This review was done through Board Insiders and will be featured on their site as a review with video of me explaining the board and riding it. I’ll update this link to that when it goes live
Location: Stevens Pass, Washington
Snow Conditions: Snowing with powder on runs, some groomed areas on day 1 of testing with Board Insiders.
Setup: I rode the Ride Compact with Union Forces/Rome Shifts and my Rome Vamps size 8.
First Impression: Despite the smaller size for me, it’s handling better than I thought.
Size: 150cm
Weight: lighter than average
Flex: The Compact featured a softer mid flex both longitudinally and torsionally, really forgiving and mellow ride on the mountain. It didn’t take much adjustment to ride the board and with the flat between the bindings, I noticed right away that when skating/getting off the chairlift it was stable. There was no rocker “woah” moment on it. The lowrize rocker is flat between the bindings then rocker out from the bindings, lifting up the contact points so you don’t catch the edges easily.
Turning: It was my second time being on the lowrize rocker and the best thing about it is it’s predictable and not an adjustment from camber or rocker, because the lowrize is so mellow of a ride. Really easy to initiate turns with and with more pressure, easy to get quicker shorter radius turns which are the bread and butter. I found the shorter radius turns more stable than the longer radius turns where the effective edge was okay but was ready to turn quicker. There wasn’t much hardpacked or icy conditions, some softpacked groomers and it held an edge. I would have liked to ride it on icy conditions to see how it did.
Stable: On the groomers, it felt good freeriding without making me think I would be thrown off since it was a 150cm. It did better than I was expecting but it was out of it’s league in the powder, where the lowrize wasn’t enough rocker and the size was smaller than I needed.
Pop: I took the compact down my favorite banked turns and off a roller where I popped a little late, it felt fine even though I had popped off and landed stable. When it came to butters and presses, the softer flex of the board helped, it wasn’t catchy when buttering and it did okay when it came to tail/nose presses.
Switch: Unlike the men’s version, the compact felt fine switch and rode like a true twin where I didn’t need to adjust to it when riding switch. Easy to switch around and initiate turns, do 180’s and come out with no issues.
Overall Impression: In the smaller amounts of powder, the lowrize rocker helped but it wasn’t enough rocker to handle the snow and the smaller size meant riding the backseat more than anticipated. When I got it on groomers, it didn’t feel like the smaller size like it had in powder and I felt comfortable riding it again. It was a really easy ride and I liked that it reminded me of the Crush but a softer more forgiving women’s ride of it. I’d definitely recommend this for a progressing female rider.
Shay’s Honesty Box: According to people who judge snowboard sizes on height, this would be the perfect fit for me..however my skill, riding style and weight disagree with riding a board smaller than 153cm. If I had learned to ride though, I would have learned on this. The compact came in a 150cm and I took it out even though it’s on the small size for me. I was still able to ride it, see how it handled and at the end of the day I liked it but in a bigger size.
Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Ride Compact or shop their full line of Ride snowboards
On-snow Photos
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Ride Compact description
fatscot
November 17, 2009 at 8:58 amShay,
The new year and the ski trips are looming, in preparation my partner is buy her first ever setup with the current aim the purchase of a board. I was initially recommending the Bataleon Violenza, but due to “hideous horse graphics”, her direct quote, that was shelved. I thought women liked horses? Anyway reading your review on the Compact I started to wonder if this might be a good substitute.
She has 6 weeks of riding under her belt. She is really athletic and I guestimate 140lbs, rude to ask and all that. She can already ride European reds competently and she will be doing a season next year. Do you think this board will cater for her all mountain requirements now and across a season? Is this board too soft for intermediate piste crusing?
Also, I foolishly agreed to buy her as a Christmas present some bindings. Could you suggest which companies binding fit well with this years Northwave boots? And if there are any stand-outs that would be brilliant to know as well.
Thanks
Fatty
Shay
November 17, 2009 at 7:52 pmHey Fatscot,
Bummer the violenza got shelved but definitely some women care how the board graphics look.
The compact is definitely a progressing ride but it sounds like her progressing is going a lot faster than normal and if she’s planning on spending a whole season riding next year, then maybe a board that will last her longer would be better.
Is she linking turns on intermediate terrain with no problems? Hows she riding when it comes to speed and holding speed over flat sections? Do you see her continuing to freeride or ride powder or do park ever?
For bindings, what boots and what size is she riding in?
fatty
November 18, 2009 at 12:05 pmThe turns on intermediate terrain are good and she is starting to add speed to her turns, her issues arise on steeper terrain where she ends up coming to a halt and edging down. The flats are her other issue she is still uncomfortable with running a flat board causing her to slide and loose speed. Personally, I think that she will edge towards jumps and boxes in the park with some powder and some complex terrain. I don’t think she likes the randomness of back-country.
She is in the Northwave Opal SL in a EU 39, which I think is a 25 and god knows what size that is in Ladies US.
fatty
November 18, 2009 at 12:07 pmAlso are you going to try out the Salomon Grip?
S
fatscot
November 19, 2009 at 3:50 pmShay,
I thought I posted a response, but it appears to have disappeared. In response to your questions above:
She is linking turns on confidently on intermediate terrain, however this will include edging down steep, black diamond level, sections. As she gets better, assuming she doesn’t injure herself badly, I think that she will have a preference for the park but will want to cruise the mountain, do some easy safer freeriding and available in-bounds powder (i.e. Non-Backcountry stuff).
