Burton Snowboards - a love/hate relationship
Written: Nov 06 '99 (Updated Nov 06 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Burton stands by their warranties
Cons: all of the boards I've owned except my current one have fallen apart far too soon. At $300-600 a pop, that's unacceptable.
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| JeffB's Full Review: Burton Supermodel |
I don't know if I love Burton snowboards, or if I hate them. I'll compromise and say their boards are so-so and the company is excellent about taking responsibility for their so-so boards.
In the past 7 years, I've purchased 2 Burton snowboards but owned 5. How is this possible? Warranties.
Three of those 5 boards were returned to Burton (via my dealer) because they fell apart way too easily (in and out of warranty). I commend Burton for replacing them each time. Mind you, I'm not out there banging off rocks or abusing my boards in any obvious way...they were falling apart from carving hard.
Board #1: Bought a Burton Air 6.1 (161cm), defective board...bindings pulled out because the core wasn't solid enough...I got maybe 10 days on it...Burton took it back (via Any Mountain) and sent me....
Board #2: another Burton Air 6.1. I almost got the whole next season on this (approx. 24 days), but it started to delaminate...the top piece was separating from the base....not a good thing...Burton again took it back (out of warranty) and this time sent me....
Board #3: a Burton Twin Fin 58 (158cm)....nice to have a new board, but this was too small for me. I rode it hard for a couple of seasons and it too began to delaminate...no luck getting Burton to replace this board with yet another new one, unfortunately. Time to buy a new board...
Board #4: Bought a Burton Supermodel 72 (172cm)...time for me to go big...awesome board for carving, for powder, for all mountain free riding...super stable...I got a season on it and discovered that water was getting into the base (very bad)...so dealer (Berkeley Boardsports) sent it back and I was given an even better board...
Board #5: a 1997 Burton Supermodel 74 (174cm). This board kicks ass...it lasted all of last season...and I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that it lasts a few more. I think my warranty days are over.
If you are into all the tricks, then you'll obviously want a shorter board (140's - 150's cm...depending on your height). I'm not. Tricks are for kids.
If you are just learning and you don't see yourself hitting the half pipe/snowboard park and pulling indy nosebones, I recommend you ride something a little bigger than a salesperson would tell you. Bigger boards are not harder to control, and they really do provide you with more stability. In no time, you'll master your longer board.
If you are an intermediate, advanced or expert rider and you haven't gotten on a "long board" yet, you are missing out! These puppies rip through deep powder, hold their edges when carving groomed or packed powder, and give you big surface area for landing jumps or cornice drops.
Burton seems to be one of the few manufacturers that offers a selection of long boards, but you might want to consider another manufacturer if you ride hard. Avalanche has some good high-end boards and they come with a lifetime warranty. I've heard great things about the K2 El Dorado as well...I think they get into the 182cm range! A great backcountry long board!
As for me, my next board will be in the 190cm range....I feel the need for speed.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
JeffB
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Location: Sierra foothills, California
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 144 members
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