Some of the boards we picked for this preview are here because of their innovations in design or materials. Boards like Burton’s T6, K2’s Riser Recon, and Volkl’s Selecta are trying new things and attempting to change the way we ride. Others, like the Burton’s Shaun White and Forum’s Warrior, are included because we were just captured by them at the tradeshow. Whatever the reason for our including them, all the boards in this preview are worth keeping an eye out for come winter.

	Product:	Burton – Custom X
	PR Blurb:	If you want the all-terrain versatility of the world-renowned Custom, built with only the finest materials available, the Custom X is the only choice. With design input by Dave Downing, we reengineered the construction by maximizing the fiberglass for an optimized strength-to-wait ration that doesn’t sacrifice durability, stiffness or response. The Carbon I-Beam adds longitudinal snap for a lively ride that is aggressive enough for riders who want to ollie higher and ride harder. We upgraded the Custom X with a new Sintered WFO base, a Dragonfly core and Pressure Distribution Edges so you can ride faster, turn quicker and boost higher than you ever thought possible.
	SBG Comments:	If you haven’t heard of the Burton Custom you’ve probably been living under a rock. This year Burton took the Custom platform and cranked it up a couple of notches to make it a real performer. To visually distinguish the X from the regular Custom, Burton used a ‘soft-touch’ topsheet, giving it that weird-cool rubbery feel to it.
	Product:	Burton – Feelgood ES (W)
	PR Blurb:	Female riders who demand high-end board construction should not have to settle for men’s boards to get the best performance on snow. Turns out great minds think alike, so Shannon Dunn and Victoria Jealouse helped Burton create the all new Feelgood ES, a fully loaded, high-performance series with top-shelf tech. When you’re ready to hit that bigger booter, maneuver though steep, narrow glades and hold a better edge at high speeds, the Feelgood ES is for you. Take it in the park, in tight trees or on East Coast blue ice – the super responsive, high performance Feelgood ES is fine-tuned to handle anything. The Dragonfly core provides superior power and unrivaled weight savings for riders who know that a few less ounces can make all the difference in the park. Burton’s Pressure Distribution Edge construction provides extra edge hold when you hit a gnarly patch of ice. And the new super fast WFO (Wide F!@#$ing Open) base gives wax staying power with minimal tuning so you can haul all season long. Combine all this tech with a lightweight lively ride, and the Feelgood’s unrivaled women’s-specific shape and you’ve got a board that won’t take no for an answer.
	SBG Comments:	With both Vic and Shannon, two of the most progressive female riders of all time, collaborating on this board, female riders should take notice. Both of these women have incredible style, and the Feelgood was designed to complement this. If you’re a female rider looking for a high-performance board, I would definitely recommend taking a look at the Feelgood.
	Product:	Burton – Malolo
	PR Blurb:	The Malolo, which means “flying fish” in Hawaii, uses an unconventional shape for optimal powder performance with all-terrain freestyle feel. Embodying Terje’s unconventional thinking, the moderate 20mm of taper equals serious float for effortless glide over virgin powder, while remaining equally playful on groomers. Designed to ride shorter than your regular board and with a slightly setback stance, the Malolo blends precision cornering in any snow condition with superior stability at straight-line speeds. The added speed in deep snow allows you to use the entire mountain as a natural terrain park. Ride regular or switch and let your freestyle imagination run wild.
	SBG Comments:	Terje may not be the ‘face’ of snowboarding that he was when I was starting to ride, but there is nowhere his influence is felt more than in board design. The guy lives snowboarding, and as a result his board ideas end up being revolutionary. Tapering for better powder riding isn’t a new idea, but doing it in an attempt to optimize freestyle riding in the powder is. I look forward to finding out how it actually performs.
	Product:	Burton – Shaun White
	PR Blurb:	Shaun’s board has officially become an extension of his body. Geared to his exact specifications, this is the energetic, lightweight board that brings his inhuman tricks to life. As Shaun grows, this board will grow with him, without changing the overall ride or sacrificing its edge-to-edge quickness, so it can keep up with the longitudinal snap and response of a Carbon I-Beam, this board will blast you off the lip and power you through turns like no other. Built around a Super Fly II core for potent pop, this board demolishes everything Shaun lays eyes on.
