Top Lib Tech All-Round Snowboards: Rig, Mayhem Rocket & Golden Orca

What's up guys, Chris from Welcome Board Store here, and today we're taking a look at all-round snowboards for the overseas market. So, this summer, you might have a Japan trip coming up, and we're getting a lot of customers in here that have a board in mind. They’re not necessarily looking for a full powder board because those aren’t as versatile—they're a bit wide and can feel awkward in everyday conditions, like here in Australia.

They want something that's a really good all-rounder and does a bit of everything. So, these are the top Lib Tech boards in that category that I would suggest. This is the Lib Tech Rig, which is a directional board. It's got camber through the contact points from here to here and then lifts into rocker in the nose. The nose has a really nice spooned-out shape, which gives you all that float. It's also pulled in a bit in the tail. It’s directional, but at the same time, you can ride it switch. This is Austin Sweetin’s pro model, and if you see him, he's doing everything—park, deep snow, you name it.

One thing with this model is that you actually size it up a little bit. So, from your normal snowboard length, like a 155, you might look at this in a 157, a couple of cm longer, because it’s narrower and rides a bit shorter. Another thing I really like about this board is its deep side cut, which gives you a really nice carving feel. Lib Tech Rig—can’t go wrong there for all conditions.

Next, we have the Mayhem Rocket. This is a directional board as well, with camber mainly in the back. From this point here, it’s really lifting up, which gives you that full float in powder. But on hard pack, it has a nice side cut and a medium flex. This is the board for the surfer-type rider. Mayhem Matt Biolos shapes some of the best surfboards in the world, and this board is made for guys like him—those who surf the mountain and want to do a bit of everything. That’s the Mayhem Rocket—sick graphic as well.

Then, we have the Lib Tech Golden Orca. The Golden Orca is an extension of the original Orca, which was a fish-style board. Fish boards are generally ridden shorter with a shorter tail. This board has the same rocker line aspects as the original Orca, but Travis Rice wanted to make it more twin for easier switch landings, making it more versatile here in Australia. It’s essentially a directional, shorter Golden Orca with an extended tail to make it more twin-like for switch riding and landing those backside 180s easier in good snow.

If you know Lib Tech boards, you know they have that unique magnetraction for extra grip, and they also feature a rocker profile. The rocker in the middle and camber under the back foot create a great curve. When you put it on a rail with magnetraction, it gives you a really nice tight carving feeling, but the rocker helps the board float in powder, making it a dream to ride in good snow.

The Mayhem Rocket might be for more middle-aged riders who are a little bigger and heavier, while the Lib Tech Rig is likely for a younger, more aggressive rider who wants speed. The Golden Orca, on the other hand, is a board that anyone can jump on. It offers more of a loose, rocker-style feel, so if you want a looser ride, the Golden Orca is a great choice.