The RVL8 EMP’s were my second set of boards, and I’ve been very happy with them. They have performed admirably in many different conditions and therefore instill confidence in the rider. The 105 length took some getting used to after my 90 SnowJams, but after modifying my technique slightly I’ve found them to be very nimble and light. The length is a good medium between agility and stability. They do tend to start skidding and flexing a bit at higher speeds on hardpack or ice, but I have never “skidded out” on them. Properly waxed, they are very fast, and I’m able to keep up with just about anyone on skies or a snowboard.
In powder they have decent float and are very easy to control. Going down through powdery glades runs is great since the short length allows for easy direction changes. I’ve had them in knee-deep powder and they were able to float my 185lbs through at a decent speed.
I’m not much of a park guy, but these boards seem to do well in that environment. On rails they feel very stable and slide well. Off of jumps they are also quite good, although I’ve found that stiffer boards help me a bit more.
All in all these are one of the best all-around performance boards you can get in my opinion. I do recommend pairing them with a higher-end binding like the Bombers. I noticed a big difference in performance when I switched up from my SnowJam Extreme 2’s.
As a side note, I’m 6’3″ 185lbs.
Rider – Tim – Intermediate Skiboarder (EMP 07 Model)
