Location: Whistler, BC
Snow Conditions: Bluebird to overcast on hardpacked snow and ice in spots. Most of the morning was icy spots.
Setup: I rode the Bataleon Riot with Union Forces and my Rome Vamps size 8.
First Impression: TBT is like a carvers dream
Size: 155cm
Weight: average
Flex: Stiffer nose and tail with just a tad softer between the bindings on the Riot, making it less easier to press and butter but overall more stable for all mountain riding. In the second picture below I showed how much I could tail press the Riot on flat ground and that was putting a lot of effort into, to getting that much off the ground. For a true twin park-all mountain board, it’s on the stiff side definitely a jump more suited to pipe, jumps and freeriding in between than jibbing or easy butters on the mountain.
Turning: I can’t deny how well this board excelled at turning and TBT really excels overall. The board has a mind of it’s own when it comes to turn and you can rally a carve on the mountain each turn without trying. I occasionally take photos of lines that a board will make after a carve and with the Riot I took a photo (see third one down) where it is a smooth carve with a thin line…I was impressed by the board cause I can tell you I don’t always make carves like that and the board played a huge part. Through the middle of the arc it made the widest footprint on the snow and as I came out of it, it was narrow again. It was really easy to get on edge and hold a carve.
Stable: The snow conditions were groomed and icy in spots but when going faster on it to get over flat spots I didn’t encounter any problems with it not handling well. I wasn’t able to take it through any cruddy or bumpy terrain though. On the ice no problems with holding an edge.
Pop: The riot has always been fun to pop ollies with only this time it was a bigger roller and I got more pop than I was expecting but I felt off in the air by my own accord, the second time around I did better. Just took some adjustment on my own.
Switch: The Riot is a true twin and rides like a true twin, not catchy into switch because of the TBT.
Overall Impression: I can look at that photo of the carve and tell you that’s where this board impresses the most. It’s stable for a true twin on riding the whole mountain and freeriding it does better than some freeride boards. I had a really good time on it and even though it’s stiffer than the last time I rode it, it handled better for freeriding than the last time. Bataleon continues to make good boards. I just wonder if they know that flower graphics are funny on men’s boards.
Shay’s Honesty Box: The last time I rode a Riot was a couple years ago and I really liked it at the time, fun board that was a mix between park and mountain. This time I rode it, I noticed it was a lot stiffer than last time and that was with the kevlar enhancement they added after I rode it the first time. Now it’s more all mountain handling, stiffer true twin.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the Bataleon Riot or shop their full line of Bataleon snowboards
Carving uphill with TBT
Bataleon Riot description
Anonymous
May 27, 2009 at 9:59 amDamn, I ordered the same forces this morning. Yours look like there already messed up on the strap. How long have you been rocking them if you dont mind me asking?
Anonymous
May 27, 2009 at 10:06 amSorry, just googled and you made a post about them at the begining of the year. How many times do you think you’ve used them though? And any problems yet, beside cosmetic?
Shayboarder
May 27, 2009 at 12:48 pmHey I actually just put up a post on the end of season checkup which looks at the Union Forces and how they’ve held up this year showing the cosmetic wear and tear. Here’s the link.I started riding the Union Forces in December so they’ve probably got over 50 days on them from this year alone. No problems with them over than cosmetic. I love them and will continue to ride them.
Jared Johannsen
June 15, 2009 at 7:29 pmCould you compare flex of 08 Riot without Kevlar and 09 or 10 Riot with Kevlar ? I guess the best way to start is by choosing a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being softest and 10 being stiffer. I own a NS Titan so I know what stiff can be. THANKS!
Shay
June 18, 2009 at 10:06 pmDefinitely won’t be stiff compared to the Titan which is STIFF. I’d say Riot without Kevlar was like a 4 on the scale and with kevlar it’s a 6.
DD
December 17, 2009 at 7:56 pmShay, I am shopping for a new board (all-mountain freestyle for Whistler) and using your sight for some assistance. I demo’d a TRS/BTX the other day and liked it a bit, the Bataleon Riot seems to be similar but no where to try it out. You seemed to really like the TRS in last year’s review. How do you compare the two? and, versus the NS Evo-R?
Thanks – DD