Board: Venture Zelix
Size: 161
Camber Option: Straight-line Rocker. Flat through the middle and underfoot, rocker in the tips.
Bindings: K2 Indy
Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 T1 DB Size 10
My Weight: 170lbs
Resort: Breckenridge
Conditions: Gray skies, high winds, puking snow, freezing cold temps that made the snow like sugar, and firm fast groomers.
Flex: A slightly stiffer all mountain freestyle flex. The tips were softer and then it progressively stiffens up as it goes under foot and ever so slightly softer in the center. The torsional flex had a slightly below moderate give to it.
Stability: There’s moderate stability at speeds in varying conditions. I wouldn’t expect a board of this shape and flex to be 100% stable when plowing through a powder field that has hidden frozen moguls underneath. What you can expect is a ride that won’t buck you as long as you keep your knees bent as well as something that doesn’t let the chatter resonate up underfoot and vibrate your foot to death.
Ollies/Pop: There was so much pop out of this board. Boosting off side hits, powder bumps, and little tree poppers I felt like I was sending it off a man made jump. Never once did I feel that I couldn’t pop over anything in my path.
Butterability: You have to find the sweet spot to get a perfect pow butter, but when you do, it’s game on. Buttering is fun, but not effortless with this board, which means you have to stay on point.
Carving: Ripping hard Euro-carves on groomers was fun, this board really let you leave a trench. Short quick set up turns took little to no effort. Over all you can rip on this board or be a bit more laid back and it will still turn.
Rider in Mind: The resort rider that’s searching out pow, jumping off features, and looking to carve when there’s no fresh snow.
Personal Thoughts: If I was riding nothing but a resort that didn’t have a park this could be a daily driver for me. This board has versatility in a natural environment which makes it super enjoyable. Now if I had to ride it in the park, which I did, I would look elsewhere but that’s not who or what this board is designed for.
Comparable Boards: Salomon Sick Stick, Flow Solitude, Ride Alter Ego
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This board was loaned to us for review from Venture Snowboards marketing department.
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