Ride Snowboard Reviews

With the DH2 moving to a Hybrid profile this year there was a space for a new board with ProRize rocker, the Buckwild has filled the gap admirably. With a flat profile through most of the board and early rise tips the Prorize give plenty of stability and on edge performance whilst remaining playful for park and urban jib missions. At home killing the park but also no slouch on the rest of the mountain the Buckwild is a safe bet of park riders who like to hit pow when there’s fresh snow on the hill.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Buckwild 2012 Snowboard.

Every year we attend the board test somebody is raving about the Ride Crush. This year Aly tested the Crush for Snowboard-Review.com and after an afternoon spent lapping Kaunertal’s jibs and rails he too was babbling-on about the Crush. Soft, agile and buttery, the Crush is pretty one dimensional as far as versatility goes but this board really is only for those kids who want to ride the park all day, every day or somebody looking to add a jib board to their quiver.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Crush 2012 Snowboard.

It might be Ride’s entry level twin snowboard but our tester Aly Mac really liked it. With a centred stance, subtle Lowrize rocker and forgiving biaxial glass the Ride Agenda is a good choice for snowboarders getting into park riding on a budget but who also like to explore the mountain out of the confines of the terrain park. With the Agenda fun and versatility are the name of the game.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Agenda 2012 Snowboard.

Jake Blauvelt is the man! So by the powers of deduction the Berzerker must be the board! Based on the shape and profile of the Highlife UL, the Berzerker has a softer flex and less fancy construction keeping the Berzerker affordable but still packing plenty of performance. If you need inspiration on how to ride it just watch one of Jake’s many video parts.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Berzerker 2012 Snowboard.

There’s no need to get all-directional for backcountry terrain with the Slackcountry UL. The shape is almost twin with only a ¾ inch setback stance as most of the float comes from the fluid directional HighRize rocker profile which means the tail rises less than the nose to keep it stompy for tail heavy landings and big ol’ slashes. UL construction makes it into the Slackcountry this season to keep it light for monster hikes and nimble shredding.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Slackcountry UL 2012 Snowboard.

Revised for this season the DH2 drops last year’s Prorize profile for the all new Hybrid Twin profile. The addition of camber under the feet increases on-edge performance and ollie pop meaning that hard icy days when you might have previously retired the DH2 to the garage and taken out an old cambered for a shred are all in the past. A versatile twin for park riders who don’t want to be confined to riding kickers, jibs and rails all day.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH2 2012 Snowboard.

Since triple corking clinical slopestyle surgeon Seb Touts joined the fold at Ride, the DH has been his board. For huge transitions, insanely steep landings and million mph run-ins the DH’s firm flex and camber profile are essential. Slimewalls improve on-rail feel and pop rod 2.0s give ollies a little more ‘je ne sais quoi’. The Ride DH is a great freestyle board for riders who like a firm flexing twin with the benefits of traditional camber.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH 2012 Snowboard.

For experienced freestylers looking for a fun board that doesn’t demand 100% concentration or intermediates keen for a board that will help them to progress on, the smooth, buttery and catch free Machete is the Ride snowboard that hits the nail on the head. The Machete has Ride’s Lowrize profile which is almost flat/zero camber underfoot which blends into rockered tips about 10cm before the start of the effective edge.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Machete 2012 Snowboard.

Intermediate riders are well catered for in the Ride range. The Machete is the board for the progressing intermediate that wants to focus on the park but still wants to be able to freeride in the sidecountry when the conditions are good. It is the Ride Antic caters for the intermediate snowboarder who wants to develop a more rounded set of skills. If you’re one of those snowboarders who thinks riding handrails only looks cool on a skateboard and would much rather play around in pow than endlessly lap the mini shred, the Antic is worth a look. With a directional shape and directional hybrid LowPro profile the Antic is designed for riders who spend less than a quarter of their time on a snowboard riding switch.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Antic 2012 Snowboard.

Now a veteran board in the Ride portfolio, the Kink has proven itself to deliver park and rail performance at an affordable price point. Ride’s unique Slimewalls and thick Cleave edges mean the Ride Kink is more resistant to edge cracks and dings than a lot of similar snowboards

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Kink 2012 Snowboard.

