I'm pretty damn hard on my snowboard boots, I typically can get about 40 days out of your average pair before they're packed out, broken down and ready to be replaced.

I spent my last 40 days of the 2009 season (Feb/June) in a pair of RFLs and extremely happy with how they performed and held up.

I normally wear a 10-10.5 in my shoes/boots and found that the size 10 in these boots suited me. They were a bit snug to start off, but after 5 days the toe box had expanded enough that the pressure went away.

These boots are very stiff to start out and unlike other boots all the support and flex is actually in the dream liner, not the shell of the boot. After about 10-15 days of riding they soften up to a medium/stiff flex (7 out of 10). To put that in perspective, I would say that after 15 days they were the flex that the FUL boot starts out as.

The inner harness is one of my favorite features as it clips into the tongue of the liner and stays tight and in the same place all day. So you don't get any of those "hot spots" from it loosening up or shifting to the side. They have also eliminated the strap at the top of the liner, there are two velcro tabs that connect the tongue to the liner. Which is also nice as the tongue stays in place all day and doesn't shift to the side causing you to have to untie your boots and do everything back up.

At the end of the season I was happy that after 40 days everything the boots didn't have any significant wear and tear & they weren't packed out to the point that they were too soft to ride. If you're hard on your boots, these are definitely worth taking a look at for your next pair.

I was lucky enough to finish out my 2009 season on a pair of Nitrane bindings last season. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only set of bindings that I need for the 2010 season.

Compared to the regular Contraband binding the Nitrane has:

* Taller, slightly stiffer highback
* Adjustable Ankle Strap
* New V-Grip Strap
* Wedgie footbeds

The new highback is great, because it's not super stiff like the Alpha or CAD, but it's definitely responsive and drives when you need to but is still playful when you want it to be.

The Ankle strap is great, you'll find it on the CAD binder as well. I rode the Nitrane with the RFL boot and man were those boots stiff to start out. So I adjusted the Ankle strap on the Nitrane to be as soft as possible to balance that out. As the RFL started to break down and soften up, I started to stiffen the ankle strap up to keep the flex right where I liked it.

I didn't notice any huge differences with the V-Grip compared to the regular V-Strap. They both do exactly what you want them to do, hold your boot down and in place in the tray. I never experienced any issues with the strap moving or my boots moving at all.

Wedgie Footbeds, to clarify... the new contraband has these as well... I meant compared to the 08/09 model. I've had some knee problems the past few seasons. Had to have a lateral release, cartilage cleanup and a plica removed from my left knee. I also tore the meniscus in my right knee a couple of seasons back.

The wedgie beds saved my knees last season.. I ended up using the 4.0 bed on my front binding and the 2.5 on my rear. The angles took enough stress off my knees that they didn't ache, didn't tire so quickly and allowed me to ride the entire day without any problems. Everyone can benefit from these wedgie beds, not just those of us with bum knees. Check out the video Ride did and you'll see why that is.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5498178&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933

With how adjustable and reliable this binding is, I will be riding it on all of my decks for 2010.

When I took this deck out last February I wasn't really expecting a whole lot, but it quickly became one of my favorite boards from the 2010 line up. The new Zero Camber, Flatline tech that K2 is putting into their decks feels so nice under foot.

Imagine that board that you've ridden for 3-4 seasons about 50 days each season. How great it felt when you had it broken in, but how bummed you were when it "died" and you realized it was time for a new deck. Now picture a board that starts out like that and stays like that, that is what the Flatline tech gives you right out of the package.

Oddly enough, I actually demoed this board right after trying out the new Burton Method. I was pretty shocked at how similar the shapes, sidewall construction and weight were on the two boards. Then I was really blown away with how much better the Slayblade handled the mountain. The base was fast, the edge hold was solid, the pop and responsive was top notch. The overall flex was about a 6 out of 10 but was playful when I wanted it to be and stiff and aggressive when I was pointing it down steeps. This is definitely a board you should check out for the 2010 season as you will not be dissappointed.

If your boot size is smaller than an 11, make sure you're checking out the regular version as you really don't need the wide. Also, I was lucky enough to have my review published in the Snowboarder Magazine September 2010 Buyer's Guide. Check the link below to check it out and feel free to hit me up with any questions.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=2233319&id=761533322&ref=mf

When I took this deck out last February I wasn't really expecting a whole lot, but it quickly became one of my favorite boards from the 2010 line up. The new Zero Camber, Flatline tech that K2 is putting into their decks feels so nice under foot.

Imagine that board that you've ridden for 3-4 seasons about 50 days each season. How great it felt when you had it broken in, but how bummed you were when it "died" and you realized it was time for a new deck. Now picture a board that starts out like that and stays like that, that is what the Flatline tech gives you right out of the package.

Oddly enough, I actually demoed this board right after trying out the new Burton Method. I was pretty shocked at how similar the shapes, sidewall construction and weight were on the two boards. Then I was really blown away with how much better the Slayblade handled the mountain. The base was fast, the edge hold was solid, the pop and responsive was top notch. The overall flex was about a 6 out of 10 but was playful when I wanted it to be and stiff and aggressive when I was pointing it down steeps. This is definitely a board you should check out for the 2010 season as you will not be dissappointed.

If your boot size is bigger than a 10.5, make sure you're checking out the wide version so you don't get toe drag. Also, I was lucky enough to have my review published in the Snowboarder Magazine September 2010 Buyer's Guide. Check the link below to check it out and feel free to hit me up with any questions.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=2233319&id=761533322&ref=mf

Ride DH, Burton Twin, Capita Stairmaster Extreme and the Rome Agent are in the same class as the Nitro T1. Solid snap, fast and durable base, light weight, durable edges are all features that you can count on with the T1.

If you live in the park hitting rails, boxes, jumps the pipes the T1 is going to handle all of these without any hesitation. But it's also going to be aggressive enough outside of the park to carve up the trails, float in powder and pop in and out of the trees. Make sure that if the boards above are on your short list that you consider the T1 as well.

I've been doing this a lot in my reviews this year, but I know that many people are finding the comparison to other decks helpful so I'm going to continue with it.

Lib Skate Banana, Burton Hero, Ride Crush, Never Summer Evo... Are these boards that you are considering for the 2010 season? The Sub Zero is another board that you should add to your list if you're thinking about the boards above.

Last year Nitro's big Early Release board with the Sub Pop, the Sub Zero is the same exact deck just with a new name and graphic. Nitro uses their Gulwing Rocker tech which is similar to that of Never Summer with a slight difference.

The board rockers in the middle to the binding inserts, but the middle of the board is thinned out pretty aggressively making it probably the softest boards I have ever been on. But I tried as hard as I could and couldn't snap the board between the inserts.

When you get to the binding inserts the board has a normal camber so that you still have an effective edge that you can carve on and doesn't get washy when you're carving. Nitro has also brought back their dished base from the old T0 board circa 1999. Adding a slight dish to the base around the deck, combined with rocker virtually eliminates hangup that put you on your ass when sliding rails and boxes.

