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It's all fun and games at the Jackson Hole Shapers Summit. Keegan Rice photo.
The 8th Annual Shapers Summit went down early this March at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Summit, it’s a gathering spearheaded by the legendary Rob Kingwill to bring together industry professionals from across the snowboarding world. Their goal? To share ideas, show off new designs, and shred the heck out of a whole bunch of boards. For three days, dedicated riders congregate, testing shapes and providing feedback to each shaper.
What better proving ground than the slopes of JHMR? After long days of shredding, we hung out with industry legends like Mike Gagliardi and Bob Klein to gain insight and knowledge at one of the “Shred Talks” held throughout the event. Throw in some ripping afterparties and you’ve got one of the best weeks of the year.
Snowboarding has been a long time love affair to which I’ve devoted much of my life. I’ve worked various industry jobs over the years and now work on the Social Team here at TGR. This year was my first season testing, and what a time it was! The energy and stoke was through the roof all week. After riding and falling in love with dozens of the world’s best snowboards, I’ve narrowed down my top three ‘rated radical’ shred sticks.
Weston Eclipse
Specs:
Size Tested: 150
Effective edge (cm): 113
Tip Width (cm): 30
Waist Width (cm): 25
Tail Width (cm): 28.1
Taper (mm): 18
Setback (mm): 10
Shape: Directional Tapered Half Moon Swallowtail
Profile: Rocker/Camber/Rocker
Core: ‘Freedom Wood Core’
Test Locations: JHMR Groomers, JHMR sidecountry areas, Mushroom chutes
Recommended rider: Beginner to Advanced
Looking for an all mountain board for your quiver? Look no further than the Weston Eclipse. This board is versatile enough to handle a myriad of conditions. It’s playful, responsive, and easy to maneuver. It's a great partner on the mountain for wherever you venture to. The Eclipse will be available next year in both a solid and a split. I think it’s also important to acknowledge that Weston only works with women artists for graphics on women’s boards. While this may not affect how it rides, it’s certainly cool to see companies supporting women in the industry and deserves a shout out.
Cardiff Crane Enduro
The Cardiff Crane was one of my favorite boards to ride all over the mountain. Keegan Rice photo.
Specs:
Size Tested: 150
Effective edge (cm): 113
Tip Width (cm): 29.02
Waist Width (cm): 25.4
Tail Width (cm): 28.9
Taper (mm): 1.2
Setback (mm): 15
Shape: Directional Twin
Profile: Rocker/HALFcamber65/Rocker (camber underfoot on 65% of the deck)
Core: ‘CARBONcore’, triaxial fiberglass construction
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Test Locations: JHMR Groomers, JHMR side country areas, Spacewalk couloir,
Recommended rider: Intermediate to Advanced
Bjorne Leines boosts off of a log jam! Keegan Rice photo.
Cardiff Snowcraft was voted ‘Best New Brand’ at Shaper’s Summit and for good reason. The Crane felt intuitive and froth-inspiring from my very first run. The more you give this board, the more it wants to give back. When you load up the tail, it responds energetically and pops right up. In powder, the Crane feels surprisingly floaty without the extra length and weight of traditional powder shapes. Blasting through crud is a casual endeavor with its chatter and shock absorbing capabilities. No matter the terrain, riding this board is an elevated experience. The Crane would be a great choice for the free rider who likes high speeds, technical lines and big air.
Nitro Quiver Cannon
The Nitro Quiver Cannon carves with ease. Keegan Rice photo.
Specs:
Size Tested (cm): 173
Tip Width (cm): 30
Waist Width (cm): 25.5
Tail Width (cm): 29.2
Profile: Rocker/Camber/Camber
Shape: Directional Tapered Swallowtail
Core: Wood
Test Locations: Dicks Ditch, JHMR Groomers
Recommended rider: Advanced
Surfing the groomers! Keegan Rice photo.
With its unconventional shape and sizes starting at a staggering 173 cm, the Nitro Quiver Cannon looks like an intimidating ride. But don’t let that stop you from hopping on this shred stick. The Quiver Cannon has a narrow waist and relatively soft flex, so it rides short and is shockingly responsive. It begs to be ridden fast and locks in an edge with ease when engaged in a turn. For the rider who loves to lay down an edge and make wide swooping S-turns, the Cannon Quiver is your weapon of choice.