All-mountain snowboards have been dying a bit of a death recently as twin shapes continue rule the roost. The Manic is bringing affordable all-mountain riding back to the masses with a directional shape, a slightly set-back stance and a very directional profile; zero camber through the majority of the board and into the tail and an early rise nose. The Ride Manic is designed for beginner and intermediate snowboarders who want to progress all aspects of their snowboarding from park to powder and need a forgiving board with a little extra float.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Manic 2012 Snowboard.

The Farah is Ride’s new all-mountain snowboard for ladies. The Farah’s directional shape, 20mm set-back stance and early rise Hybrid All-Mountain camber should keep the nose out of the pow on deep days but the designers haven’t made the Farah’s shape so directional that it is unusable in the park or sticking switch powder landings. Carbon Pop Rods and Carbon Array make sure that there’s plenty of life for ollies and ripping through carves and that force from the rider is focused into the edges. A Membrain topsheet keeps the Farah’s construction lightweight.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Farah 2012 Snowboard.

Girls wanting a high performance true twin might have found what they are looking for. Amber runs through the majority of the OMG but the tips rise a little early for easier turn initiation, smooth surfy float in powder and a less catchy feel. At a solid 8/10 the flex on the OMG reflects the kind of snowboarder that’s going to enjoy riding it, strong and aggressive female riders.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride OMG 2012 Snowboard.

The Ride Promise’s directional twin shape, 20mm setback stance and directional LowPro camber profile make it a versatile all-mountain snowboard that initiates turns easily and floats with no hassle in the powder. The middle of the road flex means this ride is inclusive of all abilities.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Promise 2012 Snowboard.

The Compact blends freestyle features from Ride’s more expensive boards with an affordable price point for shredders who don’t want to blitz all of their cash in one go. The centred stance, true twin shape, biaxial glass and extruded base are feature’s you’d expect in this price range. The LowRize reverse camber profile, thick Cleave Edges and Urethane Slimewalls are features that make the Compact standout in the circa $350 price range.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Compact 2012 Snowboard.

Ride’s Rapture is a great option for beginner female riders looking to make their first purchase. The rockered shape will inspire confidence by feeling less catchy at speed, initiating turns extremely easily and making the first attempts at riding powder far less frustrating.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Rapture 2012 Snowboard.

It’s a mini DH for kids! The rockered shape and Slimewalls make it the perfect shred for kids who want to emulate their favourite pros in the park. With the same graphics as the standard DH, the board ridden by Seb Toots, kids are going to love this board!

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DHK 2012 Snowboard.

The Highlife UL features Ride’s All-Mountain Hybrid shape that was developed with the R&D of Jake Blauvelt. Combining this proven shape with Ride’s lightweight UL construction, Pop Rods 3.0 and dampening urethane Slimewalls the Highlife is a wish list for all-mountain tech geeks who don’t want to switch up their boards when the pow is deep or the groomers are bare and icy. A truly versatile board with a firm flex for hard charging snowboarders who consider every feature on the mountain fair game.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Highlife UL 2012 Snowboard.

Replacing the long serving Society UL is no mean feat and that’s exactly what the Arcade UL is designed to do. Featuring lightweight UL construction, a firm flex and Ride’s new Hybrid Twin profile which combines standard camber with early rise tips the Arcade UL is built to hammer big features in the park and in the backcountry with power and precision whilst still offering a little more forgiveness and float than a fully cambered twin would.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Arcade UL 2012 Snowboard.

The normal DH has been softened-up this season, Ride have used 3 stringers of carbon reinforcement in the nose and tail as opposed to the 5 which they used in last years model. They’ve also given the DH their Pop Rods 2 system which means that the pop has been improved despite having a softer longitudinal and lateral flex. The DH is a cambered board that enjoys large transitions but is still soft enough, where it counts, to offer playfulness and a buttery feeling on rails and boxes. Intermediate and advanced riders looking for versatile deck that will aid their progression in all aspects of freestyle snowboarding could do far worse than the DH.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH 2011 Snowboard.

