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Bataleon Goliath 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £480 / $560
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Size: 153, 158, 158W, 159, 161W, 164W
  • Flex: 6/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: 3BT Camber
  • Base: Sintered
  • BUY DIRECT FROM BATALEON

No need to gild the lily, Bataleon have kept this season’s Goliath unchanged. That’s no bad thing, though. It was last year’s 100 winner and remains one of the truly genuine all-mountain snowboards. Every rider in the market for a one-board solution would be wise to keep this near the top of their shortlist.

The Goliath is to all intents and purposes a true twin. Its flex, sidecut and contact area are equally balanced, so riding switch poses no problems and makes it primed for park as the most dedicated of freestyle decks. The directional element comes from a slight increase of volume in the nose to help manage deeper, choppier or more variable snow conditions.

“When it comes to a Bataleon snowboard that performs across the entire riding spectrum, you won’t find better”

Really, though, the Goliath owes its ease of handling and versatility to the Freestyle 3BT. Both the nose and tail have a three-steep, spoon-like shape that’s most pronounced at the contact points – known as Sidekicks. This drastically reduces the chance of hanging up on a rail or catching your edge. It’s also what makes Bataleon snowboards renowned for their stability when rolling into turns or straightening flat based.

That same profile helps to displace snow and push the nose up in powder, but most of the Goliath’s performance is reserved for back on the piste. Tri-ax laminates and a lively poplar and paulownia core give the snowboard a responsive, longitudinal and torsional flex pattern. It has a sintered base which, so long as you keep it waxed, will remain rapid for days on end.

“By keeping the nose and tail free of carbon additives you’ll find plenty potential for flatland creativity”

By keeping the nose and tail free of carbon additives you’ll find plenty potential for flatland creativity. The power is, instead, focussed between the inserts with a combination of carbon stringers and pre-curved hollow carbon tubes running parallel to the sidewall. These supercharge the Goliath’s pop and the power transmission when you’re gunning it without compromising it’s playfulness when you want to ease off the gas.

The Goliath sits slap-bang in the middle of Bataleon’s 22 strong line of men’s snowboards. It won’t have the same powder prowess as the Surfer, nor will it be as rail-ready as the Disaster but, when it comes to a Bataleon snowboard that performs across the entire riding spectrum, you won’t find better.

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

Ryan Van Kesteren – Creative Director, Whitelines

“What a board! The Goliath gets top marks as an all-mountain machine. A snowboarding warship, ready for anything.

I’ve got to be honest, before this past season I’ve not really been into Triple Base and Sidekick. Having tested Bataleon 4-5 years ago, I kind of found the boards to be a bit sluggish and slower than normal boards between the edges. Great for jibbing, freestyle, and park carry-on, but not for all-mountain or freeride activities.

I’m now eating my words. I’ve been on several of the 2020 line up, Carver, Lobster Sender, and the Omni, and I gotta say I’ve been blown away. Bataleon and Lobster have done something to completely change my thoughts on 3BT. I am now a convert.

A got to ride a Goliath for 3 days; one snowy, cloudy winter’s day, and two days in the spring sun. I rode the 158W and the 159, both boards accommodating my size 11 feet and 6,1ft build.

In your hand, you’ve got a nice piece of machinery – a solid and well made exterior hiding some impressive tech. The shape is Twin, or close to it, with a small amount of sidekick at the corners. I think it is a medium flex (check their scale to be sure), with pretty even distribution through the board. There is classic camber, not overly aggressive, with a mid-wide centre base. All in all, it screams “all-mountain”.

Strapping in on some medium flex bindings, I got a nice feeling, responsive board underfoot, not dull or distant. It’s quick, the base is exceptional, confounding my original impression of Bataleon boards – I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“A great choice for an intermediate wanting to progress with ease, or an advanced rider who wants to exert their dominance across the whole hill.”

On powder, the Goliath handles very well, up there with the power specific boards. It floats well and maintains speed without being too restrictive on turns. The directional volume shape with my stance a little setback facilitated a great time in the deep stuff. The board demands to go fast and charge into slashes and big turns.

On the piste, it doesn’t let you down. The medium camber comes into play, giving some great bite and snap from edge to edge. It is a relaxed board for carving, the camber isn’t overbearing and the Sidekick definitely helps to initiate turns. Its torsionally solid and it still handles fast, aggressive carves with grace. The edge digs in on hardpack and crud relatively well. I can’t say I noticed a big difference in the wide board, I possibly felt a bit more confident getting low on turns, but I didn’t experience any toe drag on the standard 159 either.

If the board was going to lean in any direction it would be freestyle, this board wants to party and get loose. It pops an ollie like a bucking bronco and pumps trannies to new levels. It takes a landing like a champ, with solid dampening and an accommodating edge when you get sketchy. I didn’t hit any rails or boxes, but I can tell you this board loves to jump and get air; from sidehits to the big line this board wants to boost.

This is a hugely versatile board, an exceptional all-rounder that is truly worthy of the all-mountain accolades. A great choice for an intermediate wanting to progress with ease, or an advanced rider who wants to exert their dominance across the whole hill. This board is for everyone, a true snowboard.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Darren Williamsthesnowboardshop.co.uk/

“The Bataleon Goliath, AKA ‘The Box Ticker’ – this board pretty much does whatever I want it to. If you like to get off the top of the lift and point and shoot to the bottom then the Goliath does not let you down.

“It holds an edge at speed really well without washing out”

It holds an edge at speed really well without washing out, and edge-to-edge transfers feel precise and predictable. Leaving you wanting to shred faster and harder. Regular camber paired with carbon inserts gives the Goliath great pop, so you can ollie higher than your buddies (always important).

The medium-ish flex lets it butter and jib pretty well, and the spoony nose holds up nicely in the fresh stuff too. All this with a fast-gliding base, and a banging graphic too.

Perfect for intermediate to advanced guys who want a new steed for all-mountain shredding, fast charging, side hits and park laps with your homies – there’s a reason it’s our best selling board!”

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