Share

Snowboards

Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick 2016-2017

  • Price: £300
  • Sizes: 150, 154, 158
  • Flex: 4
  • Profile: Hybrid Camber
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • DINOSAURSWILLDIE.COM

The brainchild of snowboarders Sean Genovese and Jeff Keenan, Dinosaurs Will Die first appeared in the 2005/06 season. They have since expanded the range from the solitary ‘OG’ board of that first year no fewer than 11 models today – many of them (such as the Geeves) designed by members of the pro team. The company is still rider-owned, and their output remains the furthest thing from focus-grouped blandness. Case in point: the Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick.

This one first appeared in the 2014/15 season. Yes, it’s got a directional shape, but don’t expect to see many of these in an Alaskan heli. For starters, it got a relatively soft flex that isn’t ideal for blasting through the chop at Mach 10. You can certainly ride it in the powder – especially with the option to have a mega-setback stance – but you’ll be better off using it to turn resorts into playgrounds.

“It’ll have you hunting down trick spots all over the hill with the enthusiasm of a Pokemon Go fanatic”

The Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick is designed for freestyle (and can easily be ridden switch, if you were wondering). Other than at the extremities, it has the outline of a true twin that’ll have you hunting down trick spots all over the hill with the enthusiasm of a Pokemon Go fanatic. If the druid wielding a staff made of beer cans on the topsheet wasn’t enough of a giveaway, allow us to spell it out: this one is all about fun.

The construction is simplicity itself; two birch sections running end-to-end reinforce an otherwise poplar core, with no need for any space-age tech. The profile features camber underfoot with two rocker sections at each end – carve away to your heart’s content one minute, then hold a long press on a downrail the next. Indeed, when it comes to the park features there’s no need to hold back; the extruded base that can take a clattering from dawn to dusk.

Thanks to the new 150cm version, more folk than ever can get on the Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard’s Stick this winter – and when summer arrives you can stash this and break out the new Wizard Skate II, its four-wheeled brother.

Tester’s Verdict

Mike Brindley – Whitelines

If you’re looking for something that rides like a freestyle twin but comes in pretty unique directional-looking packaging, the Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick certainly ticks both boxes.

“It has no trouble holding a mean line, but there’s little doubt about what this really wants to do

It may be flexible but it’s certainly not the softest trick whip I took out this winter. There’s also plenty of power in the camber between the feet so it has no trouble holding a mean line, but there’s little doubt about what this really wants to do.

If you’re into popping rather than buttering your way around features and runs, this could well be your bag – and I’m guessing with that shape and set-back insert option, it’ll double up as a decent weapon for when the deep stuff comes too.

Trade Secrets

Sean Genovese – Co-founder, Dinosaurs Will Die

The Wizard Stick had been an idea that we’d had for a little while before it became a reality. We’d talked with a few team riders about shapes we wanted to make, and possibly inspired by this Lucas Ouellette took it upon himself to chop up one of his old Dino decks, giving it a pointed nose and flat tail.

While he was riding the newly-shaped board at a resort in eastern Canada, the ski patrol banned him from using his board. They said it was too dangerous, that if kids saw it they would start doing the same thing, and that someone was eventually going to get hurt. After hearing that story, we knew that we had to push it and make this board a reality.

Nothin’ like a little bit of ‘you’re not allowed to do that’ to get ya motivated.

Powered by

Share

Selected for The 2016/17 Snowboard 100

View the full 100
Powered by
Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production