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West La Hache 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: CHF729 / €629 / $729
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Size: 152, 154, 156, 156W, 158, 158W, 162
  • Flex: 6-8/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: CamRock
  • Base: Sintered

When something remains unchanged, is it a sign of laziness or confidence? Well, if it’s the buttered slice of white toast you’ve made for every breakfast over the last three years, we’d have to say the former. If, on the other hand, you’re talking about West Snowboarding’s flagship model, the La Hache, we’d put it firmly in the latter camp. This all-mountain snowboard has been on the roster since year one and has remained unchanged since 2017. Here’s why that’s such a good thing…

After the false prophecies of the rocker-profile hype of the early 2000s, the camrock rose from the ashes and remains the go-to profile for an all-mountain snowboard that delivers on pop, power and stability as well as aiding with float in deeper conditions and providing a more forgiving and freestyle focussed feel around the ends of the board.

“If you’re willing to part with a little extra cash, it will probably be the only snowboard you need this seasonIf you’re willing to part with a little extra cash, it will probably be the only snowboard you need this season”

The La Hache has a positive camber running well outside the insert pack – something that should appeal to commanding intermediate riders and up – but still has enough rocker in the nose and tail to deliver on versatility in all-season conditions.

The woodcore is where much of the cost comes into play. The La Hache ain’t cheap, after all, but the combination of poplar, paulownia, beech and spruce wood stringers make for an incredibly lively and durable snowboard that’s going to retain its pop and rebound long after the first few months of hard riding. Not to mention, it makes it impressively light, too.

That’s bolstered up with two carbon stringers that run from the tip to tail, through the centre of the snowboard. This helps to store up energy through the full length of the core if you’re railing a carve and keeps things stable at higher speeds. If you’re taking the La Hache through the park, you’ll certainly feel how stable take offs and landings are. Even with its 20mm set back stance and slightly stiffer tail, you’ll struggle to feel too much difference when riding it in switch.

With sizes running down to a female friendly 152, the La Hache makes a quality option for a huge variety of riders providing you divvy up your time across the whole mountain, rather than stick to one style. However, if you’re willing to part with a little extra cash, it will probably be the only snowboard you need this season.

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

Rob McCreathWhitelines

“This was my first time riding a West snowboard and, from what I gathered, the La Hache was the best place to start. This is West’s flagship model and it’s easy to see why.

Not that it matters (even though it totally does), but I’m a really big fan of the natural wood, offset with black and blue topsheet. The board just looks premium and timeless. It definitely has a vibe of something that hasn’t been pumped out on a production line, but handcrafted with that meticulous level of Swiss attention to detail.

My first run on this was in whiteout, powdery conditions up at 3500m in Hintertux – probably not this board’s natural calling, but all the more reason for it to impress me. By no means is this a powder board; it’s not even a freeride board. The shape is that of a true twin and, while the rocker in the nose didn’t lend epic levels of lift in deep snow, it managed just fine.

Further down, where the visibility improved and the pistes returned to their groomed condition, the La Hache started to show its true nature. The combination of a really lightweight and lively wood core with those full-length stringers running from the tip to tail made the board bounce and hop in and out of every turn.

I love a board that feels like it’s just waiting for you to make a move and react – like a tennis player on the returning end of a serve. Every time I put the board into a press, turn or spin I felt the response underfoot immediately which made for a really predictable ride.

“I love a board that feels like it’s just waiting for you to make a move and react – like a tennis player on the returning end of a serve. Every time I put the board into a press, turn or spin I felt the response underfoot immediately which made for a really predictable ride”

The flex rating varies from a six to an eight, depending on what size of board you ride. This seems kind of strange to me, surely a bigger rider will flex a bigger board as much as a smaller rider will flex a softer board… either way, the 158 (which is my usual size) felt right on the money for me.

Speaking of money, my only gripe with this board is the cost. It’s a great performing snowboard, and definitely one that you won’t see around the mountains too often either, but it does come in a bit steeper than a lot of the competition. I understand that the more premium materials and smaller production output will likely bump the price up, but I fear that may turn a lot of potential customers away. That’s a real shame, as it only took me one top to bottom run to be completely converted to the La Hache, and I’m sure there are a whole bunch more riders out there who’d feel the same.

If you’re happy to spend and have something a little different from the norm, but also a snowboard that you can ride every day and ultimately get your money’s worth out of, this one should be a shoo-in.”

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