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Lib Tech Orca 2021-2022 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £580 / €650
  • Category: All-Mountain / Freeride + Powder
  • Sizes: 138, 144, 147, 150, 153, 156, 159, 162
  • Flex: 7/10
  • Shape: Directional
  • Profile: Combo
  • 3D: No
  • Base: Sintered
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Everyone’s favourite Jackson Hole legend made some serious waves when he released the Orca with Lib Tech in 2018, and years later it’s still a top seller across the world. To be fair, anything Travis Rice puts his name to becomes an instant classic- but the Orca really is something to behold, with its setback inserts, tapered shape and elongated nose the Orca is a true beast of the deep. A snowboard that floats like a champ when it’s been spewing, digs trenches when the tide’s low and slashes with the best of ‘em.

“A snowboard that floats like a champ when it’s been spewing, digs trenches when the tide’s low and slashes with the best of ‘em”

MORE INFO:
LIBTECH.COM

Who Is The Lib Tech Orca For?

You’re the kind of rider who thrives on powder days, but you don’t want a snowboard that’ll sit and gather dust while you wait for the perfect conditions to strike. You’re not a complete beginner, but you don’t have to be ripping like Travis himself to make the most of the Orca. Realistically you don’t lap the park too much, your freestyle is mostly confined to grabs off of pillows or floaty three’s when you’re boosting windlips (or you have a more park focused deck in your quiver).

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

Thanks to its super directional, tapered outline, on the surface the Orca looks like a snowboard that’s reserved purely for the deepest days, and of course, it does excel in powder, but the beauty of the Orca is its adaptability and prowess across a multitude of terrain and snow conditions.

Thanks to its tight sidecut and MagneTraction edge profile the Orca can turn on a dime and once you’re up on an edge, you’re fully locked and loaded, factor in the extra width and it’s a veritable euro-carve machine for the days you’re not out hunting powder. The pockets of camber reaching out towards the nose and tail inject the Orca with a big dose of dynamic power for pumping in and out of turns and increased stability on hardpack.

“The pockets of camber reaching out towards the nose and tail inject the Orca with a big dose of dynamic power for pumping in and out of turns and increased stability on hardpack”

Construction and Materials

If you’re looking for all of Mervin’s NASA-level tech wizardry, you won’t find it here. Not to say that the Orca doesn’t bring some real heat to the table, it’s just more of a steady simmer than a full-on explosion. The Apex Orca is your best bet if you’re looking for the same dimensions but with Lib Tech’s newest and most sophisticated core, a faster base and a more responsive glass weave.

As with all Lib Tech snowboards, the Orca is hand built in the USA, with wind and water generated power, using FSC certified wood, water-based ink, and an eco-friendly Bio Beans topsheet.

“To broaden the Orca’s appeal, Lib have added two new sizes for this season, it’s fun for the whole family- make a splash taking your pod out for a spin”

Roundup

With the introduction of the Apex Orca, Golden Orca and the Orca Split, Travis’ herd quadruples in size for 2021/22. Those looking for something a little more powerful, or who want to make the most of Lib’s top shelf tech would do well to check out these new playmates. To broaden the Orca’s appeal, Lib have added two new sizes for this season, it’s fun for the whole family- make a splash taking your pod out for a spin. Okay, enough Orca puns.

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