01.02.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:27 pm by snowboards 2008
It has been forever since I have posted up on this site. My apologies to my faithful readers. Anyways, I was thinking the other day, 2008 Burton Gear is certainly not dead. No way. 2008 Burton Gear is still killing it and it is cheap. Burton for cheap, what a great concept! I just picked up a 2008 Burton Custom the other day for half off retail price. I am super stoked. Yesterday I took it up to the mountain and realized one important thing: 2008 snowboards ride just as well as 2009 snowboards! Yeah, I have the 2009 Custom and it is sick. But the 2008 Burton Custom kills it, and it didn’t kill my paycheck.
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11.15.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:36 pm by Tracy
My second favorite product from Burton Snowboards is without a doubt the Burton Escapade bindings. These guys are the finest womens bindings you’ll find on the market for a ton reasons. First, they are super comfy. This is one thing that Burton gets straight on all bindings, but the Burton Escapades take the comfort to the next level. Adding to this comfort is the outstanding contouring to a womans boot. The highbacks are a perfect height and at a perfect shape. On top of all this, the binding is super solid, but it isn’t too rigid. It is very responsive, but has a nice enough flex to allow very smooth freestyle ripping. This binding is definitely worth looking at if you have some extra cash to spend!
Features:
- Baseplate: Short-Glass Fiber / Nylon Composite
- Hi-Back: Canted Living Hinge Hi-Back
- Straps: Superstrap II and Super Capstrap
- Buckles: Polished Aluminum, Dual Component Smooth Glide Buckles
- Cushioning: Gapless Baseplate Padding and B3 Gel Heel Cushioning
Colors: Matte Black, White / Purple
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Posted in snowboards at 8:13 pm by Tracy
Hi yall! Special thanks below for the awesome intro. I hope I can keep up with all the expectations.
So I am going to start this off talking about my board of choice: The Burton Feelgood. I am a fan of the Burton Feelgood ES, but the regular Feelgood is my favorite Burton board. I think a lot of this has to do with my more freestyle oriented rider. I do spend a lot of time in the park and riding the rest of the mountain. For that, I feel the Feelgood is a better choice. Like the Burton Custom for the guys, if you want to do more freestyle, ride the Feelgood, if you want to do more freeride, get the ES.
So, looking more closely at the Feelgood, it offers the perfect flex for all-mountain with a major taste for freestyle. For spinning some easy 3’s or doing some frontside boardslides on a rail or box, the feelgood handles it with ease, comfort, and confidence. Basically, it is not too soft for speed and pipe and is not too stiff for butters and easy jumps. To be completely honest, you don’t need to be an expert to ride the Burton Feelgood. Intermediate to Expert riders will be happy all the same.
This year, Burton definitely changed up the graphics to what I think is a major improvement over last year. Also, the stances have been widened out, which is great for those of us who love to jib.
Features:
- Directional Shape
- Sintered WFO Base
- Super Fly II
- Core
- Dual Zone EGD
- Carbon I-Beam
- Triax Response Fiberglass
- Infinte Ride
- Pro-Tip
- Negative Core Profile
Sizes: 149 cm, 152 cm, 154 cm, 158 cm
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Posted in Uncategorized at 7:12 pm by snowboards 2008
I found someone who is just as big a snowboard and Burton nut as myself: Tracy. Tracy sent in and we bounced emails for a couple weeks and then she offered to write on some Burton products. I had to jump on the idea because I really wanted to get a female perspective on the female products. Plus, Tracy has been riding solid for well over ten years now. She has worked as a snowboard instructor for most of that time too. So here opinion is well-worth listening too! Hopefully, Tracy donates a lot of her time because I am really anxious to here her opinions on the womens gear.
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11.10.07
Posted in snowboards at 12:53 pm by snowboards 2008
A low-budget custom or custom-X? Maybe. The Burton Elite is an all-mountain killer for a very affordable price: retail $359.95. This board, with its wide brother the Burton King, lead the pack for the sub-$400 snowboards.
I have always had a place in my heart for the less expensive boards. All too often, people give some of these boards a bad wrap because they get used to higher-end boards like the Burton Custom-X or T6. And while these boards are obviously amazing, these boards in the sub-$400 range are still noteworthy. See, I don’t see expectable and then garbage when I look a boards from higher-end to lower-end, respectively. You have to understand what causes the price to accelerate upwards: technology and features. Your high end boards usually have all the best toys and are loaded with goodies. But this doesn’t necessarily make the lower-end boards bad. They are just holding up the foundation of the whole entire snowboard line.
And the elite is the first in line making up that foundation. It is proven technology and it something you can rely on whether you have ridden for 20 years or 2. So if you are a laid-back experienced rider or an up coming intermediate charger, I would give the Burton Elite a serious look. I consider myself a rather aggressive rider and I demo’d this board last year for kicks. Need less to say, I was actually quite impressed with this guy. The board held a trustworthy edge on the hard pack, even at speed. Off piste, the elite had no troubles managing itself, and in the park, I had a great time on jibs and jumps. Let just say that if I suddenly lost my job and my family, I would be content riding the Burton Elite for the rest of my days.