If you're more of an all around park rider I would suggest checking out the T1 and if you're a jibber but not into the Rocker fad, make sure to take a glance at the Nitro Swindle.

This is a great board, but there is one thing that you do need to know before you pull the trigger and buy it up or you're not going to like it when you take it out the first day.

Your average snowboard sidecut works like this, Mellow to enter a turn, Aggressive to hold the turn and Mellow to exit the turn. The Wiig is the exact opposite, Aggressive to enter the turn, Mellow to hold the turn and Aggressive to exit the turn.

The first time I took this board out I hated it, no one clued me in on the sidecut change up and it was annoying. But after I got an explanation of it I was able to adjust my riding and realized how fun this sidecut is. It really allows you to be aggressive turning coming off of a jump or spin, so you can instantly switch it up or get your dominate foot back out in front without hangups and edge catching.

If you're aggressive after tricks switching it up to set up for the next rail or kicker, this sidecut is something that you should really consider as I haven't really heard of another deck on the market that is offering up this kind of feature.

Take a look at your current list of potential boards, does it currently contain the Burton Custom X, Burton T6 or Ride Prophet? If so then the Blacklight should also be on that list.This board is super aggressive, but when you get it dialed in it destroys jumps, the backcountry, chutes, cliff drops and pointing it down steeps. It holds an amazing edge that you can count on, the base is fast in various conditions and the overall flex is stiff (8 out of 10) and is snappy and very responsive. If you don't watch what you're doing, you will end up on your ass as this board doesn't have much in the way of forgiveness. But the type of rider that is into the features above is probably drooling on their keyboard right now and isn't worried about that.

If you're a park junkie that occasionally find his/her way to other parts of the mountain the DH is a great board to check out. This board has about a 5 out of 10 overall flex, but stays snappy in the nose and tail with Carbon Array 3 strips that run from the binding inserts out to the contact points of the board.

You'll find the 85a Slimewalls come in handy for few reasons. First of all, they take a beating... so when you're hitting boxes, rails, tree stumps, etc.. you don't have to worry about cracking a sidewall. The slimewalls also flex more naturally with the rest of your board, so you have better feeling under foot. So setting up to spin on your heel or toe edge is much smoother because you have so much more feeling. Last, the naturally absorb vibration, so you'll find that a lot of the chatter you get while riding is absorbed in your sidewalls and you never feel it under foot.

The True color Sintered Fusion base is fast, doesn't have to be waxed as often and can take a beating from the park features you put it through. If you have smaller than an 11 boot size, make sure to check out a regular model as you don't really need the wide model.

Are late night jib sessions your primary focus? Do you hike one particular jib feature at your resort over and over until you get your trick dialed? Then the kink should be on your short list of boards to take care of your jibbing needs.

The Kink has a few features that are going to progress your jibbing sessions:

85A Slimewalls - First of all, they take a beating... so when you're hitting boxes, rails, tree stumps, etc.. you don't have to worry about cracking a sidewall. The slimewalls also flex more naturally with the rest of your board, so you have better feeling under foot. So setting up to spin on your heel or toe edge is much smoother because you have so much more feeling. Last, the naturally absorb vibration, so you'll find that a lot of the chatter you get while riding is absorbed in your sidewalls and you never feel it under foot.

Cleavedge - The metal edges on the board (along with all ride boards in the mobility lineup) are 50% thicker than a normal metal edge. You benefit from this because when you slide down a rail, your edge heats up.. then you pop off and land on cold snow which can occasionally cause your metal edge to crack. Having thicker edges on your board really helps prevent this and you being without a deck.

1500 Extruded base - This base takes a beating and is very easy to repair when you do get a base shot.

This is really one of the best rail boards on the market. If you're looking for the same feeling with Rocker, check out the Ride Crush as that board is just a lighter kink with Rocker. If you're looking for a more all around park deck that can still handle rails just as well make sure to look at the DH & Machete.

Lastly, if you're boot size is smaller than an 11 make sure you check out the refular model of the kink as you don't need the wide.

This board is one of the most aggressive boards I've been on in a long time. It has changed significantly since it's short hiatus from the Ride Lineup a few years back. Plain and simple, if you are an all mountain ride that likes a stiff overall flex (8 out of 10), very fast edge to edge response, tons of snap and pop, fast base then you're going to love the Prophet.

I was amazed at how aggressive this board was when I took it out last February. It likes to be on edge and if you screw up, it's not very forgiving. But when you get dialed into how aggressive the board is it's amazing. Pointing it down steeps knowing that you're not going to have the edges slip out, dropping off cliffs knowing that it's going to survive the landing, taking a beating dropping through chutes.

This model really maxes out at a 10.5 boot size, unfortunately ride doesn't produce a wide model. So if you're sold on this deck and have an 11+ boot size make sure to check out some elevator plates to throw on this deck and you'll be set.

The Fleetwood is a great board for a rider that is in the entry level or intermediate riding level. The board is going to allow you to learn the basics of riding and progress those skills as you really start to get into riding. Hell, if you've been riding for 15 years and you're looking for a stable board that is going to get the job done you'll love this board too.

The sidecut is forgiving enough that you're not going to get those hangups that put you on your ass, but aggressive enough that when you do start linking those turns that you'll enjoy it. Again, for that seasoned rider you'll have a turn radius that you can count on and push.

The board has a nice 4 out of 10 overall flex, so it's soft enough to be forgiving when you're starting out, but not so soft that you can't push it when you start to get dialed in. I guess if you haven't figured it out yet, this board is simply an affordable deck to get you started, keep you going or jump on if you're on a budget.

If you're boot size is smaller than an 11, make sure to check out the Control as it is the Regular version of the Fleetwood.

The control is a great board for a rider that is in the entry level or intermediate riding level. The board is going to allow you to learn the basics of riding and progress those skills as you really start to get into riding. Hell, if you've been riding for 15 years and you're looking for a stable board that is going to get the job done you'll love this board too.

The sidecut is forgiving enough that you're not going to get those hangups that put you on your ass, but aggressive enough that when you do start linking those turns that you'll enjoy it. Again, for that seasoned rider you'll have a turn radius that you can count on and push.

The board has a nice 4 out of 10 overall flex, so it's soft enough to be forgiving when you're starting out, but not so soft that you can't push it when you start to get dialed in. I guess if you haven't figured it out yet, this board is simply an affordable deck to get you started, keep you going or jump on if you're on a budget.

If you're boot size is bigger than a 10.5, make sure to check out the fleetwood as it is the wide version of the control.

The Yukon name has been such a huge part of ride, that they couldn't just call this board a Concept TMS wide. The Yukon comes from a long line of Ride Boards that have always killed the entire mountain. Many of you may remember the Timeless/Yukon series in the late 90's early 2000's, which is what the current Yukon evolved from. But it doesn't have that "So Stiff that it's too stiff to ride" feeling anymore.

