Author: Andrew

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.

All i can say is wow.

Id been using fsx 90s by matrix, which are really thin and have almost no flex, 8 hole bindings and foam cores.

The first run i took, i really noticed the extra length behind me, and as i was carving, i could really get into the carving more, and it was so much more responsive then on the old ones. I could get a lot more out of it, and spent my first few runs just carving like crazy. Then i went to a diamond, whitetail. This was a completely different experience than any other diamonds i went on with the matrix boards. I was able to go at least twice as fast, but more importantly, there were no violent vibration and making deals with god as i had when i would go down even groomed diamonds on the other boards. I didn’t feel any chatter at all, and was able to effortlessly make small turns and go down at great speed. The next time i went down the same run, i looked a little bit more closely at the trail, and realized, the terrain wasn’t groomed well, and the snow wasn’t even. On my old boards, this would be untouchable terrain at any speeds at all. On these, i didn’t even realize how choppy the terrain was.

This then made me daring enough to confront, once again, my nemesis at jiminy, Jericho. For those of you that don’t know, it’s a double black diamond and supposedly the hardest trail at the mountain. The last time i attempted it, in December, on my old boards, I fell hard when i was trying to carve and my edge gave out. With thoughts of this previous experience on this devil of a trail, i slowly turned into the trail. It was the best moment i think of my entire season. I was able to carve back and forth quickly, while making small turns and keeping a good amount of speed, despite the somewhat icy conditions. It was at this moment that completely and totally confirmed my already high regards for these amazing boards. I can’t say enough for the quality of these skiboards.

Oh and…

After looking for weeks I found a set of EMP’s (like the current Revolt Trees). I was very worried about such a large jump from 90 to 105 and them being wider, but let me just tell you that it was AWESOME!!!! I thought I liked the 90 length because of the control they gave me, but the 105 length was a dream. The Revolts were better in all areas. Better speed and much more stable. Riding fakie and spinning was even easier. I felt a lot more in control when I got a little squirrely, always being able to gain control more quickly than I ever had before. I thought the added width would make them harder to get on edge, but it wasn’t a bit harder. They handled icy spots well, and were much better in the powdery spots.

Compared to my Rumspringas (MaryJanes, purchased last year), the Revolts aren’t that much longer but are quite a bit wider. I was always hesitant to try a wide board, but after trying out my wife’s Tanshos, I learned to appreciate the stability that extra width offers. My riding preference is to just bomb down groomed runs and the Tanshos just didn’t cut it at higher speeds or bumpy conditions, so what I was after with the Revolts was the Rumspringas’ length in a board about approximately as wide as Tanshos.

And do they deliver?

Short answer: YES!

I started out on a few bunny runs just to get a feel for the boards’ extra length and width, and this allowed me to practice skating, which was a bit more challenging than on Runspringas or Tanshos. Then I got bored and headed down some greens and blues. The conditions were favorable: Light dusting of powder mixed with light crud, and good visibility. The width of these boards felt incredible! Coming from the ski/Snowblade camp, the extra width of these boards is helping me un-learn to snowplough, something that the slim MaryJanes don’t. Easing in and out of carves is incredible with the Revolts: You give a little, they give a little back. Give a lot, and the boards respond with grace and keep you in control. You get an amazing sense of the ground you’re riding on with these boards. My form immediately improved on my first real run! They also feel incredibly maneuverable (I use them with Spruce Risers).

The Revolts feel slower than my Rumspringas, and that’s not a bad thing for me. I love speed, but until I learn to control my carves at high speeds, the Revolts feel just right. They will allow me to try more difficult hills, and keep me in control doing so. The 105cm length feels perfect, as does the 14.5/11/14.5 width. The flex is also great. They really are that “sweet spot” in the RVL8 lineup!