Ride 2011 Snowboard Reviews

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 review of the Ride Kink 2011 Snowboard.