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Bataleon Whatever Beyond Medals 2022-2023 Snowboard Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Bataleon Whatever Beyond Medals

  • Price: £470, €540, $540
  • Category: All-Mountain, Freestyle + Park
  • Sizes: 151, 154, 156W, 157, 159, 162W
  • Flex: 6/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: Camber
  • 3D: Yes
  • Base: Sintered

Why We Chose The Bataleon Whatever Beyond Medals: It may be beyond medals, but it’s not beyond industry awards. The BYNDMDLS Whatever is about as versatile as they come and, let’s be real, it’s got one of the coolest graphics of the year.

There is perhaps no board as aptly named as the Whatever, because it rides, well… whatever. A classic Bataleon model that’s been given the Tor Lundstrom twist, it shares much of its DNA with the OG Whatever, but with a little bit of added spice. Previously the Beyond Medals crew have had a whack at the Goliath (don’t worry if you miss it, the Goliath Plus will take good care of you), but for this season they’ve taken on another of Bataleon’s flagship models, and the result is one of the best all-mountain snowboards of the year.

“Sure it can be fun having a collection of weird and wonderful shapes to suit every condition and terrain, but it’s a damn sight easier to transport just one”

A touch stiffer, a smidge poppier, slightly more performance oriented but still at heart it’s the go anywhere, do anything snowboard we’ve loved since its debut. It’s a real buffet, powder laps for breakfast, corduroy for lunch and party laps in the park for dinner, all you can eat baby.

Who Is The Bataleon Whatever Beyond Medals For?

Better yet, who isn’t it for? There are a lot of boards that claim to do it all, but this one genuinely does. If your park days aren’t behind you, but you still want a board that can dominate in other areas then the BYNDMDLS Whatever is a goer.

MORE INFO:
BATALEONSNOWBOARDS.COM

 

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

At first glance the Whatever looks pretty damn directional, but it’s really a directional twin with just a hint more nose than tail for smashing through crud and chunder. If it’s been spewing and you want to really make the most of the powder, then you’ve got two additional sets of setback inserts to really throw your weight over the tail.

Not that you’ll probably need it, with the bindings left in their centred stance, Bataleon’s Triple Base Technology is pretty damn good at floating in deep snow. The scoop-like shape in the nose and tail funnels snow out of the sides of the board, letting you skim along the top of the snowpack. As a full camber snowboard, you wouldn’t normally expect this level of lift in powder, and this is where the Whatever really wins.

Not only an asset in the deeper snow, 3BT pays dividends across the whole mountain, you get smooth turn initiations, reduced risk of hooking up on rails and boxes, and a more forgiving platform for landings. Triple Base can take some getting used to and, like anything, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but for us it’s a winner.

“You still get a powerful ride, but one that’s not going to buck you off if you’re taking it easy or recovering from last night’s aprés”

Construction and Materials

The internal makeup of the BYNDMDLS Whatever is pretty similar to the original, but there are a few key differences that up the ante. The carbon stringers running through the centre of the board extend past the rear insert pack, stiffening up the tail for more explosive pop and power through the tail end of carves.

Dual Super Tubes run parallel through the edges of the board, these hollow carbon inserts cut down on weight while making sure you get extra precision and power out to your edges. Bataleon counterbalances these by using a biax laminate lay up, allowing the torsional flex to be slightly more mellow and playful. You still get a powerful ride, but one that’s not going to buck you off if you’re taking it easy or recovering from last night’s aprés. It’s not their fastest base, but it’ll still let you bump the needle.

“A touch stiffer, a smidge poppier, slightly more performance oriented but still at heart it’s the go anywhere, do anything snowboard we’ve loved since its debut”

Roundup

The ever elusive quiver killer, one board to do it all. Sure it can be fun having a collection of weird and wonderful shapes to suit every condition and terrain, but it’s a damn sight easier to transport just one. Whatever the conditions, whatever the terrain, whatever you fancy riding, you’re onto a winner here.

Pros:

  • About as versatile as a snowboard comes – especially on the piste/powder end of the spectrum
  • Additional setback inserts up its game in the deeper snow

Cons:

  • Triple Base can take some getting used to initially, especially if you’re used to riding traditional full camber
SHOP ALL SNOWBOARDS ON

 

Tester’s Verdict

The Whitelines Pro Team

“It’s impressive just how versatile this thing feels, given that it looks completely out of sorts from an all-mountain deck whichever angle you look at it from. But that Whatever seems to have proven itself for any most jobs on the mountain, and the slight bump up in spec and stiffness for the Beyond Medals collab is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to see for this year.

The ends of the board remain playful, the triple base remains as forgiving and fluid as always, but the slighlty stiffer mid section will give more experienced riders that extra bit of confidence when you step up your intent on the mountain.

It’s still a long way off the top spec boards through. Which is kind of why I like it. Bataleon at at their best when their best when they’re focussing on fun – and that’s exactly wat this thing is about!”

Trade Secrets

Rubby Kiebert – Sales Director, Bataleon

“Designed by Tor Lundstrom, the Beyond Medals Whatever features a more responsive flex pattern designed to take on park and backcountry situations with equal competence. The outline is directional but everything that touches the snow is twin so don’t worry about dropping in or landing switch; this board can handle it all. Tor and the Beyond Medals crew went for a party inspired graphic this season to match the Bahamas aesthetic of their new film. We have been working with Tor and the Beyond Medals crew for almost a decade helping bring their vision to life both on the screen and on the snow.”

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