I figured I'd give a brief write up on my minimal Lib Tech demo day for any of you Lib lovers that are curious. Plus I had fun and got some sweet shots along the way. Always enjoy when Lib comes to the hill with their new stuff. Unfortunately this year I didn't get to ride all these epic sticks in deep snow. Conditions over night resulted in 3 inches of dense cream top cascade cement. The few inches of snow blew around and filled in better in some spots than others. The unfortunate part is that groomers get beat to shit and are so uneven, bumpy and almost impossible to carve on. So as a result, you have to work hard to find the decent stuff.
I am 6'0, 220 regular with a 23in. stance width and was riding with my angles at 18,-15. I was wearing my Burton Driver X and using Gen 1 NOW Drive bindings. If anyone knows these bindings, they know the least ideal conditions for them is dense wet snow.
I started the morning riding the round nose fish in a 158. I wasn't really a fan of the board, it probably needs those Japow conditions to really perform that way it was intended.
Next board was the 159 T Rice Climax. Apparently this is now the lightest board in the Lib lineup, and it was noticeable. The words that come to mind after one run was agile, responsive, poppy, playful, fun. It had been a year or two since riding Xc2 and I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed the shape and the board. I would have no issue owning one of these.
Climax by R Ves, on Flickr
However, after I dropped off the second board, the reps talked me into trying the Coho 146. 146? I'm 220ibs. The board is full camber. It's the first full camber board I have seen in the Lib lineup since the TRS with mag.....so 6-7 years I think? It had the standard pow fish nose with early rise rocker. I was unable to find any specs on it to determine the EE but it didn't matter, I killed it on that thing. Even on the bumpy chowder runs, I could hold an edge through it and lay down some super fun carves. It's skatey but responsive and I was able to put all my weight into it without issue. Also the extra width did not bother me at all, and I'm not a fan of riding standard wide boards..
That's a big salmon
Coho by R Ves, on Flickr
Coho by R Ves, on Flickr
Eventually the skies cleared a bit and I was able to see that one of our hike zones was still very filled in and plenty of unridden snow. I did the hike and found epic dense chow pow cream top. Well, it rode like a dream. This is not your all in one pow quiver board, but I would sure as hell love to have one of these in my board closet
Untitled by R Ves, on Flickr
Toe Side by R Ves, on Flickr
I am 6'0, 220 regular with a 23in. stance width and was riding with my angles at 18,-15. I was wearing my Burton Driver X and using Gen 1 NOW Drive bindings. If anyone knows these bindings, they know the least ideal conditions for them is dense wet snow.
I started the morning riding the round nose fish in a 158. I wasn't really a fan of the board, it probably needs those Japow conditions to really perform that way it was intended.
Next board was the 159 T Rice Climax. Apparently this is now the lightest board in the Lib lineup, and it was noticeable. The words that come to mind after one run was agile, responsive, poppy, playful, fun. It had been a year or two since riding Xc2 and I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed the shape and the board. I would have no issue owning one of these.
Climax by R Ves, on Flickr
However, after I dropped off the second board, the reps talked me into trying the Coho 146. 146? I'm 220ibs. The board is full camber. It's the first full camber board I have seen in the Lib lineup since the TRS with mag.....so 6-7 years I think? It had the standard pow fish nose with early rise rocker. I was unable to find any specs on it to determine the EE but it didn't matter, I killed it on that thing. Even on the bumpy chowder runs, I could hold an edge through it and lay down some super fun carves. It's skatey but responsive and I was able to put all my weight into it without issue. Also the extra width did not bother me at all, and I'm not a fan of riding standard wide boards..
That's a big salmon
Coho by R Ves, on Flickr
Coho by R Ves, on Flickr
Eventually the skies cleared a bit and I was able to see that one of our hike zones was still very filled in and plenty of unridden snow. I did the hike and found epic dense chow pow cream top. Well, it rode like a dream. This is not your all in one pow quiver board, but I would sure as hell love to have one of these in my board closet
Untitled by R Ves, on Flickr
Toe Side by R Ves, on Flickr