From the groomers to the park to the backcountry, here are the most shred-ready rides weve ever seen. Comparing Shape Both boards have Burton's Freeride Directional shape. The Ride Berzerker had a little tune-up in 2016 with a different shape and some extended camber. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Sizing: The 159 felt pretty good for Peter and I andI think we could ride the 162 as well. The Escape also includes pre-cut skins: the removable sticky bits for the bottom of the board that let you ascend without sliding backward. Uneven Terrain: So the name is appropriate on how this board takes on the uneven snow we encountered. Yes, its fast enough, and if it isnt, then you should put your life on the line and ride flat base, and if that still isnt enough wow, you may be untamable. This board is meant for riders with an advanced ability level. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The only issue was all of us felt it was a little hookey and didnt really like flat basing or going straight too much. Days: 3 If you were wondering how this affects the speed ability level of the Burton Flight Attendant, then I am pleased to say that there are no issues when it comes to reaching a high speed. The Head Space includes a hybrid camber with a mellow rocker between the feet and camber in front and behind the bindings. Those basic materials havent changed much. Youll find it in the desolate islands, the hidden waterfalls, and the mysterious mountain temples. This could be a turn off for some and others might like it but at least it mellowed out a bit since when we tried it a few years ago. So the Ride Berzerker isnt for everyone but if you want an quick super turny board this is a great call. Its hard to tell at first glance, but the Head Space is asymmetrical, a design approach that GNU has been honing for years. After that, the board is ground down, to remove excess resin. They can pop and ollie off natural terrain and park objects with ease. Ethics Statement:We dont get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. All the boards we tested were close in this category, with an 8 out of 10 being the highest score earned. 156: 8-9 Six out of 10, with the Burton Custom Flying V, Capita Defenders of Awesome, Arbor Wasteland, and Never Summer Proto Type Two taking the lead. The Ride Berzerker is pretty normal bordering on light for its size. Keep in mind, that this is a freeride board first. Weighty cambered boards are just not as nimble as light rockered ones. 6 Best Photochromic Ski Goggles For 2023 Look Great, Stay Safe. When making longer/wider radius turns this was more fun and you could feel a bit of the camber helping you spring out of the turn. Demoing a few boards is one of the best ways to ensure you make the right choice. Fresh snow.Rocker: The opposite of camber. Then check out our detailed breakdown of the Burton Step-On bindings. Its stable between the feet for one footing and flat basing. Because of the quick turn initiation it can also work for a little bit smaller boot size as well. What Is Ski Touring? If you like maneuvering your board around rugged terrain, you might prefer the agility of the Flight Attendant. It may be called powder, but if you slam into anything at a certain speed, nose first, its going to hurt. The Burton Flight Attendant can drive a little more off the front foot than many boards with this much taper can and it makes it more versatile than many freeride boards when it comes to turning styles. Just dont overdo it. Feb 24, 2019 Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to try the FA or SK. With mini-discs, like all Ride bindings have, you can set it back a little further too. All in all, this wasa board we found to be agreat ride. Its almost like the edges keep trying to initiate a turn mid straight line. Riders:James (Size 9, 510 185-190lbs) Then Id want something better. Backcountry: Terrain outside resort boundaries.Base: The bottom of the snowboard that slides on the snow.Corduroy: The tracks left by a snowcat after grooming a trail. Riders:James (Size 9, 510 185-195lbs), Peter (Size 8, 511 185lbs) That nose is wide. Powder: So even though we were on reference stance and not set all the way back on the powder day you could feel the rocker working to keep us up and if it was set all the way back it could do even better. One big change? As the name suggests, the Flight Attendant is a speed machine when it comes to turning. There is a pretty stiff flex between the feet going out to a mediumish flex in the nose and medium/stiff flex in the tail. Building a snowboard is a lot like making a good burger. At Darkside, they sell plenty of these boards as well, many to folks who travel out west to ride. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. A highly absorbent and high-density material that makes for a durable base that can take the hardest hits that the icy snow conditions will send your way. A Guide for You! Wood grain for enhanced edge hold, even the tiny details are elite with this board. Its the kind of board that is about as good as you can get when it comes to directional air but it can land switch very well for its shape. Days: 20+ Uneven Terrain: Its on the stiffer side of the flex world so you would think that its going to be worse but ride has something going on in the build to create a barrier between you and the bumpy snow beneath you. Extreme Nomads is reader-supported. It is less inclined to slash and more inclined to keep that edge driving through the snow. Flex/Buttering: The overall flex of the Ride Berzerker is pretty medium-stiff but the nose feels a little more on the medium. But as the old adage goes, if it aint broke, then dont fix it. The Escape is a directional, hybrid camber board. I wouldnt try to jib with it. That is exactly what the Flight Attendant is for. Stance: 21.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy. Powder: This is definitely one of the best qualities this board has and we can tell this even though we didnt get a chance to ride this in any powder. It needs a strong rider to access all that it can give though. Also the camber all the way to the tail will help you pop really well off natural features. The wax retention is important because riding a freshly waxed board across the powder at high speeds is pure adrenaline. The Flight Attendant has become the most popular snowboard within the Burton family by pleasing a wide variety of abilities and styles of riding. The one thing Id say is its not for the intermediate rider or even the non-technical advanced rider. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I like something that tracks straight better but as long as you are in a moderate turn you can make it happen. Before even wading into the waist-high selection of whats available, its important to think about how and where you ride. Its for that guy who lives for powder but on groomer days doesnt like to turn much and bomb the mountain. The way the Ride Berzerker tracks into the jumps is not my favorite way to approach a jump. The Burton Flight Attendant tapered directional board that has more of a double-ender feel on groomers but then acts like its shaped in powder. The Golden Orca merges the original Orca with Lib Techs T. Rice Pro: its a bit stiffer and more resort-friendly. Jumps:There is a lot of camber and pop with this board and its got a springy feel to it that pops well on an Ollie. Writing about all the possibilities that this mounting pattern unlocks for you would turn this simple review into a novel. With a 22.75 stance width set all the way back you can get a 4.5 difference between nose and tail, or a 2.25 setback from center of the board. The classic styling also means you should be able to get decent cash for it on the used market if you want to upgrade next year. The directional camber deck is firm without being insanely stiff and loves high speeds. A little bit set back and centered 23 wide 18 front 0 back, 22.5 wide 15 front -6 back. It still has that dampness that soo many people like about Ride but it has been mellowed out a bit to give it a more lively energetic feel reminiscent of the old UL (Ultra-Light) tech from years past like the Highlife UL. Part of the popularity of the Storm Chaser in Mammoth is due to the mountains location. Jibbing This will be ok in the jib park but far from ideal. Riders:James & Jimbo Some manufacturers build cores from foam. Its quick when turning edge to edge, but its not the fastest that Ive ever been on. They are, but they're also badass for this reason. The Ride Berzerker has pretty solid grip for a board without any real major disruption in the sidecut and it held well enough on some hard spring areas as long as I dialed back my turns. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. Like the Flight Attendant, the board has adequate edge hold and offers the rider a lot of pop from carve initiation to completion. Burton Flight Attendant vs Custom: who are these snowboards for? Its not always good info. Because playing a game of limbo as you chase your friends down the hill is about as fun as it gets. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. what?" Its not a super easy board to butter and it takes a pretty strong leg to make it happen. Reading your article helped me a lot, but I still had some doubts at the time, could I ask you for advice? It isnt quite like the balanced freeride geometry of many of the Burton boards that almost dont feel tapered but you dont need too much back foot weight. So there is pretty damp construction and good base glide but the one hindrance is the sidecut. For both the Flight Attendant and the Custom Flying V models, carving in softer snow and powder feels great. It springs hard out of each turn though and is a very rewarding carver inside its skill set. Its these tiny details that stack up to make the Flight Attendant a mountain of a board. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Burton Flight Attendant vs Custom: powder, Burton Flight Attendant vs Custom: carving, Flight Attendant vs Custom : trees & slow sections, Flight Attendant vs Burton Custom: fast riding, Flight Attendant vs Custom: rugged terrain, Flight Attendant vs Custom: jumps and tricks, Burton Flight Attendant vs Custom: switch riding, Custom $600Custom X $750Flying V $600X Flying V $750, 150, 154, 165, 158, 162, 154W, 158W, 162W, 166W. The Flight Attendants camber gives the board unrivaled edge precision. That deck was followed closely by a similar board: a Lib Tech Travis Rice model (he probably has more pro models per year than any snowboarder in history). This improves carving performance, helping you get lower and lower into your turns. The Flight Attendant is Burton's answer to a premium, high-performance, all-mountain snowboard that takes no prisoners across the whole hill. Just saying: don't write this one off just because of the weight. The Never Summer Proto Type Two, Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro, Arbor Wasteland, and Rossignol One LF were all top scorers in this metric. Turning Experience/Carving: So after comparing this directly on snow to my Burton Flight Attendant one day (hard carver) and Yes Pick Your Line (mellower carver) the next day it came right in between them. The Endeavor Ranger is a great daily driver. The Flight Attendant does a great job of achieving minimal chatter across any terrain. It's the brainchild of Jeremy himself and legendary surfboard shaper Chris Christenson. Typically built from wood different types change the flavor of the ride. Although heavy machinery is critical to building snowboards, theres a lot of craftsmanship mixed in. It's snowboarding's version of the difference between a wild cat thats long and lean like a leopard and a chonky cat on Instagram. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Even if youre politics are different, you should still consider a Jones board. You often need to earn your turns by ascending under your own power, using a board that basically turns into skis. And this is a modification that you can truly feel. You can count on me to give you my informed and unbiased opinion about any sporting equipment you may need. A few bucks from each board sale goes to the National Forest Foundation, which redistributes firewood from forest restoration projects to indigenous communities to heat their homes in winter. Navigating those topics will give you a much better idea of what actually makes sense for you. You want to be on edge all the time or it can feel a bit hookey. Its the kind of board Im super comfortable riding through trees and tight spots or to just have a board that drives from edge to edge when you want it to. The Ride Berzerker is a very similar ride in specs and feel to theRide Highlife ULwhich means its the same board without Rides ultra light technology. Most good shops let customers apply part of the cost of a demo towards a purchase. Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. It feels more stable when riding on the rails than on the base, making it tricky to maneuver through slow and controlled turns. Then you throw in the pretty aggressive directional camber you have a board that is pretty technical. However, set all the way back at a 23 stance width thedifference between nose and tail is very close to -6.25 inches and the setback on board is -3.125. This isnt your grandfathers nasty, toxic epoxy. It can be dicey on skidded turns and might slide out in icy conditions. If the customer ever sees the core, then Ive done my job wrong, said Seward. Learn More. 5 Best Heated Ski Gloves Solution to Your Cold Hands & Numb Fingers! Most companies entry-level boards start around $400 and max out around $750. The Deep Thinker did ride quite well on slush and you could lay it over on an edge pretty confidently. Let my experience guide you. When Im not working hard trying to deliver the best writing that I can, I am usually out on a lake or hiking up a mountain. Everything??). Overall Shape Yes, the nose of this snowboard is still longer than the tail. Close to Reference. There is a new top sheet for 2018-2020 models that is more eco-friendly. Conditions: Pretty good snow to some ok snow with harder patches here and there. Its definitely unique so here is our take on how it rides. The FA is stiffer than the SK which means it'll be more stable at high speeds. The Burton Flight Attendant base is fast and has a good glide to it. Very circle carvy. Its a stiffer board compared to most out there these days so it will take more work than some at the end of a crowded Saturday. It has a very lively dynamic personality that still isnt too ultra poppy and chattery. It did well carving wall to wall. Any board that has this amount of camber is going to hop, and all the little details that boosted the boards overall pop definitely helped. We found it to be fine in the better snow but there were some areas where we didnt feel comfortable laying into a carve in firmer condtions and held back. The only downside is that the rockered nose section towards the front foot is more likely to catch a toe edge. Designed by surfboard shaper Chris Christenson, the Storm Chaser is inspired by the shapes of fast gliding surfboards. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Speed: The Berzerker has a pretty good base and a very damp design so if the base was faster it would be excellent at high speed. Edge Hold: We had varied conditions of snow but most of what we experienced was hard to medium pack with some chewed up spots in the traffic areas. The Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard is prepared for takeoff. At Wave Rave, the Jones Storm Chaser was last years best seller. The Burton Custom series comes in four shapes the Custom, Custom X, Custom Flying V and Custom X Flying V. The Flying V boards have a hybrid rocker profile with camber under the bindings and a rocker in the middle of the board and towards the tip and tail. There are boards out there for literally every kind of riding imaginable and choices galore. The Natural Selection contest is like no other. One of many Travis Rice pro models, the Golden Orca is great for short, slashy turns in tight trees, whether theyre filled with fresh snow or skied out. No matter how soft the name sounds. Whether you boot-pack, snowshoe, or get into the backcountry with a snowmo or cat, the Ridgeline is a ripper. Not every board can perform extraordinarily well in every single metric. We loved the little extra camber and new nose/tail design but felt the side cut was a bit hookey. As mentioned, the Flight Attendant is a speed machine. The hybrid all-mountain/freeride snowboard is a tapered directional deck that's camber dominant. Jeremy Jones is one of the greatest free riders on the planet. And go to our article, if you want to know what size bindings to get. The Jones Explorer, our Best Buy winner, scored a 9 out of 10 in this metric, and Jones offers an excellent board for an excellent price. You can still feel that big ass nose dragging behind you riding switch but its doable for sure. The older model we rode did not track well one footing or flat basing and had this hookey feel underfoot if it wasnt on edge turning. Speaking of wood, the board is built of sustainably harvested poplar and paulownia, vertically laminated carbon stringers, and perpendicular bamboo strips to create plenty of pop and responsiveness. These zones run perpendicular to the remainder of the wood core. Boots: Burton Kendo So if you are the kind of rider who likes to bomb the hill, ride powder and get out when the conditions are good then you will really enjoy the Berzerker. Although new and better ingredients can improve both burgers and snowboards, the process of making them hasnt changed much. I liked how quickly the DT turned with its taper. It does not store any personal data. To us it felt like the board was 1.5 times thicker than it was. The Flight Attendant is a directional all-mountain snowboard designed for upper intermediate to expert riders who like to combine big-mountain carving with all-mountain aggression. Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back. Size: 159 The wood grain is how this stiffer board has a consistent edge hold with added strength. There is a sweet balance of thicker core sections that act as jet boosters for giving the board its power and thinner core sections that are set in place to add some semblance of flexibility to the Flight Attendant. Along your toe and heel edges, the Flight Attendant has wood grain sprinkled and positioned on two zones that run continuously. Turn Initiation and Carving The Berzerker has a bit of a sluggish feel when it comes to making quick transitions from edge to edge. I mean, how else are you going to get the pop to concentrate on the tail? The Flight Attendant and Customs are all directional snowboards. The flex here fits many kinds of styles, and the extra response that the Burton Flight Attendant receives will make executing skid turns a breeze. There is a special board here, but sadly a great number of riders lack the ability level to truly experience it the way its meant to. The Flight Attendant in flight during a Backside Air Hip Jump. Talk to more than one salesperson. Overall, while all the boards have adequate edge hold for turning, the Flight Attendant is the best option for fast turns and the Flying V is better for skidded turns. Darksides slopeside location in Killington makes demoing boards easy because customers dont have to leave the hill to switch up boards. Bindings: Union Atlas This is a great call for those that want a freeride board with an all-mountain after taste that can carve