2009 BURTON FISH SNOWBOARD REVIEW

[ventriliventure]

'surfs up bitches'

[JackP33]

Yup the Fish is adequate at best on groomers. If it's spring and I know I won't be going off piste in search of pow then the Malolo is much more fun for ripping grooms. You're really in the back seat on a Fish. Even in stiff powder at speed the Fish start to get a wobble, something less prone on the Malolo.

If you put a gun to my head and said I had to pick between the two...I'd probably let you pull the trigger :P

[JinjaBeard]

@JackP33 i disagree..i have an '09 fish and it's fantastic on the groomers if you're into carving. if i set my bindings at the reference marks on my 156, i can rip up the groomers making long perfect carves or short tight lines...whatever you want! if you power through a carve by rolling just a bit on to your back leg it'll pop you through your transition really nicely. my old custom isn't nearly as nice to carve on..granted, her edge bevel aint what it used to be.. :)

[JackP33]

@JinjaBeard It's funny you should bring this up now. Most of my Fish on groomers comments were based on my pre-S-Rocker fishes. A few weeks back I didn't feel like moving my bindings over and rode the '09 on groomers. I take it all back, I was laying it OVER haulin' balls! I'm guessing what is going on here is by taking the shovel out of play you are no longer in the back seat, instead ur centered on basically a shorter board.  Now I'm eyeing the S-Rocker Malolo! Thanks for callin me out

[JinjaBeard]

@JackP33 YES, EXACTLY!! oh man, i'm so happy to hear you feel the same way on the S-Rocker.. it's nuts! I didn't stop to think that maybe you were (previously) riding a fish without the rocker. If you get to try the malolo, PLEEEASE let me know how it feels in relation to the fish. My next board will be something with relatively big taper, but longer for high speed stability but ridiculous edge hold and tons of transition pop. i was thinking nitro pantera, malolo..something along those lines.

[ne130dy]

wow that was fast. glad i asked first. thanks!

[ne130dy]

how well would the fish do on a groomed run? i was thinking about buying this board from you guys.

[PortersLars]

that board is only fun in deep pow and unless you mean groomed run to just get back to the lift this aint a groomer board, you will not have fun with this board doing hot laps on a groomed run, maybe think about the supermodel or even this years Burton GURU as an alternative... do not buy this board to ride it on groomers

[spenserrr]

on the contrary to what lars said, the fish is actually a blast for speeding down groomers.  obviously pow is its home, but inbetween, i love going fast and making big wide carves on my fish. it rides perfectly fine on groomers. dont buy it FOR groomers obviously, but dont worry a bit that it wont work well.

[PortersLars]

spensserr... alaska heli lines do not count as groomers... the fish at best is sketchy on Tahoe groomed runs and the real problem is the lack of a tail to allow to rebound properly out of a high speed turn on a groomed run.

[spenserrr]

our snow is a lot like tahoe... heavier. ive ridden it on icy groomers to slushy groomers and i loved it every time. you dont HAVE to rebound.. youre not rebounding with rocker, are you, since theres no camber to rebound from? so same with the fish and its lack of tail. just turn, and then transition into another turn. never felt sketchy or weird to me. im not advocating it as a groomer board... im just saying if you know how to snowboard, its perfectly fine.

[PortersLars]

good point, but the last point is the most important... if you know how to snowboard. To many people have discovered that rockered tech can make snowboarding lazy and easy. You ride much more centered and loose the front leg drive and rear leg steer or rebound to make proper turns... my only point is to not suggesting this board towards someone looking for a goomer board in the sense that there are much more practical powder / groomer boards that will allow for a better day or riding

[spenserrr]

i agree. i think it depends on what the specific person wants on groomers between pow runs, though. if its just going down to get back up to the pow, then the fish is fine. if they want actual performance and "rebounding" turns and maybe even a little switch riding, something less tapered and setback like the malolo or supermodel.. or all around performance + great in pow + switch, gyrator. i had a gyrator as my all around board and it was rad, but i ride mostly pow anyway.