Intermediate snowboarders looking for a board that will allow them to ride the whole mountain from groomers to pow should look no further. Although initiating turns is effortless thanks to Ride’s Low Rize Rocker and a biaxial laminate this board definitely has the minerals for straight-lining groomers and bouncing down small drops and pillow lines thanks to the linear Carbon reinforcement.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Manic 2011 Snowboard.

The Slackcountry UL is Ride’s top-of-the-range all-mountain snowboard. This board has been built to give freeriders the versatility to ride the whole mountain, including groomers and park, but definitely focuses on giving an effortless, stable and dampened ride in the crud and pow. A slightly set-back stance, lightweight construction and HighRize Rocker mean that last seasons Concept UL has fused with the legendary Slackcountry into a serious backcountry slayer.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Slackcountry 2011 Snowboard.

You’ll be lucky if you can get your hands on the limited-edition DH2.4 as its being released in limited quantities at selected stores. The DH2.4 is a beefed-up version of the DH2 and comes with Ride’s new Hybrid ProRize profile which combines camber and rocker much like Atomic’s Pop Rocker profile, and a bit like Rossignol’s Amptek and Signal’s Wavelength profiles. The DH2.4 has been designed for riding bigger transitions in the park and riding halfpipe; this board will deliver a strong stable carve and good pop. This is a strong and powerful freestyle weapon for those riders who have dialed their tricks and are looking for a board that will take them to the next level.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH2.4 2011 Snowboard.

Looking for a slightly tamer, softer version of the DH2 to jib around the mountain but you still want the versatility to ride pow and hit the big jumps in the park? The Ride Machete is exactly that; so if you like the DH2 but your focus is slightly more on jibbing and rails, rather than big the bigger features in the park, then the Machete should be your weapon of choice.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Machete 2011 Snowboard.

If you’re old-enough to drink alcohol then you’ll probably remember the t-shirts and toy cars that changed colour when heat was applied to them, or Hyper Glow T-shirts……..or, more recently, the cups that reveal a naked woman when you fill them with hot Coffee. Well it seems the guys and girls at Ride thought that resurrecting heat-sensitive ink and using it on the Ride Crush would bring something different to the table and in fairness it’s definitely an interesting idea. Forgetting the boards design; the Crush is a twin jib and park focused deck that uses Ride’s LowRize rocker to make it easy to press on rails and play about in the deep stuff. Biaxial glass reinforcement and a soft longitudinal flex mean that you’ll be able to get some seriously steezy tweaks and presses going.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Crush 2011 Snowboard.

The Society has always been a serious board for experienced freestyle snowboarders and this years offering is no different… well almost no different. The Ride Society UL for 2011 has a cambered profile, Ride’s Pop Rods 3.0 system and Carbon Array 5 reinforcements meaning it is a very poppy powerful board designed for riding big transitions at high speeds, the difference for 2011 is even lighter construction and two extra initials. If you’re an aggressive, experienced rider looking for a powerful board to ride Pipe and big jumps it’s worth shortlisting the Society UL.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Society UL 2011 Snowboard.

This year Ride has released three DH models. The DH2 uses Ride’s new ProRize rocker which is essentially a zero camber profile with an early-rise rocker on the nose and tail. The DH2 is therefore the most playful of the DH models; knowing that zero camber normally compromises the pop of the board a little Ride have given the DH2 added reinforcement, their Pop Rods 2 system. Nevertheless the profile will make the DH2 easier to jib around the park and press on boxes and rails than its counterparts. Also, for added stability and strength on landings the DH2 comes with Carbon Array 5 reinforcements. As with all zero camber decks you can expect great versatility and performance all over the mountain and a board that slides smoothly along boxes and rails. The DH2 really is an all-mountain freestyle killer; Ride really has covered all bases with this board.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH2 2011 Snowboard.

Intermediate riders that have discovered the joys of powder and are looking for a board that will give them the versatility to ride the whole mountain, including park, may have found a little gem. Think of the Antic as the younger, less aggressive brother of the Ride Highlight; it has a more forgiving flex and as a result is easier to ride than its big brother.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Antic 2011 Snowboard.

