Burton Process Flying V 2018 - 2011 Review by The Good Ride

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The Burton Process Flying V is constantly being refined and tweaked but not much has changed when it comes to the overall ride and feel underfoot to us over the years. For 2018 it’s good to see the weight rating relaxed a bit on the top end.  This review is for the 2015 Burton Process Flying V but a lot of this is still very applicable for the 2016-2018 models.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  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.

2015 Burton Process Flying V Review

There are some changes I’ve noticed for the 2015 Burton Process Flying V which change the ride from a playful loose freestyle board you can set back on powder days to a stronger mountain board that still does very well in the park.

1. Wood always has an inconsistent bend (especially with hybrid rocker) but there seems to have more camber over the binding inserts than in other flying V boards I’ve ridden as well and it makes for a better spring on an ollie and better spring out of a carve. This healthy bend is most welcome for an all mountain board of this design because it makes turning more fun.

2. The Process Flying V is a true twin in shape and flex.  The only thing making it a directional twin is the 1/2″ set back and that is great for true all mountain versatility.

3. It looks like it’s made in Austria now but not 100% sure on every year. Could be made in China too.  Not sure about previous years but now it says made in Austria on the board.

Size: 157
Days: 10+
Conditions:  A few soft spring conditions in the early afternoon with medium but really fun snow in the morning.  Some harder early winter snow, some good snow and even a touch of powder.
Riders: James and Jimbo
Boots:  Burton Hail, Burton SLX, Burton AMB, Burton Imperial,
Bindings: Burton Cartel, Burton Genesis, Union Atlas
Set Up:  Centered approx 23″ wide 15 front -15 back

Approximate Weight: Size 157- 6.8lbs

Flex:  Same great playful medium flex that snaps on an ollie just as well as it butters.

On Snow Feel:  So the more mellow bend in the flying v in the middle definitely gives more stability and feels a lot easier to one foot and flat base.  Not all hybrid rocker boards have the same profile because wood is not consistent when bent. Some tips/tails can be higher off the snow or closer to the snow than others. So some can be more stable or less stable underfoot.  Still, the underlying theme is that the Burton Process Flying V will be close to stable in softer snow but pretty loose in harder snow.  It prefers to be on edge when one footing.  Also, flat basing doesn’t work too well as you have to be on edge.

Turn Initiation: We normally find Burton’s turn initiation so easy but the Process is a little slower edge to edge when making quick turns. For me and my size 9 boot, the 157 Burton Process Flying V was a little slow. By no means is it challenging but it’s a slower edge to edge when you compare it to boards like the Burton Custom Flying V.

Skidded Turns: Really easy to skid your turns with and even though it’s a little slow edge to edge it’s easy to skid out to stop.

Carving: Before the Process Flying V could barely carve before washing out and now it’s actually fun to carve in good conditions. I’m not sure on how it will perform in harder conditions but I’ll know more as I ride it when the snow falls. It has improved with the less exaggerated rocker V in the middle and more camber over the binding inserts making it easier to engage the camber in the tip/tail without it feeling washy as well as spring out of a turn pretty well. It’s not going to hang with traditional camber boards like the Custom X or even the Camber Process but it’s getting close to about as good as I’ve seen most hybrid rocker boards perform these days.

Edge Hold:  The biggest problem with Burton’s Flying V boards and this just misses the mark here.  This would be a fun board in all conditions if it had more grip but instead it let’s go almost immediately when the snow starts to border on being firm. It really takes a lot of pleasure out of riding unless it’s perfect soft snow so that really limits the fun factor of this board.

Powder: There is a very easy directional float when setting back all the way and although it’s not a dedicated powder board it will do a great job for a board that rides so well switch when centered.   Also with the channel system and Burton Re:Flex or normal bindings with Channel compatible discs you can set your stance back a little more than .5″ if you want. The set back is really what defines an all mountain board and its ability to give you more freeride/directional float in powder is a great thing. We didn’t get it super deep but the Burton Process Flying V floated easily above foot that we were in. Also the bigger blunted nose and tail help with float too.

Speed:  It’s no bomber but what do you expect from a do everything board.  The base keeps it’s speed very well when waxed and it holds much better than it used to the first time we rode this when you build up to moderate mountain speed.  The tip and tail don’t feel as clown shoe bouncy as they use to and it’s a nice improvement. It’s a much better board on bigger mountains with longer steeper runs than before.

Uneven Terrain: Burton has boards that flex really well and seem to understand how to be forgiving on the choppy bumpy end of the day snow. The Process Flying V didn’t handle weaving in and out of bumps very well but it does a pretty good job not bucking you around in it.

Switch: Feels almost perfect either way and with the channel system it’s very easy to center the board with most stance widths.  I’m not a fan of proprietary tech like this but it does have its advantages over standard inserts. Now that it’s more open with other binding companies it’s also easier to mount most major bindings on the Burton boards too so that’s a good thing.  Also, the 2 hole screws hold better than they did the first few years when it came out.

Jumps: Love its ability to pop off any terrain and also it’s ability to hit kickers of small to medium size.  If you run on the lighter side you could go big with the Process Flying V as well.

Jibbing: Not bad on a jib and the newer more flat profile makes it easier to do so.  We run heavy so this bends easy on jibs for us but if you run lighter it might not be as friendly as it was for us.

Pipe: Only got a few laps in a soft pipe but it was fun.  It’s more friendly there now.  I’m not sure how it would feel in a hard to icy pipe though.

So, all in all, I like where Burton is going with this board and its personality is becoming more consistent in varying conditions and more recommendable as a really solid all mountain board.  For me, a true twin in shape and flex with a setback stance is the ideal modern all mountain board.  It allows you to live a freestyle lifestyle when it’s not dumping and then gives those that want the option to surf snow the ability to set back their stance. If only the edge hold was a little better it would be a very recommendable ride.