[mistamovie]

have to say i disagree with the Lars about not having fun on groomed runs. i love blasting groomed runs on the fish (only to get back to the lift of course). couldnt agree with spenserrr more, you can really rip it on the board on the cord, doesnt take long to get back leg burn but its all good

[mistamovie]

burton boards do suck when it comes to bottom sheet strength though, my fish is like playdo, and i snapped the rail on my first day (gutted) didnt help i hit the mother of all rocks

[transplant07]

what the fuck do you know about swallow tails. you dont even surf

[PortersLars]

we are less than 3 hours from the surf... so um yeah we know a little about it.

[BurtonGirl580]

Niiiice board!

[TotallyInsaneShane]

hahaha surfs up bitches!

nice touch at the end

[MetallicBread98]

Is that a woman riding the fish or is it a guy?

[PortersLars]

That is our team Manager and photog Eric Asistin ripping it on the Fish

[jszilagyi20]

surf's up bitches!

[GoH4bsGo]

Why the hell didnt he go in the park? :P :P :P

[elementskater48]

because its not a park board

[STORM6490MT]

Now you can step it up another notch and get a swallowtail. Winterstick discontinued the roundtail plus back in the day for a reason. Might as well have the real deal. And no, it cant turn faster in tighter trees. It skids its turns.

[PortersLars]

If it skids turn then what is the correct term you are referring to pow turns wise? Carve scarve or skid, really you only have a few choices when it comes to turn terminology. While is may be more appropriate to say that you carve a turn more than skid in deep pow a skidded turn is also appropriate. Also this swallow tail is more in line of surfboards and not as much like the Winterstick, for a reason.

[STORM6490MT]

the aasi would call it a skidded turn. it happens naturally because of the regressive sidewall or tapered edge. the real swallowtails have a progressive edge and allow the rider to perform a dynamic carve i the powder more like surfing. the fish is a roundtail that was invented in the 80's by winterstick and called a roundtail because of the design. they 86's it because the swallowtails just performed better.

The fish is like a pintail surfboard, yes and its identical to the old WS.

[PortersLars]

Well, if swallowtails did perform better then they would still be around. Fact is more boards are getting shorter and better shaped to make powder easier. In the Video Eric is making both Carved and skidded turns which are appropriate the terrain and as long as there is side cut you can carve basically any board. Also the pinner tail allows the rider to rebound unweight much faster and easier than a swallow tail then allowing an easier cross under to occur.

[STORM6490MT]

They are still around and in production by several companies. Nitro has been making them since the mid 90's. Winterstick made them off and on as their company struggled. Prior makes them as does rossignol, pogo and a few other companies.

You can't complete a turn on the fish and it creates poor riding habits. But, it is pretty fun for someone getting into deep powder for the first time.

Lets see some dynamic carved turns on the roundtail! LOL

Your rep is full of BS.

[PortersLars]

Actually that from my first hand experience on the board I have not spoke with the rep regarding this board. I personally have a Salomon Fastback 167 for big pow days and find it sometimes too big and would rather have a smaller tail to allow snappier turns in more difficult lines. If rossi still makes it then why doesn't Jeremy Jones ride it? Prior is a rad company if you ride hard boots... and Winterstick is slowly floating by the wayside.

[STORM6490MT]

I really don't care what sponsored riders ride. The undertaker was made by rossignol on request of the team riders who wanted free powder guns. Prior makes freeride boards, not just hardboot boards. You really need to check them out if you want a real handmade board. They kick the crap out of the cookie cutter crap you get these days. Not sure who lied to you and informed you they were for hard boots.... They are retarded... I think winterstick is dead but originated snowboarding.

[STORM6490MT]

I have been riding since 88 and have been on the first fish and rode a new model last year. Same funny feeling at speed and in steep powder. You just need a longer board for big pow. Your fastback is a far superior board in steep chutes of pow if you are an experienced rider.

Anyway, I'm talking from experience as well. Go get on a swallowtail instead of riding what the burton rep wants you to sell.

Once you get on a modern swallowtail you will burn your fish..

[PortersLars]

I have been a fully certified instructor for over 6 years now and all my comments are from personal experience. I have always based my reviews from how they feel to me and how I feel most others might feel on the equipment. While snowboarding is an individual sport and unique in that we all have our own style. The overall point is that your 170 swallow tail may be good for you I doubt the regular go would ever understand how to fully enjoy it. I rode a swallow tail... sorry to each his own.

