Construction and Materials

Burton have been marketing their ‘Super Fly II’ cores for longer than many of today’s riders have been alive. The 700G version featured on the Gril Master is a mid-range piece of tech made from a blend of lighter and harder woods. Dualzone EGD (Engineered Grain Direction) sees them mix up the orientation of the wood closer to each edge for better energy transfer.

The board is laid up using a more sustainable epoxy and triax fibreglass for a slightly stiffer and more responsive ride. Things are beefed up further with the addition of a full carbon layer that reinforces the flex and dampens the ride. Don’t get the wrong idea, here – this isn’t a super aggressive snowboard that’ll kick your ass if you take your eye off the ball (remember, it’s supposed to be relaxed enough to ride with the kids); it’s more of a smooth resort cruiser with underlying performance on tap.

The nose and tail are tapered into a thin profile which Burton call Pro Tips, to keep the overall weight down and help with spins, and having finished the build, the board is broken in on a machine to ensure it offers a consistent flex throughout its lifetime.

A rapid sintered base puts the icing on a very tasty cake indeed. And the cherry? Burton’s market-leading three-year warranty.

“With a huge range of sizes from 140 to 165, any intermediate-and-up rider looking for a versatile and lively model will appreciate its charms”

Roundup

It’s such a shame that Marko Grilc didn’t live to see this board become a reality. I wonder if he’d be surprised to see that his dream ‘dad board’ is actually so much more than that. It’s a true all mountain weapon that can be enjoyed by the whole family when sized correctly. The shape and artwork are just gorgeous, and as a daily driver for resort shredding the laid-back vibe is ideal. But it’s when the powder gods oblige and you can dip under the ropes that this thing truly comes alive.

Thanks Grilo.

Pros:

• Tapered shape goes great on groomers and even better in pow
• Top quality materials including carbon elements and a sintered base

Cons:

• Not ideal for switch riding or park laps

“My first thought riding the Gril Master was that it felt a little stiff, I usually prefer to ride soft snowboards but this really came into its own when blasting around on groomers. It felt really locked in through turns and you’re really able to drive with the back legs through big slashes. Perhaps a little slow edge to edge? But I have super small feet so we can maybe chalk that up to riding the board a little bigger than I’m used to. It took me a little while to get used to, but after a few laps I got into it and enjoyed the more aggressive ride.”