The TMS has about a 6 out of 10 overall flex, stays snappy in the nose and tail with Carbon Array 5, damp with Silencers in the nose and tail, feels for natural carving and spinning with the 90A slimewalls, fast edge to edge with the quadratic sidecut.

When it comes down to it, if you need one board that will kill it on powder days, lay down carves, pop of jumps, slay rails, stay fast in all snow conditions and is just tons of fun goofing around with your buddies the TMS is perfect.

If you're boot size is smaller than a 11, make sure you check out the Ride Concept TMS which is the regular width model.

The TMS comes from a long line of Ride Boards that have always killed the entire mountain. Many of you may remember the Timeless series, which is what the TMS evolved from. But it doesn't have that "So Stiff that it's too stiff to ride" feeling anymore.

The TMS has about a 6 out of 10 overall flex, stays snappy in the nose and tail with Carbon Array 5, damp with Silencers in the nose and tail, feels for natural carving and spinning with the 90A slimewalls, fast edge to edge with the quadratic sidecut.

When it comes down to it, if you need one board that will kill it on powder days, lay down carves, pop of jumps, slay rails, stay fast in all snow conditions and is just tons of fun goofing around with your buddies the TMS is perfect.

If you're boot size is bigger than a 10.5, make sure you check out the Ride Yukon which is just a Wide TMS. If you're looking for a board that is lighter, snappier & faster check out the Concept UL.

Are late night jib sessions your primary focus? Do you hike one particular jib feature at your resort over and over until you get your trick dialed? Then the kink should be on your short list of boards to take care of your jibbing needs.

The Kink has a few features that are going to progress your jibbing sessions:

85A Slimewalls - First of all, they take a beating... so when you're hitting boxes, rails, tree stumps, etc.. you don't have to worry about cracking a sidewall. The slimewalls also flex more naturally with the rest of your board, so you have better feeling under foot. So setting up to spin on your heel or toe edge is much smoother because you have so much more feeling. Last, the naturally absorb vibration, so you'll find that a lot of the chatter you get while riding is absorbed in your sidewalls and you never feel it under foot.

Cleavedge - The metal edges on the board (along with all ride boards in the mobility lineup) are 50% thicker than a normal metal edge. You benefit from this because when you slide down a rail, your edge heats up.. then you pop off and land on cold snow which can occasionally cause your metal edge to crack. Having thicker edges on your board really helps prevent this and you being without a deck.

1500 Extruded base - This base takes a beating and is very easy to repair when you do get a base shot.

This is really one of the best rail boards on the market. If you're looking for the same feeling with Rocker, check out the Ride Crush as that board is just a lighter kink with Rocker. If you're looking for a more all around park deck that can still handle rails just as well make sure to look at the DH & Machete.

Lastly, if you're boot size is bigger than a 10.5 make sure you check out the wide model of the kink so you don't get toe drag.

The Antic is often overlooked by a lot of riders and it's a shame. This board is the little brother to the Concept TMS and destroys the mountain. The main differences between the Antic and the TMS are:

-softer over all flex, 4.5 out of 10
-Not as snappy in the nose and tail, carbon array 3 instead of 5

Sidecut, base, slimewalls all are exactly the same. So if you're on a budget and need a board that rips, this is a great model to look at. Or overall, if you prefer something that is a bit softer, not quite as snappy and a bit more forgiving then the Antic will suite your All-Mountain riding needs perfectly.

If you're a park junkie that occasionally find his/her way to other parts of the mountain the DH is a great board to check out. This board has about a 5 out of 10 overall flex, but stays snappy in the nose and tail with Carbon Array 3 strips that run from the binding inserts out to the contact points of the board.

You'll find the 85a Slimewalls come in handy for few reasons. First of all, they take a beating... so when you're hitting boxes, rails, tree stumps, etc.. you don't have to worry about cracking a sidewall. The slimewalls also flex more naturally with the rest of your board, so you have better feeling under foot. So setting up to spin on your heel or toe edge is much smoother because you have so much more feeling. Last, the naturally absorb vibration, so you'll find that a lot of the chatter you get while riding is absorbed in your sidewalls and you never feel it under foot.

The True color Sintered Fusion base is fast, doesn't have to be waxed as often and can take a beating from the park features you put it through. If you have bigger than a 10.5 boot size, make sure to check out a wide model so you don't get any toe drag.

Do you love the Concept UL, but wish it had that extra oomph on powder days? Then the Slackcountry is what you've been waiting for.

The Slackcountry has all the features that the Concept UL has except two. It doesn't have Stainless Steal edges, but seriously you won't miss them in the conditions you'll be riding this deck in and it also drops the price of the deck $50. It does feature Ride's Highrize rocker, which is flat under foot through the binding inserts and then the nose rockers up about 6mm and the tail rockers up about 4mm.

You're going to get everything that is great about the Concept UL along with all the float you could ever want on those deep days we all dream about. This board also won Backcountry Magazine Editor's Choice award for 2010.

Are you a fan of the Kink but are looking for something that is just as soft and playful, but with fewer hangups on boxes and rails?

The Crush has moved over from Ride's DFC collection into their regular lineup. The Crush has all of the features that you will find on the Kink, with two additions. The Crush features Ride's lowrize rocker, the board is flat between the binders out past the inserts. Then the tip and tail rocker up 4mm virtually eliminating catching your edges when you're having boxe and rail sessions.

It also features Ride's Membrain topsheet, which is about 1/2 pound lighter than a traditional topsheet. The wide model is intended for a size 11+ snowboard boot, if you're boot size is smaller make sure to check out the regular model.

Are you a fan of the Kink but are looking for something that is just as soft and playful, but with fewer hangups on boxes and rails?

The Crush has moved over from Ride's DFC collection into their regular lineup. The Crush has all of the features that you will find on the Kink, with two additions. The Crush features Ride's lowrize rocker, the board is flat between the binders out past the inserts. Then the tip and tail rocker up 4mm virtually eliminating catching your edges when you're having boxe and rail sessions.

It also features Ride's Membrain topsheet, which is about 1/2 pound lighter than a traditional topsheet. The regular model will accomodate up to a 10.5 boot size, if you're boot size is bigger make sure to check out the wide model.

The Society is back again for Oh'10 and is the same great board that it has been the past few years. The only thing that has changed from last year are the graphics. The Society features Carbon Array 5 to keep it snappy in the nose and tail, but is softer between the bindings so it's still playful on boxes and rails.

It also features a tech Ride introduced last year called Pop Rods. Ride has inserted two hollow carbon rods in the nose and tail of the board. This allows you to really load up the nose and tail and spring higher then you have before.

Combined with a True color sintered base that is fast in all conditions, 85a slimewalls and a quadratic sidecut the society will take everything you throw at it. This board is perfect for the rider that loves the park but wants something that will not let you down anywhere on the mountain.

Unfortunately ride doesn't make a wide version of this deck and the 24.9-25.2 waist widths really max out at a US 10.5 boot size. If you are rocking an 11-11.5 check out Ride's RFL and FUL boot that have reduced foot prints that will allow you to squeeze on this deck without plates.

