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Help me choose my next Lib-Tech board

16K views 36 replies 16 participants last post by  Quandom 
#1 · (Edited)
With all the sales at DOG etc. and not much exciting new technology for 2013 (at least so far). I am considering picking up one of the 2012 boards if I can get a good deal.

My specifics:
  • Good intermediate (not expert) all-mountain rider
  • Riding profile: all-mountain charging (runs and back country) typically with lots of pow (I board mostly in Japan), some jumps (both natural and kickers) and some pipe (hope to do more of that); no rails/other park/etc. at all
  • like to ride switch, spin, slalom through trees; not so interested in jibbing and buttering all over the place
  • 5'9" and 150-155lbs
  • shoe size 10+, so ideally want 25.5cm waist width (or close to it)

For the last couple of seasons my primary board has been a 159 Skate Banana, which has gotten me from beginner/intermediate to good intermediate but which I find a bit limiting these days (a bit too soft and not very poppy).
I love the Magnetraction and what Mervin does, so I am inclined to go for another Lib-Tech board. Looking at the 2012 line-up, the obvious choices seem to be (mostly because of C2 Power/Enhanced Banana):
  • 157 TRS ($330 on sale)
  • 157 T. Rice Pro ($320 on sale, $420 for the HP version)
  • 157 Banana Magic ($420 on sale)

Maybe also the Attack Banana.

The TRS and T Rice are well known and much discussed here, the Banana Magic and Attack Banana not so much. Here is what I have got from various sources:
  • TRS: softest and most playful of the boards in the list, but still stiff enough for charging
  • T. Rice Pro: stiffer and less playful than the TRS, more of a board to charge and go big
  • Banana Magic: also stiff but quicker edge-to-edge than the T. Rice, Mervin rep says it is the best powder board among these, lots of other tech but not sure of the specific benefits

Suffice to say I am confused. Am I missing anything important in the above? Your advice much appreciated.
 
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#4 ·
What do you mean the Magic is overkill? In which way? Considering that the difference is only $100, I am kind of tempted by the proper sintered base and the basalt/non-fiberglass construction... According to the Mervin guys it is also supposed to be quite a bit better in powder, which is important to me.
 
#5 ·
I had a skate banana when they first came out and that thing sucked... a complete noodle.

If i remember correctly, your other options are all still true twin, ec2 camber with similar waste widths... why not go for the stiffest of the 3 to complement the banana?

On a somewhat related note, the Never Summer Proto seems to be EXACTLY what you're looking for, and more.
 
#6 ·
I had a skate banana when they first came out and that thing sucked... a complete noodle.
Do not think it sucked. Good board for its purpose and sure helped me become a better rider - but definitely soft (especially after 3 years of hard riding) and not what I am currently looking for.

If i remember correctly, your other options are all still true twin, ec2 camber with similar waste widths... why not go for the stiffest of the 3 to complement the banana?

On a somewhat related note, the Never Summer Proto seems to be EXACTLY what you're looking for, and more.
I think it is time to replace, rather than complement the Banana. Ideally with a more versatile board for everything but the most epic powder days (got a Sick Stick for that).

Have heard good things about the NS Proto. Not sure what the best price for one would be?
 
#7 ·
I ride a 157 TRS and i love it. I am confident doing absolutely anything and everything on it. The only thing that im not crazy about but its not that big of a deal is the base. I just wish they had it with a sintered base.
Also, you may want to check out the GNU Riders Choice 154, i tested it out and loved it. its basically the same as the TRS but with a sintered base and its a tad softer but nothing noticeable. And i say 154 on the riders choice because the effective edge with the blunted tips makes it ride more like a 157 with a length of 154. But like i said..the TRS is effin awesome, by far my favorite board ever so far
 
#10 · (Edited)
I ride a 157 TRS and i love it. I am confident doing absolutely anything and everything on it. The only thing that im not crazy about but its not that big of a deal is the base. I just wish they had it with a sintered base.
Thanks for the comments from everybody so far. TRS seems to have a lot of love, so I guess the reputation it has is well deserved. To be honest, it was kind of the 'default' choice but I was curious about what else is out there and whether the extra tech (like in the Magic) is worth it.

Also, you may want to check out the GNU Riders Choice 154, i tested it out and loved it. its basically the same as the TRS but with a sintered base and its a tad softer but nothing noticeable. And i say 154 on the riders choice because the effective edge with the blunted tips makes it ride more like a 157 with a length of 154. But like i said..the TRS is effin awesome, by far my favorite board ever so far
Yeah, I am really interested in Gnu as well, but they just don't seem to be very common where I am. Concerns with the Rider's Choice are the softer flex (not sure I want to go softer than the TRS) and more importantly waist width (no way the 154.5 would work, needs to be the 157.5 with my boots).

