“It had been a really long time since I rode anything from Drake, so I was super stoked to get on the pioneering brand’s ‘Drake Team 2020’ board for three days in April. Overall it is a powerful piece of all-mountain kit, but definitely avoid this board if you’re a beginner. It stood up to everything the mountain could throw at it, with standout abilities in technical backcountry lines and simply when going fast as hell around the whole mountain.

In your hand, the board looks solid, clearly well made with a nice finish. I rode a 158 high spec medium flex binding and got a wide variety of terrain to sample.

This board is no joke, and is not to be trifled with. It demands to be ridden hard and fast, and it definitely took me a bit of time getting used to it. The base is very quick and soaks up wax very well. It is, no doubt, a stiff board throughout – I guess about 8 out of 10 – with a directional twin shape that has a classic style camber, right under both feet.

“This board is no joke, and is not to be trifled with”

When carving and charging, the stiffness is evident offering next level response that demands your full attention. The sidecut is on point, with solid contact points that engage turns with confidence. The classic camber combined with a powerful edge give your turns an extremely reliable hold when going fast. ‘Fast’ is the default setting with this board, and stands up well in terms of stability. Chatter is not a consistent problem, and it seems to mow down everything in its path; crud, slush, fresh powder, the Drake Team makes light work of it.

In the park the board felt great to jump. It has serious pop and feels stable in the air. It dampens and absorbs shocks very well, taking strain off sketchy landings. Not a great board for noodling, buttering and low key park jibbing, this board is a sender looking for the big hits.

It feels good in the powder and can take a drop well. It is challenging in the trees and tight powder terrain.

Overall it is a bombproof board that any advanced / expert rider would enjoy. There are more chilled All Mountain rides out there, but the Drake Team is reserved for the heavy hitters and senders who like a powerful rig – one that’s built for abuse.”