Her boots are Northwave Opal SL in a UK size 6 which is a EU 39 or 25cm.
Thanks
Fatscot
p.s. I was wondering if you have managed to demo the Salomon Grip or the Never Summer SL-R. I would be really interested on your view of how they compare to the bataleon Riot, particularly their stiffness.
Shay
November 20, 2009 at 8:39 pmFatscot, for some reason I accepted your comments which should allow them after the first time but it moderated them again and I wasn’t around to accept them right away. Sorry about that.
I wasn’t able to try out the Salomon Grip or SL-R yet but I’ll definitely put it on the list for future demos.
For her I think she would outgrow the compact and it wouldn’t push her riding if she’s already on intermediate and black terrain (even with some difficulty). If you don’t want to stray too far from camber, the k2 eco pop would be a suitable choice or for reverse camber, never summer lotus or gnu b-pro.
fatscot
November 21, 2009 at 5:56 pmDo not to worry about the whole posting thing, I really appreciate you spending time answering my queries. I find your entire blog and comments very helpful.
I think that the K2 eco pop is the way forward for her. I viewed a k2 believer in a local shop. The rebound from the flatline technology with carbon stringers was awesome and yet the board seemed to have a nice soft flex. The shop attendant said this characteristic, also present on the EcoPop, made the board brilliant in a carve.
If she gets the EcoPop, assuming the colors are ok, what bindings would go well with the board and her Northwave Opals?
Once again thanks for all your efforts, I look forward to your look at the K2 Grip. Everyone claims it is a true all mount Sick Stick, which sounds too sweet for words.
Fatscot
p
Shay
November 23, 2009 at 7:26 pmFatscot,
Thanks for being understanding! Appreciate it.
The eco pop is a solid board and definitely would push her riding to the next level without being too much of a board for her. Have her check out the colors and see how she likes it, the topsheet is pretty crazy and the material isn’t slick so easy to skate with off chairlifts.
For bindings, I looked up EU 39 and it looks like she’s a size 7 US. Have her look at the ride dva’s, union trilogies, burton escapades if she wants a more responsive binding. If she wants a more forgiving binding, burton lexa’s, union milans. She could also consider the k2 auto agogo’s for ease
fatscot
November 24, 2009 at 2:09 amShay,
I had a long deep and meaningful discussion with her about the quality of a board vs the graphic. After all this effort, she WILL take the K2 Eco!
However, I suspect that she is lining me up to purchase the bindings that best match her White and glittery Nortwave Opals, which fingers crossed is one of the bindings you selected.
On her behalf, and mine too, thanks a lot for help.
Stephen
Shay
November 24, 2009 at 8:07 amFatscot,
HAHA Well I’m glad to hear you had a discussion with her on the graphics. It’s a tough standpoint with women riders to get them to look past the graphics and feel the ride.
Good luck with the bindings, maybe since you selected the board let her select the bindings to match and be thankful the bindings won’t be too much to worry about.
Good luck!
Julia
April 28, 2010 at 10:50 amSo,
I love the graphics of this board and I saw your review. Yes, I am a girl who can’t look past the graphics, however, in my defense I am a graphic designer.
I am kind of a beginner. I have been riding for about 2 years, but was hurt at the end of the first year which delayed a lot of riding this past year.
I have trouble linking turns and was wondering if this would be a good board for me.
Thanks,
Julia
Shay
April 28, 2010 at 7:39 pmJulia,
most definitely everytime I see this board in person it definitely stands out for graphics without being your typical girly graphic. I definitely think this would be a good board to consider for you, really easy ride and if you are used to camber, the lifted contact points will help with less catching. Easy more forgiving ride of a board.
Freya
November 29, 2010 at 6:06 pmHey,
I am a complete beginner snowboarder and am spending the winter season working at a ski resort. I have seen this board at a really good price and am wondering if you think it would be suitable for me?
Shay
November 29, 2010 at 7:34 pmFreya, the compact would be the perfect choice for learning to snowboard on. I definitely recommend it.
Freya
November 29, 2010 at 10:14 pmCool, thanks Shay! 🙂
Torch
December 2, 2010 at 9:39 amHi Shay,
I’m thinking about getting a 2011 Ride Promise. It has the lowrize/lowpro rocker like the Ride Compact does, so I was wondering what you thought of the Promise for mostly groomers/hardpack and icy conditions? (Where I live, thats the main conditions we have).
I’m an intermediate rider who’s moving to more advanced stuff, and I’ve been riding for about 6 years. I started out on a beginner board, and I’m finally getting around to buying a new one! I’m carving, but trying to improve my technique. I haven’t done that much park stuff, just the occasional jump here and there, but I’m trying to get better at ollies and jibs and stuff. Would the Ride Promise be a good board for me?
Thanks
Torch
December 2, 2010 at 9:52 amSorry just to add one more question lol: Would a size 151 be too small? On their website, they recommend 151 for people who weigh up to 140lb, but I’m slightly over that (I’m trying to drop back down to under 140lb soon though)… The stores around here don’t carry 154.
Shay
December 3, 2010 at 8:12 pmHey Torch, I haven’t ridden the promise yet but it looks like it would handle what you are looking for. Just hard to say since I haven’t experienced it yet. Maybe see if one of your local shops has it on demo to try or a demo day. You’ll be fine on the 151 for your riding conditions, it’s on the smaller size but you’ll still be fine.