How does the Gnu Danny Kass compare to the Rider's Choice and the TRS?
 
#11 ·
The Danny Kass is stiffer than both the TRS and the Riders Choice. Judging by whats on the site, it also has less tech in the deck. The MTX on the kass is also alot mellower than it is on the trs and riders choice. And ive ridden a 157.5 Riders choice and it felt identical in flexibility to the 157 trs and it was very broken in. The kass is more pipe and big jump focused while the TRS and the RC are more for everything
 
#12 ·
I also ride in Japan and as you know your everyday stick will also see a lot of powder. Its crucial that it will handle powder well IMO.

I ride a proto CT and love it in anything up to 40cm of powder. After that I will be reaching for a dedicated powder stick.

Since you have a sick stick for deep days (what length?) I would get something with a different feel and length so as to broaden your quiver.

The Proto is a great board but sounds like you prefer something stiffer to charge on. The proto can charge but its also playful, its great in powder and on jumps. Maybe a Heritage if you go with never summer but of the choices you mentioned I would go with the Banana magic.

Thats a great price and although I haven't ridden it I was looking at buying one and it has rave reviews most places I looked. Powder performance is one of its plus points and in Japan thats big.

Just my opinion based on what you said you are looking to do and where you ride.
 
#17 ·
Thanks, all good points. Powder performance is definitely key in Japan. In fact, it was the Mervin rep's comment about the Magic's superior powder performance that made me think (overthink?) about what board to choose - otherwise I probably would have just gone with the TRS or T Rice already.

The Banana is close to retirement and the Sick Stick might be for sale (it's a 163 which is a bit long for me - should have gone with the 161...), so ideally want more of a quiver killer.
Love what I hear about NS boards (esp. the Proto and Heritage), but seem to be difficult to find - and even more difficult to get a good price on.

So I think it still comes back to the TRS vs. Magic vs. T. Rice - plus maybe the Gnu Danny Kass (because a local shop has 1 left which I might get a great deal on)... A couple more glowing report about the Magic's powder performance and I might just bite the bullet and pull the trigger on it :D
 
#14 ·
The Attack Banana is more responsible, and a little bit more loose than the Proto. Flex is similar. The Proto IMO was better for stomping jumps than the Attack Banana. Pop was similar. Dampness was actually very similar. Libs just initiate quicker, but come with the board being a little more squirely.
 
#16 ·
I really like my TRice and it performs pretty well in the powder considering I'm 210 lbs riding a 161.5. I don't have a dedicated powderboard so I've used it in waist deep powder and still felt fine.

Based on what you've said I'd lean towards the TRice, Magic or Heritage if you are going to go NS like some have mentioned.
 
#28 ·
T.Rice all the way for the riding you do. The Banana Magic would be super fun if you love to carve it up as it has a deeper sidecut. T.Rice is stiffer and more damp though.

T.Rice will be best in the pipe as well. Everything you listed, especially considering you won't jib, screams T.Rice to me.

As for extruded vs sintered... Not all bases are created equal. Lib Tech makes great extruded bases, thus they are faster than the average.

Also, granted the slope is steep enough, extruded vs sintered won't really matter. The major difference comes in how they glide, particularly on flats. Extruded flat out (no pun intended) sucks on flatter terrain. Also in powder, sintered just feels better to me between the two when waxed. Might just be in my head though, but just my 2cents.\

And that "happy waxing" comment... YOU BETCHA! It's like yoga for snowboarders. Beer, wax, beer, scrape...

BTW, B.Magic has a more mellow rocker and camber. I like everything about the Magic's shape. Very fun to carve on.
 
#29 ·
One of the few threads I have seen someone trying to convince someone that a sintered base is overkill. Can I ask the question? What snowboard company doesn't use sintered bases? Not Ride, not Burton, not Yes, not Never Summer, not Smokin, not K2. So this idea that Mervin is the only company "overkilling" with sintered bases is crazy.
 
#30 ·
I just don’t think it’s a necessity on a board. Ex. Most of the GNU boards have sintered bases for some reason, where the Lib’s in the same "category" don’t. That point taken I would choose the Lib over most GNU’s even though the GNU has the sintered base. Does that make sense? If I had the choice that would be low on the totem pole for the reasons why I would be choosing a board. It's just my take on the matter.
 
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