	SBG Comments:	Everything this kid touches turns to white gold these days. As a result he has the ability to demand whatever he wants in a board, and it looks like those demands have been good. If I was a kid about his size, I would definitely think about buying his board just in the hopes that some of what he’s got would wear off on me.
	Product:	Burton – T6
	PR Blurb:	For the most technologically advanced freeride board on the planet, we designed the T6 with Terje for the discriminating rider who demands a lively and agile board that excels in any condition. Fusing aerospace technology with precision0engineered materials, this ultimate all-terrain board offers uncompromising snap and response. For 05 we used a higher-grade aluminum honeycomb to create a strong Alumafly core, while maintaining the same light feeling under your feet. The non-organic dimensionally profiled tip-to-tail core means the flex will remain consistent for a lifetime of agile handling over natural terrain.
	SBG Comments:	How could we preview Burton’s gear and not take a look at the T6. It’s been upgraded somewhat, but it’s basically still the same kick-ass board that debuted last year. Burton is definitely pushing the edge of technology with the T6; the result is what should bet the best performing freeride board on the market.
	Product:	Forum – Warrior
	PR Blurb:	The Warrior is a new offering for 2005, featuring top of the line construction and design features that deliver uncompromising all-mountain, freeride performance. Equally at home in the powder or the hardpack, this board handles all terrain types with ease, remaining stable and easy to maneuver at both slow and high speeds. The Warrior stands head and shoulders above the competition due to its unique combination of versatility, stability, pop, and response.
	SBG Comments:	This looks to be a great choice for the hard-charging all mountain board. I’ve grown to like Forum boards more and more, and their lineup for 2005 is really impressive looking. The Warrior has many of the bells and whistles that the 04 Forum boards did, but is using better materials. Whether you are a fan of Forum, or just looking for a new all mountain board, the Warrior is one you shouldn’t pass over.
	Product:	Forum – Street Dweller
	PR Blurb:	The Forum Street Dweller is designed as a supplementary snowboard for riders who enjoy street rails, but hate the damage it inflicts to their real snowboard. Designed to look and feel like an on-hill snowboard, but costing a third of the price, The Forum Street Dweller features a full-length wood core and die-cut base graphics. Furthermore, a do-it-yourself stencil kit allows for customization of top-sheet graphics, while an ABS reinforced sidewall directly connects to the base, making for an “edgeless” edge – perfect for rail and street jibbing.
	SBG Comments:	The Street Dweller seems like a pretty cool offering from Forum. Anyone who has spent any time street jibbing knows how fast it can kill boards. By offering the Street Dweller at around $120, Forum has enabled the average rider to own three boards for the price of one, and they did it without cutting any corners. Because it’s designed for rails, it doesn’t have metal edges, which means you can’t take it to most resorts, but it does make it a lot harder to catch an edge on a rail. I think this board will even edge out Burton’s Dominant Slick because of the price difference.
	Product:	K2 – Legend
	PR Blurb:	The Legend was designed to excel in powder, whether you’re riding switch or regular! We designed this board with the help of Canada’s premier powder resort, Island Lake Lodge, and pro rider Brian Savard, who wanted a board that he could take on his heli trips, to huck off jumps and cliffs and land in the powder. “The slight shaping of the long nose and tail gives it awesome floatation, combined with the short running length and quick side cut. It has the ability to spin quick of the lip and turn fast in the trees. It’s a super fun, predictable board to ride. I ride the Legend full time in all conditions.” – Brian
	SBG Comments:	The legend is a great looking entry in the freeride category. Brian Savard is an impressive freerider, and I would expect a board he designed to perform in the backcountry will do just that. It’s a sweet looking board, and it’s got the technology and quality to match. It is definitely not an entry-level board, but if you’re looking at upper end freeride boards, this one should be on your list.
