Moss Snowstick Performance Quad 54 2017 Review by The Good Ride

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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.

Size: 154
Days:  4
Conditions:  Some good spring snow, some bad spring snow and some thick spring Sierra Cement
Riders: James, Jimbo, Matt
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Bindings: Union Atlas,  Burton Genesis X
Set Up:  approx 22.5″ wide 18 front -6 back.  Approx 22″ wide 18 front 0 back. Approx 22.75″ wide 18 front -3 back

Approximate Weight: Feels normal

Flex: Feels pretty medium to medium stiff when you flex it but different on snow.  It’s so light in the tail that you have to be very careful not to put too much weight past the back binding. Otherwise, you could easily butter right on to your ass.

Sizing: The Moss Performance Quad 54 felt small for us and not quite the right size.  I think it’s best for someone size 9 and under who’s pretty light. For me, at 5’10” size 9 boot and 185lbs the 160 PQ was much more comfortable.

On Snow Feel: I’ve been thinking about how the Moss Performance Quad 54 rides since filming the reviews and since it’s so different than most surf shapes that it was a lot to take in. It’s so far back on the tail that it’s more like surfing than almost any other board I’ve tried.  After getting used to really riding off the tail I started to notice this doesn’t feel like a Quad Fin surfboard but instead a Tri Fin. It didn’t feel drivey and unwilling to turn but instead had that nice surfy balance of drive and turnability that tri fins have in the water.  Saying it’s really surfy is an understatement and it took me well over a day to feel comfortable with its off the tail riding style.  I think it could take me weeks to really conform to the way this board wants to ride. It’s a super slashy surfy cruiser that is made for those that have a very narrow directional stance as well as a super surfy style of riding.

Edge Hold: There is good edge hold with the Moss PQ 54 and it can handle a not to committed turn in harder snow.  It’s no hard snow specialist but it holds a really good edge for how tapered it is.

Turn Initiation: Really quick edge to edge and really easy to make any kind of turn.  There wouldn’t be a tree line or tight spot we would be uncomfortable with.  We felt that in the conditions we rode all Moss snowboards we tried were a super fast edge to edge compared to most.  However, if you compare this to the PQ 160 we found this to be faster and a little easier to turn

Skidded Turns: Easier to skid turns than you would think. It just didn’t feel catchy but it still wouldn’t be something I’d recommend to an intermediate rider. It’s just so different.

Carving: So it took a while to get into the carving groove with this board.  You really have to play around with weighting your back foot to make it work right for you.  This can be really fun but it’s not the kind of board you can just get on and carve it out as we could with many surfing shapes.  Just like Moss says it requires a commitment to a certain style of riding, stance width and stance angles to maximize the way this board will turn on a carve.

Speed: It’s not a fast board or a board you want to get if you like a high-speed approach to the mountain.  It’s more for slowing down and turning everywhere you can.

Uneven Terrain: I would have no problem surfing through bumps on messy resort snow no matter how bad it got with the Moss PQ 154.

Powder:  If you spec up correctly to the Moss Performance Quad 54 it’s got an amazing float.  The tail really sinks well. and the nose is unsinkable.  There is more set back on board than I’ve ever experienced for a 154. Would rather be on the 160 though.

Switch: Scary just thinking about it.

Jibbing: no thanks

Pipe: Yeah taking a surfy approach to the pipe could be fun but just don’t go at it in a traditional way.

Jumps: The Moss Performance Quad 154 is pretty light in the tail so you have to be careful with your landings.  It’s very easy to have the tail give out on you and it’s best to stay more to the ground.

So overall the Moss Snowstick Performance Quad 54, like all Moss boards, gave me a lot to think about and it’s a very different approach to modern snow surfing.  It’s not for everyone but for some converts it will be the only way.