When we say we test everything, we mean everything. That includes a whole bunch of snowboard gear. This was a five board shootout day testing heavy hitters for 23/24. All these boards are slightly directional, all-mountain boards that have the most buzz around them at the moment. 

Snow conditions were ideal for testing. Fresh snow from the day before had been groomed out and was nice and soft. The sun was shining, helping to soften everything up a bit, and there were still some stashes of fresh snow to be found on the sides of the trails. 

First up was K2. Mitch Carlin and Neil Soucy from the snowboard sales team rode the K2 Antidote and Alchemist, respectively. 

Mitch rode the Antidote a few sizes too big and felt that it was a little stiff for how he usually prefers his boards to ride. That being said, he did like how it performed in the trees. 

“The K2 Alchemist is an absolute powerhouse of a snowboard that feels strong, precise, and loves to go fast,” said Neil. “Making big carves is a dream, and it feels right at home jumping off the trail into some softer snow.” He also noted that at low speeds or on low-angle terrain it won’t feel super nimble, but it also won’t beat you up. 

Next up were some boards from Ride. Mitch was on the Deep Fake. He felt it was "a stiff, groomer slaying machine that feels powerful and responsive." It's a fairly demanding board, but any expert rider will appreciate how confident it feels at higher speeds no matter the terrain.  

Neil also rode the Deep Fake and felt mostly the same. “It felt like it was made to tackle the East Coast crud,” he said. “It’s a bit heavier than the rest, but that helps it feel very planted and composed under your feet when a trail is in rough shape.” Contrary to Mitch, he felt the edge-to-edge was a bit slower than other boards, but once it was on edge it did feel really solid. 

Last but not least was the Lib Tech Lib Rig. Neil was impressed by it, choosing to describe the board overall as “smooth.” “Turn initiation is super easy — it has all the pop you need and feels very composed.” Despite riding in a larger size than usual he said it still felt easygoing and fun to ride. 

So far we are pretty impressed with next year's lineup. We will continue to test these boards and others throughout the rest of the season. For any questions about gear book an appointment to come see us in Boston or contact one of our gear experts!