Are you into the Ride Machete but think that you might want something that is a bit stiffer and snappier? Basically the DH2 is basically a lighter, slightly stiffer, snappier board than the Machete.

The 2010 DH2 has one feature change to it from the 2009 model. The new model features Ride's Lowrise rocker. The board is flat from the middle out past the binding inserts and then just slightly rockers up (about 4mm). Combined with Ride's Carbon Array 5, this provides a great platform to carve on and you don't find yourself feeling sketched out on turns and at higher speeds with the rocker shape.

Just like last year Ride has thrown their True Color sintered base on this board that is fast in all conditions and doesn't have to be waxed as often as other base materials. You will also find the Membrain topsheet on this model, which is a 1/2 pound lighter than a traditional topsheet but just as strong and durable.

Ride has also taken the time to provide some great videos on their products this year. Check out the DH2 Product overview below and the other videos they've done to help you find the product that fits your riding needs.

http://www.skiandsnowboardequipment.com/Ride-Snowboards-Ride-Dh2-Snowboard/p/PICI1ZJY?a=ridesnowboards.com

Are you a fan of boards like the Burton Un...Inc, Ride Society, K2 Believer? If those are boards that you have owned or considered adding to you're quiver then the Nitro Team should be on your short list as well.

In the past, Nitro has had a reputation of having super stiff boards that weren't very playful. That has completely changed and Nitro is producing boards of all flex patterns that are playful and snappy in the right places.

The Team is the culmination of all the efforts they've made recently. The board has about a 6 out of 10 overall flex, but is snappy in the nose and tail when you want it to be and just soft enough between the binding inserts to be fun jibbing around the mountain.

The sidecut of the board is aggressive, but isn't going to hang you up on boxes or rails with the slightly blunted out shape to the nose and tail. The swing weight is great as well as setting up on your heel side or toe side edge and initiating a FS or BS spin is easy with the sidecut and the weight of the board is great to completely bring the deck around.

I was lucky enough to finish out the 2009 season out on this deck at Snowbird as was able to ride it in Utah Powder, Wet Powder, Icy Groomers, Slush, chop & regular conditions. The board charged through everything and the base was consistently fast in all conditions. If you're looking for one board that will handle everything on the mountain The Team is a great choice.

If you have a size 10.5 US or smaller snowboard boot, take a look at the regular model. And if you're down with the new Rocker/Reverse Camber Technology, take a look at the Nitro Team Gulwing Model.

Are you a fan of boards like the Burton Un...Inc, Ride Society, K2 Believer? If those are boards that you have owned or considered adding to you're quiver then the Nitro Team should be on your short list as well.

In the past, Nitro has had a reputation of having super stiff boards that weren't very playful. That has completely changed and Nitro is producing boards of all flex patterns that are playful and snappy in the right places.

The Team is the culmination of all the efforts they've made recently. The board has about a 6 out of 10 overall flex, but is snappy in the nose and tail when you want it to be and just soft enough between the binding inserts to be fun jibbing around the mountain.

The sidecut of the board is aggressive, but isn't going to hang you up on boxes or rails with the slightly blunted out shape to the nose and tail. The swing weight is great as well as setting up on your heel side or toe side edge and initiating a FS or BS spin is easy with the sidecut and the weight of the board is great to completely bring the deck around.

I was lucky enough to finish out the 2009 season out on this deck at Snowbird as was able to ride it in Utah Powder, Wet Powder, Icy Groomers, Slush, chop & regular conditions. The board charged through everything and the base was consistently fast in all conditions. If you're looking for one board that will handle everything on the mountain The Team is a great choice.

If you have a size 11 US or bigger snowboard boot, take a look at the wide model. And if you're down with the new Rocker/Reverse Camber Technology, take a look at the Nitro Team Gulwing Model.

The main problem with Rocker/Reverse camber is that you sacrifice effective edge, which in turns limits your ability to carve. The best way to describe it is that you feel like your effective edge is only as long as your stance is wide.

Why is that bad? When you go to initiate a turn you need to shift your weight forward to flatten out the nose of your board to get the contact point down and initiate the turn. While you're in the turn, when you shift your weight to hold the turn or to start to exit the turn the nose of the board tends to come up, giving you that washy/unstable feeling.

Another problem is the lack of pop in the nose and tail, you simply cannot ollie like you are used to. You have to focus the energy just being your binding to generate enough force to spring, even with that you still don't get the same amount of pop. People give me shit about this saying that it's like doing it on a skateboard and it's not a big deal, but I'm a really bad skater and I'm not looking to get that kind of feel when I ride.

Saying that, Ride has some solid contributions to the technology for 2010. What Ride has done for years that other companies are just starting to jump on with is Carbon Array. Having the carbon run from the binding inserts out to the contact points, but no carbon running tip to tail causing the entire board to stiffen up. What this does for rocker is it keeps the board flat during turns and as you shift your weight to hold the turn or exit the turn the nose doesn't come up and cause a washing unstable feeling. The new Radial Blendz sidecut also allows for smooth transition from the flat section of the board to the rockered sections providing more stability during turns and at higher speeds.

Having the Carbon Array in their boards with Rocker is also a huge advantage as it keeps the nose and tail poppy. You don't have to focus your ollie just behind your binding like you do with other Rocker/Reverse camber boards. The energy trasmission through the carbon array allows for you to ollie like you would on a regular camber deck.

I haven't been a huge fan of Rocker/Reverse Camber, but the machete has changed my mind and is def. a board that I will be adding to my 2010 Quiver. If you were a size 10.5 or smaller, check out the regular model of this board as you don't need the extra width. Also, Ride has done some great videos this year that are worth checking out if you want more info about their product.

http://www.skiandsnowboardequipment.com/Ride-Snowboards-Ride-Machette-Snowboard/p/1M7FN2JA

Edit: For those of you that read Snowboarder Magazine... My review for the Machete is featured in the 2010 Snowboarder Mag Buyers Guide, pg. 139.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn202/Mr_Tidbit/machete2.jpg

The main problem with Rocker/Reverse camber is that you sacrifice effective edge, which in turns limits your ability to carve. The best way to describe it is that you feel like your effective edge is only as long as your stance is wide.

Why is that bad? When you go to initiate a turn you need to shift your weight forward to flatten out the nose of your board to get the contact point down and initiate the turn. While you're in the turn, when you shift your weight to hold the turn or to start to exit the turn the nose of the board tends to come up, giving you that washy/unstable feeling.

Another problem is the lack of pop in the nose and tail, you simply cannot ollie like you are used to. You have to focus the energy just being your binding to generate enough force to spring, even with that you still don't get the same amount of pop. People give me shit about this saying that it's like doing it on a skateboard and it's not a big deal, but I'm a really bad skater and I'm not looking to get that kind of feel when I ride.

