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Bataleon Disaster 2021-2022 Snowboard Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Bataleon Disaster

  • Price: £380 / €450 / $450
  • Category: Park + Jib
  • Sizes: 144, 148, 151, 153w, 154, 156w, 157
  • Flex: 2/10
  • Shape: True Twin
  • Profile: Camber
  • 3D: Yes
  • Base: Extruded

Why we chose the Bataleon Disaster Snowboard: It’s solidly built, with a flex pattern and 3D profile that are perfect for park progression. In short, it’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t.

All-mountain boards are (ahem) all well and good, but if you spend most of your days hitting man-made features then you’ll get much more out of a pure twin shape – especially if it comes in a good choice of shorter lengths and a flex that’s soft enough to press, ollie and butter at slower speeds. Step forward the Bataleon Disaster. It’s a classic park/street deck that wears its freestyle heart on its sleeve.

“In short, it’s got everything you need and nothing you don’t”

MORE INFO:
BATALEON.COM

Who Is The Bataleon Disaster For?

Hey you! Yeah you, the guy dialling back lips on that gas pipe. Do you want a tough-as-nails board? With skulls on it? Thought so.

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

A true twin outline and identical flex at the nose and tail ensure the Disaster performs equally well in either direction. Together with Triple Base tech, which raises the contact points off the snow, this is a board that invites you to switch things up and will even let you get away with sloppy 90-degree landings from time to time. All that inspires confidence, and confidence equals progression.

Bataleon call the particular level of Triple Base featured on the Disaster ‘Jib 3BT’. It’s their subtlest variety, only really coming into play outside of the bindings in order to keep the middle of the board feeling nice and stable. At the widest areas of the nose and tail the scoop is dramatically increased – a feature known as Sidekicks – to minimise the chances of a hang up and to smooth turn initiation. The Sidekicks also have the effect of turning each end of the board into an effective snow plow, which means the Disaster is surprisingly capable in powder – a useful bonus when the park has been buried under two foot of fresh.

From nose to tail the board is designed with a modest amount of trad camber. It’s mellow enough that you don’t really notice it, especially with the 3BT keeping your edges out of trouble, but it’s a little more lively than a typical park stick that uses extended rocker to lift the contact points.

“From nose to tail the board is designed with a modest amount of trad camber”

Construction and Materials

They’ve not dicked about when it comes to the construction of the Disaster. Simple, reliable materials that can take a beating are the order of the day – starting with a full length poplar core with beech hardwood stringers to beef up the strength and boost rebound.

Protecting this core are urethane ‘Shock Walls’. They provide a little extra dampening than regular ABS sidewalls and don’t scratch or peel as easily when you eat shit on a cheese-grater stairset.

The Super Slick X base is as good as you’ll find in extruded P-tex. Again, it’s the most durable choice – plus it’s easier to repair than a sintered base if (or rather when) you ding it. Shredders who prefer to spend their evenings with a beer in their hand rather than a waxing iron will also be stoked to know the Super Slick X stays fast without regular maintenance.

A biax topsheet and distinct lack of carbon means the Disaster is super easy to ride. Its friendly flex level will appeal to park rats who love to crank the shit out of their 5-0s and nosepresses, as well as entry level riders looking for a deck that won’t kick their ass if they make a mistake.

Finally there’s that skeleton graphic. It’s been penned by Robert Rosenau, one of only a couple of outside artists commissioned by Bataleon’s art director – who prefers to keep a tight reign on most of the boards. It’s definitely a departure from the rest of the range, so if you fancy getting on a Triple Base train bound for el Dia de los Muertos, step right up.

“A biax topsheet and distinct lack of carbon means the Disaster is super easy to ride”

Roundup

Anyone in the market for a new park and street deck should place the Bataleon Disaster high up the shortlist. It’s a classic twin – short, soft and stable – but with a 3D twist that makes it surprisingly fun to ride in a variety of terrain. In fact it’s also got a lot to offer riders who are new to the game and want a short, maneuverable model that’ll inspire confidence and accelerate their progression. Either way the Disaster is built to take whatever you can throw at it.

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