Burton Sensei Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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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.

How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened: We had a few laps at a demo.
Size: 156
Days: 1
Conditions: Far from ideal snow for testing. Pretty hard and uneven old snow
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  F.I.T. Gameghangers Low Profile , F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: \ Burton Cartel

Similar Boards (but not the same):Can’t think of a single boar like this right now.

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. 21 front -3 back. Close to Reference

Sizing

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards.
156: 7-8

161: 8-9

170- 9-10

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Burton Sensei is full camber but there might be a touch of early rise (maybe just a few cm) before the nose to not make it a completely retro board. Still, it is way more camber than Burton’s directional camber and it this time it can easily be called full camber. It is a narrow turny, semi-gunny technical camber board for advanced to expert riders. It tracks pretty well and didn’t feel too twitchy for how narrow it was.

Flex/Pop/Buttering

All that camber took the medium flex and made it more work to butter than some stiffer directional camber boards from Burton. That bend up near the tip/tail sure can make it esay to butter. The 156 Burton Sensei popped into an ollie pretty easy though.

Speed

Now if we had the 170 or even the 161 I think our take on the speed would have been different but the 156 was moderate.

Uneven Terrain

Burton does a great job at making a board to dampen vibrations caused by slow speed travel over bumpy hard snow. It isn’t easy to do. The Burton Sensei, in the size we rode, would have been a great board for turning around bumps like a Porche on a windy road. The 170 would be a different story though.

Edge Hold

Burton is for those who don’t like disrupted sidecuts and know how to twist the edge to get the most grip out of it. If you like a disrupted sidecut, like we do you will find that this edge can let go easier than others if you hit a hard patch.

Turn Initiation

Fast. Very fast. I bet that even on the 161 or 170 the turning would be quick.

Turning Experience/Carving

In the occasional acceptable snow patches we had you could tell this would be fun to carve. I would have loved to take the 170 Burton Sensei out on good groomers and lay into some hard carves like I used to back in the 00’s.

Powder

Burton markets the Sensei as a powder/freeride board but it isn’t for everyone. Some old school rippers are going to love this kind of ride but many will be happier grabbing an easier floating family tree ride with more nose, some taper and early rise. It would be fun to get on the 170 and take it through a deep wide open run.

Conclusion

The Burton Sensei isn’t for everyone and is by far the most niche board in the Family Tree line. It is not a board we would ever recommend. It is the kind of board that a small group of old school style rippers will just know they want.