Originally Posted by hktrdr

Actually, the Jamie Lynn is a better choice, as it is far superior to the Magic on groomers (except for in very icy conditions).

Originally Posted by Brainwashed

I disagree. The Banana Magic is amazing on groomers. I am starting to doubt you have actually ridden these boards.

Originally Posted by someguy

Very interesting. So I guess I should better be buying a LibTech TRS or Attack Banana. You guys also recommended GNU Rider's Choice to me, but I think I prefer the LibTech boards. I can't quite explain why, but the fact that more LibTech boards are recommended as top-boards makes me think that they produce better boards and have more experience in general. I know that they belong together at Mervin, but maybe there's still a difference.

So when those two boards are shortlisted, which one of them is a little bit more suitable and which size would you take?

- LibTech TRS 157 (minimum rider weight 58kg)
- LibTech TRS 159 (minimum rider weight 63kg)
- LibTech Attack Banana 156 (minimum rider weight 61kg)
- LibTech Attack Banana 159 (minimum rider weight 63kg)

I weigh about 70kg and together with my clothes and equipment I'm far over the 63kg, so I tend to get 159 length.

@hktrdr & @GreyDragon:

Both of you said that 1 (TRS) and 4 (RC) are best and that 3 (AB) is only second-best. Why is that? Could you please explain why you think that TRS fits better to me than Attack Banana? I need to know more about the thing TRS vs. Attack Banana. I feel like I can pull the trigger soon, but I need some more information before spending that much money. :-)

By the way, what do you think about my proposal to combine that board with a Rome 390 Boss and Burton Ions? At the moment I use Burton Cartels with Salomon Maori boots.

Originally Posted by Richie67

The weight recommendation is a minimum, and its just that.. a recommendation. Don't be worried you are a good bit heavier than the minimum. I'm 75kg and I'd never consider the TRS in 159. Even at 5kg heavier than you my decision would be between the 154 and 157.

I like the park and love hitting any natural features I can find, don't get the chance to ride much powder (and when I do I'll have a powder deck) and enjoy a more playful feel when on groomers as apposed to a stiffer board to bomb with. 154 would be my personal preference on the TRS.

Had a smiliar decision recently between 157/154 NS Proto, got the 154.

Originally Posted by hktrdr

As I said in the other thread: It is your right to disagree with me, but I stand by my opinion. The Magic is an amazing board, but a groomer deck it ain't.

Incidentally, that is also what Mervin is saying about the board...

Originally Posted by someguy

Hello Brainwashed,

this is Julian from Germany. I read your review and it's VERY interesting for me because I tend to buy a LibTech board, but I still don't know which one to get.

About me:
Usually I'm rinding 70% of my time on piste/groomers, 20% Offpiste/Frontcountry, 10% Park. I'm 1,82m tall and weigh 70kg. I am able to ride quite OK, which means: Normal pistes (all difficulties) are no problem, except for steep mogul slopes. Until now I haven't spent so much time in the park (i.e <<10% of my time, but I want to spend more time in the park in the future and come to the abovementioned 10% then). My park skills are modest therefore, i.e. flat boxes and small kickers are OK and I'm not doing any rails yet. I always try to catch powder if possible. Deep snow isn't a problem usually, except for when the ground and weather conditions are very bad.

At the moment I'm riding an Atom (not Atomic) Royality 159 Allmountain-Board with a Burton Cartel 09/10 binding and I use Salomon Maori in 42 (9).

What I am looking for:

I'm looking for a board that suits best for the abovementioned riding style. I looked around in german and english forums, at snowboard magazines' reviews, at blogs (angrysnowboarder, shayboarder, etc.) and in reviews in Youtube.

From what I heard, these boards would be my favorites at the moment (order: 1 = preferred, 8 = not preferred):

1.) LibTech TRS 157/159 (still undecided regarding the length)
2.) LibTech Banana Magic 157
3.) LibTech Attack Banana 156/159 (still undecided regarding the length)
4.) GNU Riders Choice 157
5.) Capita Black Snowboard Of Death 156/159 (still undecided regarding the length)
6.) LibTech Jamie Lynn Phoenix 157/160 (still undecided regarding the length)
7.) Ride Machete GT 157/160 (still undecided regarding the length)
8.) Rome Mod Rocker 156/159 (still undecided regarding the length)

I think the Neversumme boards (for example SL and Proto) are fine boards too, but I think they won't fit to my requirements so well.

Most important questions:

What do you think which LibTech Board fits best to me and which size would you recommed for me? I heard positive reviews about all of the boards, which makes the decision quite hard. I want to go for some buttering too and I thought that the Magic is too stiff for that and that I might be happier with a TRS, for example. An experienced guy from a german forum strongly recommended that I should prefer the Attack Banana over the Banana Magic, but I also heard that the EC2 is not so matured in comparison to the C2BTX or the shape of the Banana Magic (I forgot the name).

In this review they (just like you) prefer the Banana Magic more than the Attack Banana.



Also the guy in this video doesn't look so euphoric when he speaks about the Attack Banana.



I also tend to switch to Rome 390 Boss bindings (I like the idea of these canting pads because I have some knee issues) and Burton Ion boots (size 9). Do you think that's a fine combination together with some LibTech board?

Originally Posted by Brainwashed

Where is Mervin saying that the Magic is more of a off groomer board and the Lynn where the Lynn is? The Lynn is actually set back .5" for powder.

Have you ridden these boards? If you had you would know the Magic is not squirelly and rips in the carve.

Originally Posted by Brainwashed

I just got back from skipping work and riding all day in 14" of new. I am still loving the Magic for the riding I do, but again I don't go in the park. I wouldn't know what I would want from a snowboard even if I did go in there. I would just want the softest more rockery board and shortest board I could get.

I would steer your towards one of the shorter length Attack Banana or the TRS. I would say the Attack Banana as a first choice. And again, the shorter lengths. You would only want more length if you want float in the powder. For jibs and the parks I would run a shorter board.

Originally Posted by Brainwashed

You really should demo all three boards though so you can feel what you think of them. Is there a way you can do that in Germany?

If you can't demo them, I really do think you would be happy with either the Attack or the TRS. I know I would have!

Originally Posted by hktrdr

GNU boards are just as well/badly constructed as Lib-Tech. Zero difference. Many people would consider the RC to be a slightly upgraded TRS.

I picked those two over the AB because the camber profile-flex combo is better suited to groomers IMO. The AB has more rocker in the profile which helps with float in powder and turn initiation/looseness. However, to avoid it becoming to squirrelly/unstable on hard (like the Magic, which has more rocker) Mervin increased the stiffness resulting in less playfulness, pop, andvbutterability.
Accordingly, for mostly groomer riding I would go with the TRS/RC for playfulness and pop, while the AB is better for off-piste because of the float in powder and the extra stiffness.

Originally Posted by Jeb

This may be true, but it still should be noted that the AB is a solid performer on groomers and hardpack (dozens of reputable online reviews agree). The rocker/camber Ec2 Rocker/camber is a total blast and a killer option. I own it and I don't consider it "squirrely" in the least. Super-versatile board!