Saying that, Ride has some solid contributions to the technology for 2010. What Ride has done for years that other companies are just starting to jump on with is Carbon Array. Having the carbon run from the binding inserts out to the contact points, but no carbon running tip to tail causing the entire board to stiffen up. What this does for rocker is it keeps the board flat during turns and as you shift your weight to hold the turn or exit the turn the nose doesn't come up and cause a washing unstable feeling. The new Radial Blendz sidecut also allows for smooth transition from the flat section of the board to the rockered sections providing more stability during turns and at higher speeds.

Having the Carbon Array in their boards with Rocker is also a huge advantage as it keeps the nose and tail poppy. You don't have to focus your ollie just behind your binding like you do with other Rocker/Reverse camber boards. The energy trasmission through the carbon array allows for you to ollie like you would on a regular camber deck.

I haven't been a huge fan of Rocker/Reverse Camber, but the machete has changed my mind and is def. a board that I will be adding to my 2010 Quiver. If you were a size 11 or bigger, check out the wide model of this board so you don't get any toe drag. Also, Ride has done some great videos this year that are worth checking out if you want more info about their product.

http://www.skiandsnowboardequipment.com/Ride-Snowboards-Ride-Machette-Snowboard/p/1M7FN2JA

Edit: For those of you that read Snowboarder Magazine... My review for the Machete is featured in the 2010 Snowboarder Mag Buyers Guide, pg. 139

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn202/Mr_Tidbit/machete2.jpg

I personally have underestimated this board over the last couple of seasons. I kind of put it in the same class as a Burton Custom and never really gave it a chance. But when I took it out a couple of weeks ago I was very surprised at how fun this deck really is.

The Team is very snappy in the nose and tail, very fast edge-to-edge when carving, held an incredible edge but wasn't grabby, the base was fast in every condition I took it through (Groomers, Crud, Pow, Ice).

The best comparison I can make to another board would be to the Burton Un...Inc. This board was very similar to it, but held a better edge and was a bit snappier while still maintaining that playful feeling.

This is a great board to pick up if you're an All-Mountain rider that is looking for a board that will handle anything you throw at it. (Grab the wide if you have a 11 boot size or bigger).

I have had some knee problems the last few years; in 2005 I had my left knee scoped. Had to have the cartilage cleaned up, a nod removed and a lateral release on my patellar tendon. Last year I tore the meniscus in my left knee and spent the entire summer rehabbing it for this season. So I was looking for anything that might help relieve some of the pressure I still feel in my knees while riding.

This year Ride offered up a "softer" version of their CAD binding called the NRc. This binding features Ride's Custom Balance Footbed. The footbed itself can be canted in or out up to 7 degrees, this is great as it offers up adjuments for riders with multiple knee injuries. There are other companies on the market that only offer up a solution if you have a Medial Knee injury (inside of your knee) and don't allow you to adjust it for comfort.

Set up of this binding is a piece of cake; it is very easy to get the binding mounted to your deck and tooless adjustments to get the straps centered. The footbed has 4 screws in the corner, each of which are connected to a dial. You turn the screw and you can see the dial turn so that you know how many degrees you have adjusted the footbed. I'm lucky as my father-in-law is an orthopedic surgeon and I spoke to him about the set up and he suggested that I set both of mine in at 5 degrees.

Riding these bindings is so nice compared to a traditional baseplate if you have knee problems. So far I've ridden these bindings on; hard packed groomers, powder, icy trails, chop and the pressure on my knee has been significantly reduced. This binding is by no means a cure for your knees, but it does significantly reduce the pressure and pain that you feel during the day. I also ride a 23 inch stance and canting the footbeds in also makes my stance feel slightly narrower than it actually is, which is also a good feeling. My father-in-law told me that over the next few weeks he would expect that my body will adjust and that my legs will get used to the position that they are in now while riding and that my knees will start to feel even better over time.

The bindings do weigh a bit more than you’re average binding, but the comfort that you get from the footbed is worth it. The Footbed is a bit thick compared to a traditional baseplate, so it did take me a few runs to get the feeling dialed and know exactly where my edges were while carving, jumping, spinning, etc... But to sum it up... if you are a snowboarder that has had past knee injuries this binding is a great way to continue to be able to charge down the mountain and continue to have fun without worrying about discomfort while you ride.

I'm sure you probably did a double take when you first saw the contraband, but this binding is legit. The new V-Strap provides you with the mobility you want when sliding rails and boxes, but keeps you boot secure and locked in place with the V-Strap.

The key to this binding is to be sure that you have it adjusted correctly. Ride has put together a great video on their site to show you exactly how to do it, check the link below;

http://ridesnowboards.com/videos/?id=28

Once you get everything adjusted on this binding there really isn't any part of the mountain that you can't charge. When I was up at Snowbasin in February riding this binding I hit the park, carved down groomers and hit 3 feet of fresh powder when they opened up the John Paul lift.

My boot stayed in place in every condition and I never had any problems with the strap staying in place. I'm def. going to pick up a pair of these bindings this season to ride on my DH.

Think of the Antic-wide as the little brother to the Yukon. Just a bit softer and less responsive than the Yukon, but still gives you a 90a slimewall and 4000 fusion base. This board is meant to be taken anywhere on the mountain, great for someone that has a season of riding under their belt and is ready to progress or the seasoned veteran that is looking for a quality deck at an affordable price.
The waist width on this board allows riders with a size 11+ boot to enjoy their day without any toe drag.

Think of the Antic-wide as the little brother to the Concept TMS. Just a bit softer and less responsive than the Concept TMS, but still gives you a 90a slimewall and 4000 fusion base. This board is meant to be taken anywhere on the mountain, great for someone that has a season of riding under their belt and is ready to progress or the seasoned veteran that is looking for a quality deck at an affordable price.
The waist width on this board allows riders with up to a size 10.5 boot. If you are a size 11+, take a look at the Antic-Wide, same board just a bigger waist width to prevent toe drag.

The Society is back for 2008/2009 with a couple of brand new features that make this favorite of riders even better.
Ride has incorporated the Membrain Topsheet that is used on the Concept UL into the Society making it lighter than last year.
Ride also has a new tech called pop rods, which they have put in the tip and tail of the board. Hollow Pop Rods comes from a technology used in fishing poles, this material has been used to make fly rods that you can bend 180 degrees and not snap. So what does this mean to you, you get the same great 6 out of 10 longitudinal flex that you love in the Society, but now you get an added snap in your tip/tail that is unbelievable when riding anywhere on the mountain.
Everything else about the Society has stayed the same. Max boot size you can ride on all for sizes is a 10.5 with the 25.1/25.2 waist widths.
This board is easily one of the best all-mountain/freestyle boards on the market and you get all the new tech at the same price as last years deck!

The Fleetwood is a great deck, but if you shop by price you might accidentally skip it over.
The Fleetwood is actually just a wide version of the Ride Control. The waist widths on these boards is designed to accommodate a size 10.5 and up.
This board is designed for someone just getting into riding through those who have been riding for awhile and are looking for a good ride at a lower price. You can take this deck anywhere on the mountain you want to go.
If you're riding on a budget and need a wide deck, this is a great choice to take care of both of those issues.

