Construction and Materials
The graphics may be more understated but Burton certainly haven’t skimped on the internal make up of the Hometown Hero. And while it’s not as tech-heavy as some others in the line, there’s still a lot to write home about.
Burton use their Super Fly II Core, stepping off the scales at a tidy 700 grams and, even more impressively, Burton switch up the direction of the wood stringers in target areas to offer more response and strength along the sidecut. They also mill the core to varying thickness to highlight specific areas for more play or power accordingly. It’s this attention to detail that really helps Burton stand out from the crowd.
The fibreglass matrix is also pretty techy, using 45 degree highlights and a full carbon layer to up the performance whilst still maintaining that lightweight feel.
“If you’re a confident rider who is happy in a range of conditions and terrain, you’ll find you’ve got yourself a snowboard that wants to be ridden hard and fast”
Roundup
Burton are quite possibly the biggest snowboard brand on the planet, and let’s be honest, it’s for good reason. These guys know what they’re doing when it comes to designing world class goods.
It’s hard to put your finger on exactly where the Hometown Hero is built for- there’s no black and white answer here, unfortunately. But, if you’re a confident rider who is happy in a range of conditions and terrain, you’ll find you’ve got yourself a snowboard that wants to be ridden hard and fast. Damp enough that you can hit uneven terrain without rattling your fillings out; enough juice that you would be hard pressed to find yourself outgunned across varied conditions.
Pros:
- The kind of board that excels in the best — and worst — conditions mother nature throws your way
- There’s a wide variety of sizes for a huge range of riders
Cons:
- You need to bring your A-game to get the most out of this. Backseat drivers who don’t like to come out of 3rd gear need not apply
Tester’s Verdict
Rob McCreath – Editor, Whitelines
“I just keep on coming back to this one. I’m pretty neutral with most things Bib B — not exactly a loyal fan boy, but not one of the haters either — but the Hometown Hero is consistently one of my favourite boards in test.
Sometimes the conditions you test a snowboard in dictate how you feel about it more than the product itself. It was flat light, most of the fresh snow had been tracked out, and the legs weren’t really firing. Definitely not feeling it.
Strapping into the Hometown Hero fixed all of that. It’s like snowboarding in HD – so sharp and accurate, it changes the way you see the mountain. It’s soft enough between the feet that you can still feel yourself working the board, but it holds a line on edge like the stiffest freeride boards on the market.
I was really surprised how it rode switch, too. Directional, tapered, backseat camber boards shouldn’t feel this balanced in the reverse gear, but I found myself constantly wanting to change it up on the takeoffs of landings. Not that I’m comparing it to a true twin or anything – it’s when you’re facing forwards that the Hometown Hero show’s the best side of itself.
The Hometown is a really solid 9-5 snowboard. If first laps deliver fresh snow or pristine groomers, the ride feels tailored to those conditions. As the snow chops, bumps or slushes up, it’s still a proper workhorse down to that stiffer flex and backseat camber.
It’s definitely not your entry level quiver killer. This is for someone doesn’t just ride, but attacks the whole mountain and likes to keep their foot on the gas no matter what conditions they’re in. If you’re that kind of rider, this is your kind of board.”
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