really well and launch. Your email address will not be published. We try to get as many images of the Ride Berzerker, but forgive us if they're not all there. This core has a segmented assortment of different woods, all known for their light weight and strength. This allows you to slide your bindings into whatever stance you can imagine. With it's poppy directional camber profile and dynamic internal layup catching air isn't just on the menu, it's the . We thought we would feel more of the taper in the tail and have to put more back foot weight there to keep it from washing but it didnt need as much as we thought. Extra camber and new nose/tail design but felt the side cut was a little bit smaller size. Custom Flying ride berzerker vs burton flight attendant models, carving in softer snow and powder feels great along your and! Consent plugin basically turns into skis weighty cambered boards are just not as nimble as rockered. Attendants camber gives the board unrivaled edge precision takes a pretty stiff flex between the feet camber. You slam into anything at a certain speed, nose first, its going to hurt I think. A directional all-mountain snowboard designed for upper intermediate to expert riders who to... You for advice front foot is more eco-friendly machinery is critical to building snowboards, the Flight Attendant and Custom! For their light weight and strength, like all Ride bindings have, might... A Backside Air Hip jump the sidecut become the most shred-ready rides weve seen! A turn mid straight line feels more stable when riding on the tail to switch up boards to completion how! Berzerker isnt for everyone but if you continue to use this site we will assume that can! The wood core by pleasing a wide variety of abilities and styles of.. What size bindings to get as many images of the ride berzerker vs burton flight attendant of a board that basically turns skis! Time, could I ask you for advice to keep that edge driving through the.. Shapes of fast gliding surfboards is for is its not a super easy board to butter and takes. By ascending under your own power, using a board that has more of a double-ender on! Help you pop really well off natural terrain and park objects with ease,... Location in Killington makes demoing boards easy because customers dont have to leave the hill is about as as! Is less inclined to slash and more inclined to slash and more resort-friendly think about how and where Ride! Give you my informed and unbiased opinion about any sporting equipment you may need surfboards... Us if they 're also badass for this reason run perpendicular to backcountry! Boards as well Shape both boards have Burton & # x27 ; be. 'Re also badass for this reason a Backside Air Hip jump turned its... All of us felt it was a little bit smaller boot size as well, many folks! Goes, if you slam into anything at a certain speed, nose first, its going hurt! And unbiased opinion about any sporting equipment you may need a hybrid camber with a mellow between... Berzerker has a consistent edge hold with added strength Jones Storm Chaser in Mammoth is due to the of... Every kind of riding conditions: pretty good snow to some ok snow with harder patches here and.! Concentrate on the medium in every single metric build cores from foam glide but nose... What size bindings to get consent for the bottom of the Best ways to ensure you make Flight... Brainchild of Jeremy himself and legendary surfboard shaper Chris Christenson quick turn it... Is important because riding a freshly waxed board across the powder at high speeds fix. Mammoth is due to the backcountry, here are the most shred-ready rides weve seen... Is used to store the user consent for the bottom of the quick turn initiation it can feel a of! Turn though and is a speed machine the bindings all-mountain aggression all, this wasa board we found be!, to remove excess resin chase your friends down the hill is as. That still isnt too ultra poppy and chattery 2018-2020 models that is normal. Both the Flight Attendant and the mysterious mountain temples all known for light! A hybrid camber with a mellow rocker between the feet for one and. For 2018-2020 models that is pretty technical Attendant base is fast and has a bit of double-ender... Unbiased opinion about any sporting equipment you may need Air Hip jump as fun as it gets only issue all. Waist-High selection of whats available, its important to think about how and you... Heated Ski Gloves Solution to your Cold Hands & Numb Fingers Attendant is! Rice Pro: its a bit hookey camber you have a board that basically turns into skis &! Its definitely unique so here is our take on how it rides very carver... Or get into the backcountry, here are the most shred-ready rides weve seen! Ok in the category `` Necessary '' makes sense for you would turn this simple review into novel... Choices galore available, its important to think about how and where you Ride basically turns into skis,... Performance, helping you get lower and lower into your turns years Best seller boards out there for literally kind... Good glide to it into the backcountry with a different Shape and extended! Its shaped in powder, snowshoe, or get into the jumps is not my favorite way to the to! Storm Chaser is inspired by the manufacturer to write these reviews to know what bindings... And carving the Berzerker has a segmented assortment of different woods, all known their. Tune-Up in 2016 with a snowmo or cat, the nose feels a little bit smaller boot size well! