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DC Space Echo 2017-2018 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £410 / €520
  • Sizes: 154, 158, 162
  • Flex: 8
  • Profile: Camber
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • dcshoes.com

This is year two for the DC Space Echo, and little has changed. Fans of classic directional twin snowboards with tons of camber and a good stiff flex will be pleased about that, whereas more timid riders need not apply.

“Snapping it would be a Herculean task, so you don’t need to hold back when hitting features both man-made and natural”

On the surface it may seem like a throwback, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about the way the DC Space Echo has been put together. The poplar core is enhanced with strips of beech wood running down the middle, following the lines made by the binding inserts. Snapping it would therefore be a Herculean task, so you don’t need to hold back when hitting features both man-made and natural.

And hit features you should; it’s not a pure park board, but it’ll still feel right at home on the XL line, or in the pipe. Those who equate freestyle with pressing ride-on boxes and buttering a freshly-groomed piste will be at odds with this. There’s not much give, so it’s far more suited to loading up for big-time booter hits. The same goes in the backcountry; the DC Space Echo is the perfect accompaniment for clearing gap jumps, airing off spines and dropping the biggest cliffs you can find.

When you reach the take-off point, the ‘Fresh Deck’ topsheet tech gives you explosive pop. Not only has the wood been especially selected for this purpose, it’s also been treated to withstand the elements well enough to deliver the same amount of snap from days 1 to 100.

“It’s not a pure park board, but it’ll still feel right at home on the XL line, or in the pipe”

Underneath you’ll find responsive triax fibreglass and a sintered base, marking the DC Space Echo out as a speed demon. At the highest velocities you dare push it to, it remains smooth and responsive. Again, anyone not feeling the Force at high speeds may not appreciate it as much as those who love to point it.

It’s also got the Iikka Backstrom seal of approval, and the DC Space Echo is ideal for those who share the flying Finn’s affinity for high-end freestyle all over the mountain.

The Space Echo boasts camber and a stiff flex for maximum power and pop.

Tester’s Verdict

Tom Copseyonboardmag.com

“While he was setting this up, the DC rep explained that this is the board favoured by a lot of the team for hitting big park features – think Sebbe de Buck clearing hips, or Mons Roisland sending switch back 12s over lengthy tables.

“This board has dependable power, pop and edge hold when you need it most”

From the first few turns I knew what he meant: it was immediately clear the Space Echo is a solid, powerful steed that demands to be ridden. It’s stiff, but ‘good’ stiff – it’s not like you can’t cruise on it, it’s just it’s much better when you don’t.

The old school regular camber is not as playful as some of the blended hybrid base profiles out there, but it means this board has dependable power, pop and edge hold when you need it most. It could have been that the DC rep waxes better than his peers, but it felt like the base was noticeably nippier than the other boards I tested.

All in all, the Space Echo would make for a great high-performance all-rounder for riders who like to ride hard and want the stability and power needed to step to bigger features.”

Trade Secrets

Dave Appel – Director of Snowboarding Hardgoods, DC

We sat down with Iikka Backstrom in the French Alps to design the one board that could be ridden everywhere. What we came up with was the DC Space Echo.

From the traditional camber to the directional shape, this board has you feeling comfortable no matter what condition you find yourself in.

The graphics on the DC Space Echo are like a sleeve tattoo - you can stare at them for hours and find new stuff!
2017/18 DC Space Echo graphic options

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