Terrain Use: Speed, Powder, Carving, Groomers

Pros: Easy to carve, Stable at high speeds, Strong edgehold, Stiff

Cons: Too stiff

Other Thoughts: I have last year's model. The board is really stiff which is a good thing for carving but took me some time to get used to. It's shape makes it surprisingly easy to turn yet it performed well in powder and groomers. I cannot really say it was any better or worse than other boards on ice, I still lost my edges from time to time.

Pros: Pros • High end board that lives up to its lofty price tag • Super responsive (returns energy quickly) • Carving is so smooth, the lines I can draw on this board are tight • Edge hold is great • Very easy to turn, not only for a stiff ride but in general, this is a surprisingly maneuverable board for its stiffness and length • Feels a lot lighter and smaller on the snow when I want to make sharp turns (like in the trees or crowded slopes) yet still flies smoothly at high speed. • Spins well for a freeride board probably due to less weight in tip and tail • If you are an advanced freerider, this board can take you as far as your skill allows

Cons: • Cost. While this board is worth its price premium to the advanced freerider looking at the top end of the snowboard market, it is definitely not a good value. This is a top end board but the law of diminishing returns applies here. This board is not 2x as good as a board ½ its price. • Scary fast (at least for me) • Way too much strength in the board to do presses easily; get something softer to play on • Beginners be wary, this board is challenging to ride due to stiffness. It is easy to turn but you must be able to keep good balance at all times or this board will put you down.

Other Thoughts: I do not boarder cross but I think this is the type of non-race board that those who do should be looking at. I thought I was carving on my old board but now I know that I was not. I was carving with some sliding of the tail. On the Crown, my lines are tight. Part of that may be that I am now also using risers but I can really put this board on edge vs what I was used to without washing out. Lastly, it took me some time to learn how to ollie or butter (weak excuse for buttering really) on this board as it is really stiff and its response is really quick. This translates into having to do my ollies very quickly as I cannot really maintain a weighted tail or head.