Looking for a playful ride? We found your huckleberry.
Looking for a playful, all mountain snowboard? I think I found your ride. Burton recently gave me the good ol’ fashioned opportunity to test out the Process Camber Snowboard this early season and in the “Process,” I had a ball. If you’re looking for a super stiff, aggressive, power puncher, look elsewhere. But if you want something that works everywhere, and works everywhere well, this is it.
First the “camber.” The Process has two versions, a Pure Pop and a Flying V. I went with the Pure Pop which features camber between your feet and rocker on both ends, making it a bit more versatile in my mind. This board just feels super casual out of the box, with energy you can feel in the tip and tail – I like softer boards. I also noticed it seemed a bit wider than a normal all-mountain board at 252mm at the waist (maybe that’s my imagination but it felt good). At 6’0″, 195, I went a little shorter with a 157 (it’s available in eight sizes) and am stoked on the dimensions of this thing: I can get it around with ease, and it’s still really fun in powder.
Of course someone like me can only take the thing so far. The Process is Mark McMorris’ pick, and he actually rides it anywhere – both in the park and off-piste. I know that doesn’t mean much to casual riders like us but it definitely speaks to the well-roundedness of this shape. It’s symmetrical through and through, from its twin-tip design, to its camber (and rocker, depending on the model and where its placed) to its “Super Fly” core from tip to tail.
The Process, like most Burton boards, features the channel system for super easy adjustability with your stance. I’ve been riding directional boards a ton lately, huffing and puffing around the backcountry, so it was fun, and really simple, to tweak my stance and play with the feel (make sure your bindings work in the channel system).
Another aspect to think about with the Process is the weight: Burton has worked to reduce the weight in this ride by opting for a “lighter wood core” and it isn’t just marketing jargon – you can feel it. The thing is so easy to maneuver.
Here’s the bottom line: I’m no pro. I’m not going to overly impress anywhere on the mountain. But I can do a few things well enough to have a helluva good time, and this board honestly allows you to try every type of movement, from butters, to carving, to any type of rotational air, and even powder without feeling like you’re missing out. All-around often equates to not being very good at one thing but the Process breaks the mold. In short, it’s one fine all-around stick. That’s not something you find very often these days in a world of specialization.
Check Price for the Burton Process Snowboard on Backcountry, Evo, and REI. It also comes in a Flying V rocker profile, and a Smalls version for the kids. If you’re in the market for bindings as well, check out Evo’s great package deals.
Editor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
