An alternative to Lib Tech Travis Rice BTX 164.5

Posted: 16 July 2010 09:31 AM

After a good bit of research I decided that the Lib Tech Travis Rice BTX 164.5 was the board for me but after looking everywhere I can think of, I just can’t find one.
I’ve been riding a K2 Turbo Dream 157 but being 108kg / 236lb (5’ 10” rugby player) I’ve come to realise that this board is too short.
I’d say I’m advanced, no problems with black runs etc. but I haven’t started catching any air (although I really want to, going to work on it this season). I ride switch to ease myself out of some tricky spots but I’m not too bothered about it, so I’m thinking a directional board is the way to go. I’m more about getting down with nice lines and at a good speed (not interested in the half pipe).
I’m starting to go off piste and getting excited about hitting powder.

I’ve come to really like a rocker (that turbo dream may have been too short but it’s great board) I thought the Lib Tech Travis Rice BTX 164.5 would be the fella for me but if somebody could suggest and alternative or a board for my kinda fun (some form of rocker) I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Posted: 16 July 2010 02:12 PM

Hi Jim,

Welcome to Snowboard-Review.com. Just one quick question before I can recommend a board. What size feet have you got? Oh and do you prefer a firm flexing board or medium flex, not too stiff, not too soft.

Rich

Posted: 16 July 2010 02:41 PM

Hi Rich,
Thanks for the welcome.
I’m a UK 11 and I’m going to try something stiffer than the turbo dream. I’m thinking 7-8 out of 10.

I’m no specialist (if you couldn’t tell ;) but maybe I found the K2 a bit too flexy because I was too heavy for it (?).

Posted: 16 July 2010 06:40 PM

Hi Jim,

So you’re after a rockered board that’s slightly more geared towards freeriding than freestyle, with a flex that’s slightly stiffer than medium. (I rode the 159 Turbo Dream and I would have given it 6/10, I’m about 30kg lighter than you so I reckon your 157 doesn;t give you a true reflection of the boards flex). And I think you were saying you’re keen to stick with rocker or perhaps a hybrid rocker camber combination like the Travis Rice 164 with C2 banana.

Right so the Travis Rice would have been an ideal board! Not to rub salt in the wound. Quite easy to ride, very stable and great grip… but yeah these boards are hard to find. Lib Tech are good at building just the right number of boards so they’re sold out before they get dumped in a sale. My suggestion would be to look at the Rossignol Angus 162mW with a waist width of 26.1cm there is just enough width on it for your feet. You have the AmpTek profile which has camber between the feet and rocker at the nose and tail. this board is a directional twin (pretty much a twin) but the rockered nose should give you enough float for powder riding. Failing that you could alsways look at getting the Turbo dream in a longer length or picking up a board like the Burton Custom V-Rocker in a 165W. There are a lot more wide boards with rocker being released next year that might be worth waiting for. Alternatively there are tons of wide boards out there which are cambered that might fit the bill like the Arbor Roundhouse… I think I saw a good deal on the Roundhouse at Snow & Rock. If you like I can always dig out my catalogues for next year and let you know what’s coming next season that will fit the bill.

Hope that helps

Rich

Posted: 19 July 2010 09:11 AM

Hi Rich,
Thanks very much (you certainly know your stuff). I’ve read a good few reviews and the Burton Custom V-Rocker it sounds sounds pretty darn good but I can’t find a 165W version. I’m only finding a 163 standard. Does this sound right or am I just not looking hard enough?
I’ll keep my eyes open but if you do come across anything you think would suit me I’d be very interested to know.
I’m heading over to the states mid October (Houston, not exactly snowboarding heaven) and I have until the start of february to pick something up.

James

Posted: 19 July 2010 03:15 PM

Hi Jim,

No you’re definitely not wrong. Appears I created a fictional board in the 165W custom v-rocker, I must have assumed the V-Rocker followed the standard sizing of the Custom.. you’re right it only goes upto 163.

I had a though about other boards - more specifically next years boards. Boards worth checking out next year in my book are -

Jones Mountain Twin - Much like the Rossi boards and more like the YES boards (both Yes and Jones are made in the nideker factory) Jones boards use Camrock (or Amptek depending on who it’s made by) camber between the feet and rocker at the tips. The Jones board have a really shallow camber which means they behave more like rockered boards than cambered boards. With a waist width of 26.3 cms, the 164 would be a good length for you. Nice to have a board that not many others will be riding.

Never Summer SL Wide - Can’t remember the exact name of the wide version of the SL… so SL Wide it is. This board uses the same rocker camber tech as the LIB Tech Travis Rice, rocker between the feet and camber at the nose and tail. This boards was amazing on the groomers, you can work it into such nice deep carves and it punches you out of them at the end. In Powder it gives you control, agility and loads of float. i’m a big fan and I didn’t have the benefit of the monster 3 year warranty. I actually preferred freeriding on this board than freestyling on it.

February in Texas? Oh man, close but no snowboarding cigar!

Rich

Posted: 19 July 2010 03:44 PM

Those Jones’ boards; utter boarding porn.

Fubruary will be in Arabba, Italy. I’m going from Norway to Houston in October though. It was great to be able to jump on the slopes every weekend.

Posted: 21 July 2010 12:38 AM

Hi Rich,
It’s the Never Summer Legacy R. Although the Jones Twin is tempting, after reading around, the NS Leg is in the lead. I just have one problem; I’ve come across the Nidecker Megalite camrock 163XL/167XL.
The reviews seem outstanding (and so does that darn price tag). Any chance you could give me your views on someone like me getting this please?
I think my main concerns would be which size to get, how such a directional board will effect my boarding days (which will now be few and far between) and I have to be realistic, would someone of my standard be wasting their money on such a beast?

James

Posted: 21 July 2010 02:09 PM

Hi Jim,

I’ve not ridden the Megalight with Camrock, although I have ridden the Ultralight which I think is the next board up. It’s definitely a serious piece of snowboarding equipment, more focused on the freerider than the all-mountain riders. If it’s pow you want to be riding then the Megalight is going to be the business. My rule when buying pow boards is go as long as you can providing it’ll fit in your board bag. Riding the Ultralight 163 I was thinking this is great, but I wish the board was 5cm longer; it might not seem like a lot of length but it really helps with edge hold at speed and stability.

One of the best things about the Ultralight was that it was really easy to ride, if you add Camrock into that equation then you’re onto a winner, it’ll be even easier to initiate into turns and even more floaty in the pow. I didn’t have any problems with straight airs on the ultralight, but it’s not a snowboard for the park. Flex wise you’re probably talking 7-8 / 10 for the Ultralight.

I think the only draw backs are that this board is a pedigree freeride beast, the base will need waxing as often as you can, definitely shouldn’t go a week without waxing and the smart Nidecker construction techniques aren’t quite as rugged as standard sandwich construction so you’ll have to be carfull not to drop it in the carpark or hit any rocks.

Definitely a board that will take your freeriding to the next level, but quite specialist.