Burton First Cut Snowboard Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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Welcome to the place where snowboard gear polyamory thrives at the Burton First Cut Snowboard Review in everything from groomers to pow. 

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews and this is our unfiltered opinion. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Burton First Cut Snowboard Review- How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 160
Days: 3
Conditions: Really great spring groomers and some really good spring pow.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Burton Step On
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom Guide Jacket
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove

Similar Boards (but not the same): Burton Flight Attendant, Jones Flagship, Rossignol XV, Weston Backwoods, Cardiff Bonsai

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3. Close to Reference and set all the way back.

Approximate Weight

The Burton First Cut doesn’t have that ultra-light feel to it and borders on the heavy side of medium. (We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

Burton First Cut felt right at a 160 for my size 9 boots and 185lbs. Wouldn’t want to size up or down. Felt like the right amount of control for what this board is.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can of course go bigger or smaller but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
148: 7-8
154: 8.5-9.5
160: 9-10
164: 9.5-10.5

Stay close to Burton’s recommended weight range.

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Burton First Cut only has 5mm of taper and with the way Burton does their side cut this barely feels tapered. It likes a little more back foot weight but it isn’t necessary. You can weight this any way you please and it doesn’t feel washy.

The Camber profile is mostly camber with a mellow transition before the nose. The overall feel underfoot is very stable but locked in and unforgiving. Feels almost like full on camber. It is a very stiff, aggressive ride for those that want to go big. It might not be the most aggressive of the big mountain hard chargers but it’s no chill ride by any means.

Edge Hold

Burton boards like the First Cut just let go a little too easy. It isn’t terrible but it isn’t on par with other boards like it. Even those that don’t have a disrupted sidecut.

Flex Personality

The Burton First Cut is stiff throughout the board and its hard to notice too much of a change flex wise from tip to tail. It pops hard if you have the strength to make it do so and it is not easy to butter either.

Uneven Terrain

You can chunder bust with the Burton First Cut. It handles hard and micro bumpy snow pretty well too. Especially for this kind of flex. Burton just knows how to keep a board from getting too cranky in those less-than-ideal conditions. This isn’t a board for weaving in and out of bumps though. It’s best for powering through or over things.

Speed

The recycled sintered base is good and better than it was when they first started doing this but but it isn’t as good as many other brands out there or the old WFO base. If you use higher end burton wax and really give it a good going over your first time it will keep its speed well enough.

Turning Experience/Carving

The Burton First Cut likes to straight line more than get turny but it isn’t bad if you want to make all kinds of radius turns. It is a little slow edge to edge. Once the edge is set it likes to make harder down the line turns vs. across the groomer carves or circle carves but they are doable.

Powder

You have a -3.25” set all the way back from center of board with a 23” stance width. That isn’t amazing for a freeride board but pretty good for an all-mountain ride. You have 5mm of taper and some early rise before the nose too. I didn’t have to work hard but did have to lean a little back in the shin high pow I had.

Conclusion

So the Burton First Cut isn’t for everyone but if you like Burton boards and like to point it this could for sure work.

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