Gear Review: 2020 Lib Tech Travis Rice Orca Snowboard
Value Rating: 9
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 9
Location of Test: Mt. Hood Meadows
Duration of Test: 4 hours
Product Name: Travis Rice Orca 153cm
Product Brand: Lib Tech
Best Use: All Mountain Snowboarding
Sizes Available (cm): 144, 147, 150, 153, 156, 159
The Full Review:
There was a lot of hype around this board coming into the season even though it was not the first season of this board (maybe it was helped by the much cooler graphic). As someone who is always skeptical of the latest and greatest in snowboarding, I wanted to take one out for myself in good conditions to see what the hype was about.
The first thing to know about this snowboard if you are not familiar is that it is what people are referring to as a volume shifted board. This means that it is a shorter but wider board, which allows you to keep the surface area for flotation in deeper snow while making the board much quicker turning.
The conditions for the day were 10 inches of new slightly wind affected snow. I am 5' 10" 160 lbs and am riding the 153cm size.
The adjustment period for this board was very short. It turns with ease on the groomed runs and as soon as I got out onto the fresh snow I could see what the hype was about. The longer wide nose keeps the tip up with ease while you still feel like you are keeping your speeds and not just sinking your tail in like some powder specific boards can feel. Riding through tight trees is where I found the board the most fun. It turns so easily thanks to the shorter turn radius and the C2 camber/rocker profile. As the day went on and the snow got tracked out and a little firm, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the board held an edge even at high speed. I had ridden magna-traction boards before but never this short.
I really love this board and would recommend getting out on one yourself!
The Good:
Super nimble, all-mountain cruiser. Makes riding powder more fun.
The Bad:
Not the best for landing switch in the deep stuff.
The Bottom Line:
You're gonna have a good time!
The Full Review:
There was a lot of hype around this board coming into the season even though it was not the first season of this board (maybe it was helped by the much cooler graphic). As someone who is always skeptical of the latest and greatest in snowboarding, I wanted to take one out for myself in good conditions to see what the hype was about.
The first thing to know about this snowboard if you are not familiar is that it is what people are referring to as a volume shifted board. This means that it is a shorter but wider board, which allows you to keep the surface area for flotation in deeper snow while making the board much quicker turning.
The conditions for the day were 10 inches of new slightly wind affected snow. I am 5' 10" 160 lbs and am riding the 153cm size.
The adjustment period for this board was very short. It turns with ease on the groomed runs and as soon as I got out onto the fresh snow I could see what the hype was about. The longer wide nose keeps the tip up with ease while you still feel like you are keeping your speeds and not just sinking your tail in like some powder specific boards can feel. Riding through tight trees is where I found the board the most fun. It turns so easily thanks to the shorter turn radius and the C2 camber/rocker profile. As the day went on and the snow got tracked out and a little firm, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the board held an edge even at high speed. I had ridden magna-traction boards before but never this short.
I really love this board and would recommend getting out on one yourself!
The Good:
Super nimble, all-mountain cruiser. Makes riding powder more fun.
The Bad:
Not the best for landing switch in the deep stuff.
The Bottom Line:
You're gonna have a good time!