This year the Burton Elite is classified as a flex of 5 with a Directional Twin shape. It comes standard with Lightspeed Vision Base, Super Fly Core, Dualzone EGD, Biax React Fiberglass, a Leather Topsheet, and an Even Core Profile.
Sizes: 147 cm, 151 cm, 155 cm, 158 cm, 162 cm
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08.03.07
Posted in Technical Discussion at 12:09 pm by snowboards 2008
Before I start, I would like to thank the two posters who asked this question. It was an oversight on my part to not include it, and it is an excellent question. The 08 Burton catalog features the Supermodel, the Fish, and the Malolo all on the same spread. And they all pack similar features. However, you have to really read between the lines or have experience with all of these snowboards to know which one is best.First, the Supermodel, the Malolo, and the Fish are three of my favorite snowboards of all time. They are all great! But each is slightly different. I think the best way to grasp these snowboards is to think of them on a continuum that starts with all-terrain versatility and goes to powder domination, starting with the Supermodel and progressing to the Fish.Now of course, people are probably shouting Burton Custom X right now, but the Supermodel takes the all-terrain versatility a bit further. Unlike the Custom-X, the Supermodel–as well as the Malolo and Fish–employ the Powder Fly II (except for the Powder Fly III in the Supermodel X) as the foundation. This core actually has a lighter weight nose. Couple that with a 1 cm tail taper and negative core profile, and you have a snowboard that kills it in the powder too. Basically, you have a snowboard that can be ridden every day and that performs well in every aspect, even switch riding.The next step is the Malolo. It brings virtually all of the same features to the table as the Supermodel, but adds another cm of taper to the tail. Plus the stance is setback an additional 2.5 cm. These slight tweaks enhance powder riding substantially. It is almost difficult to go over the nose when you are riding powder. But this also comes at a slight price: While the Malolo rides well on the groomers, despite its unique shape, it lacks in other areas. You wouldn’t want to ride switch very much and park riding is awkward. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but the Malolo is a board that is designed to excel when you get anywhere from 6″ to many feet of powder at your resort. Realistically, if you ride 50 days a season, expect to use your Malolo maybe 5 to 10 times.
The ultimate in the tapered series is the Fish. The Fish adds another centimeter of taper for a grand total of 3. And the stance is set back to 7.5 cm! Again, powder riding improves to a level that a rider will feel like he is being lazy. And again, you will have to compromise. The fish really doesn’t do anything else well. Again, you can easily ride everywhere, and while it handles okay on the groomers, you just don’t want to spend much time out of powder. Think of changing the expression “Fish out of Water” to “Fish out of Powder.” So, if you are considering this board, I hope you have another board that you use the other 98% of the time. You may use it as many times as the Malolo, but it will be perfect only half of those times. Then again, it rides deep powder so well, it may be worth it.
So if you are thinking of any of these snowboards, I highly recommend them. They are a perfect addition to any snowboard quiver. But just keep the differences in mind between them. To reiterate, if you are a one snowboard rider, maybe even a two, the Supermodel is a great choice. If you want an extra board that is amazing in powder, think the Malolo or Fish. But in my opinion, the Malolo is the safer bet for more resort versatility. However, if you want the ultimate in powder riding, give the Fish a serious look.
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Posted in snowboards at 11:40 am by snowboards 2008
The Supermodel has always been a long-time favorite of Burton Snowboard fans because of its legendary performance: A true freeride machine. The Supermodel is spec’ed with Sintered WFO Base, Powder Fly II Core, Dualzone EGD, Carbon I-Beam, Triax Response Fiberglass, Infinite Ride, Pro:45 Sidewalls, Pro-Tip. Negative Core Profile, and a 10mm tail taper.
With these features, the 08 Burton Supermodel is guaranteed to be one of the best and most-versatile snowboards you have ever owned. A modest 25mm setback with the Powder Fly core and the mellow tail taper, make powder riding fun and easy. But, these mild powder enhancers do not take away from the killer freeride performance of all of the other listed features. So, you will easily be able to ride the Supermodel 100 days a year in any and all conditions. And, unlike other all-terrain snowboards, when the powder falls, you will dominate with the Malolo and Fish crowd. Basically, if you are a freeride guru, can only afford one board, and want to rip in the powder, this is the snowboard for you.
Additional benefits of the Supermodel include the mid-wide waist. The 163 has a 25.4 cm waist, which is great for the size 10 and 11 riders. This makes the board not too wide for 9 and 10, and accommodates the bigger footed riders. And I also like the fact that a 172 is the fleet. This will hopefully satisfy those people who are disappointed the Burton Triumph is MIA.
Sizes: 152, 155, 159, 163, 168, 172
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08.02.07
Posted in snowboards at 2:27 pm by snowboards 2008
Definately not new to Japan and not necessarily new to the rest of the world, the Burton X8 brings a new flavor to the 08 Burton line-up. For lack of a better comparison, take the Burton Twin add EST and tweak a couple of elements, and you have the X8, not to mention of course the carival-ride metallic topsheet.
