Board: West La Hache
Size: 158
Camber Option: Camrocker. Mellow camber into a rocker in the tip and tail.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Loveland Ski Area
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, zero winds, warmer temps, and basic lumpy preseason conditions with corduroy in between.
Flex: This board come in just under a middle of the road for the all mountain category. You have a huge flex zone in the nose and tail with it being stiffer just outside the insert packs through the middle. The add to that a lot of torsional give as well. It is every so slightly directional with its flex but you probably won’t even notice that.
Stability: This board is mildly stable. You feel every big bump and rut in the snow. At speeds you’ll notice a lot of micro vibrations under foot. Overall it’s a very lively board but not very damp.
Ollies: The snap is somewhat there which means you have to put more effort into it to get it to pop. Don’t expect it to be the most poppy board on the market.
Pop On Jumps: As it was preseason the closest thing I hit to a jump was a bunch of sidehits. This board in my opinion while able to handle jumps should be kept on features 30 to 35 feet or less.
Butterability: The tips are super playful due to that rocker zone and you can get your weight on it and just lock in and swivel around. It presses with ease and never fights you it just stays locked in.
Jibbing: Unfortunately the preseason park was not open yet so no jibbing took place unless you count the snow curbs I was pressing. But knowing how it butters it’s going to jib the same.
Carving: This board is a little sloppy with its edge to edge transmission it just feels delayed and not as precise as other boards on the market. On edge it holds OK but can wash out on icier conditions. When laying it over you have to really drive your knee into the center to get it to slingshot out of a carve. Its strong suit are mellow carves and quick set up turns.
Rider in Mind: The all mountain freestyle rider that likes it a bit softer.
Personal Thoughts: This just felt like a softer all mountain freestyle board than others on the market. It wasn’t mind blowing and while it got the job done there’s other brands out there doing a better job. Which is a shame as I thought West at least on paper was going to be a new brand I really dug. Overall this is a snowboard and it does snowboard things but in a sea of All Mountain Freestyle boards it does not stick out.
Comparable Boards: Yes Basic, Rome Agent, Ride Wildlife.
