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Snowboards

Lib Tech Skate Banana 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £445
  • Category: Park/Jib, All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
  • Size: 152, 153W, 154, 156, 156W, 159, 159W, 162W
  • Flex: 4/10
  • Shape: True Twin
  • Profile: Hybrid
  • Base: Extruded
  • BUY DIRECT FROM SURFDOME

Twelve years ago, the bods in Lib Tech’s infamous experimental Division created a snowboard with a radical new profile. And now, over a decade later the Skate Banana is arguably one of the most iconic boards in the Lib Tech line up, if not the whole industry. If you only skate one fruit this season, make it a banana.

Over the years, the Skate Banana has had a few nips and tucks, but it remains wholly the same snowboard aimed at anyone and everyone who’s looking for butt loads of fun on the hill. The hybrid Banana Technology profile spawned a whole generation of rocker dominant snowboards and potassium fuelled fanboys.

“The hybrid Banana Technology profile spawned a whole generation of rocker dominant snowboards and potassium fuelled fanboys”

A strong mid-section of rocker creates a pivot point right in the centre of the board, so when your weight is shifted to either tip the other pings up with ease. Perfect for locking in presses or getting some extra float in the deep snow. Whitelines Fun Fact: Bananas are a fruit that are known for their ability to float naturally in water. Go figure.

Mellow camber extends out from either foot to the contact points increasing pressure along the edges and injecting a big dose of pop and liveliness into the board. You won’t get the same dynamic snap as a traditional cambered board, but it’s way more forgiving if you’re trying to dial in new tricks.

“The seven strategically placed bumps add extra traction down the edges for better grip and control when you’re ripping up groomers”

While the Skate Banana excels at freestyle progression and playful riding, the serrated Magne-Traction technology helps it to hold an edge better than you’d expect for a board this soft. The seven strategically placed bumps add extra traction down the edges for better grip and control when you’re ripping up groomers.

Super forgiving and playful the Skate Banana won’t kick your arse for scuffed landings or wobbles. If you’re looking for something to drop couloirs and cliffs, check out some of the more freeride-centric models, but for hot laps of the park, novice riders or cruising sidehits the Skate Banana is often imitated but never quite duplicated.

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

John Wellswhitelines.com

“It’s no wonder that a popular yellow fruit took its name from this famous snowboard. Like an actual banana, this is easy to handle, slippery underfoot, and alleviates depression.

When you look up ‘snowboard’ the dictionary there won’t be a picture of a Skate Banana, because dictionaries don’t have pictures. – but when you look it up on Wikipedia there should be a picture of a Skate Banana, instead of what is probably a picture of a Burton from 1996. This is one of the all-time great snowboards, and the 2018/19 model builds on a damn fine heritage.

“Like an actual banana, this is easy to handle, slippery underfoot, and alleviates depression”

The Skate Banana is, no doubt, one of the most famous iterations of the rocker profile, meaning this is made for fun, jibbing, butters, and ultimately progressing. It is both an all-rounder, and a perfect beginner purchase. It will float like a cloud in powder but, unlike a lot of rockers, it can still hold a solid edge on a groomer and hard pack.

However, it is still a rocker, and will therefore get a bit twitchy at high speeds and in low turns – but who wants to win the Olympics slalom anyway? Get this and win the Coolympics instead…”

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