The Yukon is back for 2008/2009 as the board you've loved for years. The wide version of the Concept TMS this board is designed for the rider that has a size 11+ boot that wants a board that will do anything.
With the quadratic sidecut ride uses on their boards, this board will lay down turns just as good as narrow boards, yet floats in powder like a dream with the extra width.
Take it in the park/pipe and ride rails with the strong/fast True Color sintered base. If you are only going to have one board, ride the entire mountain and have a bigger boot size... You won't be disappointed in this deck.

The Concept TMS is back for it's 2nd year and hasn't changed tech wise. This board is very similar to the Society with a couple of differences. It has more dampening in the Nose/Tail to help reduce any chatter that you may encounter on the trail. The binding inserts are set back 3/4 of an inch, but you can get the board centered if that is your preferred stance.
This board will accommodate up to a 10.5 boot, so if your boot is bigger than that check out the Yukon which is the same exact board, just wider.
If the Society is a bit to Freestyle oriented for you and you spend more time outside of the park, The Concept TMS is the perfect board for you.

The Kink has become an Iconic Jib deck over the last 8 years. Buttery soft 3 out of 10 flex with a snappy torsional response when you pop off kickers and out of the pipe.

The 85a slimewalls not only give you a better feeling under foot when sliding rails/boxes and carving down trail. But hold up 100X better to the abuse you put your board through slamming up against rails/boxes all day.

Added the "Cleavedge" helps make cracked metal edges a thing of the past. Most riders don't realize it, but sliding your deck down a metal rail heats up your metal edge significantly and when you hit the snow the instant cooling can cause cracks in your edges. Cleavedge is 50% thicker than normal metal edges and helps prevent cracks from happening.

This board will accomodate up to a 10.5 boot size, but for those of you with size 11+ boots will be stoked as Ride finally pulled their heads out of their asses and are offering up a Wide Kink for 2008/2009. So now all park rats can enjoy one of the best Jib/Park boards on the market.

I've been riding for awhile now and you'll normally see me on a Society or Concept UL but I couldn't believe how great this board rides for the price it is sold.
This board can accommodate up to a 10.5 boot size (If you have a size 11+ check out the Fleetwood which is the wide version of this board).
This board is great for someone that is just getting into riding all the way up to the seasoned all-mountain veteran that is looking for a great ride at an affordable cost.

Are you one of the ladies on the mountain that all the guys stop in their tracks and say, "Whoa, that chick rips!"
If this is you then the Canvas is a deck that you will love... Ride finally realized that there are ladies on the hill that rip and would love a female equivalent to the Society. Now you have a board that will give you great pop/snap, fast true color sintered base, with a 6 out of 10 overall flex.
If you want an All-Mountain/Freestyle deck that rips just as hard as what the guys are riding you will love the Canvas.

Priscilla Levac and the other rippin' ladies on the Ride team demand boards that aren't just lame boards with flowery pink graphics.
The Fever is the women's equivalent to the DH. You will find all the same great features; 85a Slimewalls, cleavedge, True color sintered base, great pop/snap with carbon array and a medium overall flex.
Your only difference is the board comes in a bit narrower to accommodate a smaller women's boot.
If you're one of those ladies that rips the park up you will love doing it on the Fever.

The DH is back for 08/09 with a couple of great updates. The first you will notice is yet again Ride doesn't let down with the great graphics that you come to expect every year on the DH. The artist that did these graphics is Barry Mcgee, google him he has some amazing work.
The main tech update to the DH for 08/09 is the addition of Pop Sticks. Like with the Society, Ride has taken tech that is used in the fishing pole industry to add some amazing pop to the tip and tail of the DH without messing with the perfect 6 out of 10 flex the DH has.
Basically there are these fishing poles that you can bend past 180 degrees and they will not snap. Ride took this tech and milled it down into these 6 inch "sticks" that they place into the nose and tail of the DH. Now you can load up your Nose/Tail and get an incredible snap, but the board is still soft enough to butter and screw around.
The board will accommodate up to a 10.5 boot in all of the sizes, so if you have a size 11 or bigger check out the Dose, the wide version of the DH.

The Dose is back again with one main tech update for 08/09. The addition of Pop Sticks. Like with the Society, Ride has taken tech that is used in the fishing pole industry to add some amazing pop to the tip and tail of the DH without messing with the perfect 6 out of 10 flex the DH has.
Basically there are these fishing poles that you can bend past 180 degrees and they will not snap. Ride took this tech and milled it down into these 6 inch "sticks" that they place into the nose and tail of the Dose. Now you can load up your Nose/Tail and get an incredible snap, but the board is still soft enough to butter and screw around.
The board will accommodate up to a 11+ boot in all of the sizes, so if you have a smaller size boot check out the DH, which is the same exact board in a regular waist width.

The Kink finally comes in a wide version to play in the park with. No more riding crazy angles and 26 inch stance widths to fit on a Kink without toe drag.

This board is identically to the regular kink tech wise in every way. Same buttery 3 out of 10 flex, Cleavedge to prevent cracked metal edges, 85A Slimewalls for enhanced feel and durability, Extruded base that will hold up to park riding and easy to repair when you do get a gauge.

The Kink has been one of the best park specific boards on the market for 7-8 years and if that is where you spend your day on the mountain, you will love this deck.

The FUL is back for it's 2nd year and has some great improvements over last season.
Ride has upgraded the Intuition liner with a foot bed. So now you get the great 100% heat moldable liner with the support of a foot bed to make the boot even more comfortable.
The "support rod" in the back of the boot now extends higher giving you a much better heel side response when carving down the mountain. The boot over all is about a 6 out of 10 in flex.
Ride boots are very true to size, I normally wear a 10-10.5 in my boots and I ended up in a 10 in the FUL. Yes, my first 6-10 days on the hill weren't the best. But the liner packs out about a 1/4 of a size over those first 10 days on the mountain and they end up being absolutely perfect after that.
I loved riding this boot all over the mountain, my feet stayed warm, dry and comfortable every day I rode them.

This binding is very similar to the Beta with one difference, the ankle strap. The strap does not have the "hole" in the middle like the Beta has. In turn what this gives you is a more response from heel to toe when turning, but the highback continues to give you that medium flex to teak out every rail, box, spin, etc...
Ride also switched over to the UL ratchets on this binding as well giving you a smooth and easy to use ratchet that can take the abuse of a season of riding.
Very popular with the park riders, but this binding is great for any part of the mountain.

This isn't your daddy's one piece, Analog has helped bring the one piece back from it's tight fighting day glow 80's era.
The huge differences you'll notice from yester-year are the fabric and fit.

This suit in 20K waterproof, I've been lucky enough to have several powder days and stayed dry all day... Even crashing and laying in powder wondering what the hell I was thinking when I dropped that.
The fit is great, baggy as can be so you don't have to worry about a snug fit anywhere on your body. I'm 6'2" tall, 220 lbs and the XL fits like a dream.

