Board: Lib Tech Skunk Ape II
Buy it here:
Christy Sports: https://bit.ly/3CyI5d7
Evo: https://bit.ly/3V2rPbM
Buckmans: https://bit.ly/3CJmOhj
The House: https://bit.ly/3CBIdca
REI: https://bit.ly/3rACPj7
PRFO: https://bit.ly/3fy8Pl1
Blue Tomato: https://tidd.ly/3V2s9Hw
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EkvOuj
Size: 161w
Camber Option: C2x. Smaller reverse camber section between the feet with more camber underfoot.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Sunny bluebird skies, moderate to high winds, warm temps, slush, chop, chunder, a little ice, and hero snow groomers.
Flex: This has that predictable middle of the road all mountain flex pattern. Slightly softer nose with a little stiffer tail, stiffer through the camber sections and then where the center reverse is you get more play. The torsional flex is there but due to the width of this board it feels more rigid than it is.
Stability: The width of this board really lends itself to being stable to a point. Obviously having a size 10 foot I’m not getting as much out of this as say someone with a size 12. What I did notice is that you do get some chatter in the tips and you will feel that underfoot. In really rutted out terrain you notice that it does take more body jarring hits where the camber section is. In slush it plows through everything in its path.
Ollies: It can pop, but what you put in is what you get out. That C2x profile somewhat limits it having more snap. What it comes down to is don’t skip leg day, that way you can get the most out of popping off your rear foot.
Pop On Jumps: It has enough to handle small to medium features, probably could handle some bigger ones but there wasn’t anything like that to test it out on. It feels like riding a Cadillac Eldorado off a curb due to its size.
Butterability: For as big as this is and as wide it actually buttered pretty easily. I had no issue getting my weight out on the nose or tail and flexing this board to do some butter variations. If you’re a competent rider or the right proportions it won’t be an issue.
Jibbing: Is it a jib board? No. Can it handle jibs? Sure, but keep it simple. You want to be doing basic presses and slides, nothing crazy advanced. It’ll hold a nose or tail press because you can utilize that flex point in the middle reverse camber and it will slightly pop off the end of the feature. Going sideways you want to keep it more under your front or rear foot to lock it in.
Carving: It’s a boat of a board but it does its best to turn. You can feel that medium quickness from edge to edge or how it draws out its carves from one side of the run to the other. When you really drive this board it takes more effort (at least for someone of my stature as my feet aren’t the biggest) but it locks in and holds that carve. Short tight quick carves or medium mellow carves are its strong suit, but when you’re feeling saucy lay it over and see what you can do.
Rider in Mind: Sasquatch that doesn’t smell like a Skunk Ape.
Personal Thoughts: I’m not a Samsquantch of a man so probably shouldn’t have ridden this but someone who shops at the Paul Bunyan store will complain I never ride boards for them. Here’s why I don’t, I’m not built like you! Sure it rode fine and did what I needed it to do. If anything it felt like a Terrain Wrecker but wider. It’s a middle of the road do anything deck that doesn’t stand out as being overly exceptional or mediocre.
Comparable Boards:
Rome Warden: https://bit.ly/3rAE7ut
Ride Shadowban: https://bit.ly/3SLaFxW
Niche Aether:
Binding Recommendations:
Bent Metal Axtion: https://bit.ly/3STaMH8
Ride C-6: https://bit.ly/3Ma6Rnh
Rome DOD: https://bit.ly/3efF7AW