No matter, the Burton X8 is a high-performance true twin snowboard. And it would be on my A-list if I was a park junkie. The Burton X8 leaves the factory with Sintered WFO Base, Park Fly III Core, Multizone EGD, Triax Response Fiberglass, Infinite Ride, 10:45 sidewalls, Pro-Tip, Elliptical and Tail Kicks, True Twin Shape and Flex, and Negative Core Profile. That’s a nice package no matter how you deal it.
Last year, my best friend picked up the Japanese X8 and let me rock it for a few runs. In short, the X8 rides well. Obviously, don’t expect the LPC’s of the T6, but do expect a great all-around twin board. The X8 had a very fun flex for butters and jibs, but provided a solid precise feel in the park and on big booters. And I am really excited to see how the EST will enhance this ride.
Sizes: 151, 155, 157, 160
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Posted in snowboards at 12:57 pm by snowboards 2008
When I first saw the graphics for the 08 Burton Jeremy Jones, I wasn’t sure if I liked them. But they grew on me, and I love them now. Perfect Jeremy Jones style:
Regardless of how it looks, I have always been a fan of Jeremy Jones’ snowboard design. I have been tracking him since he blew up with the Forum 8, and have always been impressed with his riding style.
Enough of the man, let’s talk about his snowboard. One thing I have always enjoyed about the Jeremy is it’s mellow jib-able flex but its energetic design. I guess that’s what happens when you put Triax Response Fiberglass in the deck. In short, the Jeremy can master any wallie on the street while stomping a swicth 9 over a 50 footer in the park. Sprinkle some Sintered Vision Base, Super Fly II Core, Dualzone EGD, Infinite Ride, 10:45 Sidewalls, Pro-Tip, Directional Flex, Directional Twin Shape, and Negative Core profile, you have a snowboard that dominates ANY aspect of freestyle. I can personally attest to this, as I was able to babysit one for half the season last year.
Of course, the EST on the Jeremy is one of the most striking features. And, as far as what the EST is designed specifically for, it is perfectly suited for the Jeremy Jones. The riding combination should be nothing short of spectacular, and I can’t WAIT to demo it. Plus, if you guys don’t ride the Burton EST bindings, you can actually attach ANY Burton binding to the Jeremy with the EST Disc that is included.
Updates on the 08 Burton model are minimal but noteworthy. Of course the EST was added, but a 159 was added to the fleet. Additionally, the 151 and 156 are Mid-Wides. Always good for the larger-footed community.
Sizes: 151, 156, 159
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07.30.07
Posted in bindings at 12:41 pm by snowboards 2008
Without a doubt, what would a Burton 2008 preview site be without a talk about the Burton EST? Extra-Sensory Technology (the full version) claims to add the next dimension to snowboard feel.
For those of you who have been living in a cocoon for the last few seasons, Burton Snowboards has been working on a new technology where you only have to use two screws instead of the previous 3 or 4. By using only two screws in a single channel and replacing the bindings baseplate with a SensoryBED, Burton snowboards claims they have revolutionized comfort, flex, response, and rider to board interaction.
Many of the hardcore Burton fans have virtually gone insane over this new product. They are astounded by this new creation like it will completely revolutionize snowboarding. And many of the online forums are buzzing about this new technology.
Of course, not all the buzz is positive. New technology always brings criticism. Admittently, I was right there with them. Personally, although I love Burton’s products, I am not their most loyal 3-D proponent. What I mean is that it works well for me, but I can understand the criticism. Now Burton has removed another screw and has put the entire attachment into a single channel. Strength? Obviously, it is major concern and it has yet to see the abuse by the common public. And given the fact that Burton wants to maintain a more natural flex tells me they did not re-enforce the channel with loads of metal, which is good and bad. Along this line I also have to ask: Why is the Burton EST only available on park/freestyle boards? Some would argue that this area of snowboarding benefits the most from a natural flex, but I highly disagree. For years carvers have been concerned about the flat spots under their bindings that cause inherent skidding.
Other criticism includes people claiming that it is no different than Revelation’s and Forum’s slider systems with a sprinkle of baseless binding technology. I can see their point here. The slider system does have “infinite” stance adjustability, but is it really necessary compared to a 4×2 system? Maybe, but not for me.
On the note of baseless bindings, this argument carries weight. Although the EST and baseless bindings do look different, they propose some of the same arguments about sensation and natural flex, except that the EST includes a “SensoryBED”. Most would say that the fact that baseless disappeared is testimony to its usefulness, but I actually enjoyed some of the baseless sensations.
So, many of you may be wondering where I stand on this product. Personally, I enjoyed the EST system when I rode it. It did accomplish what it was supposed to accomplish. The adjustability and feel is outstanding. In that respect, it is worth the money to buy it.
As far as durability is concerned, I highly doubt Burton would expose themselves to so much liability by releasing a product that will fail quickly. Most companies test new technology years, sometime over five, before it is released to the public. So, on that note, I would feel safe. However, the strength of two attachment points still concerns me. And I am a bit disappointed that models like the T6 and Custom X don’t provide some sort of EST technology. However, time will only tell the success of this new product. I, for one, am anxious to hear any new feedback on this product.
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