This suit has very quickly become my guilty pleasure on the hill as I've worn it on powder days and days that it was 6 degrees at Brighton with a first layer, eeSa short sleeve shirt and some mesh basketball shorts and stayed warm all day.

You'll Love it !

The Nitro T2 is a solid board, it def. competes with boards like the Ride DH, Rome Agent, Burton Twin, etc...

This board is an all mountain freestyle killer.. Fun in the Pipe, Terrain Park, carving down trail, natural jibs & Jumps.If you're charging hard down the mountain, this board will handle what you throw at it.

Bonus: German engineered quality behind all of Nitro's boards, unless you've been living in a ditch your whole life you know German engineering is some of the best produced stuff in the world as far as quality goes.

There is no doubt that you have probably heard of the Dominant, Kink, Agent, Mckink, & WWW. If you are familiar with those names then you a probably looking for a deck that is buttery soft, but still has that snap response going off kickers and goofing around on trail that you want.
The T1 is a great deck with quality German engineering behind it to help you get the feeling you are looking for. Soft on the nose and tail for those nose presses and Five-Oh's on boxes and rails, but the solid poplar wood core under foot for the snap response you need.
Make sure to take a good long look at this deck if you are in the market for a fun Jib/Park board.

This binding kills everything on the mountain. I was lucky enough to Ride this binding back in February and I didn't want to give it back.
Ride has streamlined the high back even more, They have milled it out making it even lighter yet kept it super responsive.
The straps are great, the ankle strap is still as bomb proof and comfortable as last years, loaded with gel for extra comfort. Ride has added the new Gel grid convertible toe strap. You can put this strap anywhere on your toe you want and it will stay, even if you are riding through powder and snow gets under your toe strap it gets squeezed at through the grid and your strap stays in place.
The base of the binding is light weight and now has polyurethane on the bottom and sides (rollbars) to help with even more dampening and feel, same materials slimewalls are made out of.
You will love this binding if you ride everywhere on the mountain and want the lightest, most comfort and response available on the market for your bindings.

This board is crazy! The rocker/reverse camber is great. Basically under foot the board sits flat against the snow and then begins to "bow" up to the nose and tail. The nose of the board has almost 9cm of rocker and the tail has almost 6cm of rocker.
What this does for you is keeps your nose and tail up out of the snow and you don't have to lean back nearly as hard to keep up floating on those deep days and you can ride switch !
The board flex is soft enough to allow you to carve on soft groomers and crud, but it will take some getting used to.
If you are one of those lucky riders that ventures in to powder frequently, this is a board that should be in your quiver.

This binding is great if you love to freeride. Ride has incorporated a new base system into this binding.
There is now a canting system built into the base of the binding. For those of you that don't remember back in the day when you could get cant plates to put under your bindings or how ski boots are canted to straighten out your knees.
You can adjust the base of the binding so that you can get a perfectly straight line. Which in turn is going to elevate your riding to a new level. You're going to be more comfortable, have less fatigue and enjoy your day on the mountain so much more.
If you're a park rat, this isn't the binding for you. But if you love laying down carves on trail, riding through the trees, POWDER !, Cliffs, etc... You will love the performance of this binding.

This binding is great! If your Son or Daughter is one of the kids on the mountain that just tears it up this is the binding for them. It is actually built on a tray the ride uses for their adult bindings. The heel cup is fully adjustable. What this means is that the binding will last for 3-4 boots sizes as your child grows.
Tac on comfortable and correct fitting ankle and toe straps along with a high back that is children's sized, but transfers energy just like its adult counterparts.
Your rippin' kid will love these bindings as they will help them progress, rather than being price point gear.

This is the best video I've seen in a few years! There are so many make shift snowboard filming crews now, that there are a lot of sub par movies on the market, but Optimistic is a def. buy. The filming is amazing, there is a great mix of rails/park, backcountry/Free riding, creativity with different terrain (Gigi Ruff in Canada at a BMX course).
MFM has one of the best parts he has ever put together. His part has some great tricks and I've never laughed so hard during a snowboard video with his Spray Section. Gigi & Mueller put together great parts again, Mikey Leblanc shows he jibs better than you on a 6 foot toboggan.
Plain and Simple, if you are a fan of good, progressive riding you are going to love this movie.

I've been a huge Mack Dawg fan for years. The crew this year did put out an incredibly filmed movie. Some of the shots are the best I've even seen in a video. Vee Le has a night scene shot that I'll always remember.
But overall it just seems like something was missing from this movie. It's not that it was bad, the riding is good, the filming is great, the cast of riders is top notch. But it was missing that umph that makes it stand out from other videos.
But this movie is worth watching for J.P. Walker's surprise part at the end, holy $#*T that trick was amazing!

I actually liked this movie a bit more than Picture this. I wasn't 100% familiar with the entire cast of Riders, but wow... There is some talent that Mack Dawg has managed to find that is great. This movie took me back 10 years and reminded me of the early Mack Dawg movies when it was just a crew of guys riding, having fun and pushing the envelope of riding and taking snowboarding to the next level.
Gotta love the opening scene where J.P. Walker pulls up in his Benz to pick up Jeremy Jones at SLC International, and you've got your unknown guy in the movie getting picked up right behind him in a dumpy little Ford, looking at Jeremy with that, That's what I want look on his face.

With the evolving trend in snowboarding, more and more riders all liking Twin shaped boards outside of the park.
The Solution is a solid All-Mountain board that is fun in Powder,cliff drops, Pillow lines Carving it up on groomers, rails, Kickers, boxes... There really isn't anything this board can't handle.
I would really have to disagree with the review above, if you're a beginner, this isn't the board for you. But if you're an all mountain rider in the upper intermediate to advanced riding ability, that hits what ever is good the particular day you are up in the mountains you will love this deck.

Last year a lot of people were really starting to wonder what was up with the Late Release JJ board.
This years won't let anyone down at all... The new ICS (Infinite Channel System) is great, you will be able to get the exact stance width, placement of your bindings & angles on this board without a problem.
You can either use the new Burton E.S.T. bindings or the board does come with special disc and hardware that will allow you to use any Burton Binding on the board.
As you know, JJ rides every type of terrain...and you will be able to take this board anywhere you want to go.

This bindings are pretty cool.. First thing is First, you can only use this binding on Burton Boards that have the new ICS Channel (Jeremy Jones, X8, Stria, Un Inc).
They new base of this binding is pretty crazy, you're screw inserts are out on the side of the binding now, removing the disc completely from under your foot giving you more feeling.
The new "foam" like material under foot flexes very naturally giving you more feel under foot. The "foam" has little windows so you can dial in your exact stance width and angles very easily and can be adjusted on the fly.
Cool thing, rumors have it that Jeremy Jones has been removing the "foam" (which is super easy to do) and has been riding the bindings with just his boot against to board for even more feel.
If you're spending the $$ and getting and ICS board, it is worth it to get the full effect out of that deck with the E.S.T. binding.

