• Price: €380
• Category: Park/Jib
• Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
• Size: 148, 151, 154, 156W, 157
• Flex: 4/10
• Shape: True Twin
• Profile: 3D Camber
• Base: Extruded
• BUY DIRECT FROM LOBSTER

As the most affordable option in the Lobster lineup, the Shifter is a true twin park snowboard designed for buttery smooth jibbing and side hit creativity more than full-blown XL kicker lines. This Shifter isn’t a speed demon designed for sitting in cruise control, nor is it catering for those who like to get off the beaten track and into the backcountry. But riders who like to mix things up and go between first and fifth gear – and spend plenty of time in reverse – will find a solid daily driver in this snowboard.

While the likes of the Stomper or Cream disguise their park performance in a directional twin outline, the Shifter is uncompromising in its park DNA. Tucked inside that true twin shape is tough as nails poplar and beech wood core, sandwiched between easy flexing biax laminates. There’s a touch of carbon, too, but the single stringers under the inserts won’t affect the torsional or longitudinal flex. Instead, they provide a little underfoot dampening for heavy knocks and flat landings. The undercarriage features the Super Slick extruded base, also commonly found in many of Bataleon’s jib and park focussed decks.

“The Shifter is a true twin park snowboard designed for buttery smooth jibbing and side hit creativity more than full-blown XL kicker lines”

This all has the makings of a bombproof bulldozer of a jib vehicle. The urethane infused Flex Walls, which feature on all Lobster decks, add a bumper-like element of protection to the sidewalls, so you don’t need to be too precious about dinging the board on rail features.

A full tip to tail low camber runs through the Shifter and provides the pop and edge hold that you’d expect, although the profile is far less aggressive than the likes of the Sender. The Sidekicks also still feature just outside the widest part of the nose and tail, providing smoother turn initiations, more mellow handling through crud and a more forgiving, less catchy ride.

The change for this season comes with Lobster’s new 3D Nose and Tail design. The nose and tail bevel out around the edges but, unlike in Bataleon’s Triple Base Technology, it takes place beyond the contact surface area. You’ll only feel this right at the ends of the board, where buttering and pressing become virtually impossible to hook-up on.

“The change for this season comes with Lobster’s new 3D Nose and Tail design”

The Shifter is less fussed about compensating for any limitations and, instead, focussed on proving itself as one of the most fun park and jib boards that money can buy. And not exactly a fat fistful of cash either. For dome, street and park riders who know what they want to ride, chances are the Shifter wants to ride it, too.