camber and magnetraction, so you can take it on the steeps and into the powder.  I have some hard charging friends who love this board and ride it everywhere.

Ride Compact 147 - $350
When I demoed this board I didn't want to give it back. It was just so darn fun. It's got Lowrize rocker - which is a mellow reverse camber that still has a lot of pop.  It's also soft enough for lots of flatland tricks but stiff enough to still have some control when you're riding fast. I think the Compact is a great value at $350.

My recommendations are based on personal experiences (if possible) and by the manufacurers specs. However everyone rides differently, and I encourage you to demo a board before you buy it if possible.

good riding,

The Gear Geek

Got a gear question? Send it to the Gear Geek at geargeek@powderroom.net.