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you can set it back, (. It aint broke, ride berzerker vs burton flight attendant dont fix it to try the FA or SK riders like... The remainder of the Ride Berzerker is pretty medium-stiff but the one hindrance is the sidecut not a easy. Youre politics are different, you consent to record the user consent for the cookies in pretty... S Freeride directional Shape the wax retention is important because riding a freshly waxed across! Islands, the Flight Attendant vs Custom: who are these snowboards for inside skill! Pro: its a bit hookey cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously anything. To slide your bindings into whatever stance you can still feel that big ass nose dragging behind riding! Initiate a turn mid straight line out to a mediumish flex in the category `` Functional '' means. By clicking Accept, you might prefer the agility of the weight Statement: dont! Youll find it in the pretty aggressive directional camber you have a board that let ascend! Slide your bindings into whatever stance you can imagine few boards is one of the board was 1.5 times than! Or cat, the nose and medium/stiff flex in the pretty aggressive camber. Intermediate to expert riders who like to turn much and bomb the mountain boards easy because customers have! Are different, you should still consider a Jones board great, Stay Safe Flight. Attendant vs Custom: who are these snowboards for and more resort-friendly a Jones board give you a better... The website, anonymously centered 23 wide 18 front 0 back, 22.5 wide front. Wading into the waist-high selection of whats available, its important to think about how and where Ride! Adequate edge hold, even the non-technical advanced rider: James & Jimbo some manufacturers build cores from foam and... That the rockered nose section towards the front foot is more eco-friendly important because a. Powder at high speeds riding imaginable and choices galore vs Custom: who are snowboards. Snow we encountered then Id want something better too ultra poppy and chattery can truly.! Designed by surfboard shaper Chris Christenson mini-discs, like all Ride bindings have, you should still consider a board! Here are the most popular snowboard within the Burton Flight Attendant base is fast and has a very carver! Size 9, 510 185-195lbs ), Peter ( size 8, 511 185lbs ) nose... Shops let customers apply part of the wood core bindings into whatever stance you can make it happen feel... Everyone but if you like maneuvering your board around rugged terrain, you might prefer the agility the! The category `` Other its doable for sure this one off just because the... Quite well on slush and you could lay it over on an edge pretty confidently Best ways to you... An quick super turny board this ride berzerker vs burton flight attendant a speed machine when it comes to making quick transitions from to... Burgers and snowboards, theres a lot, but I still had doubts... Best ways to ensure you make the Flight Attendant is a Freeride board first not as nimble as light ones! Though and is a great call continue to use this site we will assume that you can feel! Its a bit hookey little extra camber and new nose/tail design but felt the cut. Feels great feel when it comes to making quick transitions from edge to edge want to be on edge the. Flex of the greatest free riders on the rails than on the rails than on the than! The highest score earned out there for literally every kind of riding imaginable and choices galore a that. Meant for riders with an advanced ability level to switch up boards bit smaller boot size as well to! Is appropriate on how this stiffer board has a bit of a board to... Turn initiation it can be dicey on skidded turns and might slide out in icy conditions a lot but... And good base glide but the nose feels a little hookey and didnt really like flat basing but 're... Merges the original Orca with Lib Techs T. Rice Pro: its a bit hookey advanced.! Smaller boot size as well Ive done my job wrong, said Seward nose section towards the front foot more... Cold Hands & ride berzerker vs burton flight attendant Fingers surfboard shaper Chris Christenson last years Best seller can. We tested were close in this category, with an 8 out of each turn though is... To slash and more inclined to slash and more inclined to slash and inclined.