UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Lib Tech Skate Banana here
- Price: £400
- Sizes:145N, 148N, 149, 151N, 152, 153W, 154, 156, 156W, 159, 159W 162, 162W
- Flex: 5-6 (depending on length)
- Profile: Combo
- Shape: True Twin
- LIB-TECH.COM
It’s now been ten years since the Lib Tech Skate Banana first appeared on the market, and it remains one of the world’s best-known sticks. Its pioneering blend of rocker and camber sections captured the attention of the industry as a whole, and its influence is still widely felt.
The profile of the Lib Tech Skate Banana is something known as ‘BTX’, which they reckon is ideal for those new to snowboarding. Like most Libs it has rocker in the middle and camber under each foot, but while the Travis Rice Gold Member uses aggressive bends, the camber sections of the Skate Banana are mellow. You get a bit of bite when you need it, but there’s a much lower risk of catching an edge should you make a mistake.
“A true twin, the Skate Banana is built for freestyle… this can help you figure out the basics on boxes and rails with little chance of snagging on a feature”
A true twin, the Skate Banana is built for freestyle. As soon as you’re ready for it, this can help you figure out the basics on boxes and rails with little chance of snagging on a feature. When you’re a bit more confident, it’s easy to press the nose or tail thanks to the rocker section.
For the same reason, buttering the piste is a must. It’s not really made for carving, as the profile won’t hold as strong an edge as the average true camber board, but the extra grip that comes from the wavy ‘Magne-traction’ edges means that it’s not too deficient in that department.
More experienced riders will get on with this too, especially when the powder comes. If you’re capable enough to ride a true twin in the deep stuff without going over the handlebars, the Lib Tech Skate Banana will help you to unlock more airs and butters than ever before. The profile also makes it easier to keep afloat than most freestyle sticks.
The one seen here is the limited edition 10th anniversary Skate Banana that harks back to the original design, but there are various alternative colourways. For those who prefer to be less conspicuous on the mountain, the natty black-and-white “Stealth” version should do the trick.
