Each year the snowboard magazines decide their top snowboard choices by designing boards tests built around various methodologies. Snowboard Magazine has their Platinum Pick which focuses on the “all-around” board and the list is out for the 2010 Platinum Pick winners.
The Platinum Pick methology brings 70 boards to the table (2 all-around boards from each company, roughly 35 companies or so) and tests them at various mountains (Stevens Pass, Keystone, Silverton, Stowe) in multiple conditions throughout the season. Who the testers are is unclear, so we have no concrete idea of who the preferences/stats/rider info but these boards stand out from the masses in the test. Finally they only offer men’s boards in the dirty dozen, even though I ride men’s boards I find that ignoring women’s boards isn’t a step in the right direction.
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Out of the dirty dozen, I’ve ridden 4 of these boards and 1 board I’m sure is the same construction than when I rode it previously. With the 4 boards I have ridden (Park Pickle, Indoor Survival, Evo-R, Skate Banana, Extr-eco) I certainly would ride them all for all around riding, some are on the stiffer side and some on the softer side so there’s a good mix of boards that don’t just fit the mold. Out of that list, I would only ride three of those boards all the time in every condition on the mountain, Indoor Survival FK, Extr-eco and Park Pickle because that’s my preference. Some others I’d ride in park but not want on a powder day.
Like I say for any board test (no matter who does it), trying these boards on your own is the only way to know what works for you. Finding a board that works for you is most important, not what a list tells you.
Snowboard Magazine’s Platinum Pick Dirty Dozen Winners
GNU Park Pickle $490
Never Summer Evo-R $480
K2 Slayblade $550
Capita Indoor Survival FK $400
DC BDR $430
Lib Tech Skate Banana $490
Omatic Extr-eco $390
Rome Mod $550
Smokin MIP DTX $420
Nitro Rook $470
Burton Joystick $530
Ride DH2 $500
It’ll be interesting to see how Snowboard Magazine improves the test in the future years, maybe the addition of a women’s test, a methodology that is explained to the reader and the ability to see these boards in action by the riders. I like that the test covers the all-around boards that if one person had to ride one board, it would be suitable for everything.
What are your thoughts on the list?
Jay
September 11, 2009 at 7:25 amYou’re too picky.
Lauren
September 11, 2009 at 7:46 amwhat the… fuck? no womens boards? do they think girls don’t care about this stuff? i mean, yeah, I don’t trust those tests (rome detail, good wood? really?) but it’d be nice to see what people thought of the boards too. I agree with you about seeing pics of the testers riding the boards, and we need to know if the testers are big park people or big mountain slayers!
Adrian
September 11, 2009 at 8:54 amKnock Knock, (shay) “whos there?” Its Adrian at 720 boardshop and guess what kids, I got 8 of those platinum picks in stock! so be cool like all your friends and come cop one at 720 boardshop!!! oh yeah I wish I had the slayblade cause that thing rocks too!!
Andrew
September 11, 2009 at 8:55 amYou nailed it when you said that trying these boards out for yourself is the only way to know for sure. A list is a nice place to start, but what these manufacturers should be doing is promoting demo days with the mountains that are hosting. I’m reasonably well tuned in and I never seem to find out about them until it’s too late.
Ali
September 11, 2009 at 11:54 amI like that these tests are out there for companies to aim for and allow the names of less known companies like Smokin’ to get out there. But in the end Shay is right you have to go out there and see if the board fits your style. So get in touch with your local hill and see when the reps are doing demo’s. You can probably get rep contacts from some shops as well.
kyle
September 11, 2009 at 12:11 pmShay, Thanks for sharing the goodness………again. It’s an interesting selection of boards that grace the list and ultimately, it all reduces to personal preference, like you said. I can’t say that I’m suprised to see (almost) every type of alternate/reverse camber represented. That one was sort of a given. I don’t really think any of the “platinum picks” or “good woods” are valuable to an educated consumer, but it’s easy to see how uneducated people would make a decision based on information like this. It’s too bad that the Platinum Picks don’t share the same relevancy as Car & Driver’s annual 10Best awards. Similar methods of pitting products vs. products, but within the car segment, the end results will vary based on build quality and reliability.
FLuiD
September 11, 2009 at 1:34 pmWhy would the Evo-R not be one you ride in “every condition on the mountain?” Just curious as I have one and have rode some of the others and the Evo-R would be one of my top choices! Thanks Shay!
Brian
September 11, 2009 at 1:51 pmI agree with Andrew. It’s very difficult(especially in the north east)
to find demo days. Burton demos are easier to find here but they are also
show up towards the end of the season. I would like to try some of the
Lib Tech baords. Shay, maybe a good idea for the site is to list upcoming
demo dates/locations?
Zach
September 12, 2009 at 8:19 amThey don’t need to test womens’ boards. If you are a girl, and you are not fat enough to ride a mens’ board, then you should not be snowboarding. I want to see more fat girls on snowboards right now. If you are too skinny for a mens snowboard, go skiing.
Shay
September 12, 2009 at 8:30 amDemo days are huge, I’m still amazed that I watch people walk by with super old gear that won’t stop at a free demo day and ride a different set up. Just to try out a board and see if you like it.
Good point Kyle on the educated consumer and uneducated consumers…most people just getting into snowboarding will think highly of the tests without ever trying it for themselves until they buy it.
Brian, i listed the demo days for CO last year on the site but it’s hard to list them for every region but I’ll see what I can do.
Zach, women come in all sizes, fat to skinny and we all love snowboarding so why not test women’s boards?
Madeleine
September 12, 2009 at 9:12 amBrian
I used to live on the east coast and go to Sugarloaf. They have demos on Dec. 12 and 13. I don’t know where you ride but check the websites for other demo days. Also a lot of board shops will let you demo.
Thanks for all the info Shay. That’s why your reviews are useful.
Zach
September 13, 2009 at 7:30 pmYou know, I only said that about fat girls and not testing womens’ boards because I like the fact that you test mens’ boards (and I don’t want you to stop). There are a couple of womens’ specific snowboard blogs and that’s great. I just like that yours is useful to guys as well as girls (although you definitely test more guys’ boards than girls’!). I’ve got nothing against skinny girls. I’m just selfish. I want board reviews that I can use.
Dylan Ontario
September 13, 2009 at 11:15 pmGood list Shay. I take it these are all-around boards? (Sorry didn’t read the whole thing :S). I’m doing my own review and its only got the Capita Horrorscope FK on it 😛 just got it in the mail TODAY and its crazy noodly!! Combined with my new Shakas!! Wow! Watch out Jeremy Jones aha. Ve Shred Ze Gnar ya?
Shay
September 14, 2009 at 9:57 amZach, haha thank you! I love riding men’s boards and love riding women’s boards, just in my collection alone it’s a mix between the two so I’ll keep up with mixing between the two. There are more men’s boards to ride and in my sizes at demos so those will always have the popular number. Plus stay tuned cause it’s almost time for your input on what boards you want me to ride this season…that is the list that I walk up to demos with and start crossing them off.
Dylan, yep they are all-around boards on the list. Awesome on the horrorscope, it is a crazy noodle but super fun! Plus with the shaka’s, that’s rad! I definitely want to try the shaka’s this season to see how they are.
Fluid, sorry I missed replying to you. Right now I have the 09-10 evo-r which is softer than my 08-09 evo-r. I would ride the 08-09 evo-r everywhere and I did last year. But the 09-10 is definitely softer and it wouldn’t hold up on powder days in steamboat so it’s my early/late season and park board now.