	Product:	K2 – Mix (W)
	PR Blurb:	Strong enough for a man, but PH balanced for a woman. Step aside boys; this board was built for girls who will rip right by you! Carbon Kevlar Matrix, Carbon Torsion Forks, procured fiberglass, everything the guys want and more. This is the board Gretchen Bleiler was on when she won her 7 gold medals last year, including her X-Games finale.
	SBG Comments:	Gretchen rips on this board, and that should be all you need to hear to know that this is one hell of a board. Girls looking for a performance board will want to keep their eye on this one next fall.
	Product:	K2 - Recon Riser S-Class
	PR Blurb:	Boardercross, steeps, corduroy groomers, the Recon Riser S-Class is all about stability, speed and control. It features an all new shape and construction this year. A Dual Composite Riser that is 4mm of traditional Riser with 2mm of a vibration absorbing material on top. The cush underfoot reduced chatter, keeping your edge in the snow for more control.
	SBG Comments:	K2 has been playing with this riser for a while, and it looks like they have nailed it this year. The extra 2mm of cushion should make a considerable difference in chatter and control. If you push hard enough on the riser you can feel it compress, and it will be interesting to see how this actually translates to the hill.
	Product:	Revolution
	PR Blurb:	Now, with a few clicks of a mouse, professionals and novices alike can order their own custom boards. Using state-of-the-art technology, riders are able to design their own completely unique, high quality snowboard. Snow boarding is an individual sport, so design your own custom dream board online and have it shipped directly to you. We are excited to bring you the ability to design and customize your own board.
	SBG Comments:	Revolution offers riders the chance to design their own boards, and they do it right. You can control everything, from board length and stiffness topsheet and base graphics. They even build their own high-quality boards right here in the US. If you are looking for a board that sits ‘outside the box,’ definitely take a look at Revolution’s website, www.RideHarder.com.
	Product:	Volkl – Destiny (W)
	PR Blurb:	This high-performance freestyle-board leads the way to uncompromising emancipation in the snow. Edging made Easy! A significantly narrower shape – especially designed for feminine figures. Tircky tricks? No problem anymore! The robust, ultra-light woodcore with double aramid and carbon layers provides control and an indescribable feeling. With the Destiny, even at high speeds you’re in for a playful and smooth ride. A stiffer flex inspires advanced and pro girls, or those who are well on their way to new personal heights in the snow. Extravagant gold-glitter graphic on the classic black – class instead of mass.
	SBG Comments:	This was one of the first boards Volkly showed to us; I think they were trying to shock us right out of the starting gate. I’ve always thought that Nidecker’s Megalight series was unbeatably light, but you can actually hold the Destiny on one finger. Everything about this board screams high-class and for the girl rider looking for a performance board, the Destiny should definitely be on the shopping list. Seek it out at a shop next fall, if just to see how light it is.
	Product:	Volkl – Selecta
	PR Blurb:	Years of Freedom Force experience have materialized in the vision of a revolutionary powder board. Better control and stability result in an unbelievable powder feeling on quick, cut-back turns. The unique shape of the wide nose provides perfect float in powder. The revolutionary Powder-Channel offers a never before experienced feeling; but be careful, once you try Selecta, you’ll never go back! And the eye is always looking at you, a triangular metal emblem that’s the sign of our triune: mountain, man and board. The Selecta’s development kept us busy for almost two years. The Freedom Force tested like crazy to get this freeride masterpiece ready for production.
	SBG Comments:	When we travel to the tradeshows, we always expect to see new stuff, but there are always a couple of products that truly blow us away. The Selecta was one of those products this year. Volkl has an entirely new take on the classic split-tail pow-board. If you’ve been considering investing in a powder stick, watch for the Selecta next year. It is surprisingly light-weight, especially compared to boards that are similar in size and design. As little as it ‘should’ matter, the Selecta is also the prettiest powder board I have ever seen. The transparent topsheet allows you to see the core, which has a mountain design burned into it.