Danny Davis is a rare beast. Many still identify him as the laid-back style master who brings a breath of fresh air to any event he does – but at the same time, he’s no rank outsider. Among his many, many victories include golds at the last two X Games halfpipes – and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a third in Aspen next year.
All the while he still finds the time to film in the backcountry, as well as organise killer events like the Frendly Gathering and the Peace Park (the latest trailer for which is available above).
The clever bods at Burton have also involved Danny in the design process, and much of the gear he uses is tricked out with his own unique ideas. In the Dude’s own words, here’s a look at his top choices…
BOARD
Burton Easy Livin 155 Snowboard
£450
“It’s not a stiff board but it’s pretty aggressive. It’s a great halfpipe board and it’s really good for bigger jumps and high speeds – it definitely works for me. This year the graphics are inspired by Family Dog, who promoted events in the era of The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. I really like their logo, the guy smoking the big ciggie. He kind of looks like Uncle Sam, so for colours we went with red, white and blue!”
It should come as no surprise that the board designed by Danny is capable of tearing up the pipe like moist crepe paper.
The true twin shape and flex is ripe for dialing in those switch methods, and the Frostbite edges will grip the pipe wall without feeling too twitchy or catchy. Thanks to the Flying V profile, this can handle powder – and especially backcountry freestyle – really well too.
It comes in three sizes, each with a slightly different shape; the 153 is the bluntest, while the 158 is the pointiest and the 155 splits the difference.
Getting all three would give you the perfect quiver to take on any size of feature, but whichever you go for has the potential to up your freestyle game in the park and in the powder.
BINDINGS
Burton Malavita EST Snowboard Binding
£235
“I’ve been on these for a long time – we all really like this binding. It’s comfy and the rubber hammock strap works really well for heel lift. To me, the EST system makes more sense – not having anything between me and the board except cushioning is really nice. I love the feel you get once you’ve ridden them for a little while”.
Since first appearing in the 2010/11 season, the Burton Malavita has been a firm favourite with park riders everywhere. Lightweight and supportive, they boast ergonomically-shaped highbacks and gel cushioning to ensure you’re at maximum comfort all day – even if it’s heavy kicker landings from first lift to last.
New for this year is the asymmetrical ankle strap, allowing you to tweak the level of support to suit your riding – it’s as simple as swapping the left and right straps over. When you’re unstrapped, they fall away from the baseplate making it much easier to get your foot in and resume the shred.
As well as Danny, the Malavita has found favour with slopestyle superhero Mark McMorris and rail slayer Zak Hale. After five years, it’s still the team’s top pick.
BOOTS
Burton x Red Wing Ion Leather Snowboard Boot
£320
“The Ion is a stiffer boot, but the leather version breaks in a little bit softer – I really like that. I’m gonna try and run these for as long as I can! In our last gear meeting with Burton I was like, ‘another leather Ion!’ and it looks like they’ll be making another one next year. And because it’s Red Wing American-made leather, they last a long time!”
Aesthetically, you can’t go wrong with leather, and this Red Wing colab is one of the best-looking boots around. There’s much more too it than that, though; the Ion has always been a winner for those who like to ride aggressively, and its relative stiffness won’t let you down when you’re charging.
The sole offers lots of board feel due to its thinner profile, and cushioning gel prevents foot fatigue while the layer of reflective foil keeps out the cold.
Then there’s the Speed Zone laces that tighten the upper and lower sections of the boot independently, so you’ll get that perfect fit with no wasted time.
A great, fresh take on one of Burton’s classic boots.
JACKET
Burton Folsom Jacket
£195
“When doing contests, I’m not so concerned about layering so I ride the Folsom Jacket. There’s some insulation, so it’s nice to be able to wear it at events with just a T-shirt. I’m not a big person but I run size Large – I like the room it offers. Plus it’s colourful, which is good for when you’re shooting in the backcountry! Sometimes Blotto’s like, ‘we’d have some really sweet photos – if you weren’t wearing all black!’”
Not too tight or baggy, the Folsom ticks all the boxes for an all-rounder. The 10,000m waterproofing and 10,000g breathability ratings are perfect for your regular resort days, and the fully taped seams mean that it’ll handle extreme weather better than most of its kind.
There isn’t much in the way of insulation, but there’s always the option to layer up, and like Danny you can keep things minimal when it’s not too cold.
As for features, it’s packing an adjustable hood, media pocket, powder skirt and jacket-to-pant interface. What else could you need?
PANTS
Burton Buckshot Bib Pants
£195
“I wore bib pants when I rode for Analog, so when we went over to Burton I asked if we could do more bibs as at that point there were only the [ak] ones. They’re really cosy, and not having to use a belt is pretty all-time. I usually use the front pocket for my tunes, or snacks for the mountain!”
Bib pants are one of those things that made a big comeback once everyone used to wearing suspenders and realised that they’re actually a great choice for keeping warm and dry.
The 10K/10K specs of the Buckshot are more than enough for all but the most extreme weather, and by their very nature they’ll prevent snow and moisture getting where it doesn’t belong. The fully taped seams will help in that respect too.
Should things warm up, strategically-placed meshed vents will allow you to feel the breeze as you ride.
With a roomy chest pocket on top of cargo and back pockets, there’s plenty of stash space – and like the Folsom jacket, it comes with a lifetime warranty.