UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2017/2018 LibTech Travis Rise Pro here
- Price: £600
- Sizes: 155, 158, 163
- Flex: 6
- Profile: Combo
- Shape: Directional Twin
- LIB-TECH.COM
‘Weapon’ is the word that came to mind when we first saw the Lib Tech Travis Rice Gold Member snowboard. The Wyoming wizard’s fingerprints are on a few sticks in the Lib range, including the new carbon-packed Climax, but this glittery beast stood out for us.
Naturally it’s got a sintered base that makes it ideal for razzing around at high speed, and Lib Tech’s patented Magne-traction edges grip the hard-pack with their multiple contact points. Despite the shape, however, this isn’t just for pointing it. In what will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Travis’ output, sending it skywards is highly recommended.
“As pro models go, the Lib Tech Travis Rice Gold Member is more accessible to the common man than most”
it’s less stiff than you might think, so you don’t need to be an absolute powerhouse to launch it, and switch riding is deceptively easy. The profile is a pronounced version of Lib Tech’s favoured combination; the rocker at the waist is a little shorter, and the camber sections under the feet are longer with a more pronounced bend. That offers much more power and control for those who aren’t afraid of it, but it’ll float much easier than a traditional camber board. Combined with the flex, the profile also makes powder butters an option when the opportunity arises.
The ‘Firepower’ construction is the main reason why the price tag on this is relatively high; no expense has been spared to reduce weight, particularly at each end. It doesn’t matter if you’re double-corking a 100-foot gap in the backcountry or chucking a quick 3 off a side-hit – spinning has never felt this easy.
As pro models go, the Lib Tech Travis Rice Gold Member is more accessible to the common man than most. While it’ll obviously go down well with advanced riders (some of whom may want to consider the splitboard version, new for 2016/17), it’s also an option for intermediates who want peerless kit that’ll give them the best possible chance of improving.
