After being a fairly devout Option Snowboards fan, I bought a Ride Machete 164 wide this year. The specs on this board are what appealed to me most–it’s pretty much a mid-wide board. That, the length and it’s slight reverse camber all were what i thought would work best for my size/weight/foot/etc. I’ve managed to get the board in about every snow scenario possible–powder, chowder, ice, chunder, slush, guanch, slush, park, pipe and frozen hydraulic fluid.
Shape: The board is a twin. I typically ride directional, or directional twins when i can but this boards has done me well.
Reverse: Not a ton of reverse camber on this board. Just enough to make riding pow a little bit less effort. Still plenty of tail for riding pipe and jumping. Landing in pow is also not much different. On some reverse camber boards your tail will wash out pretty bad landing in pow–not here.
Sprack: MAD Sprack! This board effing ejects off the tail.
Turning: Has a progressive sidecut which i’m not completely hyped on. Not totally sure what the hell it is though. For a mid-wide board it’s plenty turny, edge to edge.
Dampness: This board is damp. I consider boards to be damp when you can haul ass through chunder without getting bucked. There has been a lot of chunder this year. If you ride in the NW you need to be able to handle chunder. As in, make it your friend. It’s everywhere. Board handles that shiz on edge too. Has that slimewall stuff which i believe in.
The only thing i don’t dig about this board is the top-sheet. As soon as my foot touches it i go down. Skating and unloading a lift is like it was when i 1st started riding. Sometimes i even ask the other people on the chair if they’re going left or right. Unloading top chair Alpental is terrifying. I’m pretty sure the top sheet is actually slicker than the base.
Aside from that this board is a damn solid all-around board. It rides everything really good. Alpental, Park, Pipe. Done. I don’t like the graphics…but could give a shiz.
I think this would be a great board for someone looking to transition into reverse camber. The reverse camber isn’t super dramatic–you get used to it quick. You would notice it’s handling in chunder instantly.
I convinced a friend of mine who was a bit skeptical to get one of these. Earlier this year we were riding Crystal–2nd run he was locked in and super stoked on the board.
More info about the Ride Machete here: http://ridesnowboards.com/boards/machete
I bet the Ride Machete would even slay the Banked Slalom–which is this weekend at Mt. Baker. Can’t wait to heckle friends, stalk pros, throw snowballs at other bloggers, drink beer and eat salmon.
Related posts:
guanch…
so you LOOOOOOOOOVE IT?
how long does it take to make beef stew?
CROCKPOT FUCK EM
that's what im sayin' DOOD
stomp pads are for fruit cakes.. dont do it
I'll drive a few nails through the bottom of your deck for you. Might help some with the slippage.
One of my favorite & largest/wide boards was a chunderific blaster.. Option Kevin Sansalone 165.5 wide.This was a gift from the holmeys & sno-con krew…Diggin the fact that Ride is putting out some wider sizes for large ex-treme-aty challenged . I would like to see them in person, but here in s0-cal..we only have burton, and some forums…maybe a few leftover/seconds mervin defects.
Stompads are officially illegal?.. I will put it on the household requisite of sporting rules & do-not -do list, which will join webbed surf gloves, bar ends, helmet/cams, camelbacks and skipping rope…am I missing anything? Waiting for the snowbandanaface wrap to be added…gracias flying tomato….just remember that you drive a lambo, not harley.
i had that board too. sick board. broke every one. if you get up here you can check out the Machete. but i'd stay in SoCal.
I'm giving the K2 Slayblade Wide a try this year. I'm am too challenged with large feet and do my best to stick with mid-wide boards. Every few years I'll go with a certified 'wide' board and I'm always disappointed. The best wide board I've had so far was a Burton Canyon, it actually had a decent side cut if I remember correctly. Believe it or not…the best mid-wide board I've had was made by SCOTT. Shape wise it was perfect, very similar to Options, but they were good for about 5 days before they would snap, or totally delam. Pretty sure they were only around for a year or so.
The Slayblade, even though it's the top end wide board, still feels like a I'm riding a plank. You really take for granted being able to transfer from edge to edge, but when riding this thing I'm reminded of it every time I look one way and just expect my body to follow. I think that may also have something to do with the zero camber. I'm new to the zero camber/reverse stuff and trying to get used to it on packed snow.
fuck! it feels like an eternity since I've had a whole kit that was dialed in. It's either boots, board, bindings, gear…maybe I'm just getting old.
i had a canyon a while back that i liked. broke that shit in half quick though.
you should give the machete a go….
YOU GUYS MUST RIDE SOMETHING OTHER THAN POW TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR FEETSIES HANGING OVER.
I’D RIDE A FUCKIN OBRIEN SLALOM WATERSKI BEFORE I’D BE ON THAT CROCKPOT SHIT FUCK ALL YALL
THIS IS THE 90S BRO TIME TO GET SOME FUCKIN MORALS!!!
OH WAIT WHAT?
FUCK OFF, PRETTY MUCH.
BEST MOUNTAINBIKE I’VE EVER HAD WAS ALSO A SCOTT.
DR A OUT
PS FUCK RIGHT OFF