The Ride Agenda is a good first-time buyer’s snowboard; this board has been built specifically for those beginners looking to venture into the park. A solid construction, soft flex and Ride’s new LowRize Rocker mean that this board will not only be a forgiving ride but will survive a good thrashing from sliding on boxes and rails.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Agenda 2011 Snowboard.

The Ride Kink is a bombproof board that has been refined over the past decade to give snowboarders the ultimate jibbing and handrail-slaying weapon. Biaxial glass provides a soft lateral and longitudinal flex, for easy pressing and tweaking, reinforced edges prevent edge-cracking and an extruded base for allows easy repair and upkeep. This years Kink also comes with Ride’s new ProRize Rocker (zero camber) which will make boardsliding on boxes and rails that little bit easier. Indoor riders and urban jibbers looking for a board that can take a proper beating should take note.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Kink 2011 Snowboard.

Like the stability of riding a camber or zero-camber deck but you’d like the float in powder which rocker offers? Well Ride think they have the answer with their new deck the HighLife, which features their new LowPro profile. This board will feel poppy when ollying and powerful exiting turns but smooth when initiating turns and will float nicely in powder. If you’re an intermediate rider looking for a board to ride everything the mountain can throw at you, with confidence and stability, check out the Ride Highlife.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride HighLife 2011 Snowboard.

The Concept UL is Ride’s all mountain go anywhere flagship model. Fast as a missile, super light and damp underfoot the Concept UL is perfect for anyone looking for a versatile mountain killer!

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Concept UL 2010 Snowboard.

Charging full speed at massive transitions is what the Ride Society was built for! Incredible response edge-to-edge and faultless edge hold will help advanced riders push the envelope. Definitely not for beginners or inexperienced intermediates, you should be confident down black runs and off jumps before you shortlist the society.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Society 2010 Snowboard.

The Ride DH was and still is at the forefront of the rail and park specific snowboard movement. If your looking for a board that locks onto rails and can handle the fast run-ins and heavy landings associated with bigger kickers, you can’t go wrong with the DH. A proven park dominator.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH 2010 Snowboard.

Foolishly I made the executive decision to exclude the Ride Machete from our reviews back in the Summer. Oh what a plonker I’ve been. The Machete has completely blown up this season. The lowrize rocker makes the Machete forgiving and floaty, but the Carbon Array 3 reinforcement, Aspen and Bamboo core and Linear Carbon make sure none of that lovely pop is lost from the equation. Basically this board was always set to take off. Now with ton’s of awards under it’s belt from the likes of Transworld Snowboard Mag and Snowboarder magazine, I’ve been shamed into including the Machete.. I won’t be underestimating Ride’s new releases again. Reports are the Machete kills everything in it’s path, like a… erm.. machete in a stick fight?

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Machete 2010 Snowboard.

The DH2 equivalent for the fairer sex. Freestyle focused but will happily spin and flip you all over the mountain.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Compact 2010 Snowboard.

If you live for small to medium park kickers and street rails, there aren’t many snowboards more suitable and certainly none more punk than the Ride Kink. A seasoned Jib machine with soft longitudinal and torsional flex.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Kink 2010 Snowboard.

The old Ride Timeless was a stiff freeride beast. Ride have changed tact over the last couple of years making the Concept TMS a slightly softer more freestyle orientated snowboard. The Concept TMS spearheads the all-mountain freestyle range, ready to kill everything you can get air off!

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Concept TMS 2010 Snowboard.

Renown for it’s medium/stiff flex, explosive pop and super sonic edge to edge response, the Prophet is for aggresive riders who know how to ride the whole mountain.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Prophet 2010 Snowboard.

Take the legendary DH, throw in a rocker profile, beefier carbon reinforcement and the Membrain topsheet. You’ve got yourself a DH with a catch free twist and ever more buttery spins and landings.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride DH2 2010 Snowboard.

The Control is back for another season. A classic, intermediate’s all mountain weapon designed to deal with everything you can throw at it.

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Control 2010 Snowboard.

A twin rockered freestyle ride designed to jib and bonk everything on the hill. It might end up as more than a crush for park and rail enthusiasts, because you guys are going to love this snowboard, especially the topsheet which changes with temperature!

Read full Snowboard Review review of the Ride Crush 2010 Snowboard.