Location: Keystone & Vail, CO
Snow Conditions: Softpacked to hardpacked conditions, softer snow conditions with fresh snow in spots.
Setup: I rode the Thrive Renegade with Burton Escapade bindings and Ride Cadence Focus boots.
Size: 154
First Impression: Thrive delivers a quiver killer. One board you can ride anywhere that won’t cost an arm and a leg.
Weight: Average.
Flex: The Renegade is a good middle of the road board for flex, it’s not too stiff and not too soft. Most of the flex forgiveness comes from between the bindings which makes it very maneuverable and responsive. The stiffer spots are from the bindings outwards to the nose/tail for stability. The Thrive Renegade features a hybrid rocker. Rocker between the feet, camber zones under foot that extend out towards the tip and tail, finishing with small rocker zones.
Turning: This is where the Renegade excelled. It was quite easy to engage on edge and very reliable in the turning. If you wanted a short radius turn, it was quick and lively to follow through with the arc of the turn. If you wanted a longer, drawn out turn…it delivered without releasing you out of the turn early. Very consistent and good edgehold on the icy night riding nights.
Stable: The Renegade was ridden on a range of days and conditions, including some powder days on the mountain. Despite being a smaller 154cm board, it definitely held up through the faster riding, chops and pow turns. Decent float in the powder and didn’t ride like a 154cm, rode longer than expected and that helped on stability.
Pop: I played with the board on the smaller jumps and features in Freda’s park and riding around the mountain. It’s definitely got some good pop for park riding.
Switch: The Renegade is a true twin and rides like a true twin. No difference when riding regular or switch on the board.
Overall Impression: The Renegade is Thrive’s all-mountain freestyle board, designed to handle everything from park to powder. It’s hybrid rocker with a mid-flex that makes it capable of whatever you want to throw its way.
Shay’s Honesty Box: This was my first time riding a Thrive board and it definitely held up to being an all-mountain freestyle board that could be a quiver killer. It was a favorite in terms of handling and just a board you can enjoy without being too aggressive or too easy.
Review Disclosure: Thrive Snowboards dropped off this board for me to test and review.
