Mr. Tidbit

I'm sure you probably did a double take when you first saw the contraband, but this binding is legit. The new V-Strap provides you with the mobility you want when sliding rails and boxes, but keeps you boot secure and locked in place with the V-Strap. The key to this binding is to be sure that you have it adjusted correctly. Ride has put together a great video on their site to show you exactly how to do it, check the link below; http://ridesnowboards.com/videos/?id=28 Once you get everything adjusted on this binding there really isn't any part of the mountain that you can't charge. When I was up at Snowbasin in February riding this binding I hit the park, carved down groomers and hit 3 feet of fresh powder when they opened up the John Paul lift. My boot stayed in place in every condition and I never had any problems with the strap staying in place. I'm def. going to pick up a pair of these bindings this season to ride on my DH.

Think of the Antic-wide as the little brother to the Concept TMS. Just a bit softer and less responsive than the Concept TMS, but still gives you a 90a slimewall and 4000 fusion base. This board is meant to be taken anywhere on the mountain, great for someone that has a season of riding under their belt and is ready to progress or the seasoned veteran that is looking for a quality deck at an affordable price. The waist width on this board allows riders with up to a size 10.5 boot. If you are a size 11+, take a look at the Antic-Wide, same board just a bigger waist width to prevent toe drag.

Think of the Antic-wide as the little brother to the Yukon. Just a bit softer and less responsive than the Yukon, but still gives you a 90a slimewall and 4000 fusion base. This board is meant to be taken anywhere on the mountain, great for someone that has a season of riding under their belt and is ready to progress or the seasoned veteran that is looking for a quality deck at an affordable price. The waist width on this board allows riders with a size 11+ boot to enjoy their day without any toe drag.

I've been riding for awhile now and you'll normally see me on a Society or Concept UL but I couldn't believe how great this board rides for the price it is sold. This board can accommodate up to a 10.5 boot size (If you have a size 11+ check out the Fleetwood which is the wide version of this board). This board is great for someone that is just getting into riding all the way up to the seasoned all-mountain veteran that is looking for a great ride at an affordable cost.

The Concept TMS is back for it's 2nd year and hasn't changed tech wise. This board is very similar to the Society with a couple of differences. It has more dampening in the Nose/Tail to help reduce any chatter that you may encounter on the trail. The binding inserts are set back 3/4 of an inch, but you can get the board centered if that is your preferred stance. This board will accommodate up to a 10.5 boot, so if your boot is bigger than that check out the Yukon which is the same exact board, just wider. If the Society is a bit to Freestyle oriented for you and you spend more time outside of the park, The Concept TMS is the perfect board for you.

The FUL is back for it's 2nd year and has some great improvements over last season. Ride has upgraded the Intuition liner with a foot bed. So now you get the great 100% heat moldable liner with the support of a foot bed to make the boot even more comfortable. The "support rod" in the back of the boot now extends higher giving you a much better heel side response when carving down the mountain. The boot over all is about a 6 out of 10 in flex. Ride boots are very true to size, I normally wear a 10-10.5 in my boots and I ended up in a 10 in the FUL. Yes, my first 6-10 days on the hill weren't the best. But the liner packs out about a 1/4 of a size over those first 10 days on the mountain and they end up being absolutely perfect after that. I loved riding this boot all over the mountain, my feet stayed warm, dry and comfortable every day I rode them.

The Dose is back again with one main tech update for 08/09. The addition of Pop Sticks. Like with the Society, Ride has taken tech that is used in the fishing pole industry to add some amazing pop to the tip and tail of the DH without messing with the perfect 6 out of 10 flex the DH has. Basically there are these fishing poles that you can bend past 180 degrees and they will not snap. Ride took this tech and milled it down into these 6 inch "sticks" that they place into the nose and tail of the Dose. Now you can load up your Nose/Tail and get an incredible snap, but the board is still soft enough to butter and screw around. The board will accommodate up to a 11+ boot in all of the sizes, so if you have a smaller size boot check out the DH, which is the same exact board in a regular waist width.

The Society is back for 2008/2009 with a couple of brand new features that make this favorite of riders even better. Ride has incorporated the Membrain Topsheet that is used on the Concept UL into the Society making it lighter than last year. Ride also has a new tech called pop rods, which they have put in the tip and tail of the board. Hollow Pop Rods comes from a technology used in fishing poles, this material has been used to make fly rods that you can bend 180 degrees and not snap. So what does this mean to you, you get the same great 6 out of 10 longitudinal flex that you love in the Society, but now you get an added snap in your tip/tail that is unbelievable when riding anywhere on the mountain. Everything else about the Society has stayed the same. Max boot size you can ride on all for sizes is a 10.5 with the 25.1/25.2 waist widths. This board is easily one of the best all-mountain/freestyle boards on the market and you get all the new tech at the same price as last years deck!

