Snowboard Review: 10-11 Lib Tech Attack Banana EC2

Location: Mammoth, CA

Snow Conditions: Mixture of hardpacked to icy to softpacked powder.

Setup: I rode the Lib Tech Attack Banana with my Union bastardized bindings and Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Size: 159cm.

First Impression: The attack banana matches its name.  This board rips up the snow whether it’s attacking the groomers or powder.

Weight: average

Flex: For an all mountain freestyle board the flex is right on, it is on the stiffer side but that allows it to really charge the mountain in powder.  Lib Tech rates it as a 6 on the scale Longitudinally it’s stiffer from nose to tail, especially the tail where I found that butters and presses took more work than expected.  Torsionally it was softer, easier to get quick response from edge to edge.  The flex overall was ideal for the mountain, I didn’t want it to be softer but I probably would have sized down.  The Attack Banana features Ec2 technology which is a mix between BTX and C2 technology, featuring rocker (a.k.a. banana) between the feet; from the feet out the snowboard is shaped with an elliptical camber shape.

Turning: This is where I immediately liked the board.  It was easy to turn and had quick response from edge to edge, which riding a 159 with a 25.5 waist might not always be possible but it never felt like I was riding a 159, rode shorter with the less effective edge.  The stiffness of the board from nose to tail, helped deliver stability in turns and on edge, it held a turn whether short or long down the mountain.  I just loved cruising with it.  The MTX held an edge but wasn’t overly grippy, in fact I barely noticed it until it came to some icy spots when I had no problem staying on edge.

Stable: On the groomers, the board could haul.  The first day I took it out, it was such a fun day to just go fast on the groomers and I felt comfortable from the first second I stepped on the board.  No adjustment, nothing weird to get used to…it rode like a board should. I was able to get in some leftover powder with the attack banana but I would have liked more on it, the board floated and I had a blast ripping through the trees in the powder.  It felt stable without any problems floating.  Through some cruddy chop, it handled but a little bounce around but still a blast to rip through with.

Pop: Normally when I ride a 159, I wouldn’t take it through the park.  But the attack banana felt so comfortable that I started to jump the little jumps with it, just feeling comfortable on it.  On one run, you could ollie off the cat track and I felt super comfortable on take off and landing with the pop.  The stiffness longitudinally of the board made it a bit tougher to butter with or press with.  Snow sprays and slashes were a blast, the board never folded and I could spray the shit out of the snow.  Since I borrowed the board from the tech rep who had yet to ride it, I made sure to ollie over any rocks and got some good ollie time in.  Easy board to pop and ollie despite the size.

Switch: The attack banana is a true twin and rides like a true twin.  I didn’t notice any differences when I rode it regular to switch, easy to flip around and comfortable to ride.

Overall Impression: This summer I ran into Pete Saari at Mt Hood who was trying out a new board that was between the BTX and C2 technology, I’m guessing it was the EC2 he was on and probably this board.  The Lib Tech attack banana delivers  a board that truly attacks the mountain.  I found it to be the perfect blend between the two technologies, a board that still charged and handled the mountain but could also ride park or freeride.  It wasn’t as loose feeling as BTX but it wasn’t as aggressive as C2.  A good middle of the road for technology but still offering the rider something of everything.

Shay’s Honesty Box: It reminded me of the quickness and response of the Billy Goat but with the flex of the Banana Magic mixed with the all around riding of the TRS.  I got on this board and immediately fell in love.  It is hands down my favorite Mervin board I’ve ridden to date.  I probably wouldn’t ride the 159 all the time because I’ve switched to shorter lengths for all around riding but it was a blast to ride.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the Lib Tech Attack Banana or shop their full line of Lib Tech snowboards

On Snow Photo

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Lib Tech Attack Banana description

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Review Disclosure: I borrowed this board from the Lib Tech So-Cal Sub-rep and returned it to them.  Thank you Mike and Bob!!