Snowboard Review: 10-11 Smokin MIP

Location: Mammoth, CA

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to icy groomers.

Setup: I rode the Smokin MIP with Union Team bindings and Vans Veil Boots size 8.

Size: 155cm.

First Impression: Wow this board isn’t just for park riding

Weight: Average

Flex: I was expecting a freestyle board in terms of the flex but the MIP was on the stiffer side for freestyle delivering a board that can handle the mountain.  Torsionally in the mid range for flex, not super soft but not stiff.  It was average edge to edge but once on edge, you had no problem with stability.  Longitudinally, softer nose and stiffer tail making tail presses not as easy but easy to get the nose press up, stiffer under the feet so you felt really comfortable on landings and freeriding.  The smoking MIP features anti-rocker so it’s completely flat throughout the entire effective edge and is catch free.

Turning: The longer effective edge really did it for the MIP, just made it a smooth board to turn and carve with down the mountain instead of only doing quick turns.  The long turns felt really comfortable and locked into from the transition to the end of the turn.  It wasn’t as quick edge to edge but it offered up good stability in each carve.

Stable: This is where the MIP impressed the most, it handled.  The magne traction helped grip the snow but wasn’t overly noticeable on the MIP.  It charged and wasn’t shaky or bumpy at higher speeds, through some chop and bumpy areas.  It definitely held speed better than I expected but that’s also with it’s not a soft board.

Pop: The MIP was fun to play with on jumps and comfortable from the beginning with how it handled landings.  I rode a good amount of small park features with it, from boxes to small kickers just having fun.  The board delivered fun up, no catches and good pop off the jumps and in the pipe.  The blunted shape made butters fun but definitely more effort with the flex.

Switch: The smokin MIP rode like a true twin when I took it out.  It was an easy switch into switch riding and felt comfortable either way.

Overall Impression: The Smokin MIP is that versatile snowboard, you can spend the whole day in the park on the jumps or boxes or pipe but also just go cruise with it and charge with your friends.

Shay’s Honesty Box: I hate the graphics but luckily how a board rides underneath the graphics determines the outcome.  The MIP outdoes the graphics, it really handled the mountain and played well in the park.

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On Snow Photo

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Smokin MIP description (click on it to pull it up)

Review Disclosure: I borrowed this snowboard from Smokin and shipped it back to them.