The DH is back for 08/09 with a couple of great updates. The first you will notice is yet again Ride doesn't let down with the great graphics that you come to expect every year on the DH. The artist that did these graphics is Barry Mcgee, google him he has some amazing work. The main tech update to the DH for 08/09 is the addition of Pop Sticks. Like with the Society, Ride has taken tech that is used in the fishing pole industry to add some amazing pop to the tip and tail of the DH without messing with the perfect 6 out of 10 flex the DH has. Basically there are these fishing poles that you can bend past 180 degrees and they will not snap. Ride took this tech and milled it down into these 6 inch "sticks" that they place into the nose and tail of the DH. Now you can load up your Nose/Tail and get an incredible snap, but the board is still soft enough to butter and screw around. The board will accommodate up to a 10.5 boot in all of the sizes, so if you have a size 11 or bigger check out the Dose, the wide version of the DH.

The Kink has become an Iconic Jib deck over the last 8 years. Buttery soft 3 out of 10 flex with a snappy torsional response when you pop off kickers and out of the pipe. The 85a slimewalls not only give you a better feeling under foot when sliding rails/boxes and carving down trail. But hold up 100X better to the abuse you put your board through slamming up against rails/boxes all day. Added the "Cleavedge" helps make cracked metal edges a thing of the past. Most riders don't realize it, but sliding your deck down a metal rail heats up your metal edge significantly and when you hit the snow the instant cooling can cause cracks in your edges. Cleavedge is 50% thicker than normal metal edges and helps prevent cracks from happening. This board will accomodate up to a 10.5 boot size, but for those of you with size 11+ boots will be stoked as Ride finally pulled their heads out of their asses and are offering up a Wide Kink for 2008/2009. So now all park rats can enjoy one of the best Jib/Park boards on the market.

The Yukon is back for 2008/2009 as the board you've loved for years. The wide version of the Concept TMS this board is designed for the rider that has a size 11+ boot that wants a board that will do anything. With the quadratic sidecut ride uses on their boards, this board will lay down turns just as good as narrow boards, yet floats in powder like a dream with the extra width. Take it in the park/pipe and ride rails with the strong/fast True Color sintered base. If you are only going to have one board, ride the entire mountain and have a bigger boot size... You won't be disappointed in this deck.

The Fleetwood is a great deck, but if you shop by price you might accidentally skip it over. The Fleetwood is actually just a wide version of the Ride Control. The waist widths on these boards is designed to accommodate a size 10.5 and up. This board is designed for someone just getting into riding through those who have been riding for awhile and are looking for a good ride at a lower price. You can take this deck anywhere on the mountain you want to go. If you're riding on a budget and need a wide deck, this is a great choice to take care of both of those issues.

Are you one of the ladies on the mountain that all the guys stop in their tracks and say, "Whoa, that chick rips!" If this is you then the Canvas is a deck that you will love... Ride finally realized that there are ladies on the hill that rip and would love a female equivalent to the Society. Now you have a board that will give you great pop/snap, fast true color sintered base, with a 6 out of 10 overall flex. If you want an All-Mountain/Freestyle deck that rips just as hard as what the guys are riding you will love the Canvas.

Priscilla Levac and the other rippin' ladies on the Ride team demand boards that aren't just lame boards with flowery pink graphics. The Fever is the women's equivalent to the DH. You will find all the same great features; 85a Slimewalls, cleavedge, True color sintered base, great pop/snap with carbon array and a medium overall flex. Your only difference is the board comes in a bit narrower to accommodate a smaller women's boot. If you're one of those ladies that rips the park up you will love doing it on the Fever.

The Kink finally comes in a wide version to play in the park with. No more riding crazy angles and 26 inch stance widths to fit on a Kink without toe drag. This board is identically to the regular kink tech wise in every way. Same buttery 3 out of 10 flex, Cleavedge to prevent cracked metal edges, 85A Slimewalls for enhanced feel and durability, Extruded base that will hold up to park riding and easy to repair when you do get a gauge. The Kink has been one of the best park specific boards on the market for 7-8 years and if that is where you spend your day on the mountain, you will love this deck.

I was a little skeptical about getting bike gloves, but these have made my rides to and from work much more enjoyable. I no longer have sore hands when I get home from a 10 mile ride as the padding in the gloves is perfectly placed to relieve any pressure from my hands while I ride. They are extremely breathable too, which is nice as I had a 12 mile ride in 96 degree heat a few weekends ago and my hands were not all hot and sweaty at the end. My hand size is 8 inches (measuring from my wrist to the top of my middle finger) and I got the XL size in these gloves. They are slightly big, probably should have gotten the large size, but they work fine so I decided to keep them. I am very happy to have these gloves for rides now after being a bit skeptical.

