Transworld Good Wood Awards 2011
It must be drawing close to the end of the summer and approaching the start of the winter because Transworld Snowboarding Magazine has released its 2011 Good Wood Awards list. Yep TWS have completely let the cat out of the bag at least a couple of weeks before it hits the shelves.
And the results; well you can see for yourself. It’s not surprising that there isn’t the broadest selection of brands taking the podium places, there’s obviously the usual speculation about those brands making an appearance on the honours list propping-up Transworld’s advertising revenues for 2011… hey guys don’t take it so seriously. Anyway, it’s good to see YES on the podium, but surprisingly it’s DCP’s freeride board The Optimistic that makes it into 5th place for the best park boards over $400, not the more park inspire Typo or Dudes of History. On the Camrock / AmpTek tip, Rossi gets two boards into the Good Wood Awards, the Taipan which we had an exclusive preview of last season makes it into the top male park boards under $399. DC’s new ride the Tone breaks into the Good Woods as does the Biddy and Devun Walsh, I think that makes half of the DC range award winners. Roxy, Lib and GNU feature heavily in the awards as do the Burton / Forum boards, including the super short Burton Nug, as if 150 wasn’t short enough there’s the fact that the Nug achieved it’s award in the best ‘All-Mountain’ snowboard category; are you thinking what I am thinking? The K2 Parkstar claims its second Good Wood, but I’m completely bemused that its pricier sibling the Fastplant didn’t claim an award. Camber obviously isn’t dead as the Capita Stairmaster claims the top spot in the All-mountain Snowboard over $400 category.
My personal thoughts are that it’s good to see some new faces on the winner’s podium, but to me it looks like the tired format needs a bit of overhaul. I mean come on TWS since when was the Burton Nug an all mountain Snowboard, it’s available in a 142, 146 and 150. Who in their right mind would take that down a mogul infested, ice hard 45 degree black run? Actually who in their right mind would go down a run like that in the first place?
Posted by Rich Ewbank in Blog & News.
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on September 03, 2010 at 08:31 AM
lol… have to check out the Nug! You can size down 8-10 cm with it!
I personally like the Good Wood awards, they at least get you in the ballpark with some good stuff but the top manufactures are all pretty much pumping out solid decks. Even companies that aren’t on the list like Arbor, Artec, Bataleon, Endeavour are making solid rides… I wish they made the buyers guide loaded with core stats for every board instead of a picture magazine to sell more ads. :(
on November 07, 2010 at 07:43 AM
The nug didn’t get all mountain, it won for park. Check it again. I do agree about having details on every board though, what good is the graphic??
on February 10, 2011 at 01:57 AM
While the Nug did win for park, it is actually an all-mountain board. [TRASH TALK SNIPPED] You are over looking the whole innovation behind the board.
on February 10, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Thanks Judge, nice to see some debate but lets not get personal. I will be riding the Nug in May and will be able to give you my opinion (note my opinion) on whether the Nug is a good all mountain board. My experience of Side effects on the Sherlock is that it made the board less versatile in crappy snow conditions and more powder than all mountain…. I shouldn’t think it’ll have the same effect on the NUG.
on March 23, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Just tried the nug today during epic pow. It is NOT good on steep at all. However, i did cruise down an intermediate and it was so amazingly flexible and i could just hop around spinning till i wanted to stop. About to do a 5 and see how it handles. Should be the steeziest 5 ive ever done.