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Lib Tech Box Scratcher 2018-2019 Snowboard Review

It’s an almost universal rule of thumb that the older a rider gets (especially a pro), the more likely he/she is to trade their eye-catching apparel for earth colours, and their twin park board for a powder stick.

One massive exception to this rule is longstanding Lib Tech man Jesse Burtner. He may have taken on a behind-the-scenes role at parent company Mervin Manufacturing, but he still rips hard and often enough to merit his own pro model – and it’s about as far removed from a spine-chasing splitboard as you can get.

“You’ll get more purchase than a ‘true’ rocker board when you want to engage the metal”

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The Lib Tech Box Scratcher is a true twin, park-focused board that’s built for spontaneity. Foregoing the precision of camber for a rocker profile, and slapping it on a fairly soft-flexing true twin design, the Lib crew have ensured that imaginative riders have all the tools at their disposal for the kind of mind-blowing butters that we all love.

You’re not without edge hold when you need it, though. There are mellow camber sections under each foot meaning that you’ll get more purchase than a ‘true’ rocker board when you want to engage the metal. You won’t catch any carving purists riding this, but when you need some grip then the profile, combined with Lib Tech’s famous ‘Magne-traction’ serrated edges, will deliver.

So it’s fun for loosey-goosey piste sessions, but its strengths lie elsewhere. When you want to hit some park rails or urban features (Jesse’s specialty during Think Thank’s purple patch) it’s easier to press and less likely to catch.

“The Lib Tech Box Scratcher is a true twin, park-focused board that’s built for spontaneity”

Then on powder days, you can leave the Mach 10 descents to the guys with the guns, and instead head for the pillows and fun lines in the sidecountry. Thanks to the profile it’s equally floaty when ridden in either direction, leaving you to spin off everything and anything that you come across. The Box Scratcher isn’t a charger, but on its sintered base you can go as fast as you dare.

The size range tops out at a mere 157, so those who want or need a bigger platform will have to look elsewhere. For everyone else, though, fun-mobiles don’t get much better than the Lib Tech Box Scratcher.

Tester’s Verdict

Dan Wilsonsnowfit.co.uk

“The Box Scratcher is back, and if you want to turn everything you do into a jib mission then this is the board for you. Designed to butter and be playful, the Box Scratcher knows what it is and that is loose, free and ready to jib everything in its path.

Using the Mervin’s Original Banana profile, this is very much a progression-friendly board. It’s an easy ride, really floaty and you can butter around for fun. I wasn’t sure how it would hold up on carves but with a mild camber under the feet you had the stability when needed, even when the rest of the board was bouncing around.

“I had the most fun with this when throwing out some flat land tricks”

I didn’t find it to be too poppy but it had enough to play over knuckles and smaller lips. I had the most fun with this when throwing out some flat land tricks – and of course, as the name suggests, hitting up those boxes through the park.

If you’re looking to unleash your inner jib rat, you’ll have no worries with this under your feet.”

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Trade Secrets

Jesse Burtner – Marketing Manager, Lib Tech

“The Box Scratcher is the creative rider’s go-to fun stick. Guaranteed to improve your day by 20% (200% of the time) by tapping in to your right brain wave lengths and turning any mountain, hill, slope or patch into a magical shrediverse of infinite possibilities.

This board has kept me filming video parts for a thousand years and now it’s also Brandon Reis’ daily launcher in the hunt for Moby Trick. Pika [Jesse’s wife] did the art with an amazing sun to tree to heart top sheet and a mischievous Kokopoly base that demands you ride it weird!

The 154 “Brandon Box Scratcher features an addition of Brandon Reis’ bizarre Mona Reisa drawings on the tail for extra spice!”

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