I've been lucky enough to spend my last 4 days on the snow on this deck. I was surprised at how fun the board actually is compared to Nitro boards I've ridden in the past. The base of this board is extremely fast, I've been riding it on spring days where I will go through hardpack, slush, bulletproof and normal snow conditions in one run and it plows through all of it like a champ. Unlike Nitro boards I've ridden in the past, this board isn't so stiff that you want to kill someone, but has a great longitudinal flex (7.5 out of 10). Not so soft that you can just butter all over the place... but playful enough to be fun playing around the terrain park. I would suggest taking it to a local shop and have the edges detuned, I took mine down to a 2 degree bevel and have had a lot more fun carving around on trail with it than how the edges came out of the factory. With a 2 year warranty from Nitro, if you are an all mountain rider that plays in the park/pipe occasionally you'll love this board.

I've now had this helmet for over a month and I love it. It is very light weight, comfortable (comes with extra pads to fine tune the fit) & the chin strap is very easily adjusted. My head size is 59cm, I opted for the XL size and it works great. Since it has a built in size adjuster on the back, it snugs down perfectly to my head and stays in place.

This pump is by far the best compact pump I've used. The built in PSI gauge helps prevent blowing up your tube when you use the C02 cartridge to fill up your tube. It also has a built in hand pump (if you run out of C02) so you aren't SOL walking for miles to get back to your car. Nice thing, is the hand pump works well and you won't be cranking on it for 25 minutes trying to get your tire completely full. One thing, make sure to buy the 12 Gram C02 Cartridge as the 16 Gram Carts are too big and won't fit into the barrel of this pump. But this is the pump you should grab if you occasionally have to change a flat while riding.

I've ridden many boots over the years and I was pleasantly surprised with these. The fit of the boot is great, so comfortable to me. I would consider my foot an average width but I do have a high arch which can sometimes be very uncomfortable in some boots. I'm normally a 10-10.5 in my boots/shoes and ended up in a 10 in these. I was surprised as usually when I start in a 10, my first 5-10 days on the snow can be miserable until they start to break in. These boots felt great my first day on the snow with them and haven't really broken in/packed out as much as other boots I've had. Would say that they've only packed out about a 1/4 size or so, so my foot isn't sliding around in them. They were a bit stiff to start out, but now that they have broken in the flex is great... I would say they were probably about an 8 of 10 to start and are probably about a 6.5 out 10 now. Don't over look these boots, as they are right up there in quality, fit and performance as the "big" companies boots.

This binding is very similar to the Beta with one difference, the ankle strap. The strap does not have the "hole" in the middle like the Beta has. In turn what this gives you is a more response from heel to toe when turning, but the highback continues to give you that medium flex to teak out every rail, box, spin, etc... Ride also switched over to the UL ratchets on this binding as well giving you a smooth and easy to use ratchet that can take the abuse of a season of riding. Very popular with the park riders, but this binding is great for any part of the mountain.

This isn't your daddy's one piece, Analog has helped bring the one piece back from it's tight fighting day glow 80's era. The huge differences you'll notice from yester-year are the fabric and fit. This suit in 20K waterproof, I've been lucky enough to have several powder days and stayed dry all day... Even crashing and laying in powder wondering what the hell I was thinking when I dropped that. The fit is great, baggy as can be so you don't have to worry about a snug fit anywhere on your body. I'm 6'2" tall, 220 lbs and the XL fits like a dream. This suit has very quickly become my guilty pleasure on the hill as I've worn it on powder days and days that it was 6 degrees at Brighton with a first layer, eeSa short sleeve shirt and some mesh basketball shorts and stayed warm all day. You'll Love it !

There is no doubt that you have probably heard of the Dominant, Kink, Agent, Mckink, & WWW. If you are familiar with those names then you a probably looking for a deck that is buttery soft, but still has that snap response going off kickers and goofing around on trail that you want. The T1 is a great deck with quality German engineering behind it to help you get the feeling you are looking for. Soft on the nose and tail for those nose presses and Five-Oh's on boxes and rails, but the solid poplar wood core under foot for the snap response you need. Make sure to take a good long look at this deck if you are in the market for a fun Jib/Park board.

The Nitro T2 is a solid board, it def. competes with boards like the Ride DH, Rome Agent, Burton Twin, etc... This board is an all mountain freestyle killer.. Fun in the Pipe, Terrain Park, carving down trail, natural jibs & Jumps.If you're charging hard down the mountain, this board will handle what you throw at it. Bonus: German engineered quality behind all of Nitro's boards, unless you've been living in a ditch your whole life you know German engineering is some of the best produced stuff in the world as far as quality goes.

There is no doubt that you have probably heard of the Dominant, Kink, Agent, Mckink, & WWW. If you are familiar with those names then you a probably looking for a deck that is buttery soft, but still has that snap response going off kickers and goofing around on trail that you want. The T1 is a great deck with quality German engineering behind it to help you get the feeling you are looking for. Soft on the nose and tail for those nose presses and Five-Oh's on boxes and rails, but the solid poplar wood core under foot for the snap response you need. Make sure to take a good long look at this deck if you are in the market for a fun Jib/Park board.