Construction and Materials
Bataleon have kept things simple with the construction of the Moodboard. It features a ‘Pop’ core made from – you guessed it – poplar wood from tip to tail. Poplar is the industry standard for a reason, namely: it’s a great balance between lightweight and strong, with excellent rebound properties to boot. OK, there are blended wood cores out there that are even lighter, but given this model is designed for smashing jumps and rails it makes sense to keep it simple – and in any case, at lengths from 140 to 152 it’s never going to feel heavy.
Tough ABS sidewalls continue the durability theme, while the biax weave fibreglass ensures the flex is mellow and press-friendly, even for the smallest riders.
The inclusion of a sintered ‘Hyper Glide S’ base is a nice bonus at this price point. As long as you keep it waxed, it will run faster than extruded equivalents and help you clear those knuckles.
“Overall, we’re talking about a freestyle friendly shape that’s made for progression”
Roundup
Bataleon’s boards are always amongst the most eye-catching in the industry, and the Moodboard is no exception. But it’s got so much more going for it than looks. Beneath that stunner of a graphic is a park-focused deck that, thanks to the 3D shaping and lively flex, really encourages you to try new tricks and helps you out when you don’t quite nail them first time. It’s a model that takes the tried and trusted twin outline and elevates it to something more exciting without emptying your wallet, and which more than anything feels straight up FUN.
Pros:
- Catch-free 3D shape boosts your confidence on rails and jumps
- Fun artwork, even funner to ride
Cons:
- Twin shape is suboptimal for deeper days
- Soft flex is a bit limiting at high speeds
Tester’s Verdict
Joy Dutch – Wordsmith, Whitelines
“Ooooh, I’m a big fan of the MoodBoard. First things first, it looks awesome. That’s just facts. I’m also a big 3BT fan in general so I was expecting to like this one and I did. It’s playful, poppy and bags of fun, if you’re looking to progress your riding in the park then it’s a great option for just how forgiving it is. I rode it in early spring soft snow and despite it not being very stiff, it’s still able to blast through chud and crud. A few beers the night before had given the whispers of a hangover, so it was definitely a confidence booster knowing that I had bags of leeway in terms of accidental edge catches. Nice and soft in the nose and tail for pressing and buttering as well. All in all, it’s a big thumbs up from me.”
Buy the Bataleon Moodboard: £410 at Blue Tomato UK
Buy the Bataleon Moodboard: €459 at Blue Tomato EU
