Snowboard Gear
Hardware Obsessed: Lib Tech TRS With BTX and MTX
As Adam knows, I am a bit of a snowboarding hardware junkie.
Well, it was not easy to find, but I got my new board. I did my research and then spent a lot of time trying to find it for sale, which can be very tricky in the summer.
My new ride is a 2009 Lib Tech TRS (with BTX and MTX). What do all of those letters mean? BTX and MTX are both mind bogglingly awesome Mervin innovations. Mervin manufactures both Lib Tech and Gnu boards. I could go on and on about what BTX and MTX are, but basically BTX means the board has a unique bend to it (reverse camber) and MTX means that the edges are actually a bit wavy for more points of contact.
Check out www.lib-tech.com to read a much better and more thorough explanation.
The problem was that Lib Tech has only one distributor anywhere near me and the selection there was incomplete. So I had to do a lot of hunting on the Internet to find someone that was either licensed to sell to Canada or willing to sell to me anyways!
While my snowboard gently weeps, I sit there counting the days on the calendar and keeping a close eye on the weather network hoping the mercury keeps falling.
Do you have a new ride for this season? Will you be getting one? Let us know what you will be, or plan on, shredding with this season.
Discussion
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You will have to keep use posted as to how it rides compared to standard boards. Lots of Internet complaints on Mervin’s durability but I wonder if these are from 200 days a year people. Have fun.
That’s a good point, Tom. I have read some blurbs about these boards having topcoats and edges which are prone to damage. I generally stay out of the park, so I don’t expect problems. Of course, there is only one way to find out. I think I’m okay with giving up a bit of durability for improved performance. I am most certainly not a 200 day a year rider. Not yet – although it’s not for lack of desire.
I’m sticking with my Rome & Salomon bindings, they still has a lot a life and I live by them, but I always wondered how those edges rode. I have upgraded my pants, jacket and other misc items (as I seem to do every year). Does anyone else go broke right around this time??
Ah yes, I upgraded my pants and jacket last season and was it ever worth it. I bought toward the end of the season so it was fairly affordable. Maybe this season I can get a toque with built in headphones! When do I feel broke? When I pay to fly out to Aberta.
It seems like Rome makes great boards, especially for the park. Love those Salomon bindings!
I live by my Rome, nice all mountain decks too. I demoed some Burton decks a year or so back and never got the hype. They didn’t work for me. Too floppy and too narrow for my feet. Salomon boards ride nice too, probably my second choice.
You know what I love now, GearTrade.com. I found a jacket on there from Backcountry.com. They sell closeouts, brand new still, for ridiculous prices.
I have a Burton Shuan White that I am not very impressed with. I just don’t quite get the big deal. It’s not bad, but it certainly isn’t special either.
I’m going to go check out geartrade.com now. I also like sierrasnowboards.com and rei.com. Great deals to be had, but I ran into issues with them not selling most brands to Canadian buyers. Booo!
I just got another Sapient PNB2. I love the board and can’t wait for A-basin to open here in Colorado.
Hi – You may also be interested to note that Mervin is an innovator when it comes to environmentally sounder manufacturing processes. Check out this recap they recently published: http://business.transworld.net/2008/09/24/mervin-manufacturings-environmental-initiatives/
p.s. my ride is the same as last year… Salomon Lotus 153, no money for new gear, bleh, damn economic crisis!
Yeah, not a lot a money at all. I shopped for last year’s stuff at discounts. Using GearTrade.com and BoardParadise.com I got new pants and jacket for $140.
In case anyone is interested, Backcountry.com is running a promo till Oct. 16th. For any item on their outlet site, they will up the discount to 50%. Code: 38M-1-GGDSP
Ryan,
I’ve been wondering about Sapient boards… there are so many brands I want to try out like Nidecker, O-Matic, etc. Hearing from other riders is the next best thing.
Erica,
Have you checked out the Arbor site? Really green concepts.
Pam,
Thanks for another great tip. Geartrade.com was pretty cool.
I washed and waterproofed my gloves last ngiht. Counting down the days!
Greetings,
I have 2 days so far on my TRS. AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING so far. I’ve been riding old snow on Mt. Hood. It goes from icy to kind of soft real quick. This board has been amazing. In the last couple of months I’ve rode ever board in my collection there. I’m never going back. The Lib rides so amazing. The Banana is where it’s at. it rides so easy. it just feels more natural, and has allowed me to start putting skills into my riding that i never had before. Others, even if you don’t go with a Lib-tech, you need to try a board with rocker. I can’t wait to try it in the pow.
Hey Eric,
Does your board also have MTX? Did you notice the difference there? I can’t wait to get out there and shred!
Josh,
It does indeed have MTX. I didn’t put too much stake in it, but i’m converted now. It made a huge difference on the ice of the Palmer snowfield the other morning. I never felt sketchy. Ice is ice. It’s always gonna blow. but I felt a lot more confident in my edge with the MTX.
Thanks Eric, that is all really great to hear. It snowed a bit yesterday so it is now only a matter of weeks (I hope).
I just got some new Spy goggles. The only upgrade left is my base layer to help me stay warm and dry.
I found this blog very helpful, I am currently looking at buying either a LIB Banana or a Dark Series. Cant decided, any ideas?
Hi Nate,
These are both excellent choices. If you’re going to ride the park, then go for the banana. If you’re going to freeride the Dark Series is a better bet. Here is the link you need, http://www.lib-tech.com/snowboards/index.html.
The banana basically has a lot more flex to it. They are similar boards with many of the same innovations. It all depends on whether you like to park ride or just flow down the mountain. Try and get a model that has both BTX and MTX, regardless of which one you go with. Cheers.