Burton is all about Rider feedback, they were def. listening to their riders on this binding.
Plain and Simple, the Triad binding has the CO2 Highback and the Cartel Tray. Added with comfy ankle and toe straps this binding is great. You'll be able to tackle any part of the mountain you want with confidence in these bindings.

The Beta UL is sick... UL stand for Ultra light as the main difference between this binding and the regular Beta is;
You get the new UL ratchets, Ride's best ratchet to date. They are super light, very simple and the smoothest ratchets I have ever used.
You also get the Gel Grid Toe strap that you find on Ride's Alpha Binding. These two changes will cost you way more than the $10 extra bucks between the Beta and Beta UL. IF you want smoother lighter ratchets and one of the best toe straps/caps out on the market, grab these.

This board is almost as light as the Burton Vapor! But you don't get that chattery feel at high speeds you get with the Burton Alumafly core.
Ride has really stepped it up this year; The Concept UL features Ride's new UL topsheet (similar to what Burton does with the Vaporskin). This board has new sublimated 90a Slimewalls, the most carbon fiber that Ride has ever used in a snowboard, and a sintered copper fusion base.
The feel of this board is amazing. The Slimewalls and silencers give you a damp, comfortable ride in any conditions. The feel and edge hold are amazing; I couldn't believe the turns I made in areas that I usually have to slow down to get through. Base is the fastest thing Ride has ever produced. It is infused with copper to help keep the base from heating up and slowing down.
If you're looking for a board that is just about as light as the Vapor but doesn't have the chatter and restrictions of the kind of terrain you can take it on (no rails with the Vapor) and is CHEAPER to top it off! You want to be strapped into the Concept UL.

The binding that does everything and goes wherever you want it to. The binding is very versatile. It's fun to carve up a storm on the trail, dip into some waist-deep powder in the trees and press nose slides on a C-box.
These ATV bindings are responsive and comfortable. The ankle and toe straps are so nice once you get them centered on your boots. The toe strap is convertible, so you can use it as a traditional strap or a toecap depending on your preference. I've actually found it much more comfortable than Burton's toe caps, as it is stretchy and stays in place.
This binding is perfect for anyone who wants response and comfort from their bindings no matter what terrain they may be on.

The little brother to the SPI binding. The EX is also a go-everywhere, do-anything binding with a few differences. The base tray is a different shape; you still get great response out of it, but is toned down a bit for that intermediate rider.
The flex of the binding overall is a medium flex, making it a bit more forgiving than the SPI if you are in hairy situations.
If you are an intermediate rider trying to progress your skills, this is a great binding to help you get to the next level of riding.

Ride has brought one of the best boots produced to date out to the masses this year.
Ride is now using the Intuition liner, same liner you find in Thirty Two boots. But the difference is they have added more foam padding to it and a 1-to-1 shell-to-liner.
What that means is that the Ride Intuition isn't going to pack out like 32 liners do. If you get a 8.5 boot, both the shell and liner are a size 8.5 (Burton does this with their boots). So there isn't a ton of extra room in the boot for them to pack out.
On top of that, they are the lightest boots I have ever had on my feet, and Ride has done a great job with reducing the volume of the shell so there isn't a ton of bulk. I really hated that I had to max out my bindings with my Thirty Two Vader last year because they were so bulky.
The fit is pretty true to size on these boots; Ride runs true to Brannock sizing (every shoe store has a metal Brannock scale you can check your size with).
If you are looking for a light, comfortable, stiff boot that isn't overly bulky and will not pack out and need to be replaced after 30 days, you will love this boot.

The beta binding is one of the best all mountain bindings on the market. It comes with the Movement tray, which is Ride's lightest weight aluminum tray to date. Added to that the cored ankle straps provide great support but still have a great medium/stiff flex to allow you to have fun in the terrain park. It also comes with Ride's convertible toe strap, which can be used as a traditional strap or a toe cap with it's stretchy material that stays in place.
Light weight, responsive, comfortable, go everywhere and looks pretty bad ass to top it off. You will not be disappointed in this binding.

I was really surprised with this boot. It is a medium flex with Ride's new Speed Lace system in it. The intuition liner is very comfortable and 100% heat mold able like 32's liner. The boot is probably one of the lightest boots I have ever ridden at this price, nice to see Ride gives customers some of their best tech all the way down the line instead of in just the high end products.
Sizing is pretty true to size, if you know your brannock size (metal scale in every shoe store) then you will know what size to get in Ride's boots.
If you are looking for a medium flexing all mountain boot, or a softer boot for riding the park in the Anthem is a great choice.

Fun deck, I was stoked to ride the 159 at a Demo back in February. Board has a great medium flex to it, not stiff, but not soft either. It is perfect for sliding rails and boxes and has great snap for popping off of kickers.
I love the 85a slimewall on the board, the dampening it provides the board is great! You don't feel all the chatter/vibration that you normally get in the park. I held up great as I took the sidewall into a couple of boxes pretty hard and there wasn't a mark on it. The feel is just amazing too, you can really feel how your edges are responding and spinning is so much smoother that I normally feel.
I have 10.5 boots and had no issues mounting up on the 159 at all. Great board to slay the park with and was fun to dork around with on the trail on the way to the terrain park.

The Yukon has changed a lot since I first rode it back in 2002-2003. The board now has some much needed dampening, Ride stepped it up with 90a slimewalls this year. So like the freestyle board you have so much more feeling under your feet and the slimewalls dampen the board so that you don't get any Vibration/Chattering. When you take this board up to speed the response and edge hold is amazing for a wide board and the extra width is so great when you hit a powder stash, you just float through without any effort at all.
If you like to carve, ride in the trees, powder or just point it and burn down the trail as fast as you can you will love this board.

So after 15-16 years Ride has replaced their board the Timeless with the Concept TMS. I really enjoyed riding this board back in February. This board is similar to the Society with a few difference to make it more of a "Freeride Board".
It has the new 90a slimewall, which is great because it is slightly stiffer than the 85a but still provides that great dampening and feel that I got on the Society.
The flex and pop is great, I took this board everywhere I could find on the mountain and it was fun everywhere. The stance is setback on the board, which was very nice for carving, but wasn't set back so far that I couldn't have fun in the park.
I tried out both the 161 & 164 sizes. Had zero issues with my 10.5 boot fitting on both of them, no toe overhang or drag at all.
If you're mainly a free rider/Carver/Big Mountain rider, that occasionally dabbles in the terrain park or you like to find natural jumps you will love killing the entire mountain on this board.

This board rips the mountain up... It has stayed virtually the same as last years model with one big change. Ride has added the 90a slimewalls to all of their mid to upper level free ride boards.
Now you have that great medium to stiff flex with a great smooth ride that the slimewalls provide you. Chatter & Vibration have been virtually eliminated and the feel you get under foot of what your board is doing and when to react to turn, spin, land is great.
If you are an all mountain rider on a budget, but what a board that performs as good as the "expensive" boards, but at a budget price, the Havoc is your board.