[PortersLars]

the Prior 4x4 is one of the sickest boards out there and a good friend who hardboots rides it and kills it. I have seen the freeride boards however there are very few riders who have any business riding Priors. The rossi point is that Jeremy Jones is a very skilled rider from a technical level and does not need a swallow tail to ride the lines he kills.

[STORM6490MT]

There's a whole market for high end boards now. All the original kids grew up and have disposable income now. :) Jeremy Jones is a talented rider and I bet you my favorite board that he has a quiver of swallowtails. You know as well as I that they ride the boards they have to sell in the videos. All the old pros that started out in Freestyle have grown up and evolved into free riding. You know damn well when the cameras aren't on them, swallowtails come out on three foot days.

[PortersLars]

as soon as I hear back from JJ I will let you know what his answer is but till then keep in mind that the vast majority of riders here in Tahoe ride either a fish or a rockered board in our super deep pow, rarely do you see any swallowtails and if you were owner of a shop you would have seen the trend of the market.. like it or not the consumer has made the choice of what board works the best in pow or else the swallow tail would still be around...

[STORM6490MT]

yeah, the wannabe gangster and bling has really infected the market. one of the reasons i got out of the business. that and the economy and lack of riding time. it made a bunch of money but not worth the stress. i also dislike chinese stuff and had to deal with it in boots and outerwear. when it started to hit the boards and bindings that was too much. what boards are rockered? like the spatula skis?

[PortersLars]

you must be out of the loop then... the wanna be gangster is dying.. now its a skittle thug or the tight pants warrior... there are a few types of rockered boards and yes its like the spatula... made powder riding effortless while riding a twin shaped board, bet you can't ride that swallow tail switch like you can the K2 Gyrator.

[STORM6490MT]

lots of rumors about swallowtails. you can ride them switch but it's only for a bail out and is a pain in the ass. in powder you most often ride natural stance anyway.

need to spend a season with one to get an idea for it.

[STORM6490MT]

Check out these 2009 swallowtails. Rome Notch, Nitro GUN, Voelkl Selecta (volkl), Winterstick, Prior PowStick and Split, Voile SD, Venture Silverton, anything swell panik, anything Pogo

Stoked to see Rome jump in the mix. Rossignol discontinued the undertaker.

be careful with trends, companies produce boards that are designed for the average user or kid that puts in about 10 days in a season. the majority of consumers don't decide what a good powder board is. the 2% does.

[PortersLars]

all the those swallow tails are big going to huge... where can you ride most of those? VT.. um no thats a huge market of east coasters. Tahoe, only in the back country or if you are a dorky Kirkwood kid. CO, Silverton? or Kickinghorse... many of those board are not practical boards for most inbounds areas. I know you are going to say I forgot UT you don't need a board that size in light pow... a 178 is not practical, so you need those boards in only .5% of the times.

[STORM6490MT]

They are actually a hell of a lot of fun on the groomers with the exception of the winterstick. A lot of my friends in ski school are also confused by the size of them but if you actually spend time on them like I do, you will know that they don't ride like a similar sized directional twin would. My 181 handles better than the fish on the groomers and in the pow. The fish is equally difficult riding switch in the powder but is a little better on the groomer.

Both boards are equally impractical

[PortersLars]

you need to try out the K2 Gyrator... more of a twin rocker... I know a lot of guys who are super stocked on the idea that they can ride switch as easy as they can on a regular twin. Especially in heavy Tahoe cement.

[STORM6490MT]

It sounds like a hoot. My friends that ski have the reverse camber skis and they literally float on the crud powder and look like fun in the soft deep stuff.

I don't really ride fakie on the powder much but there are times when you have to back down a schute or something in order to get into position. Although landing fakie would be pretty fun.

Don't think anybody gets K2 boards up there but somebody may have gotten one.

I really want to try the Volkl Selecta.

[aleongh]

@PortersLars what's dorky about Kirkwood?

[PortersLars]

@aleongh nothing, kirkwood has some of the sickest hikes and gullies around, but for some reason everyone rides super long boards

[STORM6490MT]

I do like the graphics. It reminds me of my old elite.

[gupster13]

nice piece

[frozenstrawbs]

ye.